The History of Berkeley Yacht Club
Berkeley Yacht Club was founded on May 6, 1939, at the current location in the Berkeley Marina.
This photo is dated 1956, but might be older. The original dining room, now part of San Leandro YC, is on the east side of the building (the photo is taken looking to the northwest). No information is available on the identity of the vessel in the foreground - anyone who can shed light on this is encouraged to contact BYC.
This photo is probably from the early '60s, based on the fiberglass Victory class sailboat in the foreground. It predates the complete rebuilding of the clubhouse that began in the '60s.
The History of Berkeley Yacht Club
as told by Beth Harris in 1989, commemorating the first 50 years of Berkeley Yacht Club.
I am the presenter of this summation of our history this evening and as I have been a member of BYC for only 21 of its 50 years I only have personal knowledge of these past 21 years. Therefore, I would like to express my deep gratitude for all who have gone before and have recorded for our information and enjoyment the happenings of BYC. It would be impossible to recognize and mention everyone who has given so generously of their time and energies on our behalf as there isn't the time to go into detail about each Commodore's term of office. I would urge each of you to browse through the club history scrap books. You will find them fascinating. There is one BYC member, however, whose long service not only to our club, but to boating interests in ge neral for our area, deserves our special appreciation. Lloyd Ryland, thank you for your unstinting service and for the records you have not only kept, but shared so generously.
THE GENESIS OF BYC
During 1935 when the City of Berkeley provided land, and the Federal Government the labor to build a harbor, the genesis of the yacht club took place. The general plan of the harbor as shown in the scrapbook shows a rock rip-rap extending west of Virg inia Street out to the harbor entrance on the north side and on the south side west of University Ave. to the Golden Gate Ferry causeway with berths out on the west end of the harbor for sail and motor craft, a boat lift and storage and repair area midway on the south side.
It was a group of boaters whose boats were berthed in these berths that formed the nucleus of the club that would one day become the BYC. This founding group agreed to raise $1,000, and the City of Berkeley agreed to provide $2,500 for the yacht club. Professor Crocheron, head of the UC Agricultural Extension Dept., Dean Frank Probert of the UC school of Mining; Glen Waterhouse, Olympic Champion Star racer; Ralph Hoyt, District Attorney; Weldon Nichols; Tom Lake, and Charles Pease were among this group. They were all able men of imagination, courage and unselfish devotion to boating.
So, the BYC came into being officially on April 28, 1939. A Chamber of Commerce newsletter dated April 19, 1939 extended congratulations of the chamber to a new organization named the BYC and noted that under the flag of the club, Berkeley should become widely known as one of the finest centers of yachting on the bay. The first staff consisted of: Commodor Professor Crocheron; Vice Commodore Dean Frank Probert; Race Committee Sheldon Nichols; Secretary/Treasurer Lex Jensen; District Attorney Ralph Hoyt, and Directors Dr. Thomas Lake and Glen Waterhouse.
The first meetings before a club house was built were held at Drakes Restaurant which was located on Bancroft Way near the UC campus where a BYC table was reserved in a private, upstairs alcove. An article in the Berkeley Gazette dated April 25, 1939 reported that plans for a formal christening of the club on Saturday, May 6th and an Open House were formulated at the BYC luncheon session of the new club at Drakes Restaurant. Dean Probert and Glen Waterhouse were in charge of plans and for the first B YC Regatta-there would be a Snipe race. Money was appropriated to purchase some "bombs" (it says so in the minutes!), for a 21 gun salute.
THE NEW CLUB IS LAUNCHED
The early meetings were of spit and polish correctness, reflecting the personality of Prof Crocheron who was raised in the yachting tradition of the East Coast. He brought to Berkeley the formal standards of yachting etiquette. At the site dedication ceremony, the "agreed uniform of the day" for club officials was double breasted dark blue coats, white trousers, white top yachting caps with insignia, and white shoes. The description of the dedication in the minutes by S/T Lex Jensen is very elequent , and so we quote: "This was the day of days for the BYC. The weather was mild, a little windy, but far better than we expected. The secretary had succeeded in getting pennants sold to all members and the VC had loaned us his large American Flag to fly f rom the new flag-staff installed at the turn-around on the port side of the harbor entrance.
By 1:45 all of the directors were present in their spic and span uniforms sporting their new cap badges. The Flag Officers had not forgotten to have stars put on their caps and even the secretary had S/T sewed on his cap. (Although due to some teasing he vowed to have the By-laws changed so he could wear the leaf and acorn insignia instead of S/T.)
