History of the Club
SCCYC is the longest-lived yacht club in Santa Monica Bay and among the oldest on the Pacific Coast, tracing its incorporation to the depression year of 1932 on March 31, 1932.
South Coast Corinthian Yacht Club has gone through many changes from its earlier foundations. But the club has always retained a spirit of yachting and having a good time. Today, we are a diverse cross-section of the yachting community, comprising a variety of craft from dinghys to ocean racers and members from those who compete in international regattas to casual cruisers of sailboats and power craft.
Highlights of the early years. Depression and War years.
As the great depression deepened and spread, two key groups in SCCYC’s early history formed; Santa Monica Sailing Club and South Coast Corinthian Yacht Club, both organized in 1932. The Sailing Club was mainly composed of Star, Snipe and dinghy sailors who met informally and never incorporated. The Yacht Club was actively promoted by large boat “yachtsmen”, collected dues and hefty initiation fees with an eye toward construction of major facilities to be owned as a cooperative.
The Sailing Club sailors launched their home built boats from the sands of Santa Monica beach and met informally in ocean-front cabins. It’s first Commodore was August Paulson. The Yacht Club’s first Commodore was Eugene Overton and after completion of the Santa Monica breakwater in 1934, the yacht club occupied a small meeting room on the Santa Monica Pier.
By 1937 the City of Santa Monica chose to abandon plans for yacht moorings inside the seriously deteriorated breakwater, instead granting a lease to the proposed Catalina Island steamer to moor at the pier. SCCYC abandoned its dream to build a large clubhouse in that area. Contributions for construction were returned; the club disposed of its assets and essentially went dormant.
In 1938, the Yacht Club and the Sailing Club merged into the SCCYC. The new group elected new Officers/Board of Directors and started to grow and thrive. By the end of the decade, the Club had joined the Southern California Yacht Racing Association (SCYRA) sponsoring the first Pacific Coast Championship Regatta in Santa Monica Bay.
About this time, another sailing club was formed out of a group of Douglas Aircraft Company employees starting a project to build their own sailing dinghies. They selected a design by George Owen and Jack Wood of MIT’s School of Naval Architecture, similar to the dinghy used at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, but modified for performance in the choppy waters of Santa Monica Bay. At first, they had no official name, though some called themselves “The Hoboken Bilge Association.” When enough boats were built they became “The Santa Monica Delta Dinghy Fleet.” In 1942, the Santa Monica Dinghy Fleet joined SCCYC.
The Postwar Boom
In the late 40s SCCYC played an instrumental role in developing the Southern California Performance Handicapping Fleet system.
To understand performance handicapping in Southern California, it is necessary to go back in time over 50 years to 1947. Imagine the yachting society of that era. World War II had ended only a few short years before. Fiberglass boats were still at least ten years away from initial production. The high aspect ratio sloop rig would not appear for a few more years. The yachts of that era were heavy displacement ketches and schooners, moderate displacement cruising sloops and yawls, sleek Meter boats, R-boats, and others.
The racing craft, when not actually engaged in class racing, raced against each other using one of the measurement handicapping systems of that time (all spin-offs of the Universal Rule developed by Nathaniel Herreschoff in 1901), primarily the Cruising Club of America (CCA) Rule on the East Coast, and the Ocean Racing Fleet (ORF) Rule on the West Coast. One of a kind boats and non-racing craft were not rated. There was a need for a handicapping system that would rate all types and sizes of boats…a system that would be easy to administer at nominal cost.
The organizers of the first race from Newport Beach, California to Ensenada, Mexico in 1947 had the desire to encourage as many yachts as possible to participate. Southern California Yachting Association (SCYA) appointed a well-known yachtsman, Hal Adams of SCCYC, to develop handicaps for the race that would potentially give all of the entrants a fair chance to win if they sailed well. It was called Arbitrary Handicap Racing. Hal gave each yacht a time allowance per mile based on its anticipated performance, and made adjustments based on past observed performance.
Hal Adams generously served as the one and only handicapper for twelve years, until in early 1959, when he asked to retire.
