Bayview Mackinac Race Foundation
Your GenerosityMakes a Difference
The Mackinac Race Foundation's purpose is to ensure that the annual Bayview Mackinac Race continues on forever.
The Foundation depends entirely on contributions, bequests, and endowments to accomplish its goal to guarantee the financial security of the Mackinac Race in perpetuity. Thus, it is the Foundation's investment strategy and policy to invest the net principal of all monetary contributions and donations and to use only the earning in its support of the Mackinac Race each year.
Now, more than ever, we need your support to serve as a guarantee for the future of the Mackinac Race. Please think of us now or in your future estate plans. Every single contribution of any amount is always truly appreciated.
Your donation will help us reach our goal of $1,000,000
How can I support the Foundation and pledge support to the Mackinac Race?
To make a donation to the Mackinac Race Foundation that will insure the continuation of the grand tradition of the Bayview Yacht Club Mackinac Race, visit the Mackinac Race Foundation website.
Message from the Commodore
Since our founding in 1915, Bayview Yacht Club has stood as a beacon of nautical tradition, camaraderie and integrity on the Detroit River. Over the decades, we ' ve evolved from a modest boathouse into one of the Midwest’s premier sailing institutions, hosting world-class regattas and fostering a community bound by a shared passion for sailing and mutual respect Bayview’s journey hasn't always been smooth sailing
Just like the waters we love, there have been
occasional storms that tested our resilience, unity and resolve. During those storms, it’s easy to find some people looking from a distance, unfamiliar with who we really are, who tried to cast doubt or question our character
Yet, Bayview's story is clear, unwavering and indisputable It’s defined by our actions, our values, and our dedication to doing what’s right, even when it's challenging.
Today, as we proceed on our journey, our focus remains steadfast: guided by the strategic plan, we will continue enhancing and refining our Club’s practices, aligning ourselves with the very best standards in the industry, and elevating the Member experience. We won’t alter course on those goals we never have.
Ahead lies another season filled with opportunities to demonstrate exactly what makes Bayview extraordinary. For example, the Bayview Mackinac Race, closing in on its 101st running, remains a testament to our tradition of excellence Our sailing programs continue to nurture future sailors, teaching discipline, sailing skills, sportsmanship, and teamwork.
Inside the Clubhouse, we share stories, build friendships, and celebrate our shared passion Bayview’s legacy isn't built on words, it’s built on the actions, integrity, and the camaraderie of the Members and staff who call this Club home.
To our Members, staff and friends, thank you for your passion and your unwavering pride in Bayview Yacht Club. To anyone who doubts us, watch closely. You might learn something about strength, character, and sailing with integrity
See you on the water,
From the Manager
Matthew Prost, General Manager
The energy of summer is back at Bayview! The docks are alive, sails are being hoisted, and the countdown to the 101st Bayview Mackinac Race is officially underway
The Thursday Night Race schedule is now live on our website, and we’re actively updating our calendar with DRYA events as they’re confirmed. Don’t forget—registration for our Hitchhiker Thursday program opens three weeks prior to each race. It’s a great way to invite friends or newcomers to experience sailing with us
Time is also running out to register for the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta. With over 110 boats already entered, this promises to be one of the best racing weekends of the year! Be sure to purchase your social pass online expect outstanding food, great live music, and plenty of sponsored drinks, including rum, wine, and beer. Don’t miss. Friday night’s Mount Gay Cocktail Competition it’s always a favorite.
Our friends at Mission Point Resort continue to be incredible partners hosting the island’s most unforgettable post-race celebration while also supporting our sponsors, the Halfway to Mackinac Party, and the Mackinac Island firefighter training weekend If you visit or book with Mission Point, please be sure to let them know you ' re a Bayview Member and thank them for their outstanding hospitality.
Finally, reserve your spot now for the Bayview Summer Party! While we’ve capped attendance at 250, we fully expect to reach capacity just like we did on Opening Day The evening kicks off with
a New Orleans-style brass band, followed by a full party band and outdoor DJ. Chef will be pulling out all the stops with a spectacular menu (yes, including oysters!), so come hungry and ready to celebrate.
This summer is packed with fantastic events, so be sure to visit BYC.com frequently for updates. A few highlights to keep on your radar:
Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta – Over 100 boats already signed up!
Spring Lobsterfest – Tonight!!
Father’s Day – Inaugural Race and Fleet Review
Mackinac Foundation Dinner & Fundraiser –June 20th
Summer Party – June 28th!
101 Bayview Mackinac Race st Women On the Water Regatta – August 9 & 10
Detroit Cup – August 22 - 24
Let’s make this a summer to remember! Sail and Have Fun!
Matthew Prost
General Manager Bayview
Yacht Club
From the Dining Room
Mike Amore, Food & Beverage Director
Welcome to the 2025 season. We are super excited about this season. Boats are in the water and people are out having a good time Chef Chris has a great menu put together. We think everyone will enjoy it. On Tuesday and Wednesday race nights, we will have $10 pizzas and a $10 dinner special. Thursday race days will see oysters on special. We’ll have plenty more specials to come.
Thank you to all who were here for Easter and Mother’s Day. We worked hard to put out the best buffets in the city on those days Bayview’s Opening Day Party was a huge success, too. It was great to see everyone come down and fill up the Club. The energy was awesome.
Let’s keep the fun going! Let’s keep the fun going!
Helly Hanson is coming back May 30th through June 1 . Last year was a success and this year should be better as we grow our partnership with them again st
Don’t forget Father’s Day, June 15th. There is plenty of fun in store for the whole family After that there is the Summer Party on June 28 . Clear your calendar and plan on a good time. Attendance is limited so reserve your space now. Then after that is the Bayview Mackinac Race! 101 races and going strong. Let’s make sure it goes another 101 years th
It is happening here at Bayview. Don’t let someone tell you about it, be here and be part of the stories yourself If you do anything this season, remember to sail and have fun!
See you at the Club! Mike
2025 ALTS and ALTR Students can apply their tuition fees towards a BYC Membership.
Boat Owners can earn up to a $500 credit for sponsoring their crew members as new BYC Members.
The Power of Volunteering: Strengthening Bayview,
One Contribution at a Time
By Jim Baubie, Governor, Bayview Yacht Club
First and foremost, I want to thank the Membership for the honor of electing me to the Board of Governors this past December Having spent the past five years in the boardroom first as Membership & Member Services Chair, then as Treasurer, and now as a Governor I continue to be inspired by the strength of our Membership and the enduring traditions that make Bayview such a remarkable place. Being involved in this Club is more than a role it’s a source of pride and personal connection
When I look back on what has made my experience at Bayview so meaningful, it’s not just the races or events it’s the time I’ve spent volunteering. From helping set up the U20s for the Club Boat Program, to doing basic maintenance around the Clubhouse, to teaching Adult Learn-to-Sail, and serving on committees, I’ve found that giving back is one of the best ways to deepen your relationship with the Club and the people who make it special.
Volunteering at Bayview isn’t just about giving your time it’s about what you receive in return. You build friendships, learn new skills, and gain a real appreciation for what it takes to keep this Club running smoothly. You start to see the ripple effect that even small contributions can have for our Club and the sailing community.