About this time the 85 foot Coast Guard "crash-boat" CG4324 steamed into the harbor and tied up on the north side of slip "zone E". Their presence lent an official air to the ceremony and Lt. Com. Purcue has the hearty thanks of the entire membership for his participation. A "ship" of Sea-Scouts under command of Arthur Vickery had arrived to act as a color guard. One of their members, an accomplished buglar, was to play "Call to Colors".
It soon came two o'clock and everyone was present except City Manager Hallis Thompson. A consultation was held and it was decided to ask Vice Mayor Carrie L. Hoyt to speak for the city if Mr. Thompson did not appear in 5 minutes. But that was not necessary as the City Manager showed up just in time.
Everything was now set to go -- the directors were gathered about the flagpole, the two junior members, John E. Nichols and Ralph Hoyt, who were to hoist the National Emblem and the Club Pennant, were at their posts, and the crowd, which numbered well over 200 persons, was all attention.
Vice Commodore Frank Probert, chairman of the entertainment committee, stepped forward, asked the people to come a little closer and proceeded to tell them in his inimitable, delightful way what the BYC was and why we were gathered together on this day . He then introduced Hallis Thompson, City Manager, who welcomed the yacht club to Berkeley Yacht Harbor, said how much he was in favor of the organization and pledged his support. The Vice Commodore next introduced our Commodore Professor Crocheron. The Commodore's a ddress was a masterpiece. He was brief, his statements were clear and when he got through everyone knew that the club was in good hands with him as Commodore.
Concluding his remarks with "I now officially commission the Berkeley Yacht Club", he gave a signal, the bugler played "Call to Colors", everyone snapped to attention and slowly the Stars and Stripes, followed by the Club Pennant, was hoisted to the mast head. 21 bombs had been planted on the opposite side of the harbor and these were now touched off one by one -- a 21 gun salute which provided a fitting climax for such an impressive ceremony.
After the ceremony, as had been announced, all members held "open house" on their boats and by the names entered on the various ships' "guest logs" a great many took advantage of this fact and became better acquainted with their fellow members.
Numbered amoung those present at the ceremony were City Manager Hallis R. Thompson, Vice-Mayor Carrie L. Hoyt, City Engineer Harry Goodridge, Asst. Fire Chief William Menheis, and Fed L. Woods, Commodore of the Corinthian YC. Many other prominent Berkeley people were on hand and their presence made us feel that we were not to lack support.
At the conclusion of the day, we might say here "at the end of a perfect day", all of us went home satisfied that this surely was a "Day of Days" and that the club was well on its way to success."
DINNER MEETINGS AND CRUISES
The first formal dinner of BYC was held at the Claremont Hotel on June l, 1939. Over 75 members and families, local yachting notables, city officials and representatives of other yacht associations were in attendance. The decorations were reported to be beautiful floral pieces in the club's blue and gold colors. Special songs were composed for the occasion as well, and can be found in the club's history book.
To show that it was the intention of this new club to enjoy boating on the bay I quote from "Mooring News of the Berkeley Yacht Harbor and Acquatic Park" dated June 14 1939: "Despite poor weather the picnic held last Saturday over at Paradise Cove was a roaring success with 15 boatloads taking part. Commodore Crocheron led off the parade across the bay in his flagship "Samarang" with the rest of the squadron following pretty well in line, except for sailboats and small cruisers. The sailboats had a rather rough time of it over at the cove with two of them blowing out their sails and all dragging their anchors.
Thanks to a huge bonfire, some stirring music by the Molly R's accordion player and plenty of tasty victuals, the time passed quickly and p leasantly and by 7 PM when the fog started to roll in everybody called it a day except Weldon Nichols who remained over night." I think our cruise leaders today would tell us things haven't changed all that much.
THE FIRST CLUBHOUSE
After the dedication of the site, used buildings were acquired, remodeled into a clubhouse at the end of the fill -- the present location -- and the members met in the new clubhouse on March 29 1940. Initial membership was limited to 50, anticipating the limited size of the clubhouse. Even in 1939 you could not build a great deal with $3,500.
The club house was a 2 story Cape Cod, painted white with dormer windows upstairs. The City furnished two flat roofed existing structures which were connected to the main building. The flat roofed section to the east contained a small galley with wood and electric stoves, electric water heater, sink, and dish-pot cupboards. Beyond that there was a men's locker room and head. The internal structure of the main section was a large room downstairs with a fireplace in the northwest corner as the primary heat source. An alcove was connected to the west end, and the large windows were frequently covered with salt from splashing waves. This was quite a problem until the breakwater was built.
