Those who observe a dinghy sinking on Mission Bay on Saturday, April 17 shouldn’t be worried. It is part of a tradition that will be repeated as part of Mission Bay Yacht Club’s (MBYC) 83rd annual season opener. “The current commodore will race in one of the original boats that the club had 83 years ago and races across the bay and back,” said club manager Jason Proctor. “Some of the people will try and screw with him a little bit by taking the plugs out or that kind of thing. The idea is to try and make him sink while crossing the bay.” Sinking the commodore is just one of MBYC’s annual traditions for its members-only opening day ceremony. Other traditions include the commodore racing the club’s juniors across the bay and a sail-by parade of the club’s fleet. “Each fleet of boats is represented by one boat,” Proctor said. “Each one will go by the club and we’ll talk a little bit about the class of boat.” The ceremony will also include live music and a raft-up in front of the clubhouse for its nearly 2,000 members. MBYC’s opening day gala precedes its open house, which will be held April 25 from 2 to 5 p.m. “It will help people get a feel for the place,” Proctor said. “It’s an open invitation to join.” During the last week of April, MBYC will hold its annual membership drive, offering a discounted initiation fee of $1,800. Signatures from two club sponsors are also required for potential members. “We are the only location on Mission Bay that provides recreational sailboat racing for the local community,” Proctor said. “We’re giving people the opportunity to learn to sail.” For information about Mission Bay Yacht Club, visit www.mbyc.org. For membership inquiries, e-mail [email protected].