Like many Clubs, we face challenges in keeping a strong volunteer pipeline active. Life is busy many of our Members juggle careers, families, and other commitments, and that can make it hard to find time. That’s why it’s so important to offer small, flexible opportunities that fit people’s schedules. A few hours helping rig boats or lending a hand at an event can make a
big difference and often, it’s those little contributions that turn into lasting involvement.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We’ve sent out volunteer surveys in the past to gauge interest, but we know that just checking a box isn’t always enough to get someone involved. What makes a real difference is connection. Sometimes all it takes is a conversation with a committee chair or a Member already involved to feel welcome. Just showing up goes a long way. Every committee, regatta, and social event benefits from having new faces and fresh perspectives whether it’s helping organize a Member event, wiping down tables, or setting buoys on the racecourse
We’re also aware that not everyone at Bayview comes from a sailing background—and that’s okay In fact, we created the Supporting Member category specifically for individuals who want to be part of the Club but may not (yet) have sailing experience. You don’t need a lifetime of racing credentials to contribute or feel at home here. Sometimes, just being by the water on a Thursday night, watching the camaraderie onboard the boats, and sharing stories in the bar afterward is enough to make you want to be a part of it. For those who feel intimidated or unsure of how to get started, volunteering is the perfect way to get involved. You’ll be surrounded by good people who are always willing to help, teach, and welcome anyone who wants to be a part of this sport and this Club.
Volunteering also helps us avoid putting too much on the shoulders of a few. We have incredibleMemberswhogivegenerouslyoftheir time year after year, but it’s easy for that core group to get stretched thin. By widening the circle, we lighten the load and invite more Members to discover just how rewarding it is to beinvolved
Asexpectationsevolve,it’smoreimportantthan ever to remember that the real value of Bayview comes from engagement, not consumption. Volunteering connects us to our traditions and to one another it’s how we continuebuildingthecommunitywealllove.
We’re fortunate to have such a diverse and talented Membership. If you’re handy, creative, organized, or just have a few hours to spare there’s a role for you. Maybe you’d like to help with Membership & Member Services, assist in preparing for an event, or volunteer for Race Committee and get a new perspective on the sport Whateveryourinterest,there’saplacefor youtocontributemeaningfully
To those who have volunteered thank you. To those who are thinking about it now is the perfect time. No effort is too small. Whether you’ve been here for years or just joined this season, you are a part of Bayview, and your contributionsmatter.
Easy Ways to Volunteer at Bayview
There’s a place for everyone no sailing experience required:
Help rig or maintain the Club boats (U20s)
Join the Race Committee for a new view of racing
Greet prospective Members at Open House events
Volunteer at Junior Sailing or Adult
Learn-to-Sail programs
Join a Club committee (Membership, Events, Facilities, etc.)
Support regatta prep and awards
Offer tech, marketing, or organizational skills
Represent your interest group (cruisers, racers, families, etc.)
Invite someone new to attend an event or Thursday night race
If you ' re interested in volunteering, don’t wait for a formal invitation talk to someone, walk up to a committee chair, or just show up. And if you prefer, you can also fill out the volunteer survey linked next to this article to let us know how you'd like to help However you reach out, I promise you’ll be welcomed.
Thank you again for your support and for everything you do to make Bayview such an extraordinary place
Warm
regards,
Jim Baubie Governor, Bayview Yacht Club
BYC Summer Invitational - An Entry Level Regatta for
All Competitors
By Ryan Seago
The BYC Summer Invitational & US Match Race Championship Qualifier Grade 3
Match Race regatta will be June 28 & 29th this year. June 27th will be a practice day for the Ultimate 20's and weigh-in (579 LB maximum & 3/4 person) for all competitors. This regatta is an entry level event for all US Sailing match race competitors, new and old. This is a great event for all levels of match racing ability with a double roundrobin format to ensure maximum number of races for all.
Most match race events involve knock-out rounds in quarter or semifinals, but US sailing has changed these grass-roots events to have only round-robins to ensure maximum participation from all competitors. Last year we had eight teams, with six of them coming from California, New England, or Charleston. Lastly, the winner receives invitations to the Detroit Cup, Thompson Cup, and US Match Race Championship in October. Sign up and secure one of the remaining spots through the US Sailing link below!
TALES FROM DEAD MAN'S CURVE TALES FROM DEAD MAN'S CURVE
BAYVIEW MACKINAC RACE
SAILING BY THE FIVES—THE STORMS
By Richard H Bridge, BYC (1995)
Edited & Abridged by Ralph Richards, Historian and Comm Paul Falcone (2025)
1925 — The First Fateful “Five”
Started: 12; Finished: 6 (50%)
The inaugural Detroit–Mackinac Race started 25 July 1925 under a dull drizzle and faint easterly zephyr conditions that mocked what lay ahead.
By 8 p m a black squall cracked through the fleet; at 10:30 the wind hauled hard to the northeast and Lake Huron heaped twelve foot head seas. Dawn found most boats still south of Harbor Beach; three R boats, URCHIN, CALYPSO, and CHINOOK, were blown all the way back to the start. Monday night brought the real hammer: gusts over fifty, seas to fourteen feet. CHARLYN limped into Alpena with every stitch of canvas shredded.
At 6:50 p.m. Monday the R‑boat BERNIDA finally nosed across the line 50 h 50 m elapsed while NEAGHA, nursing a carried away forestay, followed three hours later. Only six yachts finished of the twelve that started Over exhausted, beer laden crews on Tuesday watched Ojibway elder Chamin Nagantoo raise his arms and utter, “Onkanta nomawanta Huron lantee. ” Islanders translated it as “Huron storm of the year five.” Sailors stored the phrase away only to recall it twenty and thirty years later
1945 — The Worst of Them All
Started: 40; Finished: 6 (15%)
Grey skies brooded over Port Huron at the restart of post war racing. Even before the gun, BLITZEN’s crew found a broken spreader and were warned by rivals, “You’ll never reach Mackinac with that outfit!” They bolted a spare in place and charged the line under No. 1 genoa. By nightfall the nor’easter shrieked past forty five knots; BLITZEN and skipper Russ Pouliot pounded north, green water sweeping decks, the steel‑sheathed “bullet‑proof” jib tearing hands raw on the coffee‑grinder. A jury‑knotted sheet kept it flying.
At 04:00 the helmsman clipped himself to a cockpit cleat; tiller kicks could yank a man clean overboard. Dawn brought forty knot blasts and slate grey rollers higher than cabin coamings. Off Thunder Bay a spreader pin sheared Crewman Bobby Bryant was hoisted aloft, slammed like a rag doll, and hauled down battered. Owner Ernie Grates then climbed the rig himself while BLITZEN ran off flat bottomed to spare the mast.
Through Sunday night they clawed on. Just short of Bois Blanc the wind died in a meteorological prank;
1955 Lightning, Beer‑Can Fuses & the 33‑Footer That Won Started: 68; Finished: 44 (64%)
A lively southwest breeze sent sixty‑eight boats reaching north in sunshine; sunset flipped the switch. By 01:00 Sunday a murderous northeast gale (40–55 mph) slammed the fleet. The 290 ft cutter MACKINAW, race escort, rolled thirty five degrees so violently its helicopter fuel tank snapped free and vanished into Huron. Nick Geib’s FLEETWOOD took a lightning hit; empty beer cans in the bilge welded themselves into a single lump
Paul Jones washed off GENSINE, was clawed back aboard; JACK, sailing with brothers aged eleven and twelve, lost her mast and returned safely. VASHTI likewise dismasted, wallowed without an engine until Chet Reynaud’s PIAYBE II gave up her own race, fired flares, and stood by until the MACKINAW towed them clear
By dawn eight boats had scurried home to Port Huron, eight lay in Port Sanilac, nine in Harbor Beach; twenty four a full 35% would never finish Yet the battered remainder pressed on through dead calms and head knocks. At 06:00 Monday custom sloop IVANHOE ghosted in first; six hours later Jim Carlin’s 33 ft Pilot GLORY BEA burst out of the fog and, against all logic, claimed overall honors the smallest for forty minutes BLITZEN wallowed until a Coast Guard lifeboat hailed them: “You’re first everyone else quit.” Knapp flipped a coin over the main; the wind promptly came back and BLITZEN finished at 14:13 Monday, 48 h 13 m elapsed. Out of forty starters only six finished. VITESSE lay 35 miles from the line aground, crew ashore waving Very pistols at trees. At Port Huron twenty five retirees held what newspapers called “one helluva party”
yacht ever to do so Seventy year old Clare Jacobs pirated his NY 32 FALCON to second in class with “reckless abandon ” On shore, the Chamber passed hot coffee while announcing Mackinac Yacht Club’s new luxury: hot showers, soap included, for seventy‑five cents—a princely reward for a race most called “treacherous.”
