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

CYC Cruisers at play. Collage by Miles Curry.

86 The First Hundred Years: Clearwater Yacht Club, 1911-2011 As CYC members throw their socks into the burning embers of the fire pit, the commodore declares: “Whereas all of our socks have been burned, I, as the Commodore of this great organization, known as the Clearwater Yacht Club, now declare the official opening of boating season...sans socks!” Another, more whimsical highlight of the Cruisers’ contributions to CYC is the institution (in 2004) of the annual Sock Burning Ceremony held on the eve of the Blessing of the Fleet. At this impressive ceremony is read a proclamation beginning with these auspicious words: “Hear ye all members of the Clearwater Yacht Club. Whereas spring officially arrives tomorrow, we are gathered here this evening to bid farewell to the dreaded winter days of Florida that forced us to cover up our toes with unsightly socks and pantyhose. To this we say ‘NO MORE’!”