Upstairs there was a ladies dressing room and head, and a committee or chart room, all with outboard facing windows. The floors were varnished tongue and groove wood, and the walls Western knotty pine. Later a "Portico" was added to the entrance door . Furnishings were both donated by the members and gradually purchased by the club.
The members "turn-key" celebration on completion of- the clubhouse was June 1 1940. The month that the new clubhouse was opened, the club was solvent, bills were all paid, and rent was paid five years in advance. How do we know this? It says so in one of the bulletins, and the auditing committee report attests to the fact. Said report being written in pencil on the back of a Drakes Restaurant placemat, and signed by Wetmore, Cookdey, and Cross.
THE RACING PROGRAM
Soon BYC became a member of the YRA, and the schedule for the season of 1940 listed 14 different events. The first annual meeting at the new club was held on March 29 1940. That year two BYC junior members who were also students at the University of California took all three first places in a race with Stanford. (Our present Commodre as of this writing in 1989, Michael Yovino-Young, has resolved to revive that racing competition this year with we hope equally successful results.) On August 25 1940 the BYC held a regatta on the bay. 108 boats participated making it one of the largest races of the season.
THE WAR YEARS
As the club moved into the years of 1942-1945, the bay became restricted due to the war. Boats could not move on the bay at night. The Coast Guard had to be notified when a cruise was planned and many areas were completely off-limits for pleasure boa ts. Members became a part of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and were on call for patrol duty. Ralph Hoyt was active in Civil Defense and took part in the formation of a squadron of boat owners to help in evacuation in case the bay bridges were damaged. Another problem of the war years, met by the club in characteristic manner, was the substitution of other metals in place of bronze for racing trophies. Inevitably under such wartime conditions, it became necessary for Mike Thaxter as Commodore to apply to the ration board for points to purchase materials for the club dinners; and it is recorded that the alternative in case of failure of this effort was that each member be required to bring five ration points for each dinner. That the club kept up its activities all through the war is evident from the program for the season of 1945. There were 16 different events scheduled during the last of the war years.
A long welcomed group at the BYC has been the Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla #26. Since 1945 the meetings of the Flotilla have been held in the clubhouse, and they contributed much to the general welfare of yachting as they do to this day with classes on seamanship and boat safety.
THE NEW DINING ROOM
The BYC has always been a family club and the wives were very involved in the social life and preparing the food for dinner meetings from the beginning. Actually these important activities, probably more than any one thing, has made the BYC and active family club. However, in 1948 a cateress for the club dinners was engaged and that practice has continued to this day.
Space was limited in the original club house and it took careful arrangement of the card tables and chairs to fit everyone in for dinner. Through it all the busy boating and social schedules continued to grow.
In 1956 construction was started on a new dining room. There was a great out-pouring of weekend carpenter/members and the dining room was completed in 1957 while Bruce Wilson was Commodore. Repayment of the money advanced by the members was complet ed during the next two administrations.
BYC GETS A LIQUOR LICENSE
One challenging problem of these early years was the serving of any grog at club functions as the club for various reasons did not qualify for a liquor license. Well, this was met in their usual imaginative way. Lex Jensen, club secretary in 1945 was authorized to purchase several cases of sherry to serve. It is reported that in 1956 when part of the clubhouse was razed to build the dining room, a few bottles of this delightful Spanish sherry were found. Needless to say, very little work was done tha t day by the work party, but they had a wonderful time.
They progressed up -- or down -- from sherry by an ingenious solution; one could have either manhattans or martinis at dinner for they were made up by the gallon jug by the dinner host for the evening. We know this made for many a happy evening as old er members have regaled us all in telling about it.
The club continued to grow in membership and activities, both racing and social; As always there was maintenance and upkeep of the clubhouse requiring many a work party, and the addition of furnishings for the club and galley -- some by means of blue c hip stamps as well as fund raisings of various sorts.
In 1963 the club membership was up to 80 and finally during the Commodoreship of Bert Emberton in 1965, we reached the magic number of 100 active members and Bert obtained for us our liquor license -- we haven't seen a jug of manhattans or martinis since!
WOMEN'S RACING AT BYC
In 1966 or 1967 the Women's Auxiliary was formed with Rose Wright as president. For many years afterwards the women had a monthly luncheon meeting and planned and carried out many activities on their own to further enhance the life of the club. They raised money to buy furnishings for the club and especially equipment for the galley. They added to the calendar the Children's Christmas Party, an International Dinner, and in 1972 a Women's Race!