1985 — The Cold Front & the Sinking of TOMAHAWK
Started: 305; Finished: 209 (68%)
Three hundred and five starters slid away from Port Huron in light north westerlies, forecasts promising a gentle reach. By Sunday noon FAST LANE rounded Cove Island; by 18:30, as one sailor recorded, “the lake went steel.” A high pressure ridge knifed south: wind jumped to a steady 26 knots, gusting 38; temperatures plunged into the low forties Clear skies glowed with Northern Lights while five‑to‑nine‑foot rollers shouldered the fleet.
At 22:37 TOMAHAWK, a C&C 35, radioed she was sinking Crew fired parachute flares, abandoned to a life‑raft, and watched cabin lights slowly disappear under 180 ft of water. OLD BEAR found and hauled all eight sailors aboard within forty three minutes. By morning, the race committee counted 96 retirements: ten dismastings, shreds of expensive new Kevlar mains, one chest pain evac to USCG BRAMBLE. A detailed committee study later found 28 % quit from crew fatigue or illness, 15% from blown sails, 9% hull damage, 11% rigging failure, and the rest from plain prudence.
Those who pressed on learned to surf the long rollers instead of slamming; many recalled it as an “ocean night” on an inland sea, lit by aurora and flogged by arctic air.
Epilogue — Why the “5’s” Still Matter
From the prophetic words uttered in 1925 to the frigid roller‑coaster of 1985, several year‑five races have tested gear, seamanship, and nerve beyond ordinary Lake Huron standards. They share the sudden swing, the blind side head sea, and the humbling attrition list but also stories of square knotted sheets, jury rigged pins, selfless stand bys, and mid lake rescues that underscore the creed etched into Mackinac lore:
“Prepare, respect the lake, help your neighbor, and never assume the forecast has the last word.”
It is 2025 another year ending in five The technology is newer, the sails lighter, the forecasts digitized, yet Huron is unchanged. Crews who study the chronicles of BERNIDA, BLITZEN, GLORY BEA, and the luckless TOMAHAWK will set off this July with eyes on the barometer, reefs tied early, and perhaps an extra square knot in the jib sheet just in case Nagantoo’s old warning still rides the wind
Editor’s Note: This is a highly abridged version of the original 15-page article For the full article, please email Ralph Richards at historian@byc com
Interestedinadvertisingtothousandsofsailorsandtheirfamilies? Advertiseinthe2025BayviewMackinacRaceE-Program!
100%ofallADrevenuegoestotheoperatingcoststoproducetheBayviewMackinacRace. Yourdonationhelps!
Bayview’sFirstRacer?Wrinkle,“ASkimmingDish”
Society, got curious: what else could he find out about the Wrinkle. Down the historical rabbit hole he went, and we’re grateful to publish his findings here about a race boat that pre-dates BYC Without the benefit of online scoring archives, Stone brings us race results and regatta accounts from various archives and further illustrates our collective Bayview history as a plucky Club, dedicated to sailboat racing.
The “Challenge These Waters” exhibit will remain open through July at the museum on Belle Isle Summer hours start May 14 and are 10 am-5 pm, Wednesdays-Saturdays, and 1-5 pm Sundays.
--Sandra Svoboda, Vice Commodore 2025
By Joel Stone
At the “Challenge These Waters: A Century of Sailing from Detroit to Mackinac” exhibit at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, a box compass is mounted on the wall near the entrance. Inscribed with “Yacht Wrinkle,” the century-old navigational device is part of the Detroit Historical Society’s permanent collection and was brought out of storage for the special exhibit that celebrates the first century of the Bayview Mackinac Race After helping us with the exhibit, Joel Stone, the retired senior curator at the 1 2
Those folks interested in the rich history of Bayview Yacht may have heard of the sloop Wrinkle The Club’s centennial book, “Rounding the Mark,” states in its opening chapter, “The first sailboat to call Bayview home was Perc Scott’s Wrinkle. ” from the narrative, lost in over 100 years of starting gun smoke and regatta parties. Worse yet, an old timer or two in the historical commentary suggests that Bayview was started as a place to catch and fry fish, and only later became the home of championship sailors and thoroughbred boats
The Wrinkle’s history tells a different story. It also harkens back to an era of long-forgotten racing rules and ratings, and long-gone local yacht clubs and classes, which can be fascinating reading for fans of the early sport. The following chronology is based on local newspaper reports and can’t assume to cover the entire story.
3
According to an article in the Cleveland Leader, the Wrinkle was “built for racing purposes” by the Boston firm of S. M. Small (later Small Brothers) in 1899.
A similar comment is made a few pages later, but then Wrinkle disappears 4
She was raced briefly in the Boston area before Emil and
Emil is listed as skipper in
August Schmidt of Toledo and Sandusky, Ohio, brought her to the Great Lakes all reports reviewed, and was later commodore of the Inter-Lake Yachting Association and the owner of other champion vessels.
Wrinkle generally raced in the 18-footer class – indicating an 18-foot waterline. Photos of her show a long canoe nose and an overhanging transom, a short sprit and lengthy main boom that likely added 10 or 12 feet overall Later testimony by owners Lloyd Kurtzworth and Floyd Nixon (BYC founding members) suggested an overall length of 30 to 32 feet.
5 Photos indicate she carried a gaff-rigged mainsail, with loose-footed jibs that reached from sprit tip to mast top, and the gear for flying spinnakers or balloon jibs on a mast-mounted pole. Underwater, her narrow hull likely carried a non-ballasted full keel. During her career, she raced in numerous classes, all dependent on the yacht club or regional sailing association running the individual race, the latter at that time being the Inter-Lake Yachting Association (I-LYA), or later the Detroit River Yachting Association (DRYA, today the Detroit Regional Yacht-racing Association).
A Bayview Original
Wrinkle passed from the Schmidts to owners at the Lakewood Yacht Club in Cleveland, the Toledo Yacht Club, and then the Detroit Yacht Club, before coming to Bayview in 1915, the year of its inception From the century’s opening through 1917, in both gales and drifters, this little hotrod won over 60% of the races she entered for which there are scores, and finished “in the money” (There was money back then.) over 80% of the time She often bested much larger boats in other classes Available records fade after that date, but Wrinkle remained in the hunt through 1921.
If there is one conclusion that might be drawn from the detailed narrative that follows it is that Bayview Yacht Club had a thoroughbred sailboat – albeit a 15-year old one – from its inception. And while members of the young club likely enjoyed frying walleye on their dock, sailing was not an afterthought. Perc Scott’s comment, made in his advanced years, that “I was the only one who had any background (of sailing) or, in fact, of any sailing at all” could be contested today by the ghosts of Lloyd Kurtzworth, Floyd Nixon, Will Wilson, and John Hoy
6 Her history fades away sometime in the mid-1920s. 7
Or, in true Corinthian style, these founders might just pull another cold beer from the heavenly ice tub and let Bayview lore remain Bayview lore
An imaginary mark rounding during the Country Club of Detroit Regatta in early September 1916. Shown are three of this period’s most successful racers. Wrinkle is in the foreground, skippered by Lloyd Kurtzworth, a Bayview founder. To the left is Spray, recently flying the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club burgee with the Hendrie name. To the right is St. Elmo, skippered by Will Williams of “Bay View Yacht Club.”