A group of yacht club representatives met and agreed to form such an organization. This group consisted of: Harry Wills (South Coast Corinthian Yacht Club); and other SoCal racers
1959 – Officers of the organization were proposed and a set of by-laws were drafted. The name of the new association was to be the PACIFIC HANDICAP RACING FLEET (PHRF). A letter, dated August 1, 1959, invited each skipper listed in the Arbitrary Racing Fleet to the first official meeting, held at Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club. With 44 interested skippers in attendance, Chairman Frank Dair called the meeting to order officers were elected, and the by-laws were accepted. Elected officers were: President, Harry Wills of SCCYC
As the post-war boom dawned, SCCYC was hotter than ever. Racing and cruising again became popular events. In 1955 Donald Morgan organized the first Sabot fleet. In 1958, Staff Commodores Warren Bradley, Firmin Porter and Donald Morgan organized the importing of seven Enterprise kits from England. And in 1959, Dick Walford organized the Satellite fleet, to later become known as the Super-Satellite Fleet.
Highlights of 1960-1969
In 1961 SCCYC helped to establish the Associate of Santa Monica Bay Yacht Clubs (ASMBYC) to promote and coordinate yachting activities in the Bay. Other Charter Member clubs included Del Rey Yacht Club, Malibu Yacht Club, Windjammers Yacht Club, California Yacht Club and King Harbor Yacht Club. Also, in this year the new Champion fleet was organized.
In 1966, SCCYC’s dream of the thirties became a reality when the club committed to build its own clubhouse on Mindanao Way. The construction started in March, and by December the SCCYC burgee hung over its own facility. SCCYC became an integral part of the thriving marina yachting scene.
Highlights of 1970 – 1979
The 1970s brought expanded social and racing events to SCCYC members. Television’s Channel 2 News (CBS) covered the first wedding ceremony on club premises, held for Flag Members John and Aneta Francis. New social activities created by SCCYC President, Pat McElderry, included an annual boat show and a boat-hopping party. The SCCYC Christmas parties were not to be missed, with Hal Pritchard playing Santa. Weekly and monthly dinners were served, the most well-known being the “International Dinners” hosted by various Club members.
On the water, Staff Commodore Guy Laurendeau raced his offshore thirty-two foot yacht, Ziguener, to top honors in the Ensenada race in 1972. SCCYC sponsored the first “Ladies at the Helm” race in 1973, an activity presented by Vice Commodore Al Bergen. The Les Storrs Series of races was established in 1976, honoring our 1936 Commodore. Thanks to the adept camera techniques of Buck Trippel, South Coast Corinthian was the first yacht club to have video replay of races. In 1978, two members, Kas Kastner and Jules Rensen, established the Santana 20 fleet in the Marina (Fleet One of the Santana 20 Class). In 1979, Sandy Clark skippered his yacht, Quamichan, in the TransPac, a race to Honolulu, the first SCCYC yacht to do so.
Highlights of 1980 – 1989
Virginia Atkinson was voted in as the Commodore of SCCYC in 1980. Virginia was the first female Commodore in Marina del Rey and the second in Southern California,. Virginia was the second woman to be voted into Blue Gavel, an organization of Staff Commodores.
The Club saw many improvements in the eighties including a new refrigeration unit, television, large capacity ice machine and beer/soft drink dispensing machine. Gary and Pam Magnuson devoted the majority of their free weekend time to sponsoring Sunday brunches to raise money for a two-ton hoist upgrade. Unfortunately, the cost of the work proved prohibitive.
In 1983, Steve Carrick became the youngest Commodore ever among Marina del Rey yacht clubs. In 1984, Commodore Bill Sheffer hosted the now famous Commodore’s Barbecue. Bill also initiated, organized and sponsored the Clambake Cruise for Labor Day, 1984.
Then a yacht club’s worse nightmare came true. Our landlord increased the rent so drastically that we simply could not afford to stay. Our membership was at an all time low.
In 1989, we became “homeless.” But not before the biggest, best and still the only “Closing Day Ceremony” in MdR.
Highlights of 1990 – 1999
For two and a half years after our departure from the Clubhouse on Mindanao Way, a core of Members struggled to keep the Club alive and active. Meetings were held at other MdR yacht clubs, at restaurants, or at Member’s homes. The club remained active in ASMBYC and SCYA and met our financial responsibilities to these organizations.
The nineties were shaping up to be a decade of rebirth for SCCYC. In mid 1991, Ken Nairne negotiated a lease for a small space in the second floor of a yacht brokers’ building on Admiralty Way. It was a place, not a palace, but Members pitched in to remodel and pulled old furnishings out of storage.
After about a year and a half on Admiralty Way, Ken successfully negotiated to get the old Clubhouse back for less rent than the club had been paying when it left in 1989. So in January 1993, SCCYC moved back to the original facility on Mindanao Way and implemented an aggressive membership drive. 1993Opening Day Ceremonies for SCCYC were perhaps its best ever. SCCYC had come home and the entire Marina knew it.
