Boca Ciega Yacht Club Fun Day is Saturday, May 8, 2010 in Gulfport, Florida. The four-hour event starts at 1:00 p.m. and features sailboat rides on Boca Ciega Bay using members' sailboats. The entire event is free and open to the public.
Door prizes are given away every half hour. There is face painting and color book contests for the kids. Older children interested in the Sea Scout program can find information about Ship 915 sponsored by BCYC. Sea Scouts is part of the Boy Scouts of America providing a co-ed outdoor program for young adults aged 14-21. Adults can tour the many marine industry vendor booths and take a ride on a sailboat.
Jean Proach, Event Chairperson for the last six years, said this event is an important way for the club to give back to the Gulfport community. “It’s really surprising how many people from Gulfport do not know what their city looks like from the water.” Jean commented. “Many of them have never been on a sailboat and are thrilled to be out on the water.”
Boca Ciega Yacht Club traces its history to the Sunshine City Boat Club organized in 1942. Members of the Sunshine City Boat Club constructed a dock in the Vinoy Basin without the knowledge or consent of the Saint Petersburg City Council. The city eventually gave the 110-boat club a lease. Two decades later the club relocated to the Gulfport Municipal Marina to make room for the MGM Bounty and became known as the Boca Ciega Yacht Club.
Unlike some yacht clubs in the area BCYC is very informal. There is no restaurant or bar onsite let alone a swimming pool. The clubhouse is large but not air-conditioned or heated nor do the members want it to be. The all-volunteer club has no paid staff. Not only does this keep the cost of membership low it encourages camaraderie among members as they work together to address the needs of the club.
BCYC Offers the Sailing Lifestyle
BCYC offers many opportunities to experience the sailing lifestyle. Some of the most popular are the monthly club cruises to various area anchorages and marinas. Longer voyages to Southwest Florida, the Florida Keys including the Dry Tortugas as well as the Bahamas and other destinations occur when the cruising bug bites.
Racing enthusiasts will enjoy PHRF and One Design events on the Gulf of Mexico or on Boca Ciega Bay. The club offers a cruising division and a growing list of theme races. For instance the winner of a race may be the sailboat returning with the most fish caught. One popular race, held on Independence Day, tests sailors' skills at sailing backwards and involves water cannon.
The sailing school, established in 1967, offers spring and fall classes that include 10 hours of classroom training and 16 hours sailing over a five week period. Students learn to sail from experienced sailors in a classroom environment and on 16.5 foot Catalina keel sailboats.
The Youth Sailing Program continues in this tradition by offering kids kids eight years and older a chance to learn to sail and enjoy the water front using the clubs’ pram fleet. The program does not involve racing. The school starts in June and runs twice a week all summer.
Gulfport Resident Discount
A Gulfport, FL resident qualifies for a BCYC $50.00 membership and the City of Gulfport offers a substantial discount on wet and dry slips.
The Boca Ciega Yacht Club Annual Fun Day is a no-cost way to enjoy an afternoon of sailing fun, making new friends, and learning more about sailboats and the sailing life. All this and a free lunch to boot.
Matt Maloy - Matt Maloy, writer, artist and photographer has been sailing small boats for nearly thirty years. Based in Largo Florida, he chronicles ...
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