Study by Joel Stone.
Times A-Changin’
The story that follows illustrates a period when yacht racing was becoming more accessible, shifting from majestic schooners with large, paid crews to smaller boats sailed by individual owners and their friends. Catboats and dories, adapted from the lines of work boats, were cheap to build and easy to sail Skippers with a little more money looked to more refined hulls and efficient sloop rigs, while keeping sizes roughly between 25 and 40 feet long – still the greater part of most club racing stock. Owners employed a professional sailor to care for the boat, as any wooden craft requires almost constant attention, and racing vessels need even more. But this was an early phase of sailboat racing not solely for the very wealthy The Corinthian spirit was in the air
Delivered in 1900, Schmidt’s new Wrinkle did well on the I-LYA circuit. The Cleveland Leader called her “one of the fastest yachts on Lake Erie, having cleaned up everything at the interlake [sic] regatta,” referring to the annual mid-July gathering at Put-In-Bay harbor on South Bass Island that began in 1884.8 In 1900, Wrinkle was late to the start for the Hotel Victory “Free-For-All” Cup race (best corrected time wins; all classes), likely due to the ferocity of the weather. Of the 23 yachts in the fleet, only seven chose to race The Wrinkle’s crew opted in at the last minute, and was departing her dock when the starting gun went off. She gained back some of that time on the leaders, and corrected to fourth.
In 1901, the Wrinkle fared better, placing first in the 25-foot class at Put-In-Bay When the season was over, the Schmidts sold the boat to Sam Kimball of Cleveland. Kimball resold it to Commodore Myron B. Vorce of the Lakewood Yacht Club in that town by March of 1902. The yacht came in second on May 25 in a Lakewood race with Vorce at the helm, then took her class handily the following week, beating many of the bigger boats to the finish. By July, Wrinkle was flying the Toledo Yacht Club burgee, owned by Fred Pritchard It fared only modestly at the Put-In-Bay gathering
On June 13, 1903, off the Monroe Yacht Club, “the Little Wrinkle proved herself the surprise of the day,” going from near last to second in the fleet, first in the 18-foot class Back at Put-In-Bay at the end of July, she took a first in the 21-foot class on the opening day, but a disappointing 6th-of-9 in the Hotel Victory Cup Race two days later. Closing out the season, the sloop took a first on September 3, 1903, at Country Club regatta on Lake St Clair 9 10 11
Famous on the Lakes
In 1904 at Monroe on Lake Erie, racing in the 18-foot class, Pritchard and Wrinkle beat Louise in a July 2 event. Two days later, during the July 4 Monroe Piers Regatta, they bested a fleet of five during a hard blow. Two weeks later, Wrinkle topped a fleet of four at Put-In-Bay, although it took a protest to do it.
The new sloop Mermaid of the Detroit Yacht Club out-sailed her, prompting a Detroit Free Press writer to quip, “Pritchard’s Wrinkle is famous from one end of the lakes to the other as one of the fastest small boats on fresh water, so it is certainly a feather in [the cap of Mermaid] to beat her so easily and handsomely as she did ” Following the race, Pritchard protested the Mermaid’s measurement, prompting a remeasurement that proved him correct, disqualifying the Mermaid and giving Wrinkle the first. th 14 13 12
23, 1904
The following day, with Mermaid moved to the 21-footer class (where she came in second), Wrinkle took the 18-footer race over two other competitors. In the final day of racing for the Hotel Victory Cup freefor-all, Wrinkle corrected out over all but one boat – the 25-foot Chloris of Cleveland – in a 19-boat fleet Notably, the hot “new” 21-footer, Spray, out of the Detroit Country Club (DCC – later the Grosse Pointe Club, or locally the Little Club) came in near the bottom of the scratch sheet that day. The race was described as “fluky,” reenforcing Wrinkle’s prowess in light air.
Early August found Wrinkle racing up in Tawas, Michigan in the 21-foot class, and winning handily. The Mermaid was not there, but the D.C.C.’s Finesse and Bay City’s St. Elmo were – two boats with fine records. Closing out the racing season at the Detroit Country Club regatta, Wrinkle crossed the finish line well ahead of Mermaid and Finesse. The Toledo boat had enjoyed a great season – five wins and a second place in the six races on record
There’s Always Next Year: 1905 and Beyond
The 1905 season again started at the Monroe Yacht Club. Wrinkle took the July 3 race against fellow 18-footer Metis in a squall that shredded canvas and forced half the fleet to retire without finishing. At Put-In-Bay, she came in second-of-four on the first day, and first-of-five the second Racing for the Hotel Victory cup, Wrinkle only placed 11th of 17 boats – a disappointment after her success in 1904 – but crushed the other 18-footers, Malillian and Mermaid, both of Detroit. Curiously, an editorial published by the Detroit Free Press sailing correspondent noted that the 1905 fleet size was markedly
20 19
smaller than previous years due to the abandonment of cash prizes. He commented that most skippers were calling for their reinstatement, despite “pooh-poohing” from a small Corinthian contingent.
An August editorial (presumably by the same writer named Gunn) spoke to the success of the Small Brothers-designed 18-footers, singling out the Wrinkle as having “always been invincible in the 18-foot class ” It was noted that several new 18s were being built for Cleveland skippers, and that Detroit owners were considering them, including Peter Hobart, the owner of Mermaid.
Later that month, the Tawas Bay Yachting Association hosted the two-day Tawas Beach regatta On the first day, Wrinkle grounded and damaged her keel, likely affecting her performance. Racing in the all-21foot class fleet of seven vessels, she placed third in both races.
A week later, she won the Veltman Cup at the Edgemere Yacht Club regatta, besting Mermaid, who had equipment issues, and three other boats in the 20-foot class. The race course started in front of the club west of the Waterworks Park, went east to a buoy on the south side of Peche Island, then over to Windmill Point – all up river – and back to the club.
On September 9, Wrinkle bested a four-boat fleet in the 20-foot class in the Country Club free-for-all In elapsed time, she corrected in at second only to the winner Spray in the 19-boat fleet. Notably, Spray (mentioned earlier, owned by H.T. Schmidt of the host club) had enjoyed a spectacular season in the 21-foot class, winning almost every race she entered. Wrinkle was not far behind that pace.
Both boats finished the season strong at the Detroit Yacht Club Sweepstakes race. Wrinkle topped three competitors to win the Gardner Cup, and Spray walked away with both the Ste. Claire (sic) and Harrington cups. The Detroit Free Press article on September 12 also detailed what each boat won in prizes during this period of such rewards Besides the two cups, Spray got $125 in gold and a championship banner. Satirah got a silver punch bowl for best overall time (non-21-footers). Prizes for lower places included gold worth $100 (2 in large boat class) graduating down to $10 (3 place in the 21-foot class) Wrinkle received a banner to go with her cup It should also be noted that many of these vessels carried at least one paid professional. What appears to be a match race opened Wrinkle’s season in 1906. In late June, she sparred against the new 21-footer Toledo. Over a 12-mile, windward-leeward course on Maumee Bay, Toledo only beat the 18-footer by 1:55 minutes. There was some uncomplimentary grumbling in a June 1 Cleveland Plain Dealer, authored by Robert E. Power, about the Wrinkle’s rating “Wrinkle [is a boat] that has caused more anxiety and disturbed feelings than any other one craft in the interlake association. Coming into the eligibility list under the head of existing boats, she is plainly in violation of the spirit, if not the letter, of the rules, but manages to hold her place through technicalities It is not even to be presumed that the moderately rigged keel boats of the local club (Lakewood Y.C. of Cleveland) with their displacement of two tons and more can approach the Toledo skimming dish in the matter of speed, and it is rather to be doubted whether they will race against her should she be entered in the Put-In-Bay regatta. Without the Lakewood boats the class will be a sorry fizzle.”
Early AIS?
The Toledo Yacht Club hosted its first annual Long Distance Race on Saturday, July 7 of that year. An article in the Detroit Free Press, describing the beginning legs of the 120-mile, overnight race, illustrated a couple interesting facets of the state of the sport First, in order to have up-to-theminute details of the event, reporters with carrier pigeons were dispatched aboard one of the larger boats in the 17-boat fleet. Initial dispatches were sent every couple of hours regarding
leading competitors, weather conditions and sail trim. Pigeons had been used for decades by armies and newspapers in situations where telegraph was unavailable. Additionally, bird racing was a popular sport in Cleveland, Toledo and Detroit, particularly among the recently emigrated European populations of Belgians, Italians and British, so the flying stock was readily available.
Also in this article, the vessels are listed by what may be perceived as their length overall (LOA) Wrinkle, which has been shown to be 18-feet at the waterline, is cited as “28,” suggesting a shift in measuring techniques reflective of a rule change, the “universal rule,” in the works. After more than a day’s worth of racing through some pretty rough weather, the winners of classes A and B were listed in the evening edition of the July 9 Detroit Free Press. Wrinkle came in second in a class of two, beaten by Elsie whose measured length – “38” – was ten feet longer than the smaller sloop Only five finishers were listed, perhaps confirming the ferocity of the sea conditions. While the race included a powerboat contingent, no finishers were listed in that category.
At Put-In-Bay, on Tuesday, July 17’s triangular course, Wrinkle won her 18-foot class in a slow race. The next day, the 10-mile out-and-back turned into a “dreary drift” that took nearly nine hours to finish. Spray crossed first, followed an hour later by Cleveland Wrinkle finished first in her class, and had the second best corrected time behind Spray, curiously listed as a Detroit boat. Consistent finishes like this earned her the nickname “Spray’s little sister,” In Friday’s Hotel Victory Cup free-for-all, Wrinkle again topped her competition Notably, Wrinkle topped Lakewood YC ’s Yankee, but, as predicted in Powers’ comments above, none of Lakewood’s 21-footers came to Put-In-Bay. Spray bested a fleet of six.
Wrinkle missed the DYC regatta on July 28, and had a disappointing visit to Tawas Bay at the beginning of August, finishing fifth of seven in the free-for-all, and second of three entries in the under-21-footers race the following day. Back in Detroit at the beginning of September, things improved. On Saturday, September 1, Pritchard took home the Edgemere Y.C.’s Veltman Cup, having won it two consecutive years. The following day, there was a free-for-all, managed by Edgemere under the name Wood’s Windmill Point race (Wood was an officer in the club, and the sponsor.). Wrinkle led the 19-boat fleet from start to finish (
day.).
Back to Lake St. Clair
The Detroit Country Club event began the following week, offering a windward-leeward course on Monday, a quadrangle on Tuesday, and triangle on Wednesday. Monday was a disappointment for many. Those in the 21-foot class found their race postponed until Thursday because four Chicago boats, being transported aboard the freighter Phoenix, were stormbound in Georgian Bay Those in the 18-foot class, including Wrinkle, took the second mark to starboard, instead of port as indicated by both the racing rules and the stakeboat; all were disqualified.
The Wednesday triangle was a drifter, but Wrinkle placed over DYC’s Babe in the “18-foot Special” class, distinct from a separate “18-foot” class in this regatta. This had to do with ballasted versus non-ballasted boats Wrinkle fell into the latter category, harkening back to the complains of Clevelanders recounted earlier. The results of Tuesday’s race were not published in the Detroit Free Press, but by the end of the regatta Wrinkle had more points than Babe, and therefore took the prize.
Once again, Wrinkle’s 1907 season began in Monroe on Thursday, July 4. Still in the 18-foot class, Fred Pritchard sailed her to a tight win that day, and more decisive wins on Friday and Saturday. But changes were coming in the rating game, and Pritchard probably knew it
The following week in Put-In-Bay, Winkle was no longer in the 18-foot class but relegated to a new nonballasted, “Universal Rule class” – something in the works for a number of years, although the Cleveland Plain Dealer noted that there was “considerable confusion about their measurements and there is nothing absolutely definite about corrected times in their class ” Under the new Universal Rule, that class included former Wrinkle challengers Elsie, Mermaid, Mildred S., as well as new competitors Invader and Enright
Pritchard took a third in Monday’s nine-mile triangle around Rattlesnake Island In Tuesday’s out-andback, Wrinkle was fifth of six, and for the first time Pritchard’s name didn’t follow the vessel’s name on the score sheet. Instead, the skipper was “Miller.” On Thursday, again with Miller at the helm, Wrinkle came in fifth of seven. Friday saw Pritchard back on the stick, taking a third. Wrinkle came in fourth overall for the regatta. The Universal Rule hit Wrinkle hard, along with the faster, newer competition. She doesn’t appear on published result sheets for her normal circuit of Detroit and Tawas races in August and September.
There was one additional event at this regatta worthy of note. Dr. Lee DeForest installed a radio telephone aboard William Huntington’s motor yacht Thelma out of the Sandusky Yacht Club, and tuned it up personally while at South Bass Island. The Detroit Free Press claimed that she was the “first vessel in the world to be equipped with a wireless telephone apparatus,” and would be broadcasting the I-LYA onwater action live to a receiver on shore Carrier pigeons were no longer required
The only 1908 race report that carries Wrinkle’s name is the Solvay Yacht Club Regatta in mid-September. At this time the skipper is listed as P.J. (Peter) Hobart, and his result were described in the Detroit Free Press article as “an easy winner in the eighteen-foot class,” having a 10-minute lead over her nearest competitor, and nearly beating all the larger boats.
An article in early 1909 describes Pete Hobart, of the DYC, as her new owner. Hobart had previously competed against Wrinkle with his DYC-based Mermaid, a boat he appears to have sold to a skipper named Pirie. The same piece mistakenly suggests that the DYC spring opener on May 31 was “the Wrinkle’s first appearance since she came to Detroit” (the writer clearly missed the Solvay event the previous fall). In any case, the Wrinkle was a Detroit boat now, and won the spring opener against a sole competitor by over twenty minutes
Curiously, at another DYC event at the end of June, a light air affair which Wrinkle won by default – her single competitor, Haze, was disqualified for a rules violation The boat was sailed by Dave Lorimer At the annual July 4 race at Monroe Piers, Wrinkle captured first place over Beaner out of Toledo; no skipper was named. Lorimer was also on the helm for a DYC race at the end of July, and while sailing unopposed in the 18-foot class, he beat all vessels to the finish line.
In 1909, the Put-In-Bay regatta appears nowhere in the Detroit and Cleveland newspapers during July. There were powerboat races out of the harbor in July, and Lake Erie sailors participated in races at Rocky River and the Lakewood Yacht Club in Cleveland during the regatta’s normally scheduled dates This all suggests that the event was not sailed that year. Maybe someone could ask about it when you finish the Mills Trophy Race this year?
As class racing is concerned, the 18-foot, non-ballasted boats were, as Powers had suggested in 1906, in “a sorry fizzle.” During the last two years, Wrinkle had either raced a single other boat or raced alone. When placed in the Universal Rule class at Put-In-Bay (admittedly a bit of a measurement fiasco), she experienced the worst finishes of her career, and was sold soon afterward
To this point, Pete Hobart had only one competitor for the heavy-weather DYC opener on Monday, May 30, 1910, and that vessel, Brant, capsized – all hands and boat recovered. At the “Elk’s Week Regatta” sponsored by the DYC on July 13, Wrinkle had only the Haze for competition, and won again. On July 31, the “series wrap-up race,” 18-footers didn’t leave the dock – Wrinkle already had enough points to clinch the series At the August 29 DYC free-for-all, a race having both an 18-footer class and a universal class, the Wrinkle didn’t participate. On Monday, September 11, the season wrapped up with the DYC Sweepstakes race – 34 boats in seven classes. She took the 18-foot class of three by over fifteen minutes, but more significantly Wrinkle came in fourth overall on corrected time.59
A Year Off?
The Wrinkle does not appear in any regatta reports in the Detroit Free Press in 1912. It is possible, but not clear, that Hobart sold the craft sometime before her launch in 1913. A May 18 report in that same newspaper suggests that the sloop was undergoing a significant overhaul, which likely would have been due for a wooden boat of that vintage after a dozen years of hard racing. The same article also suggested that she would be “raced continually throughout the season,” although the Wrinkle did not compete in the high-profile Perry Commemoration Regatta in Put-In-Bay that year.
At the opening DYC regatta on Friday, May 29, 1913, the Wrinkle raced under a new formula called the “No. 1 Handicap” class. The new DRYA, founded the year before, was endeavoring to formalize schedules and classifications for clubs in the region, and this may have been related to that, although the 21footer class remained intact and extremely competitive The race was a drifter, and Wrinkle was the only boat in her class to finish, skippered by “Malcolm’n” – presumable Malcolmson, shortened for space reasons. 63 64 65
There was a second tune-up race on June 15 for the Lake Erie regatta, and Wrinkle was announced as a competitor, but no results were posted the following day. On August 24, the boat came in third of three, with no skipper listed. Closing out the season, the DYC hosted an overnight, long-distance race up to Anchor Bay, eastward to the Thames River, and back to the DYC – covering 62 miles. Wrinkle, skippered by “Scott,” (perhaps Perc Scott) came in second of three boats in the “Sloop” class She lost to Elsie of the Toledo Yacht Club by almost two hours. The third boat, Pollywog of the DYC, dropped out.
The 1914 season started aggressively, with the Wrinkle one of the first two sailboats to arrive at their moorings off Belle Isle’s Detroit Yacht Club, primed and ready for the DRYA’s season opener on Memorial Day. It appears that she was then owned by DYC member William “Will” Wilson, who steered her to a win in that race over two competitors in the Handicap class. He also beat Red Coat in a race reported on June irst over Chewink
A week l t of Bois Blanc (B Wrinkle bested G
“It is interesting to note that during Wrinkle’s years in Detroit – 1908 to 1922 –there were only 6-10 local, interclub races available to non-catboat yachtsmen each year ”
Detroit Free Press, September 2, 1914
The Bayview Era
As a slight sidebar, having discussed the search for fair and universal rating systems, the following piece from the Detroit Free Press might further illuminate the state of the art:
The 21-foot class will race without time allowances, while the yawl class will be figured under the following formula: L.A.O [sic] plus L.W.L times the square root of the sail area divided by 70, while in the sloop class the universal rule will be used unless it is found that all of the boats have not their rating, in which case the following rule will be used: One-half of the square root of the sail area plus over-all length, divided by 2
All yachts will sail in regular cruising trim and no part of the cruising outfit is to be discharged or taken off the boat after the yachts leave Detroit. The 21footers will not be required to carry dingys [sic].
69 70
Wrinkle opened her 1915 season at the DYC Memorial Day race on May 31, beating rival Red Coat in the Universal class. This is the first race where “Kurtzworth” is listed as skipper. The fact that K.W. Hall, writing in the Detroit Free Press, noted that Wrinkle “has been refinished and now has a white hull” might suggest that there had been an ownership change. In July, Will Wilson is associated with another Detroit boat, Jackson Park At the end of August, Hall lists the Wrinkle’s owners as (Floyd) Nixon and (Lloyd) Kurtzworth.
This would indicate that Nixon and Kurtzworth took ownership of the Wrinkle about the same time in 1915 that they, along with Perc Williamson and Paul Dietrich, took possession of the corrugated shack on Motorboat Row that became Bayview Yacht Club’s first clubhouse. It should also be noted that besides the aforementioned “founders” (a term that even BYC questions as precisely correct), several other men were members by the close of the year. Among them was a William Wilson, likely Wrinkle’s previous owner.
Curiously, there is a paucity of 1915 race results that include Wrinkle. The July 4 Monroe Piers race was not scheduled due to a financial shortfall. A press piece released in advance of the annual Amherstburg-to-Put-In-Bay race suggested that the Wrinkle was “assured” to be a participant, but she was not listed among the finishers of that race. Nor is there evidence that she took part in that year’s Put-In-Bay regatta.
Wrinkle intended to race at the Country Club regatta at the beginning of September, but slack winds determined that only the largest class finished in the allotted time on Saturday. The race was postponed until Sunday when it blew a gale, pushing the postponement to Monday. The gale increased that day, so the races were cancelled, with winners to be decided by the DYC Sweepstakes and Grosse Pointe Yacht Club Regatta the following weeks. The wind was down to almost nothing by Saturday, September 11 for the DYC race. Wrinkle, skippered by Tom Van Sickle, an early BYC member, was late to the starting line and took third place in a five-boat universal fleet.
More Familiar DRYA Events
In the final race of the 1915 season at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club (GPYC - their second annual event), the Wrinkle, helmed by Will Wilson (her previous owner), came in second to GPYC’s Chewink VI in a twoboat Universal Rule class race.78
Wilson was again at the helm on Memorial Day 1916 and lost to Chewink. For the very first time, the initials “B.V.Y.C.” appeared after his name on the printed race results. (Early legal paperwork and newspaper articles refer to the club as “Bay View Yacht Club” So the abbreviation makes sense ) Wilson lost a close race against the same boat at the Monroe Piers regatta in July.
Back in Detroit, Kurtzworth was at the helm for the Edison Boat Club races on August 19 The contest on Lake St. Clair was delayed by a heavy afternoon squall, but when they finally got rolling, Wrinkle had “a miserable start,” and Chewink bested her by over 40 minutes. Kurtzworth turned things around at the Country Club regatta, beating Chewink by just 48 seconds on Sunday, September 3, and then again by over five minutes at the season-ending GPYC race on September 17.
In 1917, the season opened with a July 4th race was on Lake St. Clair, hosted by the GPYC. Chewink, now skippered by a new BYC member named Armstrong, beat Wrinkle and Kurtzworth by 16 minutes. At the August 4 DYC regatta, an all-BYC fleet of Universals were led by Chewink, with Wrinkle second ahead of the new BYC boat Iseulo. On September 9, DYC Sweepstakes, Wrinkle came in third of four behind Spider (TYC), Chewink (BYC), beating only Iseulo.
The 1918 season results are frustrated by a lack of reports about Wrinkle A mention of the DYC’s Memorial Day races prior to the event suggest that Kurtzworth’s Wrinkle and Armstrong’s Chewick have a new competitor named Myrta, owned by former Wrinkle skipper Peter Hobart. Unfortunately, the results of that race only include finishing times for the club and private catboats, with no explanation for the lack of other classes except perhaps the heavy rain and resulting lack of wind. (Kurtzworth is not seen in the Detroit Free Press for the rest of the year.) Wrinkle was not on scratch sheets for the Lake Erie races (BYC was represented by Cricket, skippered by Scheeley) The DYC Sweepstakes race was held on September 7, where skipper Hoy capsized Wrinkle (no club listed), for a DNF. Curiously, a craft named Bayview was raced by a skipper named Scott, coming in last in the private catboat class Edison Boat Club hosted a race on September 21, without results posted.
