The Florida Council of Yacht Clubs is an organization made up of 37 yacht clubs located around the state from the panhandle to the Keys.
I have been appointed to be your new Florida Council of Yacht Clubs Director following the unexpected and untimely death of Ray Rosenburg. Ray was a respected and integral member of the FCYC, holding the position of Chairman for the Publications Committee. I have large shoes to fill! One of my goals in this assignment is to provide our Club with ongoing news and information about the FCYC and the member clubs, and to inform our Club about the issues discussed at our bi-monthly meetings. Let’s start with the creation of the Florida Council of Yacht Clubs. History of the FCYC In August, 1960, the St. Petersburg Yacht Club invited representatives from the leading West Coast Yacht Clubs to a meeting to discuss forming a representative body to
Mary Ann Harlacker
encourage the sport of yachting and general club activities, to promote safety afloat, to encourage reciprocity between qualified yacht clubs, and to promote beneficial legislation. Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Secretary of State on July 26, 1961. The thirteen Charter Clubs in 1961 were: • Bird Key Yacht Club, Sarasota
• Royal Palm Yacht Club, Fort Myers • St. Petersburg Yacht Club, St. Petersburg • Sarasota Yacht Club, Sarasota • Tampa Yacht & Country Club, Tampa • Tarpon Springs Yacht Club, Tarpon Springs • Venice Yacht Club, Venice
• Bradenton Yacht Club, Bradenton • Clearwater Yacht Club, Clearwater • Davis Island Yacht Club, Tampa
• The Field Club, Sarasota • Naples Yacht Club, Naples • Pass-A-Grille Yacht Club, St. Petersburg Beach
FCYC Representation The (now) 37 member clubs in the Council represent a population of approximately 37,300 club members who have aided in bringing many legislative matters favorable to the boating public to a successful conclusion. To assist the Council in monitoring boating-related legislation, the Council retains a legislative representative in Tallahassee. The Council is an active member of water-oriented organizations such as the National Boating Federation. Close liaison is maintained with the U.S. Coast Guard in St. Petersburg, Tampa, Jacksonville, Miami, and the Corp of Engineers district office in Jacksonville. Our Member Clubs sponsor cruises on members’ boats to destinations along the East and Gulf Coasts of Florida and the Bahamas. The Council has also sponsored professionally organized, large ship cruises to unique locations in Europe, South America, through the Panama Canal, and many other destinations. Our next FCYC meeting is at the Halifax River Yacht Club, Daytona Beach, November 11-13. I will be reporting on the discussions in our December Anchorlines.
25
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease