A yacht club is a boat club specifically related to yachting .
53-667: The Grosse Pointe Yacht Club ( GPYC ) is a private yacht club located on the shore of Lake St. Clair in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan . The club is a member of the Detroit Regional Yacht-racing Association (DRYA). The clubhouse is prominently visible and a well-known landmark along the shoreline of the lake north of Detroit . The club was initially founded as the Grosse Pointe Ice Boat Club in 1910 by Frank Verheyden. However, in 1918,
106-484: A marina or a delimited section of the beach or shoreline with buoys marking the areas off-limits for swimmers as well as safe offshore anchorages. On shore they also include a perimeter reserved for the exclusive use of the members of the club as well as a clubhouse with attached bar , café or restaurant where members socialize in a pleasant and informal setting. Although the terms Yacht Club and Sailing Club tend to be synonymous, some general differences regarding
159-402: A sailing center. The club includes 3 dining rooms, a main ballroom, six bars, a pool deck and two wine cellars. The club facilities have been updated and modernized several times. The harbor has been enlarged and improved as membership quadrupled. However, the architectural integrity of Lowell's original design and the views of Lake St. Clair have been maintained. A view of the club is shown as
212-404: A Transport Canada exam. Recreational boating deaths could be dramatically reduced with increased use of personal flotation devices or life jackets. Wear rates in 2003 were around 22.4%, although state and federal laws requiring children to wear flotation were more common, and therefore children's wear rates were much higher than those for adults. Relatively few children die in boating accidents;
265-442: A background to the rolling credits at the end of the movie Gran Torino (2008) starring Clint Eastwood. as well as an aerial view of the club's tower panning to encompass Lakeshore Dr. in a scene in the 1997 John Cusak film Grosse Pointe Blank . Yacht club Yacht clubs are mostly located by the sea , although there some that have been established at a lake or riverside locations. Yacht or sailing clubs have either
318-487: A ball room and several dining rooms, with the largest being able to seat 250. However, increasing budget overruns left the clubhouse in debt during the Great Depression , causing it to foreclose despite attempts from the club to solicit more members. Several optimistic members purchased the club back from creditors during the beginning of World War II , as they predicted an increase in household spending power. In 1984,
371-468: A boat from a trailer and swing it into the water (generally less than 6 tons). Larger boats are kept at marinas, which offer a berth protected from the weather and a variety of support services, such as fuel and equipment. A more recent form of storage is rack storage where runabouts are stored in large steel racks, sometimes four or five boats high, and perhaps 25 boats across. These racks are housed in sheds, and large specialized fork trucks are used to lift
424-460: A boat, known as "teak surfing" or "platform towing") and the implementation of various warning placards to educate boaters of the hazards arising from these activities. Other CO-related deaths were attributed to high concentrations of CO gas from houseboat generator exhaust, where swimmers were able to access an area near the stern of the boats that collected the exhaust. This has led to improved pollution controls on modern generator sets, and changes in
477-530: A commercial basis. They may be owned by individuals or a company to provide a service and generate a profit. Often they are associated with a particular marina or port . Objectives are usually broadly similar to members clubs, but the social side may be more dominant. There is a long historical tradition behind yacht clubs. According to the date of establishment, the Neva Yacht Club , founded in 1718 in Russia ,
530-772: A few clubs in the United Kingdom the Admiral , which is one rank above the Commodore, is the senior officer. Each of these ranks has specific responsibilities to ensure the smooth sailing of the club. Members of yacht clubs typically gather at a clubhouse or shore station which may also have docks. The oldest yacht club in the world without a clubhouse is Sheldrake Yacht Club (Mamaroneck, New York) . The traditions and prestige normally associated with yacht clubs have to some extent been subverted or appropriated unofficially by groups and businesses calling themselves "yacht clubs". For example,
583-490: A licence, while recreational boating on coastal waters only requires a licence when a certain boat size is exceeded (e.g. a length of 20 meters), or when passenger ships, ferries or tugboats are steered. Boating on international waters does not require any licence, due to the absence of any laws or restrictions in this area. Some of the member states of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe issue
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#1732847801742636-580: A nautical or water-oriented theme. Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club was the unofficial name for the United States Seventh Fleet during the Vietnam War . In this case the term "yacht club" was appropriated with humorous intentions . The Seventh Fleet's nickname became very popular among its members at the time. The oldest yacht clubs are: The oldest yacht clubs are: Boating Boating
689-504: A navigational aid for boaters on the lake. Upon entering the club a 50-foot foyer leads to a rotunda which leads to points throughout the club. A bronze sculpture of Wheeler Williams , entitled "Rhythm of the Waves", is a prominent feature. Amenities of the club, besides the marina itself, include a bowling alley that is open year round, an Olympic-size pool , several clay tennis courts, two lighted paddle tennis courts, pickle ball courts and
742-744: A number of yacht clubs enter into agreements with schools to provide dock space and practice facilities for the school teams year-round. Clubs with active adult sailing programs most often feature junior sailing programs as well. Most often these programs enroll children from ages 8 to 16. Children most often learn to sail in the optimist (dinghy) and then progress to a larger single handed dinghy such as starling or laser dinghy or two handed such as 420 (dinghy) . These junior sailing programs often also teach children rowing , kayaking , general seamanship and navigation . Children are also taught how to race competitively from an early age and most clubs host junior sailing regattas each season. Members belonging to
795-524: A regular weekday evening racing schedule or a weekend racing schedule organized by the membership. Many yacht clubs field teams to compete against other clubs in team racing . There are also some specific boat models and lengths which have their own club. These boat ownership clubs often hold single design races for their members. With the growth of sailing at secondary schools and universities many yacht clubs host Interscholastic Sailing Association or Intercollegiate Sailing Association regattas. Additionally,
848-599: A small auxiliary engine), cruisers (25–65 ft. (8–20 m) powerboats with cabins), and cruising and racing sailboats (25–65 Ft. (8–20 m) sailboats with auxiliary engines). Center console (18 to 75 ft. (18-23m) power boats that have a large interior typically used for fishing, with its high speed performance design and engine also used in water sports. Deck boats (25-35 ft.(8-11m) that are characterized by an open deck area and used typically for leisure activities. Lifeboats (smaller, quicker watercrafts equipped with emergency equipment in which to help voyagers in case of emergency in
901-514: A specified length when underway. Personal watercraft have increased in popularity for the last 15 years, and account for about 70 fatalities per year (2002). However, operators of personal watercraft commonly wear personal flotation devices, and therefore have a relatively low incidence of drowning. Trauma, largely due to collisions with other vessels and the shoreline, accounts for 70% of personal watercraft fatalities while drowning accounts for about 30%. Personal flotation device types as defined by
954-434: A yacht club or sailing organization may fly their club's unique flag (usually triangular), called a burgee , both while under way and at anchor (however, not while racing). Traditionally, the burgee was flown from the main masthead; however, it may also be flown from a small pole on the bow pulpit, or on the starboard rigging beneath the lowest starboard spreader on a flag halyard. Some traditional clubs have also been granted
1007-564: Is being done. Anchoring a boat is also critical in emergency situations and is a good safety measure whenever a vessel becomes disabled. There are three types of anchors, the Plow-style, the Fluke-style, and the Mushroom anchor. A rope anchor line should be at least four times longer than the depth of the water in the anchorage. A seven to eight foot chain should also be attached between the rope and
1060-423: Is less of a problem than the same situation in fresh water. Salt water is a good conductor and it carries current away to ground quickly. Fresh water is a poor conductor and when alternating current forms an electrical potential near a boat, the current can paralyze a swimmer. Because electrical drownings frequently present no obvious signs of injury, post-mortem examinations often fail to identify electrical shock as
1113-586: Is now being introduced as the older type I-V personal flotation device labels are being phased out. In the United States, approximately 700 people die every year as a result of recreational boating accidents, according to the Boating Accident Reporting Database, published annually by the U.S. Coast Guard. Alcohol use was the number one contributing factor in U.S. recreational boating deaths between 2003 and 2012, accounting for 15 percent of
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#17328478017421166-1008: Is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats , sailboats , or man-powered vessels (such as rowing and paddle boats), focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or waterskiing . It is a popular activity, and there are millions of boaters worldwide. Boats (boat types) can be categorized into 3 different types of board categories: unpowered, motor boats, and sailboats. Recreational boats (sometimes called pleasure craft, especially for less sporting activities) fall into several broad categories, and additional subcategories. Broad categories include dinghies (generally under 16 feet (5 m) powered by sail, small engines, or muscle power) usually made from hardwood or inflatable rubber. paddle sports boats ( kayaks , rowing shells, canoes ), runabouts (15–25 ft. (5–8 m) powerboats with either outboard , sterndrive , or inboard engines), daysailers (14–25 Ft. (4–8 m) sailboats, frequently with
1219-667: Is the oldest yacht club. However, since this Russian Yacht Club was established by a decree of Tsar Peter the Great , it does not fully qualify as a proper club in the modern sense, understood as a voluntary association of members who organize and run the club. Therefore, the Royal Cork Yacht Club founded in Ireland in 1720 is also widely acknowledged as the oldest yacht club in the world, despite having gone through periods of dormancy and undergone name changes in its long history, much in
1272-516: Is up to the members decide on the objectives of the club to satisfy the membership and to attract other like-minded individuals. For example, some clubs include owners of powerboats , while others specifically exclude them. In order to overcome difficulties concerning the affinities of their members one particular club may have two sections, a sailing section and a powerboat section. Members Clubs often have paid staff for catering, bar duty, boat yard duty, accounts, office etc. Control and organization of
1325-723: The "Gowanus Yacht Club" is a beer garden restaurant in Brooklyn , NY, the Van Buren Yacht Club is a bar and hotel in Maine, the "Crystal Bay Yacht Club" is a beach resort in Ko Samui , Thailand and "The Eagle Rock Yacht Club" is a non-profit dodgeball league in Glassell Park, Los Angeles . These so-called "yacht clubs" don't necessarily involve sailing on private yachts of members as their main purpose or activity, but often outwardly maintain
1378-466: The U.S. Coast Guard such as Type I, Type II, Type III, Type IV, and Type V can be found at the U.S. Coast Guard. In the U.S., one personal flotation device MUST be available for everyone on board. Life jacket definitions for the UK Coast Guard. In 2014, the U.S. Coast Guard announced a new labeling system for personal flotation devices, aiming to align US and Canadian standards. This new labeling system
1431-854: The United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Canada, and the United States. The first yacht club in North America was the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron , located on the Northwest Arm in Halifax, Nova Scotia , Canada established in July 1837. Some yacht clubs are affiliated with an international body, the International Council of Yacht Clubs , which exists to improve the quality of the services yacht clubs provide to their members as well as to promote environmental awareness and responsibility towards
1484-405: The anchor in order to reduce the angle of the pull on the anchor facilitated by the chain sinking and lying on the bottom. This is important because in order for the anchor to be effective, the pull must be at a shallow angle rather than vertically. A vertical pull on the anchor will result in the anchor breaking out of the bottom sediment and is used as a technique to break the anchor's hold allowing
1537-461: The anchor to be raised in order to leave the anchorage. The anchor should never be dragged behind a boat or dropped at the stern . This could result in the boat being swamped or filled with water. Tie off the anchor to a bow cleat and pull on it to make sure that the knot is secure. After that make sure the vessel is down wind or down current of the anchor. After anchoring it is important to check visual sightings and onshore objects or buoys to let
1590-552: The board hired Charles Terrence McCafferty & Associates for $ 1,000,000 to redesign the dining and social facilities of the clubhouse. After a successful proposal, Edward V. Monahan, Inc. was contracted to build the expansions. In 1997 the GPYC was named the “Number One Yacht Club in America” and is still considered among the best, earning "Club of Excellence" and "Distinguished Club" awards in consecutive years since 2019. The GPYC provides all
1643-540: The boats from the racks and place them in the water. This reduces the amount of space needed for boat storage, and also provides a clean environment in which the boats are housed. Some marinas will offer dry storage yards, where boats on trailers or dollies are stored on a hard surface. Many yacht clubs will offer a fenced area where boats are conveniently stored near the water, but without the maintenance associated with continual water storage (bottom growth, etc.) Boats in dry storage areas are either ramp-launched or hoisted into