The following year, the 1919 Memorial Day race was a washout, with only catboats and dories finishing within the allotted time. Wrinkle did not participate in DYC’s July 4 regatta nor made the trip to Put-InBay again (where BYC was represented by Neahga). August 16, Wrinkle sailed in a regatta sponsored by the Fellowcraft Club, “the latest addition to the Detroit River Yachting association’s [sic] yearly list ” Hoy (likely John Hoy, an early BYC Member) got a good start, but ended up third in the six boat Universal class. On August 17, Wrinkle won an Edison Boat club inter-club contest with Hoy as skipper under the B.Y.C.
Detroit Free Press, August 26, 1917
Wrinkle missed the Country Club regatta on August 31 and September 1. Results for the DYC Sweepstakes Race (August 6 or 13) are not available. She did make the Bayview Long Distance race, placing fifth of eight with Sloman at the helm. Perc Scott was right behind her sailing Iseulo, also of BYC.
Wrinkle’s Fate?
Bayview’s “Rounding the Mark” centennial history narrative suggests that the city finally approved moorings in the lagoon south of the Waterworks Park, adjacent to Motorboat Lane, in 1919. Percy Scott, named as the owner of Wrinkle in this telling, supposedly left her at a mooring too late in the 1919 season and she was “destroyed by ice.” Contradictory race reports in the Detroit Free Press indicate that Wrinkle took a fourth on June 6, 1920 at Algonac, and a fourth under skipper Harry Breadon (a 1915 BYC Member) on August 22, 1920
A newspaper piece in June 1921 suggests that she had returned to DYC ownership, and took a second-ofthree in the Belle Isle aquatics carnival on August 6 An article in the February 14, 1922 Detroit Free Press speaks of Wrinkle in the present tense, but she doesn’t appear in any race results that year, including a 90-boat DYC Sweepstakes fleet that included several racers from Cleveland. This all puts the final days of this aging campaigner in question
Kurtzworth went on to own the R-boat Neahga, a champion sloop that did very well under Lloyd’s care. Evidence of Percy Scott’s ownership of Wrinkle – other than his own 1959 memoir – is not immediately evident. He also claimed ownership of Iseulo, and is on record skippering her in 1919, the year that he is cited as owning Wrinkle and leaving her in the ice too long. And where do Hoy and Van Sickle fit in this picture?
Maybe some Members can help with more information?
One might speculate that the craft had shared ownership, and the members shared the fun. Or that Kurtzworth and Nixon got this aging thoroughbred for such a bargain that just about any member was allowed to take her racing when the spirit moved them
It is interesting to note that during Wrinkle’s years in Detroit – 1908 to 1922 – there were only 6-10 local, interclub races available to non-catboat yachtsmen each year Today, there are that many races available to sailboat racers on the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair each week during the season.
1 Bayview Yacht Club, “Rounding the Mark: a Century of Memories at Bayview Yacht Club” (Bayview Yacht Club, Detroit, 2015), pgs 6 & 12
2 “Rounding”, 5-13
3 Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 25, 1902 6
4 Cleveland Leader, March 25, 1902 9; Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 25, 1902 6
5 Kurtz obit? Nixon obit.?
6 “Rounding,” pg 12
7 See Perc Scott’s memoir at the BYC archives called, “I Like the Way ‘Scotty’ Said It!”, from c 1959
8 Cleveland Leader, March 25,1902 9
9 Detroit Free Press, June 14, 1903 10
10 Cleveland Leader, July 23, 1903 6; Cleveland Leader, July 25, 1903 6
11 Cleveland Plain Dealer, Sept 13, 1903 13
12 Detroit Free Press, July 3, 1904 6
13 Detroit Free Press, July 5, 1904 3
14 Detroit Free Press, July 20, 1904 3
15 Detroit Free Press, July 21, 1904 3
16 Detroit Free Press, July 22, 1904 9
17 Detroit Free Press, Aug 5, 1904 3
18 Detroit Free Press, Sept 11, 1904 13
19 Detroit Free Press, July 4, 1905 9
20 Detroit Free Press, July 26, 1905 9; Detroit Free Press, July 27, 1905 9
21
Detroit Free Press, July 29, 1905 9
22 Detroit Free Press, July 28, 1905 9;
23 Detroit Free Press, August 6, 1905 12
24 Detroit Free Press, August 11, 1905 7; Detroit Free Press, August 12, 1905 11
25 The Edgemere yacht or boat club was located on the Detroit River at the foot of Parkview Street, immediately adjacent to Motorboat Lane where Bayview started, downriver from Waterworks Park It first appears in City Directories in 1902, and finally in 1912
26 Detroit Free Press, August 20, 1905 14; Detroit Free Press, August 14, 1910 16
27 Detroit Free Press, Sept 12, 1905 9
28 Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 1, 1906 17
29 Detroit Free Press, July 8, 1906 15
30 Detroit Free Press, July 9, 1906 9; Detroit Free Press, July 8, 1906 15
31 Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 18, 1906 8
32 Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 19, 1906 6
33 Detroit Free Press, July 21, 1906 9
34 Detroit Free Press, August 8, 1906 9
35 Detroit Free Press, September 2, 1906 11
36 Detroit Free Press, September 4, 1906 10
37 Detroit Free Press, September 2, 1906 14
38 Detroit Free Press, September 4, 1906 11
39 Cleveland Press, July 13, 1907 6
40 Detroit Free Press, September 6, 1906 9
41 Detroit Free Press, July 5, 1907 7; Detroit Free Press, July 6 9; Detroit Free Press, July 7, 1907 13
42 Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 14, 1907 18; Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 16, 1907 6
43 Detroit Free Press, July 17, 1907 7
44 Cleveland Press, July 16, 1907 8
45 Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 17, 1907 17
46 Detroit Free Press, July 19, 1907 6
47 Cleveland Press, July 20, 1907 5
48 Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 20,1907 6
49 Detroit Free Press, July 15, 1907 8
50 The Solvay club first appears in City Directories as the Solvay Lodge, “Mrs A H Pickering, matron,” in 1902 It occupied property at the foot of Louis Avenue in 1904, adjacent to the massive Solvay plant, located the Rouge River near where it enters the Detroit River It appeared in the press later as the Solvay Motorboat Club, and was again the Solvay Lodge by 1917
51 Detroit Free Press, September 20, 1908 16
52 Detroit Free Press, June 1, 1901 9
53 Detroit Free Press, June 27,1909 22
54 Detroit Free Press, July 6, 1909 9
55 Detroit Free Press, June 31, 1910 11
56 Detroit Free Press, July 13, 1910 15-16
57 Detroit Free Press, July 31, 1910 17
58 Detroit Free Press, August 30, 1910 8-9
59 Detroit Free Press, September 10, 1910 21; Detroit Free Press, September 11, 1910 9; Detroit Free Press, September 12, 1910 8
60 Detroit Free Press, May 18, 1913 19; Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 23, 1913 7; Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 25, 1913 9.
