History of the San Leandro Yacht Club

adopted. The San Leandro Yacht Club is a pretty independent bunch too.



September 9 - The Second Continental Congress officially changed the name of our nation from "United Colonies" to "United States". The San Leandro Yacht Club has never changed its name.

1837
The first documented settlement in the area was established by Don Joaquin Estudillo.

1963 - Lee McKissick - Commodore
January 3 - The San Leandro Yacht Club was founded by five yachtsmen of vision meeting in the upstairs conference room of the McKissick Pontiac Dealership on East 14th Street in San Leandro as a paper club.


Hans Schneider reflects "The first initiation fee was set at $10 and annual dues were $25. Meetings were held onboard one of the members boats or sometimes in someone's garage..."

March 15 - The first election and installation of officers for the San Leandro Yacht Club was held at San Leandro City Hall.


June 19 - The design of the San Leandro Yacht Club Burgee was approved. The San Leandro Yacht Club flies a triangular, red bordered burgee with a white field, the hoist and fly divided by red lines into 4 regions of equal area. Centered at the crossing is a red compass rose, with 4 of its points aligned to the dividing lines.

June 29 - The San Leandro Yacht Club and the City of San Leandro co-hosted the celebration marking the grand opening of the San Leandro Marina.

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1965 - Jim Frazier - Commodore
SLYCs own Dr. James Woolley in Isa Isa was NCPCA Record of Overall Winner.

BOAT (Boat Owners Associated Together) was formed. They are now known as RBOC (Recreational Boaters Of California). According to another account, this happened in 1964.

Hans Schneider reflects again "In 1965 several past presidents of PICYA (Pacific Inter Club Yacht Association) recognized the necessity for an organization to make legislators aware of boat owners needs, and to guard against adverse Bills in the Legislature. So, they formed a non-profit corporation: BOAT (Boat Owners Associated Together). In 1983 the name of BOAT was changed to RBOC to eliminate confusion with BOAT US, a commercial organization. RBOC directors meet monthly and then go to the Capital to meet the various legislators who are concerned with boating. Please consider contributing to RBOC..."
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1972 - Bob Stewart - Commodore
January 29 - The first presentation of clubhouse plans was made to the San Leandro Yacht Club membership.

March 22 - The City of San Leandro adopted this flag (100 years after its incorporation).

The San Leandro Centennial Perpetual Trophy was jointly commissioned by the City of San Leandro and the San Leandro Yacht Club to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the founding of the City.

The first San Leandro Invitational Regatta was held for the coveted San Leandro Centennial Perpetual Trophy.
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1974 - Hank Schatmeier - Commodore
March 11 - The San Leandro Yacht Club entered into a lease agreement with the City of San Leandro for our future clubhouse.

May - The San Leandro Yacht Club officially broke ground on the construction of the clubhouse.


San Leandro Mayor Jack Maltester has the shovel,
Commodore Hank Schatmeier is on his right (our left).

Hans Schneider is still reflecting "...some enthusiastic members approached the City of San Leandro to lease some land and build a clubhouse. The members loaned the club money, interest free, and the work of building the clubhouse was done by volunteers. When you came into the clubhouse in those days the floor was concrete painted red. The bar was from plywood, tables were cable wheels covered with plywood, the chairs were from Goodwill, and everybody was happy to have a place to meet. The early Board of Directors decided not to have a galley, but later on there was a need to bring in the non-active members so a dinner once a month was introduced. A donated pool table, covered with a sheet of plywood was used as a serving table, our silverware was plastic, paper plates were used for easy cleanup, and meals were cooked at home and brought in. In the clubhouse were long lines to feed the hungry! For membership drives we held pancake breakfasts. To cook the eggs, bacon, and pancakes, members lent their gas stoves from the boats. Everybody enjoyed these adventures. Later the First Mates were founded and they made money through flea markets and bake sales, etc. to buy real silverware and dishes for the club. This is just a small part of the history of our club."
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1975 - Hank Lucas - Commodore
May - The May Puff & Putt was accidentally marked as the June edition.
June - The Puff & Putt newsletter was marked as June 1975 second issue.

July 26 - The first event in the new clubhouse was a spaghetti feed attended by 100 members and guests.

October 4 - The San Leandro Yacht Club, over 170 members strong, officially dedicated the newly completed clubhouse.


October - The first presentation of the San Leandro Yacht Club Skunk Flag was to Port Captain Ray Mitchell to honor the style with which a crew member on LORCAT fell overboard while entering the harbor, in full view of the Oyster Point Yacht Club hosts of our cruise-out. These traditions (both the flag and falling overboard) have been carried on through the years and continue today. Naturally, the tales have grown somewhat taller as the years have passed.
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1984 - Lee Mocker - Commodore
The San Francisco Bay Area District 14 of The International Order of the Blue Gavel (IOBG) was formed.

February - The San Leandro Yacht Club guest dock was officially completed.

A recent photo of the San Leandro Yacht Club guest dock and club house.
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1990 - "Doc" Oberly - Commodore
Barbara Chapman, a future Commodore of the San Leandro Yacht Club, was Commodore of the Northern California Power Cruisers Association (NCPCA).

June 14 - Alameda County adopted this flag.

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2003 - Lee Stevens - Commodore
September 6 – SLYC Annual Invitational Regatta – race for the Centennial Perpetual Trophy – 1st Place went to Ben Mews of Island Yacht Club.

October 5 - The City of San Leandro proclaimed this "San Leandro Yacht Club Day".

October 5 - The San Leandro Yacht Club celebrated our 40th anniversary. Our beloved Mayor Sheila Young read and presented the San Leandro Yacht Club Day Proclamation. Then, our esteemed representative to Sacramento, 18th Assembly Member, the Honorable Ellen M. Corbett read and presented Resolution No. 2586 commending San Leandro Yacht Club on the positive impact it has had on the community of San Leandro.
(Point just below their chins for their names)
Also in attendance were 9 of our past commodores, with pride and camaraderie clearly showing in every face.
(Point just below their chins for their names)
(Full Size Image)
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