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

have to go, “Clearwater Yacht Club is where you want to go.” This club is, and always has been, seriously dedicated to the fine art of having fun. Kids and teens have historically joined in the fun at CYC. Newspaper articles in Taver Bayly’s scrapbook show youth activities at CYC started as early as the 1930s. A junior yacht club (called CYC Jr.) for the sons and daughters of members was organized in August of 1936. CYC Jr. held weekly dances with live music. In order to pay for the band, each participant was charged an entry fee of five cents. Other youth activities of this period included bridge, ping-pong, and, of course, sailing. A newspaper article carried by the Clearwater Sun in October of 1938 tells of another popular youth group at the club. “Far and away, the most popular organization for the entertainment of the Clearwater and winter visitor high school set is the newly formed “Swing

Club,” a young people’s organization of the Clearwater Yacht Club. The Swing Club was originally organized among the high school set, but so popular have the weekly programs become that its membership has been broadened to include the city’s younger set as well. During the summer vacation months, frequently more than 200 young folks jammed the gaily decorated yacht club building on the beach for the program of games and dancing.” Among the activities of the “Swing Club” was a costume contest in which participants were challenged to create garments out of newspaper. The winners of the contest were Miss Hazel Flowers dressed as a bride and Theodore Kamensky, Jr., (the past commodore’s son) dressed in drag as a hula dancer (newspaper clipping housed in the Heritage Village Archives and Library). Today, the children and youth of CYC are active participants in all parts of club life from regattas to formal events. The “big blue slide” is a particular favorite of kids of all ages at special poolside events such as Fourth of July parties, birthday parties, and dockside cook-outs.

CYC Follies with the flying nuns (2001). Collage by Fay Nicholson.

Chapter 9: Entertainment through the Years 97