It all started at a New Year’s Eve party at the imposing winter home of Col. Lowe Emerson on Bayfront in 1910. Clearwater was a charming little town, still part of Hillsborough County, a fishing port surrounded by citrus groves, reached by water, sand roads that wound through little hammocks, and by the little train that puffed along on its single track, once a day.
The Charter and by-laws were officially registered on 14th February 1911, and the 28 wealthy winter resident members met at each other's homes for the next two or more years, until by default the fledgling Clearwater yacht Club fell into inactivity.
Young men came back from the Great War in 1919 to a Clearwater with little to satisfy their boundless energies. By then the town had paved brick roads running down to a wide, long dock, at the end of which was a building with a pavilion atop, which was to become the new CYC clubhouse that year with a totally new group of members.
A flurry of boat building, boating and racing activity ensued, but just as quickly dwindled as those young energetic people turned their attention to raising families. By 1921 CYC had fallen into limbo once more.
1923 saw the “Florida Boom” when thousands flocked to the West Coast in the land speculation rush. A St. Petersburg promoter of speedboat racing recognized the potential of Clearwater and the waters became slashed by roaring mahogany monsters with names like “Miss Pasadena” and “Miss Tampa”. Buford Edgar, a native of Clearwater returned to his hometown at the helm of the 50' ocean racing sailing yacht “Haligonian”, the first big time racing yacht to reach these parts.
CYC sprang back into life once more and for at least two roaring years its members danced, partied and raced in everything that floated until they got caught up in making millions of dollars “on paper”, and had no time for leisure pursuits. Then came the big bust, leaving no money, no boats and no Clearwater Yacht Club.
By 1928 the Florida “Boom and Bust” had come and gone, and there, stretching out into the bay was a road and causeway that led to a few rickety shacks and a derelict dock. At a meeting in Daily’s Cafeteria on November 3, 1928 CYC was permanently returned to active status and its burgee, although today a different design, has been flown with pride, despite some stormy seas. They rented an old house on Bayfront and every member wielded hammer and saw until their new clubhouse was “ready to sail”. This tiny clubhouse turned out to be a godsend to a dejected city where the boom-busted bankrupt could enjoy a game of cards, a vitriola dance, fish and grits once a week, and sailing, sailing, sailing. The whole West Coast of Florida took the club to its heart and by the end of that year CYC was in the black with a bank balance of $1,600.
In 1930 CYC opened the Mandalay Speedway in the Bay, where top speedboat racers from all over the USA contested rich prizes put up by the nation’s biggest oil companies. For the first time, in 1931 CYC took residence on Clearwater Beach in a small white house on Bay Esplanade. In 1932 CYC accepted a generous offer by the City of Clearwater on a virtually perpetual lease to take over a plot of land donated by the Skinner family, with the understanding that CYC should benefit, and with a bank balance of just $19.60 the membership faced the challenge of building a new clubhouse.
They heard of a ramshackle house on Safety Harbor, which was to be scrapped, offered to demolish and remove it, set about the task, and transported it in bits by truck to their new Clearwater Beach site. The newly assembled, larger clubhouse was the achievement of a membership of just 68, with an annual subscription of $10. They were justly proud.
1935 saw the launch of "the good ship jack Snipe", built by Guy Roberts, a boat destined to bring fame to the Club with its victories up and down the country. The first Midwinter Snipe Regatta held on March 9, 1936 was to become an annual event staged by the Clearwater Yacht Club, which to this day is second only to the Snipe National's.
Early in 1935 improvements to the new clubhouse such as electric wiring and running water were made, the City was instructed to collect the garbage and a suitable can was purchased. Then on May 9th the City agreed to cut the “Big Pavilion” down to one story and move it across Mandalay to the CYC site. In June the Club borrowed $1,500 to build a new foundation and install the building, and in the fall of that year CYC moved into its new, bigger, more splendid clubhouse. Immediately a contract was let for a new roof, which a few days after completion suffered damage from a major storm and thereafter was seldom without leaks.
February 1937 brought another severe storm, causing extensive damage to club property and to member’s boats. Less than a month later the CYC power fleet took part in a vast rescue mission during which they plucked two girls and a boy from a bird rack near Anclote Light where they had clung for two days. A fourth perished.
Those halcyon years leading up to the Second World War brought much fine racing an a string of CYC successes, and the Club grew and prospered accordingly.
On November 21st 1940 a decision by the Board to raise the buffet price to $1.25 caused almost total revolt among the membership and the price was hastily dropped back to $1. In 1941 the Club seal was authorized. In 1942 it was announced that the Club was in “dreadful financial shape”. In 1943 there was no racing at all due to manpower and materials shortages, yet at the end of ‘44 the Club still had 8 covered and 10 open boat slips. In February 1946 the price of Thursday buffet went up to $1.59 and in June to $2.00. Post war inflation had arrived.
