Santa Margarita Yacht Club

Link to History as written in 1977

The Santa Margarita Yacht Club was founded in 1975 by a group of retired and active duty military personnel who were interested in organizing a club for boat lovers. SMYC is a branch of the United States Naval Sailing Association of Annapolis, the San Diego Association of Yacht Clubs, the Southern California Association of Yacht Clubs, and Recreational Boaters of California.

Membership in SMYC consists of Regular and Associate members. Regular membership requires that a member be on active duty, a drilling reservist or a retiree from active duty, Associate members are those who have served in the Armed Forces and who were honorably discharged.

The objective of this club is to encourage and foster recreational and competitive boating, promote water safety, seamanship, piloting, and navigation through-out the Pacific Coast. Our ideal situation and the outstanding support of the Del Mar Marina staff have enabled us to measure up to our objectives.
 

HISTORY OF SANTA MARGARITA YACHT CLUB

                                                            1975 - 2007

When we started to write the history section of the Directory a few years ago, we reviewed several years of past history. We found that for many years, except for a few names, the history sections were interchangeable from year to year.   For the reader’s enjoyment here is a  review our whole history  to help us be reminded of some good times.  We have looked back over the years of the club since its founding and picked out some  noteworthy events for each year. We invite the membership to look over our list and let us know where you agree or disagree with our choices.  Contact Harvey or Floyce Royer. You can e-mail us or write. You can even tell us verbally, but we may ignore you so it is better to write it out someway.  We would particularly like to hear from some long time members who may remember some past occurrence that made a special impression on them.

1975 – SMYC was formed.

1977 – Naval Sailing Association accepted Santa Margarita Yacht Club
             into Membership.

             San Diego Association of Yacht Clubs accepted SMYC into
             membership.

             SMYC won the Biswanger Trophy in the Match Racing Effort at
             Monterey, California.

             Member Norm Hay decorated his boat with Christmas lights,
             circled the harbor alone twice.  He deserves credit for initiating
             the first Oceanside Harbor Christmas Parade of Lights.

1978 – The club name was changed to Santa Margarita Sailing Club.    

              SMSC was given the use of Building 21559 at the Camp
              Pendleton Boat Basin.

              First President’s Race February 19. 

              A spring Dinner Dance.

             Seven SMSC members decorated their boats with Christmas
             lights again and went around the Oceanside Harbor – the
             Second Annual Oceanside Parade of Lights was established! 

1979 – The first Opening Day was held April 21, l979.

             First Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training put on by
             SMSC.

             SMSC crew ties with Long Beach Naval Sailing Club for first
             place for the Biswanger Trophy.

             Harvey Royer and son Bradley began a year’s cruise in August
             through the Caribbean and to Hawaii.

            The first “Firecracker” Race. 

             Lynne Agnew installed as the first female Commodore of SMSC,
             the first female commodore in Southern California and the first
             female commodore in SDAYC.

             In November a “Turkey” regatta.

             The 16 December 1979 “Parade of Lights” in conjunction with
             Oceanside Yacht Club was a huge success with 27 boats
             participating. 

             First invitational Labor Day Cruise to Southwestern Yacht Club.

1981 – A sabot race, Fog Race and a Wine Regatta.

1982 – First cruise to Catalina with 10 SMSC boats in Avalon Harbor. 

             The newsletter became known as the “Anchorline”. 

             The SMSC Chapter and new members of the International Order
             of the Blue Gavel Installed on Opening Day in April.

             The club burgee that we still use was designed – a  blue field
             with gold horizontal stripe running from the hoist to the point
             accented with a crimson Rancho Santa Margarita cattle brand.

             First guest club (San Diego Naval Sailing) hosted with a potluck
             cookout and overnight stay in the Del Mar Basin.

             First Seamanship Race.     

             First Christmas Commodore’s Ball and Installation of Officer’s

1983 – First and only dinner meeting hosting SDAYC at Oceanside Elks
             Club.

1984 – SMSC acquired a mobile home to be used as a clubhouse.   

1991 – Nice names for races (some Oceanside YC) like Poinsettia and
             Indian Summer Regatta.

1992 – By-Law amendment to award Lifetime Memberships.

             Vice Commodore David Cessarich represented SMSC at the
             America’s Cup on board a picket boat. 

1995 – Roger and Linda Shaw hosted the Catalina 22 National
             Championship.

             There was a “Longest Day” Mini-cruise and cocktail party on
             June 21.

1997 – First Hal Graham Memorial Race.

1998 – By-Laws amended to allow Associate Members to be Flag
             Officers.

             First Bob Nichols Memorial  Race. 

2003 – First Annual Beach Party in September. 

2004 – First Annual Ladies’ Day Race in September.

2005 – In June construction of the deck along the length of the
             clubhouse. 

            First Annual Chili Cook-off.  

More memories may be brought back with names like Glorietta Bay Cruise, Newport-Ensenada Race, Treasure Hunt Race. Pizza and Beer Party, Around-the-Coronados Race, Jim Brown Raft-up. 

   KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, SANTA MARGARITA YACHT CLUB!!!