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Shilshole Bay Yacht
Club was formed in September 1961 as a Washington State
Corporation, a recreation-oriented boating organization with
emphasis on member participation and informality. The principal
founder and first commodore was A. W. (Monty) Morton. In those
early days, meetings were held in the Port Authority
Administration Building at Shilshole Bay. However, the club soon
outgrew those quarters, so local restaurants in the area were
used as meeting locations.
A permanent meeting place was acquired in 1965, after sufficient
reserves were accumulated, through the purchase of the CHIMACUM,
a retired freighter-ferry (64' LOA) built in 1928 and last used
on the Port Orchard to Oyster Bay run. For several years, the
CHIMACUM was moored on "J" dock at Shilshole Bay Marina. By the
mid-1970's, however, the maintenance, moorage, and keep-afloat
costs became too expensive; and, since only half of the
increasing membership could comfortably attend a dinner meeting,
its continued use could not be justified. In 1977, the boat was
sold for one dollar to an entrepreneur who towed the vessel to
LaConnor.
Following the sale of the CHIMACUM, the club moved into a large
meeting room on the first floor of the Shilshole Bay Marina's
administration building. The Members enthusiastically decorated
the room in a nautical theme, but it was found that by the late
'70's that there was not even enough room for buffet suppers as
the size of the membership had doubled. Dinner meetings were
moved to the Seafair Room, the largest banquet room in the
Port's building. In 1979, SBYC placed a trophy case on the
second floor in the main upstairs entrance of the Port building.
During the early 1980's as the club's racing enthusiasts
increased to nearly half of the members, the club published its
first official Race Instructions booklet. Traditional racing
series were established, including the Tuesday Night Series, the
Jack-n-Jills, and the Snowbird Series. In 1982, the club
sponsored its first Trans-Puget Classic open race for PHRF
boats.
A junior program was established in 1981, and, over the next
four years the juniors won two seconds and a first place trophy
for decorated theme boats in Seattle Yacht Club's annual opening
Day parade. The cruising program was expanded also, with a
cruise virtually every month of the year. The club marked
several milestones in the late 1980's. In 1987, SBYC installed
Peggy Willis as its first woman commodore. That same year, the
Trans-Puget race was recognized as a qualifying event for
Seattle Yacht Club's prestigious Grand Prix.
During the early 1990's, the club weathered a sagging economy
and a host of crippling new boat taxes. In late 1993, after a
restaurant change in the Port building, the club moved its
dinners, board meetings and trophy case to Anthony's Home Port,
and began to enjoy improved service and atmosphere. The late
1990’s saw a period of considerable success on the racing
circuits. 1995 was a very good year for club boats including a
complete sweep of the Switsure Classic. Guenter Frahm’s Freya
took fist overall in the Juan de Fuca race; Glen Utgaard’s
Windbird first overall in the Cape Flattery race and Charles
Burnett’s Cassiopeia first overall in the Swiftsure race.
Several club boats were honored by making it into the top ten
boats of the year, while others had successes in the Vic-Maui
race. John Guzzwell completed the Single-handed Transpac on
Endangered Species.
By the late 1990’s and in to the new century several members
were flying the club burgee worldwide. Shingebiss, Destiny,
Carthigenian, Cape St James,Storm Vogel and Epic are among the
extended offshore cruisers.
The year 2000 saw several changes. After seven years at
Anthony’s the club moved the dinner meeting location to the
Yankee Grill to better meet members’ expectations. A major new
race series was kicked off in cooperation with the Sloop Tavern.
The Ballard Cup is an evening spring and summer series which
promises to be a great success.
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