Our Club Had Its Beginning in 1877". in That Year, Thirteen Gentlemen Or

A BRIEF HISTORY OFOF THETHE ROCHESTERROCHESTER YACHTYACHT CLUBCLUB ~)

Our ClubClub had itsits beginningbeginning in 1877".1877*. InIn thatthat year, thirteen gentlemen organized themselves as Directors of a society, thethe objectobject being "the encouragement andand promotionpromotion ofof Yachting:’Yachting." A ClubhouseClubhouse waswas erected,erected, the first of four, onon thethe beachbeach in Sum~Sun> merville and was formallyformally openedopenedon onJune June23, 23,1877. t877.Newspaper Newspaperac- ac- counts reportedreported thatthat aa Regatta,Regatta, openopen toto allall MonroeMonroe Count3’County boats was held in July.

Historical recordrecord hashas aa wayway of leaving gapsgaps inin recording,recording, andand soso itit waswas withwith R.Y.C.R.Y.C. I-I. In 1886,1886, Incorporation Incorporation paperspapers werewere filed.filed.In Inthat thatyear yearGeorge George H. Newel!Newell waswas Commodore, Matthew MatthewCartwright, Cartwright,Vice ViceCommodore; Commodore; Charles A. Worts,Worts,Secretary; Secretary; EdmundEdmund Occumpaugh,Occumpaugh,Treasurer Treasurerand and Edward N.N. Walbridge, Captain.Captain. River. InIn 1887,1887, landland waswas clearedcleared onon thethe easteast bankbank of thethe GeneseeGenesee River. was the of our cur- This gave the Club an anchorage and was the beginningbeginning of our cur- fifteen Sail rent basin. That year thethe rosterroster showedshowed 117117 members,members, fifteen (15)(15) Sail Yachts and eight (8) Steam Yachts. Clubhouse. It isis not quite clear asas toto whatwhat happenedhappened toto thethe firstfirst Clubhouse. Records indicate that itit mightmight havehave been destroyed by fire. SoSo inin 1889,1889, thethe secondsecond ClubhouseClubhouse was_con__structedwasconstructed on the west bankbank ofof thethe river.river. Yachts The Club had grown to 157 members,members, twenty-ninetwenty-nineSailing Sailing Yachts Such well known boats as and sevenseven Steam oror napthanaptha launches.launches. Such ,.veil known boats as on the roster. "Madge’,"Madge'1 "Majel'§"Majel","Velnelle'2 "Velnelle","Ripple" "Ripple"and and"Nox" "Nox"appeared appeared on the roster. back in Summer~ InIn 1902,1902, another move foundfound thethe ClubhouseClubhouse back in Summer- structure with ville, justjust east of the east pier. It was a three story structure with later was to become known as, Popp's a large veranda. This building later was to become known as, Popp’s Inn andand survivedsurvived untiluntil thethe earlyearly 1950’s.1950's. ii to the basin, the area was In 19081908 aa planplan waswas developeddeveloped toimprove improve the basin, the area was was done in and lockers were formerly a swamp. SomeSomework work was done in1909, 1909, and lockers were added, howeverhowever the dredgingdredging processprocess isis anan onon goinggoing thing.thing. In February 1912, the first issue of "The Compass"was was printed In February 1912, the first issue of "The Compass" printed dollars. with muchmuch fanfarefanfare andand anan Annua’lAnnual BudgetBudgetof ofeight eighthundred hundred dollars.

were admitted to the During 1917, a atotal totalof of77 77new newmembers members were admitted to the was establish- Club against 7 resignations. About then,then, aa Star Fleet was establish- ed with interclubinterclub racingracing withwith ClevelandCleveland Yacht Club. Club.

on the east In 19221922 thethe fourthfourth andand currentcurrent Clubhouse was built on the east was substan- bank, just northnorth ofof thethe swingswing bridge.bridge. ThisThis ClubhouseClubhouse was substan- tially remodeled inin 1953, again againin in1973. 1973.It Ithas hasaccommodated accommodatedmany many a functionfunction inin itsits sixtysixty oddodd years.years.

was raised to At the annual meeting in 1923, thethe initiationinitiation feefee was raised to of the Club $30.00,the theDues Dues$24.004.00 $24.00per perannum annumand andthe themembership membership of the Club be limited to 500 people.people.

