About the FCYC
The Florida Council of Yacht Clubs is an organization made up of 36 yacht clubs located around the state from the panhandle to the Keys.
More Clubs, More Choices… Welcome to Council Life!
We invite you to experience for yourself the convenience, variety and fun that make FCYC membership so special.
On behalf of all of the Florida Council of Yacht Clubs, we look forward to the pleasure of serving you.
*Some member clubs have placed a limitation on reciprocal usage by nearby clubs. Enforcement of these limitations (when adopted by a club) is the responsibility of the individual club, not the Council.
FCYC Representation
Member clubs in the Council represent a population of approximately 37,300 club members who have aided in bringing many legislative matters favorable to the boating public to a successful conclusion. To assist the Council in monitoring boating-related legislation, the Council retains a legislative representative in Tallahassee.
Established in 1960, the FCYC is a respected force recognized as a potent organization of dedicated yachtsmen.
The Council is an active member of water oriented organizations such as the National Boating Federation. Close liaison is maintained with the U.S. Coast Guard in St. Petersburg, Tampa, Jacksonville, Miami, and the Corp of Engineers district office in Jacksonville.
Our Member Clubs sponsor cruises on members’ boats to destinations along the East and Gulf Coasts of Florida and the Bahamas. The Council has also sponsored professionally organized, large ship cruises to unique locations in Europe, South America, through the Panama Canal, and many other destinations.
2024 FCYC Officers
Commodore Ray Williams
Lauderdale Yacht Club
Vice Commodore Chris Jones
Davis Island Yacht Club
Rear Commodore Kitch Keitchen
Venice Yacht Club
Secretary Bobby Smith
Bradenton Yacht Club
Treasurer Chuck Goes
St Petersburg Yacht Club
Immediate Past Commodore Joey Sowell
Eau Gallie Yacht Club
2024 FCYC Standing Committees
Government affairs.
Kitch Keitchen, Venice YC
Fleet Captain- West
Peter Lackman, Tampa Y&CC
Fleet Captain- East
Joe Elam, Smyrna YC
Communication & Website
Carl Schultz, St. Charles YC
Coast Guard Liaison East
Stephen Kiss, Harbor Ridge YC
Coast Guard Liaison West
Ken Gummels, St. Andrews Bay YC
Land Yacht Fleet Captain
Bobby Smith, Bradenton YC
Club Profiles
Bruce Harris, Naples Sailing and YC
News Letter
Tom Reynolds, Ft Walton YC
Club Best Practices
Michael Travis, Bird Key YC
Anita Clark, Lake Beresford YC
Parliamentarian
Tom Septembre, Coral Reef YC
Wayne Stewart, Halifax River YC
Historian & Publications
Chip Hardy, Tampa Y&CC
Inter-club Sports
Bob Peterson, Isles YC
Past Commodores
- Honorary Life Commodore: *Thomas Downs, St. Petersburg Yacht Club
- 1960 & 61: *G. William Spicklemire, Pass-A-Grille Yacht Club
- 1962: *Herman Eberts, Bradenton & Eau Gallie Yacht Clubs
- 1963: *Bruff W. Olin, The Field Club
- 1964: *D. L. Alexander Vance, Bird Key Yacht Club
- 1965: *Charles E. Taft, The Field Club
- 1966: *Col. Peter F. Wormwood, Tampa Yacht and Country Club
- 1967: *Vernon L. Mason, The Field Club
- 1968: *E. L. Jones, St. Petersburg Yacht Club
- 1969: *Marion Hendry, Tampa Yacht and Country Club
- 1970: *Robert R. Spaulding, Venice Yacht Club
- 1971: *Alfred R. Cooper, St. Petersburg Yacht Club
- 1972: *Hugo R. Greisen, Bradenton Yacht Club
- 1793: *Richard M. Starns, Tampa Yacht and Country Club
- 1974: *Bruce W. Watters, Jr., St. Petersburg Yacht Club
- 1975: *Irving D. Snyder, Bird Key Yacht Club
- 1976: *Fred C. White, Coral Ridge Yacht Club
- 1977: *Hugh L. Brown, St. Petersburg Yacht Club
- 1978: *Dr. Paul Minthorn, St. Petersburg Yacht Club
- 1979: Donald F. Sink (Virginia), Tampa Yacht and Country Club
- 1980: *James D. Russell, Naples Sailing and Yacht Club
- 1981: *Eugene B. Bibbins, Venice Yacht Club
- 1982: *Spencer S. Scheideman, Clearwater Yacht Club
- 1983: *Gen. John w. Richardson, Bird Key Yacht Club
- 1984: *Harry G. Hilliard, Isles Yacht Club
- 1985: *E. W. (Ted) Scantlebury, Halifax River Yacht Club
- 1986: *Dr. Ralph Stephan, Tampa Yacht and Country Club
- 1987: *Lewis M. Crowe, St. Petersburg Yacht Club
- 1988: *C. Franklin Lott, Jr., Royal Palm Yacht Club
- 1989: *John J. Davis, Coral Reef Yacht Club
- 1990: Harold G. Riley, Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club
- 1991: *Robert L. Hartford, The Field Club
- 1992: *Frank W. (Skip) Alllcorn, III, The Florida Yacht Club
- 1993: *Norman E. Jacobson, Sarasota Yacht Club
- 1994: *John Chalbeck, Marathon Yacht Club
- 1995: *Roland M. Larsen, Royal Palm Yacht Club
- 1996: *Larry Bottiger, Eau Gallie Yacht Club
- 1997: *Jules E. Scheffer, Clearwater Yacht Club
