The First Hundred Years: Clearwater Yacht Club, 1911-2011

Change of Watch

The club’s year begins with the Change of Watch, which is held on the first Saturday in December. This formal event is divided into three symbolic segments: 1. the outgoing commodore’s farewell address and award ceremony; 2. the Flag Pole Ceremony; and 3. the incoming commodore’s welcome, installation of officers, and formal dinner dance. In the first segment of the evening (held in the club’s downstairs meeting room), the outgoing commodore makes his final address to the club where he thanks his outgoing officers, board of directors, trustees, and appointees and gives them farewell mementos. The outgoing commodore then presents the club’s major awards for the year. These awards, themselves, are key

Top: Change of Watch Ceremony at the Mandalay Clubhouse in 1958. Gentlemen with flags: Commodore Don Cochran, Jr. (right), Vice Commodore George Reynolds (center), Rear Commodore Edgar Ralston (left). Courtesy of the Cochran family. Bottom Left: At the 2008– 2009 Change of Watch, Vice Commodore Brenda Hanson (left) congratulates Sandie Ramsden—the 2008 recipient of the Marie Shepard McMahon Award. CYC Archives. Bottom Right: Master Julian Hinds (left) escorts Dr. SAM Cantrell at the 2009–2010 Change of Watch. CYC Archives.

106 The First Hundred Years: Clearwater Yacht Club, 1911-2011