SAYVILLE YACHT CLUB HISTORY

Some time during the latter part of the 19th century a group of sailors broke away from the New York Yacht Club and formed the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club in Center Island on the North Shore of Long Island.  In July of 1901 Regis H. Post, Walter L. Suydam, John E. Roosevelt, John R. Suydam, Robert B. Roosevelt, Bryce Metcalf, Kenyon Fortesque, Robert B. Roosevelt, Jr., Walter L. Suydam, Jr. and George C. Kobbe decided to form the Southside Yacht Club, breaking away from Seawanhaka Yacht Club.  The first site of the Club was in Bayport.  In 1904 the Club burgee was described: " The club burgee shall be a pointed flag, the hoist to be two-thirds of the length.  The device shall be a cross composed of 12 five-pointed stars in white on a red field:  eight stars to be placed on the middle line lengthwise and four crosswise at the third star from the luff, the stars to be equidistant and size one-sixth of the hoist.  You will note that the Seawanhaka Club burgee is the same as Sayville Yacht Club's but, instead of red,  it has a blue field for its 12 white stars.  In 1904 the Club had 27 sloops, yawls and 6 catboats in their racing fleet.  The largest of these was F Class, over 46 feet in length with maximum crew allowed 18 persons.  Some time after 1910 the Club became more closely associated with Sayville.  Early in this century President Theodore Roosevelt used to race in Southside Yacht Club regattas with his uncle Robert B. Roosevelt of Sayville and Regis Post of Bayport.  Prior to World War I the Southside Yacht Club held its Invitational Regattas at the foot of Foster Avenue.  Large refreshment tents were erected to serve lunch to the visiting yachtsmen.  These lunches were provided by the wives of the club members as is the custom today at all invitational regattas.   During World War I the Club was disbanded but again in 1920 racing was reestablished and in September 1920 the first Queen of the Bay Race was held.  It was in 1920 that the Southside Yacht Club was to be incorporated and at that time its name was changed to Sayville Yacht Club.  In 1922 the Sayville Yacht Club purchased the former Patchogue Yacht Club building.  After eight years the Sayville Yacht Club was financially unable to support the clubhouse and it was foreclosed by Captain Frank Rogers of Bayport.  In spite of this, Captain Rogers permitted the Club to use his oyster houses and grounds for parties and annual clam bakes.  So you can see that our annual Clam Bake has had a long tradition.  In the early 30's Mr. John P. Zerega of Bayport built a slip and clubhouse on Brown's River.  The slip is presently part of Doug Westin's Boat Yard on River Road, Sayville, but the clubhouse was floated across the Bay to Fire Island Pines.  In 1935 the Sayville Yacht Club organized an all day race for cruising sail boats and auxiliaries.  The race ran from Sayville to Howell's Point Bellport, to Babylon, then returning to Sayville for the finish line, or in reverse order depending on the wind.  This race was an annual affair until World War II and the basis of the present Cruising Club.  Once again in the late 1930's the Sayville Yacht Club came on hard times and Mr. Zerega foreclosed on the clubhouse and slip.  From then on the Club was active over the years.  During these years many of Sayville, Bayport, and West Sayville young, and some older, sailors continued to race many boats from Stars and P boats down to Snipes in Great South Bay Yacht Racing Association regattas.  However, through the efforts and determination of Doug Westin and other members, the Club was kept alive and was always represented in the Official races of GSBYRA and the National regattas of the various classes.  During these trying years the annual dues were $5.00. Meetings were usually held in the Commodore's home.