- May 2, 2024
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Longboat Harbour Yacht Club is setting sail into a new era.
The new club officers were officially appointed and are ready to continue Longboat Harbour's growth.
The annual Longboat Harbour Yacht Club Change of Watch ceremony was held in the club's Recreation Hall on Jan. 20. New Commodore Jeff Hecklau and his wife Joyce led the event.
Six past commodores attended the Change of Watch ceremony. U.S. Navy Veteran and Captain Robert Geraci led the ceremony, They shared how serious a responsibility it is for the officers to ensure the safety of the docks. Past Commodore Mary Bock led everyone in a prayer before guests enjoyed a paella dinner.
“Our No. 1 goal this year, besides all the things that we do as far as administrative work and keeping the harbor safe, is to really increase the amount of the education programs,” said Hecklau. “We have already started that with a couple classes with the Coast Guard. Right now, we want to focus on making sure everyone knows the right protocols and what to do in emergency situations and then we are planning to get into more fun events and boating activities, which is the main purpose of boating.”
Hecklau’s parents passed down their love for boating and life on water to him. His father Fred was in the U.S. Coast Guard. His mother Dottie grew up going to a lake in New Jersey, participating in different water sports like water skiing.
His parents retired 34 years ago to Cape Coral to continue their life on the water in Florida. Hecklau said they had numerous boats and were active in their yacht club and sailing club. On his vacations to visit his parents, he participated in their boating activities.
“One of my favorite parts of the ceremony tonight is having my parents surprise me to celebrate this with me,” said Hecklau. “Like Bob said when he was doing the ceremony, this is a very serious role, so having my biggest influences here to support me in this brings it full circle.”
Jeff and Joyce Hecklau moved to Longboat Key five years ago because Joyce had been coming down here with her family for years. Hecklau said it was the perfect compromise of great beaches and access to boating. They got involved in the yacht club in their first couple years of living at Longboat Harbour. Hecklau was scribe his first year and then was dock master for the previous two years.
Hecklau’s partner-in-crime, Vice Commodore John Harkness, was a firefighter for 39 years. He started in Richmond, Virginia, but also worked as the chief of a fire department in a rural town north of Richmond.
“The majority of my career, I did water rescue,” said Harkness. “We had the James River that went right through the city, where we were a very active water rescue team. We did scuba diving if there was a drowning or something like that. That's where my passion for water rescue comes from and providing people training in the unexpected emergency situations.”
This year’s officers also included Gregg Stanley as scribe, Brenda Yewell as purser, John Shea and Mike Cantrell as dock masters.
“(Previous Commodore Bill Coughlin) always says that we are boaters helping boaters,” said Hecklau. “That is really what it's all about. The yacht club has a certain camaraderie about boating life, and that is the commonality of the boating world all over. It's a desire to have fun, but it's also to make sure everybody is safe as well and to be there for everyone when they need it.”
The new officers acknowledge the big shoes they have to fill with Coughlin, who was commodore for the past five years. Harkness said it has been a seamless transition because the team has been working together for a while now.
“Under Bill’s watch, we went from no yacht club to a fully functioning yacht club,” said Harkness. “Now we're just trying to kick it up a notch. Like when I was in the fire services, when you get somewhere, you try to leave it better for the next person. Jeff will do the same thing. Then, whoever takes over after will do the same thing. We will continue to grow.”
