Navy Yacht Club Long Beach 

The First Twenty Years

1967: November the Club was founded. The facility was begun in December. Four Coronado 25’ were each named after four Commanders; John Paul Jones, Alfred Alliance, Ariel, and Providence. Charles Gardner

1968: Wednesday noon races began along with the Winter Day Sailor Series. Dues were 25 cents a month. First flag pole and patio roof installed. Charles Gardner

1969: Several Seaplane Buoys installed for moorings. 117 members. Serapis a Coronado 25’ was raced with other four Club boats and raced to Ensenada. 39 entrants in Navy Day Regatta. Henry Sprague represented NYCLB, winning the Congressional Cup. Scott Driscoll

1970: In August the new Marina with 52 slips was dedicated. Coronado 25’ rabbit races held on Thursday evenings. First Club cruise to Catalina. NYCLB joined Yacht Club Association of Los Angeles - Long Beach Harbors and was accepted as SCYA Affiliate Member. James P. Seramens 

1971: Seventy-five boats in Commodore’s Invitational. Hosted Cal 40’ for Mid-Winter Regatta. First Salty Saturday Race in April. Initiated intra-Club Independence Day Regatta in August. Membership 200. Robert J. Trauger

1972: Marina Clubhouse dedicated 21 June. Cruises to KHYC and Bahia Corinthian. Parking lot and jib boom installed. Coronado’s 25’ replaced by 27’ Catalina's. New Year Eve party in new Clubhouse. Harold S. Croyts

1973: NYCLB became incorporated. Naval Station downgraded to Support Activity - no longer have port for ships. Newsletter became SCUTTLEBUTT, Membership records stolen, recovered next day. David W. Whelan & Carl W. Coe

1974: Ocean racing participation increased. Club sponsored sailing symposium, it was a success. Clarence Shaw organized Junior Sabot Program. Junior sailing scholarships established. May Salty Saturday was for Single-handed Race. 180 people at 4th July picnic. Lady Skipper’s Race began in October with chili fest following. George H. Christena

1975: NYCLB Associate member of SCYA. Full cruising calendar now a tradition. Club hosted 25’ Cal Nationals. Cookouts and social activities increased thanks to a new gas BBQ grill.
E. Lawrence Bingham

1976: The year brought successful racing, cruising and social programs, a Bicentennial Dinghy Parade, hosted West Coast Sailing Championship race, and the after-effects of a fire in the Clubhouse. Alfred C. Krueger

1977: Increased participation and activity in racing and crusing program. Ruel Cameron, TAHUNA, raced in TRANSPAC. Tenth Anniversary party in October. Philip H. Novodvorsky

1978: NYCLB joined Southern California Youth Yacht Racing Association. Long Beach will become home port for ships. A five-year plan for the Club was approved. Donald E. Burke

1979: Cruises once a month, including Don and Dee Bastin named Yachtsman and Lady Mariner of the year. SCUTTLEBUTT with pictures and personal articles. Hosted first international race series with the Japanese. Hosted first SBORA Nationals.
First USMC Commodore. Clarence E. Smith, Jr.

1980: Bareboat charter cruise to the British Virgin Islands. By-Laws revised and updated. Hosted new PHRF open event for ladies, the Footin’ Foxes Race. First annual 4th of July Parade and hors d’oeuvres contest. Jean G. Goppert

1981: Hosted SCYA dinner meetng at Allen Center in April. Held first Opening Day Ceremony. Dinner meeting held on Buccaneer Queen. Held expanded 4th of July Boat Parade and Picnic. Membership increased to 248. First Coast Guard Commodore. Richard F. Goward

1982: Regular Member of SCYA. Student membership program of NROTC members at USC and UCLA to provide sail training as future Naval Officers. Organized chapter of International Order of the Blue Gavel for S/C. Placed seventh out of nineteen in Lipton Cup. Clubhouse now has four showers. William J. Nelson

1983: Participated in management of SCYA sponsored Olympic Classes Regatta. Raced C1 5’s against HMAS Sydney and lost, but against Japanese destroyer “Sawakaze” we won. Ladies Invitational was a clean sweep of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places. Reciprocal cruising schedule included Dana Point Yacht Club and Dana West Yacht Club. USNSA Bob McWethy was speaker at November dinner meeting. Mario Ferrara

1984: NYCLB participated in Olympics sailing program with SCYA volunteers helping to make the sailing events a success. The C-15 program included races against the Australian from “Sydney” which was in NYCLB’s favor. George F. Mahoney

1985: Major facility expansion and improvement with 350 slips, concrete pilings and renewed docks. The Club hosted thirteen different yacht clubs from the Southern California area. They visited with 155 boats and 515 guests. NYCLB members enjoyed an active racing and cruising year. John A. Monkvic

1986: NYCLB’s membership peaked at 273. The first Member’s Day Brunch, as well as an outstanding Opening Day, 4th of July, and pot-luck dinners rounded out a busy social calendar. First Christmas Parade of Lights Club sponsored for crews of Navy ships in port. Clubhouse renovation going slowly. Jonathan C. Ide

1987: The Club’s twentieth anniversary year. The Membership Roster contains a broader representation of the various uniformed services than in the past: retired members continue to be the main force in leadership and continuity in the Club’s operation. Mike Elliott and Ray Vida led the cruise program with 216 boats coming in from 16 different yacht clubs. The cruise-out sent 116 NYCLB boats with 232 members, on reciprocal cruises from Marina del Rey to San Diego. NYCLB for the 1st time assisted Metropolitan Yacht Club of Oakland, CA in staging the San Francisco to Catalina Race. John Larson, Membership number 1, received the LA-LB Harbor Association’s Yachtsman of the Year Award. Herbert A. Turner

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