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

A trio of cookbooks: 1979, 2010, and 2000. CYC Archives.

Libations have also played a rather important role in the history of the club. Starting with the Grapefruit Party and moving on to the club’s popular Tiki Bar, adult beverages have certainly been part of the club’s culture. One particular beverage-related tradition is worthy of note. Inconspicuously placed next to the window on the wall of CYC’s Taver Bayly Dining Room adjacent to the Grill Room, hangs a big, brass ship’s bell that can get members into a world of trouble. In navy drinking establishments and yacht clubs around the world, there exists a tradition of “taxing” anyone who rings the bell for unauthorized purposes. The hapless bell ringer is required to purchase a round of drinks for all souls lucky enough to be present when the indiscretion is committed. No one knows exactly how the tradition originated, but it may quite possibly have its roots in the centuries old relationship between the use of ship’s bells to mark watches and the issuance of “tots” of rum to sailors in the British Navy. Like the origin of the tradition itself, the origins of CYC’s ship’s bell are also somewhat murky. Long-time CYC members on the Historical Committee

Past Commodore Walt Powell (far left) at the Tiki Bar with “Uncle Bud” (far right) tending bar. John Ardolino is next to Walt and Ben Morgan is next to “Uncle Bud.” CYC Archives.

remember it being around through several CYC moves. At some point, PC George Hanselman and his wife Margaret (who donated the “crow’s nest” that serves as the reviewing stand and observation tower for the CYC marina), found it lurking around in an abandoned corner of the club. They had it professionally polished and refurbished and returned to service. For many years thereafter, CYC staff used the bell to signal the start of the dinner hour and other official events. Whatever the origins of the bell, the traditional penalty for its unauthorized

Chapter 9: Entertainment through the Years 93