About
Our Mission
The Provincetown Yacht Club was formed in 1867 to promote fellowship among members and visitors alike with activities related to our long heritage with the sea...including all kinds of boating, competitive sailing, and land-based activities often social in nature, and celebrating our beautiful surroundings. Membership is open to all!
Background and History
The Provincetown Yacht Club was organized at a time when yacht racing was becoming a competitive sport in America. In 1851, it was the New York Yacht Club yacht, America, a 100-foot schooner owned by John Cox Stevens, the first commodore of the New York Yacht Club, that won the One Hundred Guinea Cup, a race around the Isle of Wight in Great Britain, then considered the epicenter of yacht racing. After this victory, the Cup was renamed the America’s Cup and for the next century and more the United States was the world leader in boat building technology and yacht racing with much of it centered on the eastern coast of the United States.
Racing was nothing new to Provincetown fishermen who relied on their skill in seamanship and the speed of their vessels to be first to market with their catch to command the highest prices. By the mid to late 19th century, Provincetown Harbor was home to 100, 90-ton Schooners and 700 ships and the town had 17 ship and boat building establishments. Its Schooners, Captains and crews were well known for their skills as able navigators and seamen both in the Atlantic and Pacific waters. During the 1886 to 1938 period fishermen schooner races took place off the New England coast. In one such race in 1907 it was the Provincetown Schooner, Rose Dorothea, which triumphed. Her Captain was awarded the one of a kind Lipton Cup that now resides in the Provincetown Public Library.
The New York Yacht Club, which had been organized in 1844, often stopped in Provincetown Harbor on the Club’s annual cruise to New England. It was during these summer lay overs that New York Yacht Club members encouraged local sailors to form their own club and to encourage and support racing in Provincetown Harbor.
Officers
L to R
Betty Zakheim, Secretary; Jeff Lick, Vice Commodore; Ron Robillard, Commodore; Shari Stahl, Rear Commodore; Steve McCarthy, Treasurer
By Laws:
Committees:
RACE COMMITTEE
Co-Chairs: Rob Davis and Ron Robillard
Members: Joel Shaw, Jeff Haley, Doug Sandilands, Ray Tobias & Leo Gracie
The Race Committee is responsible for the conduct of all of the Club’s races; the committee shall prepare the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions; for each race, designate and provide direction to the Principal Race Officer (PRO), the manager of the on-the-water race team that is responsible for specifying and setting up the race course and starting and timing the race; finally, the committee shall calculate and publish the race results .
PUBLICITY and RECRUITMENT COMMITTEE
Chair: Jeff Lick
Members: Joel Shaw & Meredith Goff
The purpose of the Publicity and Recruitment Committee is to encourage individuals who have an interest in boating to become members of the Club and to inform the interested public about the activities of the Club in order to stimulate participation in these activities.
SOCIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE
Chair: Shari Stahl
Members: Faina Smith, Jeff Lick, Mary Matteotti & Meredith Goff
The Social Events Committee is responsible for planning, advertising, coordinating, and implementing social events for the Club members and their guests.
TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
Chair: Betty Zakheim
Members: Steve Hilt, Keith Suderman & Marty Thomas
The purpose of the Technology Committee is to maintain and improve the technology infrastructure of the Club.
MAINTENANCE COMMITTEE
Chair: Steve Stahl
Members: Gege Porges & Doug Sandilands
The purpose of the Equipment Maintenance Committee is as follows:
-Compile a list of all PYC equipment/property (owned and loaned).
-Coordinate work on the committee boat, dinghy, trailer, outboard engines and mooring.
-Maintain all PYC equipment/property.
RHODES 19 FLEET CAPTAIN
Joel Shaw
jmstiki@gmail.com