a four In 1925,1925, thethe "R""R"Class Classcame cameto tothe theClub Clubwith with afleet fleetof of fourboats, boats, of the Clubs activities, also theythey were to become the backbone of the Clubs Racing activities, also Sir Thomas the in that year, thethe ClubClub electedelected totomembership, membership, Sir ThomasLipton, Lipton, the famous Tea merchantmerchant andand 55 timetime challengerchallenger forfor thethe AmericasAmerica’sCup. Cup. He presented R.Y.C.R.Y.C. with witha aTrophy Trophythat thatbears bearshis hisname. name.We Westill slillrace race for the Cup under LX.R.A.L.Y.R.A. and andstill stillin in"R" "R"boats boatsas asthe the originaloriginal DeedDeed of Gift called for.for. -s U

Junior Yacht Club. of the Rochester 1926 sawsaw the start of the Rochester Junior Yacht Club. to $25.00 per year back from $50.00 For 1933, duesdues were dropped back from $50.00 to $25.00this per yearre~ For Low water through period and the initiation feefee waswas waived.waived. Low water through this periodduring re- and the initiation 1935 it was reported that_ quired continual dredgingdredging-and andin in 1935 it was reported that during continual at a cost of $.50 per yard. quired were dredged the year, 15,00015,000 yardsyards were dredged at a cost of $.50astute per yard.members the year, some of our In the early 30’s it was decided byby some o} our astute memberstime we In the early 30's Fleet. At that for our Dinghy that we needed aa newnew designdesign for our Dinghy Fleet. andAt thatBritish timewere we that we while the Canadians were sailing Cat rigged boats,boats, while the Canadians and British UFF-were were sailing rigged and commissioned went to England Sloop rigged. A delegation delegation went to England and commissionedso successful UFF- Sloop rigged. This little craft proved Fox to design a 14 footfoot Dinghy.Dinghy. This little craft proved soat successfulR.Y.C. and Fox to design was formed International 14 Association raced that inin 19391939 the International 14 Associationinterclub wascompetition, formed at theyRX.C. and we became Fleet Number One. In interclub competition, theyraced racedfor we became Fleet and at RXIC. they for the Emerson andand DouglasDouglas TrophiesTrophies and at RX.C. they’,’ racedfamous for the Emerson to become World for The 14's went on the Baker andand FordFord Cups.Cups. The 14’s went on to become \~/orld famous the Baker being raced._ are still actively and to this dayday are still actively being raced. in Canada For over fifty years, RX.C. was thedominating dominating factorfactor in Canada R}(.C. was the sail- For over fifty years, first by RX.Os "Genesee""Genesee" inin 1899, sail- won first by R.Y.CIs The Cup was in 1903 Cup contests. The Cup was won It came to Rochester ing under Chicago Yacht Clubs Burgee. It came to Rochesterdefended in 1903in under Chicago was successfully inghaving been won by "Irondequoit"."Irondequoit"-It It was successfully defended"Thisbee", in having been won by and in 1930 it was in 1907 by "Seneca" she 1905 by "Iroquois'2"Iroquois", in 1907 by "Seneca" and init 1930was "Conewago", it was "Thisbee", 1905 by In 1932 and 1934 first of the 88 metremetre Yachts.Yachts. In 1932 and 1934 it was "Conewago",the twice. she first of the boat to have won Cup has the distinction ofof beingbeing thethe onlyonly boat to have won