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Yacht club celebrating its 25th anniversary

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By MIKE CAMUNAS

Tribune correspondent

Published: July 25, 2010

Hudson Beach Yacht Club doesn't care if you have a boat or not. Or even if you don't have your sea legs.

Because it's more than that to the club, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

"It's really about getting out on the water," first-year HBYC commodore Jack Kuhlmann said. "We're a social club, and even if you don't have a boat, you can hitch a ride and have a good time."

The club, according to Kuhlmann, was started with the idea that it was all about being around the water, dreaming up ways to have a good time. Many of the 70-80 members are retirees; however, for a $40 initiation fee and $40 in yearly dues, members meet about once a month to plan events, from a monthly race to land and sea cruises. The latter is intended to get people to drive to a location, then set sail or hop on someone else's boat.

Either way, the club tends to be very open and friendly.

"We try to get activities going that even appeal to the landlubbers," former commodore and current race director Gene Michaux said with a laugh. "Though a lot of members don't have a boat because they used to have one and had to sell it or cut back.

"That old cliche is owning a boat is like throwing money in a hole in the water, but a lot of things are like that. That's why a lot of people catch a ride."

One of the club's more popular events is the Blessing of the Fleet; the most recent was June 12-13. Numerous yachts and powerboats turn out, while the members bring a priest to bless them. This time, they ended up sailing to Coon Key and meeting with another club, Gulf Winds Sailing Club, then had a cookout.

"I would say that of the 70 members that come to the meetings, only 25 percent of those don't own boats," said Kuhlmann, who owns a 26-foot sailboat. "I think some people hear yacht club and think upper-class, crusty, elite club.

"We're the antithesis of a snooty yacht club. Here, if you love the water you fit in."

Kuhlmann and Michaux say the club is a lot of social networking, as well. At the meetings, everyone exchanges numbers and e-mails, which allows for a lot of impromptu sailings, such as heading out to Anclote Key's sandbar to cook hot dogs.

"That's exactly what we try to do," Michaux said. "We have many who like to just barbecue by the water."

"We don't look down on people without boats," Kuhlmann said. "That's not us. We're not the yacht club in 'Caddyshack.'"

Kuhlmann said when he first joined the club, he found it strange that some members didn't own boats, but quickly realized the main reason was just to get out to the water. It is, after all, the real reason many of the members retired to the area.

Plus, it isn't all fun and sun, especially when some members take extended trips.

"We get members coming and going, but we have those who just want to get out for the weekend, but we have some serious sailors, too," Kuhlmann said. "They are dedicated to nearly living on the water, and we have weekend warriors, like (at the Blessing).

"Besides, we want anyone to feel welcome, either on their boat or someone else's."

For more details on the yacht club, call Kuhlmann at (727) 376-2501 or visit www.myhbyc.com.

Correspondent Mike Camunas can be reached at mike.camunas@gmail.com.

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