61 Detroit Free Press, May 31, 1913 16
62 Detroit Free Press, June 15, 1913, 22
63 Detroit Free Press, August 25, 1913 10
64 Detroit Free Press, September 9, 1913 8
65 Detroit Free Press, April 26, 1914 22;
66 Detroit Free Press, July 19, 1915 9; Detroit Free Press, May 31, 1914 21
67 Detroit Free Press, July 6, 1914 8
68 Detroit Free Press, July 6, 1914 ; This short-lived club was located in Detroit’s Delray neighborhood, near the Rouge River’s original 69 channel In 1915 it is referred to as the Del Ray Motorboat Club It doesn’t appear to have had a harbor The clubhouse was located on the northeast corner of West Jefferson Avenue and Crosley Street, adjacent to today’s Lockeman’s Hardware (marine motor sales and service, opened in 1918) at this writing. The nearest boatyard to the clubhouse was several blocks away. [1918 Baist Map]
69 Detroit Free Press, July 8, 1914 11
70 Detroit Free Press, June 1, 1915 12
71 Detroit Free Press, July 19, 1915 9
72 Detroit Free Press, August 29, 1915 12
73 “Rounding,” 13
74 Detroit Free Press, July 4, 1915 16
75 Detroit Free Press, July 18, 1915 17; Detroit Free Press, July 19, 1915 9
76 Detroit Free Press, September 7, 1915 11
77 Detroit Free Press, September 12, 1915 20
78 Detroit Free Press,, September 19, 1915 22 Note that the GPYC still holds the Bluenose regatta, at the end of September
79 Detroit Free Press, May 31, 1916 13
80 Detroit Free Press, July 5, 1916 12
81 Detroit Free Press, August 20, 1916 21
82 Detroit Free Press, September 4, 1916 12; Detroit Free Press, September 18, 1916 11
83 Detroit Free Press, July 5, 1917 9
84 Detroit Free Press, August 5, 1917 13; The latter named boat appeared under a number of spellings: Iaculo, Isuelo, Iseulo, and Iseola I’ve chosen the spelling used by Perc Scott, who claims to have owned her in “I Like the Way ‘Scotty’ Said It ”
85 Detroit Free Press, September 10, 1917 10
86 Detroit Free Press, May 30, 1918 14
87 Detroit Free Press, May 31, 1918 15
88 Detroit Free Press, July 18, 1918 11
89 Detroit Free Press, September 9, 1918 8
90 Detroit Free Press, May 31, 1919 14
91 Detroit Free Press, July 14, 1919 11
92 The Fellowship Club, dating to the 1890s, was a social club with several notable presidents, including William Livingstone and Augustus Schantz Their headquarters were in downtown buildings, often on multiple floors, particularly when it became the Fellowship Athletic Club in the early 1920s. At this point they also had a facility on Riverview Street at the foot of Alter Road. The club does not appear in City Directories later in the ‘20s.
93 Detroit Free Press, August 18, 1919 13 (two articles, same page)
94 Detroit Free Press August 31 1919 15; Detroit Free Press September 1 1919
Dads,Boats,andBarbeques:
AGrown-UpKid’sGuidetoFather’sDayatBayview
By Some 45-Year-Old Who Still Thinks Bounce Houses Are Awesome
Father’s Day at Bayview. It is an exciting day of the year and not just because I get to eat my weight in ribs without judgment. It’s the perfect mix of boats, burgers, buddies, long days and the start of a great summer
Let’s start with the Blessing of the Fleet, which sounds fancy, but also feels surprisingly moving The Commodore gives an inspiring speech, a priest stands at the dock and blesses each boat. There's something timeless about it. I get a little choked up, watching sailboats glide past, flags waving, kids waving back Freighters slowly cruising by in the background It’s about national pride too You feel it when the flag goes up the mast. You hear it when the color guard marches out, and the bagpiper plays The Star-Spangled Banner. You know it when the children lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. You experience it when the boats exit the harbor with the sound of halyards smacking the mast and sails shaking It's one of those moments you don’t realize is special until you ' re older. Like 45.
Then comes the fun part. Bounce houses (yes, I went in one once and pulled a hamstring, but I don’t let that deter me), the carnival games, and enough barbecue to feed the fleet. Seriously, I saw someone put brisket on a hot dog bun and call it innovation I respect that The Clubhouse and front lawn filled with friends and family doing all that matters on Father’s Day. Eat, drink and be merry.
Out on the water, the sailboat races kick off, and everyone gets into it. Some boats back to gills for fun and excitement, others crewed to win. The older guys lean on the rails yelling tactical advice like they’re coaching the America’s Cup, while the kids hang over the lifelines and boom shouting with excitement to their friends. It is always entertaining when these boats meet at the starting line.
The Fleet Review is a true sight to see. At the finish line the Commodores dressed in their whites, aboard the flagship with polished rails and patriotic flags fluttering As the boats finish the race, the Commodore salutes each vessel and the sound and smoke shoot from a shotgun like something out of a naval movie, and for a second, everyone stands a little straighter.
But beyond all the pageantry and polish, the best part of the day is the people. The dads who’ve been coming here for generations. The families who remember Grandma’s basement, the phone booth and a full salad bar The new Members making their own traditions It’s like a neighborhood reunion, just with better snacks, more seagulls and fishflies.
And here’s the thing about tradition it matters. It gives us roots. It ties generations together with a shared love of boats, burgers, and those windy weekends on the water. But we’ve also got to leave room for change Let new families bring in new ideas
Let the kids DJ a dance party on the lawn Let the old rules evolve while we still honor what got us here That’s how this whole thing stays alive, not just a museum of good times, but a living, breathing community that welcomes the future while remembering the past.
So, here’s to Father’s Day, Bayview style. To traditions that anchor us, games that keep us young, and friendships that last a lifetime and only grow better with time To the dads who taught us how to tie knots, raise sails, pull sheets, and laugh when the wind dies mid-race. To Bayview that was never just about boats. It was, and still is about belonging. About passing something timeless from one generation to the next.
See you on the docks. I’ll be the guy chasing his kid through the bounce house
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
HELPFUL INFO FOR NEW MEMBERS
Accessing the BYC Member Website
The BYC Member site is a great resource for information about all things Bayview From upcoming events, to educational opportunities and upcoming races, you'll want to make sure you ' re visiting regularly. You should have received a copy of the instructions for setting up your BYC Member account with your welcome letter. Once logged in, you’ll need to add a payment method and set it to autopay. If you have any trouble setting up your account, reach out to our Communications & Membership Manager for assistance
Check Out the Member Central Calendar
Once you have set up your BYC Member website account, be sure to check out our Member Central calendar for details about upcoming events and registration The calendar can be found on the Member Central menu.
Watch for Weekly Communication
Our first line of communication is our weekly email updates. These typically go out on Wednesday or Thursday of each week. These updates will be full of information about coming events, Club news, names of people posted for Membership, and more If you are missing them, be sure to check your spam or "promotions" folder and reach out to our Communications & Membership Manager if you still need assistance We also publish this Burgee magazine newsletter quarterly.
Join the BYC Members Only Facebook Group
In addition to our weekly updates and quarterly newsletters, the Bayview Yacht Club Facebook Page and the Bayview Yacht Club Members Only Forum are also great places to get BYC news as well as to interact with fellow BYC Members Please also visit Bayview on Facebook and Bayview on Instagram for event updates, race results, recaps, photos, and more.
Electronic Monthly Statements
Your monthly statements will be delivered to you electronically at the email address you have on file. PS. If you are a long-time Member and still receiving printed statements, contact us to go paperless! Save a tree AND maximize the reach of your monthly dues by saving on postage expenses #winwin
Adding Your Spouse to Your Account
If you have a spouse and would like for them to have access to the Club, please contact the Communications & Membership Manager so that we can add them to your account. Spouses added to a Member account will receive a Member ID card, privileges to bill to your BYC account, and access to our email distribution list Spouses are not automatically added to a Member account when you join unless you indicate it on your application and the request to add a spouse must come from the BYC Member.
Host Your Next Event at Bayview
Now that you ' re a Member of Bayview, you have access to our facilities for all of your special occasion needs! Contact our Food & Beverage Director to make your plans early.
Supporting Membership: Inviteyournon-sailing friendstojoinBYCasa SupportingMember. Thisisagreatoptionfor anyonelookingfora socialMembershipor interestedinlearningto sail.Eitherway,theycan stillenjoymanyofthe benefitsofbelongingto theClub!
Spouse Communications
Want your spouse to stay in the loop with everything happening at the Club?
Let us know and we’ll make sure they’re added to your account so they can receive our weekly updates and other Membership emails. Just send the office their name and contact information — we’ll take care of the rest!
C h i e f S p o n s o r R e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s