the Cup"Venture". twice. has the distinction lost to R.CX.Cfs in 1954 when "Iskareen" came to an end It came to an end in 1954 when "Iskareen" lost to R.CX.C?smen "Venture".and three we sent eight at RI/.C. In June 1936 waswas aa bigbig yearyear at RX.C. In June we sentfirst eightraced menin Denmark,and three to Europe. They of our new 1414 foot DinghiesDinghies to Europe. They first raced Islein Denmark,of Wight, of our new then on to Cowes, then Olso, Norway. Scotland was next, then on to Cowes, Isle of Wight,of then Olso, Norway. months with a basket England. They returned home after two months with a basket of They returned Cowes. Another triump England. Gold Cup, taken at Trophies, includingincluding thethe Gold Cup, taken at Cowes. Anotherto triumpRXC., Trophies, Worlds Star Class Championship that year waswas bring the Worlds Star Class ChampionshipMabbett to RX.O,and that year we took the our first YVorlds.In In LX.R.A.LX.R.A.competition, competition, we took the Mabbetthome andthe our first Worlds. and brought went to Chicago Lipton Cups. To toptop itit off,off, wewe went to Chicago and brought home the Lipton Cups. of age. Richardson Cup. InIn 1936,1936, RX.C.RX.C. came of age. Richardson Cup. Over the arrived on the scene. of the Six Meter's seen InIn 19391939 the firstfirst of the Six Meter’s arrivedinter-club on the scene.racing Overyet the into the greatest years they would develop into the greatestI inter-club racing yet seen years they the Lake. on the Lake. Circe, Fun, Meteor Names such as Stork,Stork, Jill,Jill, Mist,Mist, Starwagon, Circe, Fun, Meteor Names such as at Youngstown. in the basin. Fleets grew and Goose became prominent in the basin. Fleets grewthe atAlarm, Youngstown,Castle and Goose raced in LX.R.A. for Hamilton and Toronto.Toronto. TheyThey raced in LX.R.A. for the Alarm,Colonel CastlePond. Hamilton and for the Todd, ' At home they fought - and George Cups. At home they fought for the Todd, Colonel Pond, Mcowen Trophies. Hornbeck andand Mcowen Trophies. are on of the best sixes stated "Now many A 1941 newsnews reportreport stated "Now many of the bestthe worlds sixes areCenter on A 1941 to becoming Lake Ontario and it is well on the way to becoming the worlds Center Lake Ontario and _ with of thethe Class".Class". on the Lake the North Americans fifties, we had to Norway InIn thethe midmid fifties, we had the’North TheAmericanswinner onwent the Lake with boats from as farfar awayaway asas California.California. The winner went to Norway boats from as For those who experienced at the invitation of thethe KingKing and Queen.Queen. For those who experiencedYears. the invitation of the "Sixes" Golden at to replace them, there willwill never be anythinganything to replace the "Sixes" Golden Years. them, there numbered 115 boats. ~; at 260, the fleet 1940 sawsaw thethe membershipmembership at 260, the fleet numbered 115employed boats, time, there were twenty~four both Sail and Power.Power. At this time, there were twenty-four employed both Sail and five. with one having on boats inin the-the basin, with one having five. on boats and LX.R.A. Rf{.C. leveled off 1941 - Due to the War,War, YachtingYachting at atR.Y.C. leveled off and L.Y.R.A- 1941 -- Due to the the Lake. cancelled all activities onon the Lake. t In 19451945 the Fleet inclt,dedincluded 106106 boats:boats:

- 2 --~ CometsComets 5S - LightningsLightnings

- 4 -- SixSix MetersMeters 11 - Sta,ClassStar Class

- Sail 3 - SnipesSnipes 11ll - MiscellaneousMiscellaneous Sail

- Boats 6 - DinghiesDinghies 24 - PowerPower Boats - Sail - : 4 - "R""R" BoatsBoats 36 - AuxiliaryAuxiliary Sail

This vas the ItIt waswas inin 19481948 thatthat RX.C.R.Y.C. came intointo prominence.prominence. This ,,,,as the the Rochester Race,Race, thethe longestlongest freshfresh waterwater racerace inin thethe world.world. InIn the vea,-syears Mackinac of its running, it rated v.with ith thethe PortPort HudsonHudson andand ChicagoChicago Mackinac Yacht circuit. racesraces and withwith thesethese racesraces formedformed aa SummerSummer Yacht RacingRacing circuit. in the In the early 50’s50's wewehad had highhighwater water asas wewedid did againagain in the earlyearly 70’s.70's. at its we It ,,,,,aswas about about 19531953that thatthe the DragonDragon FleetFleet arrived,arrived, at its peakpeak we Dulles had eleveneleven boats. The inter-Club TrophyTrophy waswas thethe JohnJohn Foster Dulles Past Commodores Cup. The Mayors,Mayors, Klaus Baess,Baess, DarnetlDarnell andand Past Commodore’s and after all these the Trophies, were fought forfor atat home.home. Yes,Yes, and after all these years,years, the Class is still very much alive. Through the history of the C!ub, we have raced custom builtbuilt Through the history of the Club, we have raced custom and "6"s. The boats, rule7rule, built "P"s && "R"s,:’R"s,then thenthe theMeter Meterboats boats "8"s and "6°s. The International next classes toto comecome werewere thethe OneOne Design, Star, Dragon, International 14’s,14's, .Tolly JollyBoats, Boats,Rhodes RhodesBantams, Bantams,Knarrs, Knarrs,420's, 420’s,Tempest, Tempest,Solings. Solings, Ensigns, 505’s,505's, Lasers Lasers andand now Windsurfers.Windsurfers. ex- Durin_-.During the the latelate 60's60’s andand early 70’s70's R.Y.C. carried carried outout a mostmost ex- new lockers, sheet tensive physical expansionexpansion program. ItIt involvedinvolvedall all new lockers, sheet tennis piling the entire basin, a new steel shed forfor winterwinter storage, tennis a restoration of the Clubhouse. courts, a swimming pool and a completecomplete restoration of the Clubhouse. the Club. In 19821982 wewe purchasedpurchased the Yacht CenterCenter propertyproperty adjoining the Club. we went all out. The Com- 1977 waswas ourour Centennial year and we went all out. The Com- The Vice Commodore modore assigned aa tasktask toto eacheach flagflag officer.officer. The Vice Commodore the hundred in print. was given thethe responsibilityresponsibilityof ofputting putting the hundredyears years in print. would do Club It was a monumenta!monumental task,task, however;however; thethe result would do anyany Club R.C.Y.C. us a beautiful proud. WeWe had aa specialspecial CentennialCentennial BurgeeBurgee R.C.Y.C. gavegave us a beautiful L.Y.R.A. Also we had a formal ball silver cup.cup. ThatThat yearyear wewe hostedhosted L.Y.R.A. Also we had a formal ball that waswas wellwell attendedattended byby thethe membership.membership. events. 1979 -- R.Y.C.R.Y.C. has has beenbeen aa moving factorfactor in many sailing events. we have We have hosted L.Y.R.A.,LY.R.A., Districts Districts andand National Regattas.Regattas. Also,Also, we have had World Championships,Championships, 1936t936the theStar Star Class,Class, 19481948International International 1975 Worlds l4's,14’s,1956 !956Rhodes RhodesBantams, Bantams, 19731973Flying FlyingDutchmans, Dutchmans, 1975 Worlds was to be We hosted Dragons. The year 1979,1979, however, was to be outstanding. We hosted was the the "Women’s"Womens Worlds'C~,’v’orlds".They Theyraced racedin in420's 420’sand andLasers. Lasers.This This was the first Women’sWomen's Worlds Worldsever everheld held inin thethe United States.States. as we In 19821982 we were againagain toto sendsend anan R.Y.C.R.Y.C. boat toto Europe,Europe, as we did in 1936.1936. However, this this timetime itit waswas anan 88 Meter.Meter. "Iroquois""Iroquois"went went toto if that wasn't Norway and came home a world champion andand if that wasn’t enough it in 1983. to prove a point, they repeatedrepeated it in 1983. off the lake to Through thethe yearsyears R.Y.C:sR.Y.CIs boats boats havehave racedraced off the lake to ChicagoChicago R.Y.C. in the in 1899.1899. Then throughthrough thethe years,years, S.O.R.C.S.O.R.C. sawsaw thethe R.Y.C. BurgeeBurgee in the in the 60's60’sand and70's, 70’s,six sixtimes timesin inthe theBermuda BermudaRace, Race,five fivetimes times in theChicago Chicago for our Mackinac, andand eighteight times in the PortPort HuronHuron Mackinac.Mackinac. AsAs for our Mediterranean. cruising boats, we currently have two in the Mediterranean. that R.Y.C. We cancan thank our foundingfounding fathersfathers forfor thethe greatgreat histmwhistory that RX.C. is still the same has had over the past 100100 oddodd yearsyears andand ourour objectobject is still the same and of as theirs;theirs; "The"The encouragementencouragement and promotion of yachting."yachting:’

*Reference -- - WilliamWilliamF. EPeck's Peck’s FrankFrank C. C.DiemDiem History of Rochester, N.Y.N."I’:1884 1884Club ClubHistorian Historian