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

organizer Rich Grajirena sailed the Southern Star (owned by Brad and Dick Lazzara of Gulfstar Marine Company) to victory in this first Kahlua Cup Regatta. The St. Petersburg Times quotes CYC Commodore Spencer Scheideman: “People come to this area primarily because of the water, and water front activities…we are so proud to have sponsored this major race, the first one in the Club’s history of its size, that the Kahlua Cup will always be a landmark for us.” While the name has been changed to the Clearwater Challenge and the format has been changed from a distance race to a series of round the buoy races, the successor to the Kahlua Cup is still held at CYC each November and continues to draw sailing yachts of various sizes and classes from around the state. CYC members from all constituencies of the club pitch in to help host the kick-off party, sell apparel, party with the competitors, and serve as members of the Race, Safety, and Landside committees.

Above: Kahlua Cup flyer from the 1980 regatta. Courtesy of Betty McGraw Perkins. Left: Kahlua Cup start, 1980. Photo by Greg Wilt; courtesy of Betty McGraw Perkins. Below: Yachts gathered at CYC for the 1980 Kahlua Cup race. Photo by Greg Wilt; courtesy of Betty McGraw Perkins.

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