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PWYC History
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Cow Bay's Family Club
Through the years the Port Washington Yacht Club has prospered and broadened its membership and activities to a point that would have amazed its founders. The total membership now totals over 325, with significant participation in all traditional yacht club activities.
The club's fleet is about evenly distributed between sail and power, with the sailors participating actively in one-design racing and auxiliary cruising yacht racing on the bay and longer distance racing in Long Island Sound and the waters surrounding New York City. Our junior sailing program is conducted in Blue Jay, 420, Laser, and Optimist Class boats and has produced many trophy winners in recent years. The club's yachting facilities, which were improved by widening the dock and the installation of an all-tide dry-sailing electric hoist, are among the finest on the Sound.
The club's tennis facilities are also among the finest in the area, consisting of four Har-tru courts and nearby dressing rooms. Numerous intra-club tournaments and junior activities provide a complete tennis program. The club's men's and women's teams compete in inter-club matches with notable success.
In addition, the club has two platform tennis courts that are actively used throughout the winter months. With a warming chalet and observation deck, this facility is especially popular for parties and open round play. Our men's and women's teams participate in competition with other clubs.
Another popular outdoor activity during the winter is trapshooting on Saturday mornings. Beginners and experienced shotgun shooters join in individual and team competition on a handicap basis.
The club's Ladies Group conducts an active program including bridge, fashion shows, sailing instructions, bowling, tennis and book club.
A Junior Activities Committee coordinates various junior activities throughout the year, including dances, pool parties, an Easter egg hunt and a Christmas party. Junior sailing, tennis, swim instruction and swim team activities are available to members' children. The Junior Yacht Club is a full day, five day a week program for children ages 8-12 that incorporates junior sailing, junior tennis, swim instruction and swim team, arts and crafts and other sports. The Guppy program, for children ages 4-7, introduces them to swimming, tennis, arts and crafts, and sailing three half days a week.
The club's swimming pool was extensively repaired in 1983 and is always the center of family activities. Organized swimming and diving activities are an important part of the swimming program. A family fun day is always well attended and there is swimming competition with other clubs in the North Shore area.
During 1982 the Junior Sailing building was refurbished by the Projects Committee, and in 1983 the Commodore's Lounge was redecorated. The purchase of all new chairs and curtains for the main dining salon and the repainting of both rooms has enhanced the appearance of the club.
The 1986 celebration of the Anniversary of the Statue of Liberty gave reason to name a new fiberglass launch to be christened "Miss Liberty." In 1987, our new dry boat storage area was completely paved with a central grass area; and new docks were added to our already extensive waterfront, making ours one of the finest in Western L.I. Sound. In 1988, another new fiberglass launch was delivered and christened "Constitution" with our third wooden launch rechristened "Independence." Yachting remains our main focus and the center of our heritage. In this respect, our club joins with the other yacht clubs on Manhasset Bay to maintain a committee boat named "Worry Wart," which is used each summer weekend for conducting a variety of "one class" races. In the spring of 1990, our pier and "T" head were refurbished in preparation for the summer season.
In 1991 the paddle tennis courts were replaced with heated aluminum courts, and membership for this sport reached 105. Junior sailing also reached record enrollment.
1992 was a year of planning for projects that would take our club into the next century. The first result, completed in l993, was the new facade on the front of the clubhouse entranceway and area for dropping off guests.
In 1995, the Land Company purchased the land adjacent to the north side of the land occupied by the club; this property was previously operated by Sigsbee Marina as a marina and shipyard. Now known to members as "The Anchorage", it is home to Junior Yacht Club and Junior Sailing activities during the season and is used for boat storage and repair in the off season.
In 1998, the members approved "Vision 2000," for which construction began in October, 1999. The club facilities have been greatly enhanced with this effort. Major changes to the pool, pool deck, locker rooms and snack bar are complete, as is a dining room expansion, improvements to the Commodore's Lounge, an upgrade to the kitchen equipment and layout, and construction of new offices and meeting space for members. The enhancements were completed in April, 2001.
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PWYC Original Club House
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