Are you actively considering or do you have an itch to expand your boating horizons, to do something in addition to “just day sailing?”  Are you somewhat nervous about that new cruising boat on the “Big Lake”?  Interested in or getting back into racing?  If any of these fit you, then take a moment to read about and consider joining the Sodus Bay Yacht Club, a surprisingly affordable addition to your present boating activities. The club is a full service yacht club, offering bar and dining facilities, a very active racing program, a full social calendar, and docking and mooring facilities. For more details, read on...
 
 
 

THE BAY

Our biggest asset is Sodus Bay. To quote from Walter J. Green’s Great Sodus Bay,  “Great Sodus Bay has been variously described by different writers as the best harbor on the south shore, as the best on Lake Ontario, as the best on all the Great Lakes.  The last was by an early historian who usually was very careful in his statements.” The area was first settled after the Revolutionary War, suffered hard times after the War of 1812, became a kind of “Coney Island” around the turn of the century when mass transit reached out from Rochester, and then slipped back into the peaceful backwaters with the coming of the automobile in the ‘20s.

Located nearly equidistant from Rochester and Syracuse (with a nod towards Rochester, approximately 35 miles away), this beautiful body of water, which takes its name from a Cayuga Indian word meaning “silvery waters”, stretches about 3.5 miles SE from Lake Ontario and provides the best of all boating worlds: ready access to Lake Ontario, a sheltered bay for small boat sailing and an alternative to Lake Ontario when the wind and waves are wrong.

Recently, the Bay has experienced a mini-boom with the increasing popularity of boating and the great increase in sport fishing during the last several years.  It still remains what it has always been, a great place to boat!
 

THE CLUB

The Club was established in 1893 on its present site.  Its fortunes pretty much paralleled that of the Bay, and it established a good regional reputation as the location of some “Hot Boats” around 1900.  With the Depression, the Club fell onto hard times and would have gone under had it not been for the intervention of several members who bought the mortgage on the property and deeded it to the club.

Since then, the Club has experienced a slow but steady growth and furthered its reputation as being both the location of competitive boats and a great place to stop while on a cruise.  Presently the Club has about 150 families as members.  The Club’s members participate actively in both cruising and racing.  The facilities include a bar and dining room, showers and heads, a lounge and special playroom for small children, a launching hoist for dry sail boats, rental and free docks for club members and guests, and moorings available to members for a very reasonable fee.  Guest of members and members of yacht clubs with reciprocal privileges are welcome for meals in our full service dining room, which is open Wednesday thru Sunday from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Of course, as a member of  SBYC  you will be entitled to reciprocal privileges at most of the yacht clubs on Lake Ontario.  As we have a reputation around the lake for being a good place to visit because of our facilities and hospitality, you will find yourself especially welcome when you arrive at another club and you’re flying the SBYC burgee.

Over the last few years the club has made several major improvements to its facilities.  The interior and exterior benefited from a major renovation, our kitchen facilities have been completely modernized and we purchased the William G. Croucher, our Rampage 24 race committee boat.  All these projects have been financed from our normal  yearly budgets with no need for a special assessment of the membership for any purpose.

The Club is governed by a Board of Directors that includes the Flag Officers.  Directors and Flag Officers are nominated from and elected by the membership.  The Board is chaired by the Commodore who appoints committees to run the various club functions.  The staff includes the manager, a part-time chef, a dock master and a Race Committee manager.  The Club is primarily run by volunteer help.  We feel that this is the best way to control expenses and to develop more active participation by the members.  When you have served on a committee and seen the results of your labor, you know it's your club.
 

THE SOCIAL SCENE

The members of the Club and our active social program are keys to establishing good relationships between one another, which in turn sets the atmosphere we are trying to cultivate.  The Club’s calendar year activities start off with a dinner dance in February.  Before the club opens formally on Memorial Day weekend, there is a series of parties held on Saturday nights at the Club known as Early Birds.  Two couples volunteer to supply a main meat dish, and everyone attending brings a dish to pass.  At the end of the meal we count heads and divide the cost of the main dish to cover the cost to the hosting couples.  This generally runs under $4 per person for food that is as good as you could wish for!  These, and our Die Hards that run from Labor Day until the season ends, are the best deals anywhere.

