Sailing into History:  The St. Petersburg Yacht Club

Founded in 1909 by a small group of sailors, the St. Petersburg Yacht Club had no dock or clubhouse. What they did have was a common interest in boating and the belief that the waters of Tampa Bay were special.  Their first outing consisted of twenty boats carrying about 100 members and guests to Blind Pass. That's a pretty impressive turn out for a city with a population of only about 4,000 citizens.

 The lack of a proper yacht basin stymied the organization's growth for a few years until two local newspaper men called a meeting on the evening of May 30, 1916. Seven prominent local  men rallied to lead the charge to incorporate the club and raise funds for a proper clubhouse. On June 23, 1916 articles of incorporation were drawn up and filed with the county clerk. Just shy of its first anniversary, the St. Petersburg Yacht Club formally opened their clubhouse on June 15, 1917.

Located on the northwest corner of Bayshore Drive and Central Avenue, the Spanish Mission style clubhouse was designed by architect George W. Stewart and was roughly 100 feet by 75 feet. The St. Petersburg Times marveled at the imposing waterfront structure stating that "its  pleasing interior and spacious porches offer a center for the social activity of its members and guests."

The club did have a slight setback when on October 25, 1921 hurricane force winds damaged some porches and pushed several feet of bay water into the structure. As with other damaged structures in town, repairs were quick to happen and ready the city for the wintering tourist season.

As membership soared during the next few years, it was all too clear that an expansion was needed,  and on December 21, 1922 the new wing was opened. The clubhouse more than doubled in size, offering the finest of amenities to its members and guests. And plenty of spacious porches to take in the beauty of clear bay waters. Additional clubhouse improvements occurred over the years, with a major renovation and construction of a multi-story garage in the early 1990s.

From card games, social meetings and dancing, a bevy of activities could be enjoyed off the water. Water-based activities taught boating and sailing skills to its members young and old. Events consisted of power and sailing races, regattas, and for the adventurous yachtsmen, The St. Petersburg to Havana Yacht races.

The first race to Cuba was organized by George Gandy, Jr. on March 30, 1930 with 11 yachts competing.  With the Pier serving as the staring points, racers finished 284 miles later at the Morro Castle near the entrance to Havana Harbor. The races served as the forerunner to the Southern Ocean Racing Conference (SORC).

The St. Petersburg Yacht club has a rich history, and the membership rolls over the past century were literally a Who's Who list within the city. Today, the Yacht club is in the headlines with the news that Club leadership have a tentative goal to replace the current 51,000 sq ft structure with an improved facility to withstand major storms by 2028-29.