Throughout the late forties and early fifties CYC had a string of racing successes at State and National levels, and by 1960 had won the National Snipe Championship five times, due largely to the brilliant helmsman ship of Taver Bayly. 1954 saw the Club Burgee change to its present design, and in 1957 an Olympic size pool was installed. This became the envy of all other yacht clubs on the West Coast of Florida, and an asset to Clearwater in as much as the High School swim team was allowed to train in it.
In 1960, at a meeting of thirteen West Coast Yacht Clubs, including CYC, plans were formulated for “an alliance”, which today is known as “The Florida Council of Yacht Clubs”. The Council was inaugurated in July 1961 and in the ensuing years has grown to include clubs throughout Florida, totaling 34 at this time.
Few members fail to appreciate the value of this “alliance” and the pleasures of reciprocity that it affords, but it can do no harm to reflect for a moment on the hard work that has gone into preserving standards and taking an active part in Council affairs. In 1982 Commodoreship of the FCYC was bestowed on a well loved member of CYC.
The 1967, membership had grown to more than 400 and the Club had become a hive of boating activity, social events and warm fellowship. A tornado struck in 1968 leaving behind considerable damage to buildings, docks, and boats, and three years later another left the Club boat sheds lying on top of the boats. But, these were to be minor setbacks compared with the disaster about to strike.
In 1972 Clearwater City threatened to revoke the lease, which had been granted for a nominal $1 per annum on a presumed perpetual basis, but following a series of discussions a reprieve was indicated if CYC would agree to pay substantial taxes. Then, just as suddenly, the City said no, leaving CYC with no alternative but to sue for the value of structures, docks and pool. Although a sum in excess of $200,000 was awarded, this period of great uncertainty had a devastating effect on membership, and left CYC literally homeless and sadly depleted. A small property next door to “Aunt Hatti’s Restaurant” was leased and became nicknamed “The Downtown Station” by CYC members.
Here CYC remained until 1976 when the present clubhouse site was acquired, thanks to the resourcefulness and foresight of Spencer Scheideman and Taver Bayly, who despite facing a massive membership demise had the vision to spend and borrow to the tune of $300,000, and set about rebuilding the membership.
Of the fifteen or so waterfront sites considered, South Bayway Boulevard was the only one without dredging and ecology problems. There was no way that CYC could afford to purchase the whole 660', so instead settled for 440' of waterfront land, upon which stood two single story model homes, buildings destined to be turned round to face north, raised up on stilts, and become the new facility. Their fabric remains part of today’s clubhouse.
In 1977 Spencer Scheideman set up office in the car park adjacent to the clubhouse and sold, sold, sold. With literally nothing to offer but promises for $1,500 a shot, he raised the membership from 37 to 174. New members received a $1,000 bond as part of their signing up deal and CYC was “on the road again”.
Throughout the years, CYC has never lost sight of a fundamental objective enshrined in its by-laws, “the promotion of sailing”. Snipe Midwinter’s continued as ever and in 1998 saw their 59th Anniversary. In 1977 the Kahlua Cup was founded, becoming the first major “big boat regatta” to be organized and hosted by CYC on an annual basis. J24 Regattas attracted much attention, producing some highly competitive sailing. The long distance race from Clearwater to Key West, sailed every May, became highly esteemed and universally popular. In 1988 the Optimist Youth Sailing Program was introduced, and in the intervening years the CYC has become one of the best known competitive clubs on the United States sailing circuit, with both Optimist and Laser sailors representing the United States at World Championships a number of times.
None of these things would be possible without the dedication and hard work of a group of people who devote their time, energy, boats and money to the encouragement of competition and excellence. This has surely been the underlying quality that has kept the spirit of CYC alive throughout its checkered history.
It should be stated here that the improvements made to club facilities over the years have never been paid for by “assessments”. The present pool was donated by members, remodeling of the kitchen and the building of new docks was by means of bond issues, and the extensive remodeling, building and maintenance programs undertaken in 1990 and 1998 were paid for from Club capital.
There will be times in the future when Clearwater Yacht Club has to face challenges, but the spirit will not die as long as there are good people to join with the old blood and look to the future.
Doubtless this brief summary of a long storm misses many events and fails to mention scores of well loved members who made major contributions to Clearwater yacht Club’s success. For this the writer apologizes, and seeks the reader’s patience if the written word fails to give a totally accurate account.