Memorial Day is the formal opening of the Club and is highlighted by our Sail Pass.  All that wish to do so, sail past the Club (or motor, or paddle, or drift) and salute the Commodore and are acknowledged by a salute from our ceremonial cannon.  With 50 to 70 boats participating, this is quite a spectacle.  We have various scheduled events through the season, including the Spring Dinner, at which time we introduce and welcome new members, the Commodore’s Punch Bowl following the Sail Pass, and the Commodore’s Ball. Other events are the Pig Roast, 4th of July celebration, a water carnival and informal get togethers.  The formal season ends at Labor Day.  The Die Hards follow through the Fall and our last bashes are the Annual Meeting Dinner and the Racing Awards Dinner and Halloween Party in October.  At the end of October we have a volunteer work day, at which time we ready the club for winter.

Click here for more details as to your YEARLY SOCIAL EVENTS...
 

THE FLEETS

We try (and generally succeed) to maintain about equal emphasis between racing and cruising.  The majority of the active members have cruising class sailboats, but we have several members who pilot fine power craft.  Currently we have active fleets of Lasers , J/24’s and reformed the Lightning Fleet #108. We encourage one-design boats to organize and participate.  Handicap racing is currently run under the PHRF system and is divided into four fleets.  Division I is comprised of boats with PHRF rating below 111 s/mi.  The Soverel 33’s, J35’s, J105’s etc. in this division redefine the meaning of speed on the waters of Lake Ontario and Sodus Bay.  Division II is the very competitive group of yachts rating from 112 s/mi to approximately 150 s/mi.  These are mostly in the 27-33 foot range and are close in boat speed potential, resulting in some exciting finishes in the program.  Division III, with boats from the C&C, Sabre, Pearson and Catalina rate above 150 s/mi. The skill of the skippers in the group turn these boats into fast, fine tuned racing yachts.  The above fleets are raced with spinnaker gear and ratings.  Our active Genoa Only (GO) Fleet has produced some of the best racers on the lake.  This is an excellent fleet for the novice racer or the skipper who is short handed to get out and compete without the added attention a spinnaker demands.
 

To provide added support to the overall racing program, we have added to our facilities a two-ton capacity boat hoist for those who prefer dry sailing their boats.  Those boats currently using this facility include J24’s, a Melgas 24, a Bull’s Eye and the Lightnings.  Storage space is available to enable dry sailing as an opportunity for club members.
The club racing season is     comprised of a Spring series, a Fall series, and a series of long distance races to Fair Haven, Ford Shoal, Rochester and Pultneyville.  The Ladies Challenge gives the female skippers a chance for bragging rights each year.  The two race series, raced on the same day, may be extended to a four series spread out over the summer with spinnakers being allowed for the first time.  Additionally , there is informal competition with all comers welcome.  Besides our regular series, the J/24 Fleet #110 hosts fun regattas involving neighboring clubs.

The Club usually has one major cruise each year lasting for one or two weeks, depending on how much time people have available.  In the past we have gone to such places as Toronto, the Thousand Islands and the Bay of Quinte.  One couple volunteers as the Cruise Director and makes arrangements at Yacht Clubs in cities at which stops are planned  The “mini-cruise," a group of two or three boats will take off together on weekend trips to nearby places such as Fair Haven.  There is a sign-up sheet posted in the Club allowing those with similar destinations to get together.  This is a great opportunity if you are new to the lake and feel uncomfortable with solo cruising.  This affords the opportunity to sail with experienced boaters and make new friends.  The operative word for these flotillas is relaxed!
 

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED

The above is a summary of the Club’s many activities during a season. If you wish to learn more about the Club please contact any member of the Club you may know personally, OR contact our Rear Commodore (who is also our Membership Chairman) directly (contact information shown below).
 

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

If you wish to join, please fill out the attached application along with a brief letter telling us about yourself and your boating interest. Signatures of two Active members in good standing who have been members for at least one year are necessary as sponsors; Our Rear Commodore will be happy to help you with introductions if needed. Return the application and background letter to the Membership Chairperson at the address listed.  Following Board approval of your application, you will be notified in writing by the membership chairperson.  The Board meets on the second Monday of every month and your application will be acted upon at the next meeting following its submission.

For active (Voting) memberships, the Initiation Fee may be paid in two equal installments, the first with the application and the second with the second year’s dues. Checks should be made payable to Sodus Bay Yacht Club.  Club seniority begins when SBYC receives the appropriate check that is requested in the notification of approval.  The official seniority date is the postmark date on the envelope in which your check is mailed, but not prior to the date of Board approval of membership.