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1696-404: The cause of death. The problem can be reduced by prohibiting swimming near boats connected to shore power and ensuring marinas comply with National Fire Protection Association Standard 303 for marinas. In the early 2000s, several high-profile deaths due to carbon monoxide poisoning (CO) led to increased scrutiny of boating habits (especially the practice of towing participants immediately behind
1749-428: The club is done for the membership via members elected by the membership into roles such as Sailing Secretary, Commodore, Cruising Captain, Racing Captain etc. Smaller clubs typically have a condition of membership which requires active participation of the membership in activities such as maintenance of club facilities and equipment. Unlike the classical clubs where the membership is the focus, certain 'clubs' are run on
1802-539: The club was converted into the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club. The Mediterranean Revival clubhouse was conceptualized by Boston architect Guy Lowell , who was commissioned in the 1920s to design the building. Lowell died at sea before his plans were fully developed, but his concept of the clubhouse was posthumously adopted for the club. After several budget cutbacks and cost overruns, the clubhouse officially opened on July 4, 1929. The original clubhouse included
1855-420: The common definition of "safety" items: State laws may add to this list of requirements. Most of the differences fall into a few categories: In the United States, more than 40 states have educational requirements for operating a boat or personal watercraft on state waters. Laws vary by state so it's best to check the laws of your state. Boater education courses can be taken in-person classroom style or online at
1908-701: The connection with the sea and hence the navy, the various posts use naval terminology. For example, the chairman/CEO is the Commodore . Usually, under the Commodore there are also the Vice Commodore (in charge of land-based activities) and the Rear Commodore (in charge of water-based activities); for clubs in the United States they might in turn be assisted by the Port Captain and the Fleet Captain respectively. In
1961-445: The designs of houseboats so that they discharge exhaust gases in a way that they can dissipate. The increased use of CO detectors, especially in boats with enclosed accommodation spaces, and a proper assessment of boat manufacturers, would help reduce the risk of CO poisoning. Depending on the country, boating on coastal waters and inland waters may require a licence. Usually, commercially boating on coastal waters almost always requires
2014-451: The driver know if his boat is secure by the anchor. The anchor will help boaters to stay in their current position on the water. The smallest boats and kayaks may simply be carried by hand or by lashing them to the top of an automobile. Most smaller boats are stored at home and carried to the water on boat trailers, where they are floated from launch ramps leading down into the water. Some marinas will also offer electric hoists that can lift
2067-599: The end of the 19th century when small boats began to be produced on an industrial scale. Yacht clubs are often known by their initials (e.g. New York Yacht Club abbreviated as NYYC and Kingston Yacht Club abbreviated as KYC). Many well known yacht clubs, including the Yacht Club de France , the Yacht Club Italiano and the Royal Yacht Squadron , have been established under royal patronage or have been granted
2120-539: The environment. The Kieler Yacht-Club in Northern Germany organizes the yearly Kiel Week , the second-biggest sailing event in the world, that is celebrated since 1882. Kiel Week was an attempt to imitate the much older and larger Cowes Week , long-admired by Wilhelm II . Most clubs, regardless of the size of their craft, have a well defined racing program. Clubs may host regattas ranging from informal local events to national championships. Often clubs have
2173-673: The fatalities in 2003, and 17 percent in 2012. A Canadian study published in 2011 examined 18 years of data on recreational boating, and concluded that a "true figure" of alcohol-related deaths in that country "may lie between 46% and 56%". Since 1970, when recreational boating deaths in the U.S. peaked at about 1700 per year, the annual rate of fatalities has been declining at a rate of about 2% per year. The majority of these deaths (70%) occur due to drowning, and are frequently associated with small powerboat accidents. Other causes of death include trauma (especially with small powerboats), fire, carbon monoxide poisoning, and hypothermia. The cause of
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2226-420: The more likely victim is an adult male in the mid-afternoon in a boat (under 20 feet length overall) who is not wearing a personal flotation device. While various strategies have been devised in the last few decades to increase personal flotation device wear rates, the observed rate has been relatively constant. This has led to the possibility of legislation requiring personal flotation device usage on boats under
