105 years of history

Most of Sarasota Yacht Club’s history, which dates back to 1907, is contained in a cardboard box. It was uncovered when the club began renovations in 2008 and was originally filled by club historian Gertrude Logan at some point in the ’80s. Aside from a handful of printed archives, memories passed down from long-term club members and this cardboard box, the current history remains a puzzle waiting to be pieced together.

Barry McClure has been a member of Sarasota Yacht Club for less than two years, but his fascination with maritime history encouraged him to take on the role of historian, and, by default, he is the current keeper of the cardboard-box history. Luckily, former box-keeper Logan “did a lot of very good research,” says McClure. He gets much of the history he writes in a column called “Then and Now,” featured in the club’s monthly newsletter, from Logan’s work.

McClure’s previous research and Logan’s continued research have helped piece together the history of the long-standing club.

The early years: 1907 to 1926
In 1907, Sarasota Yacht Club was organized in a remote location at the north end of Siesta Key, before there was a bridge connecting it to the mainland. The project was headed by past Sarasota Mayor Harry Higel and lasted for about a year before it disbanded and became dormant. Dormancy came in part to an economic downturn, from 1908 to 1910, but the club’s remote location also played a part.

In 1911, the club was revived, and members met at a boathouse on Gulfstream Avenue. At the time, Higel recruited Owen Burns to be involved in the club’s second coming, which made Burns its first commodore — and membership took off. In 1913, a larger clubhouse was built on Gulfstream. The development of automobiles and a growing interest in cars directed attention to the club, which became known as the Sarasota Yacht and Automobile Club.

John Ringling purchased the club’s property in 1917, along with Golden Gate Point, Bird, Coon and St. Armands keys, with the goal of developing the land and building a causeway to St. Armands. The clubhouse was no longer the clubhouse, but was renovated into Sunset Apartments. The year 1921 marked the end of the Higel-headed yacht club.

In 1926, the club became incorporated. Eight men developed the Sarasota Yacht Club that the community knows today. When Ringling died, he left Sarasota Yacht Club’s current property to those men; the contract stated the property could only be used as a yacht club. They built a sail-loft and a dock where they could bring their “fish class” boats.

The ‘Fish Class’ club: 1926 to 1950s
In 1926, large fleet “fish class” sailboats filled the docks at Sarasota Yacht Club. The boats originated in New Orleans, one of a few places that still to this day docks this type of racing boat.

The racing of the fish class boats among yacht clubs led to the development of the Gulf Coast Yachting Association. The Sarasota Yacht Club centered on the sport in the ’30s. Sarasota Yacht Club, like many of the other participating yacht clubs in the association, owned its own fleet of these boats. But in 1959, it got to be too expensive due to a lack of continued interest in the boats, so the club sold them and dropped out of the association.

The trophy case at the club is filled with plaques and winning memorabilia from the years of “fish class” sailboat racing.

World War II and on
During World War II and shortly following, the Air Force used the club as a crash boat rescue base. The U.S. Air Force, which at the time was known as the U.S. Army Air Corps, established a few training bases along the Gulf Coast, and men learning to fly needed a rescue team and a base. The Air Force took over the site, built barracks and enhanced the docks.

When the war ended, the Air Force asked Sarasota Yacht Club members to pay $100 total for the improvements it had made. One of the three buildings the Air Force built was used as a clubhouse until the early ’50s, and when the club’s membership started increasing, SYC members started planning for a new clubhouse that was built in 1958.

Over the next four years, membership continued to increase, and in 1962, the club took out a loan to purchase additional land for an expansion. In 1977, the club paid back the bank what it owed. The ’90s brought about additional updates and construction with new docks being added in 1991 and the Porthole Lounge and Grill being constructed in 1998.

New clubhouse
In 2002, the first attempt at remodeling and renovating the club took place. A facilities planning committee was organized, but the project was narrowly defeated by a vote of 11. It was considered a difficult time for many of the members because half had hoped for a new club while the other half did not. When the vote for a new clubhouse was defeated, membership suffered a slight decline.

In 2007, there were brief discussions of merging Bird Key and Sarasota yacht clubs. Both were dealing with high taxes and insurance premiums, along with declining revenues and membership. Ultimately neither club felt the need to merge.

But, by 2008, an increasing membership encouraged another clubhouse renovation attempt and another vote. Members came together, approving the new clubhouse, and construction began Nov. 21, 2008. By April 23, 2010, the 23,500-square-foot clubhouse was completed. Membership has been on the rise since.

Today’s club
There’ve been two world wars, countless commodores, multiple renovations and updates, umpteen interior design changes and many different faces throughout the club’s 100-plus years.

Some of the employees have been working at the club for upward of 30 years. But, since the club’s inception, time-honored traditions such as weekend cruises, regattas, commodore balls, costume parties, ladies luncheons, political meetings, blessings of the fleet and the majority of the yacht club functions and yachting traditions remain the same.

Timeline:
1907 — Sarasota Yacht Club was organized at the north end of Siesta Key.
1908 to 1910 — The club became dormant.
1911 — Sarasota Yacht Club was revived.
1913 — The clubhouse construction was finished at Gulfstream Avenue. It became known as the Sarasota Yacht Club and Automobile Club.
1917 — John Ringling purchased Golden Gate Point, Bird, Coon and St. Armands keys, including the club’s property.
1914 to 1918 — The club became the headquarters of Sarasota naval militia during World War I.
1926 — Sarasota Yacht Club was incorporated. The Automobile Club was discontinued.
1940 — Land on Coon Key was donated to Sarasota Yacht Club in a deed from Ringling interests. A sail loft, clubhouse and piers were built on the new site, which was leased from the Ringling estate.
1943 — During World War II and six months following, the Air Force used the club as a crash boat rescue base. Two barracks buildings were added. These were used as a clubhouse following the end of the war.
1958 — A new clubhouse was built.
1962 — The club was expanded.
1977 — The club’s mortgage was burned.
1998 — The Porthole Lounge and Grille was constructed.
2002 — Major expansion and modernization of marina.
2008 — Construction for a new clubhouse began Nov. 21.
2010 — Construction of the new clubhouse was finished April 23.