In August 1993 with the combined enthusiasm of new Members and the tenacity of seasoned Members, the Clubhouse got a major facelift including new carpeting; linoleum; paint; and bar countertop; with the promise of a strong new presence in the yachting community.
The Club continued to grow and was extremely active in racing during the watches of Commodore Bob Kellock 1996/1997 and Commodore Mike Priest 1998. Both Bob and Mike continued to excel as race chairs and racing leaders as Staff Commodores.
In 1999, Commodore Gil Gflener, Vice Commodore Sandy Clark and Rear Commodore Sherry Barone successfully negotiated the re-purchase of the hoist by SCCYC for $1. It was restored to service using a grant from Irene Campbell (Hay), painted by volunteers, and appropriately marked by Dick Peterson. It allowed the fleet of Stars, Cal 20’s, and Santana 20’s to launch from dry storage. On any day the club was buzzing with activity.
Highlights of 2000 – 2010
In 2000, Commodore Sandy Clark led SCCYC into the new millennium, and Mike Priest won ASMBYC’s Yachtsman of the Year award. In 2001, Commodore Sherry Barone started the Junior Shipmate Program to teach teams of Special Olympic athletes and able-bodied children how to sail. Many club members provided the training boats. The club held numerous fundraisers – Turning the Tides on MS, Diabetes Foundation, American Red Cross, Special Olympics in true keeping with the Corinthian Traditions.
Big racing accomplishments for the club included Mike Cheda, on his Santana 20 (Bandit), winning the Marylyn Ritchie trophy for top boat for the Wednesday Sunset Series in 2000 and 2001. In 2003 Dr. Sandy Clark, with his Davidson 44 – Quamichan, swept the Salsa Division of the Del-Rey Yacht Club, Marina del Rey to Puerto Vallarta Race. In 2007 Steve Arkle won the Schock 35 Pacific Coast Championship on Power Play and Karyn Jones was awarded the Peggy Slater Trophy for her contribution to women’s sailing by SCYC.
Strong leadership continued with Stu Coleman as Commodore, in 2008, Tom Estlow in 2009 and Bruce Fleck in 2010. In 2008 SCCYC was recognized as the Southern California Yachting Association “Club of the Year” for the first time in the club’s 76-year history and the honor was repeated in 2010
Highlights of 2010 - Current
Strong leadership kept the club strong during some tumultuous times. Tracey Kenney, took the helm of the club in 2001. In that same year, Flag Member Dana Hutton was sworn in as Commodore of ASMBYC and the fabled Bob Kellock was recognized as a Life Member of SCCYC. . Having served her term as WSA Commodore, Karyn Jones became Commodore in our 80th year as a Yacht Club. Steve Vincent followed in 2013, Nick Sampson in 2014 and the indefatigable Trevor Bazeley in 2015.
During this period the club prepared to move into its current clubhouse. It was forced to vacate its beloved clubhouse to make way for the construction of Trader Joe’s and moved into a temporary clubhouse in Fisherman’s Village. Commodores Brian Keown, David Fernandez and Jennifer Kitchen kept the club vibrant and fun during this period.
Some racing highlights: Commodore, Kenney flew the SCCYC Burgee at the US Sailing Championship of Champions regatta in 2001 Jerome Samarcelli, completed the 165nm Bishop Rock Race aboard his Pogo2 in little more than 30 hours in 2002. Thomas Lehtonen on his classic Cal 36 won his class in N2E three years in a row, twice in cruising and in 2021 in PHRF. Kathy St Amant has raced N2E more than 40 years and keeps on going and going and going. She and her crew on Rascal can be seen on the water almost as often as Lenny Gordon and his crew on Sunshine.
The club faced some of its darkest days when in 2020 the global pandemic forced closure of the beloved club that would normally be open 24 hours a day seven days a week. Despite its closure, the Board boldly went forward with occupancy of the new clubhouse in March of 2021 and volunteers began making the improvements, building the bar and moving all of the club furnishings and racing stores into the new smaller space.
Alas, there would be no opening day in 2021, but in 2022, Commodore Mark Brazil and his Board celebrated in earnest as the club reopened and the marina celebrated. Our vital volunteers keep improving the club and restarting the club activities. As we turn the page on our 90th year, our best days are ahead of us.