2279-504: The recreational use of boats can be broadly outlined. Historically a Yacht Club tended to focus on a membership composed of yacht owners, including motorboats . This type of club often was extremely exclusive, attracting the aristocracy or the high class and leaving small boat owners out of the circle. On the other hand, a Sailing Club tended to focus on a membership composed exclusively of owners of sailboats , including smaller boats such as dinghies . These became very popular towards
2332-475: The reduction of deaths is subject to some debate, but the Federal Boat Safety Act in the 1970s (effective August 10, 1971 ) required that boats under 20 feet (6.1 m) be equipped with level flotation. This change in boat construction meant that boaters who found themselves in the water next to a swamped boat could climb back into the boat and both reduce their likelihood of drowning, while increasing
2385-520: The right to fly a special yacht ensign at the stern. At traditional clubs the burgee and the ensign is hoisted at 08:00 each morning and lowered each evening at sunset. This ceremony is called colors . Traditionally, the first time a member of one club visits another, there is an exchange of burgees. Exchanged burgees are often displayed on the premises of clubs, such as at their clubhouse or bar. Yacht clubs are organized like any other club or organisation with committees, chairman, directors, etc. Due to
2438-674: The same manner as the Neva Yacht Club. It was only in 1846 that the first yacht club in Russia to adopt British-style Members Club regulations was established. Using this Western understanding of what a club or society is, the Royal Swedish Yacht Club , KSSS, founded 1830, becomes the oldest European yacht club outside the British Isles , and the fifth oldest in the world. A number of the world's most renowned Yacht Clubs are located in
2491-484: The size of a search target and reducing hypothermia . Other frequently named causes include improved boater safety education, increased use of life jackets, and improved boating safety gear. Another potential cause for drowning is the presence of stray electrical power from a boat leaking into the water. This is known as electric shock drowning . Metal surfaces of a boat leaking power into the water can create zones of high-energy potential. Stray current entering salt water
2544-480: The size of the boat and how it is powered, required equipment may include: Other items might seem obvious but are not actually required by law. They include a flashlight, first aid kit, paddles, whistles, anchor and rope, engine spare parts, bilge pumps, a VHF radio or mobile phone, etc. In addition to these safety items listed above, the Code of Federal Regulations lists some additional required items that may not fall into
2597-555: The student's convenience. Credible courses are recognized by the US Coast Guard, approved by NASBLA and work in conjunction with state agencies. All pleasure craft operators in Canada are required to have a proof of competency (something that shows they understand the basic rules and how to safely operate a boat). A Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) is the most common proof of competency and it can be obtained by taking an online course and
2650-421: The title at some point in their history. Organized and run by the membership, Yacht Clubs became a place to promote the sport of sailboat racing and cruising , as well as provide a meeting place for the particular social community. The membership is a mixture of people with specific recreational affinities, and the members often include those who sail as crew for cruising or racing, as well as boat owners. Also it
2703-682: The traditional amenities of a classic yacht club, including an Olympic-sized swimming pool, tennis and bowling facilities, as well as elegant dining rooms and a ballroom. Boating members enjoy the GPYC’s central location on Lake St. Clair and the club maintains a spacious deep-water marina with a private gas dock. The GPYC maintains membership in the Detroit Regional Yachting Association and holds two annual DRYA-sanctioned sailing regattas each year in addition to numerous other sailing-related events and programs. The bell tower serves as
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#17328478017422756-455: The water. Boating activities are as varied as the boats and boaters who participate, and new ways of enjoying the water are constantly being discovered. Broad categories include the following: Anchoring a boat is essential to recreational boaters by giving them the ability to "park" their boat in the water. Anchoring is helpful to boaters who fish or swim off of their boat and provides a stable and established site to achieve whatever activity
2809-408: The water. Since it is a recreational activity, most boating is done in calm protected waters and during good weather. Even so, conditions can change rapidly, and a small vessel can get into life-threatening difficulties. It's important to keep an inventory of safety gear on board every boat, which is prescribed by the U.S. Coast Guard as well as state boating law administrators in the U.S. Depending on
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