- 1998: *Richard A. (Dick) Groat, Pass-A-Grille Yacht Club
- 1999: *Tor Kolflat, Naples Sailing and Yacht Club
- 2000: *Glenn R. Yeakey, Naples Yacht Club
- 2001: *Charles T. Eldredge, Tampa Yacht and Country Club
- 2002: *John G. (Jack) Schantini (Sandee), Smyrna Yacht Club
- 2003: *J. Robert Benson, M.D., The Florida Yacht Club
- 2004: Ron Broadway (Debi), Treasure Island Tennis & Yacht Club
- 2005: George E.W. (Chip) Hardy, IV (Betty), Tampa Yacht and Country Club
- 2006: Bruce Hess (Carol), Eau Gallie Yacht Club
- 2007: *Marvin W. Stucky, Sarasota Yacht Club
- 2008: *Arthur J. Ferguson, The Field Club
- 2009: Donald Bogue (Ginny), St. Petersburg Yacht Club
- 2010: Donald W. Stanley, Jr. (Cheryl), Tampa Yacht and Country Club
- 2011: *Dentis McDaniel, Eau Gallie Yacht Club
- 2012: Harry Perlet (Leslie), Sarasota Yacht Club
- 2013: Raymond Starsman (Marsha), Isles Yacht Club
- 2014: Gary Riss (Marsha), Marco Island Yacht Club
- 2015: *Tom Smith, Isles Yacht Club
- 2016: *Jack Burwell, Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club
- 2017: Audrey Rice (Bob Young), Venice Yacht Club
- 2018: George O.Malley (Linda), Moorings Yacht and Country Club
- 2019: Jon Williams (Edy), Eau Gallie Yacht Club
- 2020: Bob Peterson (Cate), Isles YC
- 2021: Bert Ralston (Sandy) , Florida Yacht Club
- 2022: John Timmel (Marguerite), Tampa Yacht and Country Club
- 2023: Joey Sowell (Pamela), Eau Gallie Yacht Club
* indicates deceased
History of the FCYC
In August, 1960, the St. Petersburg Yacht Club invited representatives from the leading West Coast Yacht Clubs to a meeting to discuss forming a representative body to encourage the sport of yachting and general club activities, to promote safety afloat, to encourage reciprocity between qualified yacht clubs, and to promote beneficial legislation.
Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Secretary of State on July 26, 1961.
Charter Clubs in 1961
The thirteen charter clubs were:
- Bird Key Yacht Club, Sarasota
- Bradenton Yacht Club, Bradenton
- Clearwater Yacht Club, Clearwater
- Davis Island Yacht Club, Tampa
- The Field Club, Sarasota
- Naples Yacht Club, Naples
- Pass-A-Grille Yacht Club, St. Petersburg Beach
- Royal Palm Yacht Club, Fort Myers
- St. Petersburg Yacht Club, St. Petersburg
- Sarasota Yacht Club, Sarasota
- Tampa Yacht & Country Club, Tampa
- Tarpon Springs Yacht Club, Tarpon Springs
- Venice Yacht Club, Venice
Clubs joining after 1961
The following clubs were admitted later, listed in order of the dates they became members:
- August 1968 Coral Ridge Yacht Club, Ft. Lauderdale
- July 1971 Naples Sailing & Yacht Club, Naples
- September 1973 Halifax River Yacht Club, Daytona Beach
- March 1975 Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club, Port Charlotte
- July 1976 Carlouel Yacht Club, Clearwater
- November 1976 Isles Yacht Club, Punta Gorda
- July 1977 Smyrna Yacht Club, New Smyrna Beach
- September 1978 Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club, Boca Raton
- September 1979 Lauderdale Yacht Club, Ft. Lauderdale
- March 1981 Coral Reef Yacht Club, Miami
- March 1981 Lake Beresford Yacht Club, DeLand
- January 1982 Eau Gallie Yacht Club, Indian Harbor Beach
- September 1983 Marathon Yacht Club, Marathon
- January 1984 The Florida Yacht Club, Jacksonville
- July 1984 Vero Beach Yacht Club, Vero Beach
- January 1985 Key Biscayne Yacht Club, Key Biscayne
- July 1986 St. Augustine Yacht Club, St. Augustine
- November 1987 Treasure Island Tennis & Yacht Club, Treasure Island
- September 1988 Pensacola Yacht Club, Pensacola
- September 1994 Captiva Island Yacht Club, Captiva Island
- March 1994 Isla Del Sol Yacht Club, St. Petersburg
- September 1996 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Fort Walton Beach
- November 1998 St. Charles Yacht Club, Ft. Myers
- January 2001 The Moorings Yacht & Country Club, Vero Beach
- September 2003 Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club, Palm City
- January 2004 St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club, Panama City
- March 2005 Marco Island Yacht Club, Marco Island
- November 2012 Pelican Isle Yacht Club, Naples
- March 2022 Oyster Bay Yacht Club, Fernandina Beach
Prior Member Clubs
The following clubs admitted as members of the Council, are no longer member clubs:
- 1998 Isla Del Sol Yacht Club, St. Petersburg
- 2003 St. Augustine Yacht Club, St. Augustine
- November 2008 Pass-A-Grille Yacht Club, St. Petersburg Beach
- (merged with St. Petersburg YC)
- 2009 Treasure Island Tennis & Yacht Club, Treasure Island
- 2014 Royal Palm Yacht Club, Ft. Myers
- 2024 Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club, Boca Raton
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