Fells Point Yacht Club, Inc.

P.O. Box 38561

Baltimore, Maryland 21231

(410) 242-1383

 

 

In 1979, amid the blare of the jukebox at the Whistling Oyster (on South Broadway, in Fells Point), a handful of people who loved to sail and socialize together, came upon a bright idea: “let’s start a yacht club!”  After a few months of bar talk the idea began to gel.  The charter was written in 1980 and the Fells Point Yacht Club, Inc. was underway.

 

During that first year, 32 charter members wrestled with our first set of By-Laws in front of the fireplace at the Oyster.  A contest was held for the best burgee design.  The entries decorated the walls of the Oyster for a few weeks before the winning design was chosen (our current design).  We elected the original group of officers one at a time,  and our fleet consisted of 7 sloops, 1 power boat, 1 catamaran, 1 trimaran and one tug boat.  Early meetings took place on the 1st Tuesday of the month at the Oyster, and consisted of ten to twenty members sharing pitchers of beer. Our rendezvous were totally spontaneous, and a raft-up consisted of 2 or 3 boats laden with supplies and members.  Dues were $10 or $15 which paid for postage and stationary.

 

Aside from the patrons at the Oyster, very few people knew that FPYC existed.  But, WE knew who were, and it was quickly decided that we would do things a bit differently than most other yacht clubs.  Among other things, we decided our officers could be men or women, there would be no ladies auxiliary for us!  We also decided to involve ourselves in the community - not isolate it from us OR us from it!  Our first “organized” event was for children.  It was a tug boat ride, nick-named the “Pumpkin Cruise,” for children in the local community. Our Pumpkin Cruise has since become an annual event, looked forward to by community and club members alike,  and fills to capacity every year.

                   

In time, many of the charter members classified as “crew” (non-boat owners) became captains of their own vessels, and our ranks swelled.  Rumors about ‘That Yacht Club at the Oyster’ brought more members to FPYC, by 1983-84 our membership had doubled.  We were sadly becoming too large for the Whistling Oyster.

 

 The Waterfront Hotel on Thames Street became our next home, and by 1986, we counted 48 boats, a full voting membership of 100, 20 junior members and a group of associate members.  A few years later we rented ideal office space on Wolfe Street.  We were excited; we had our very own club-house - with parking! Unfortunately, this independence was short lived.  The owners displaced us after a two or three year tenure  - they wanted the place for themselves!  We currently hold our meetings (on the 2^nd Wednesday of every month) at Henderson’s Wharf Marina on Fell Street.  Now, over 50% of our boat owners (including at least 5 “live-aboards”) occupy slips at Henderson’s, and we have just about taken over their B-pier with member slips.

                   

Throughout the years we have participated in the Baltimore City Fair, Port Fest, Harbor Expo, Fells Point Fun Festival, The Baltimore Parade of Lighted Boats, Inc., The Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race, and the Whitbread Round The World Race for the Volvo Trophy.  In cooperation with OP Sail (now Sail Baltimore) we have entertained and greeted visiting foreign and U.S. vessels.  Hundreds of ships and their sailors have enjoyed our special brand of hospitality.  Our welcoming “Dock Parties,”  held on B-pier, have entertained (and fed) upwards of 70 visiting sailors at one time!

 

Our raft-up schedule is always full of excitement:  we had a record breaking 13 boat raft-up in the summer of 1997 (7 sail boats, 6 power boats rafted together).  The number of vessels in the club has climbed to over 50, although our membership roster continues to maintain a significant number of “crew” (aspiring boat owners, by choice or circumstance) whose only qualification need be a love of both boating and the Fells Point Community. 

 

Our community commitment continues to grow.  FPYC members are constantly finding new ways to become involved with the Fells Point community, and we earmark a percentage of our yearly fund raisers to benefit a local charity, which we choose annually.  We offer the Department of Natural Resources Boating Safety Education Course as a public service every year,  and we can now brag about our web page which is accessible to all.

 

The goals and philosophy first set forth by the original members of the Fells Point Yacht Club remain today.  Social camaraderie, a love of boating, water safety education, and a desire to help others, have become our driving covenant.  The Fells Point Yacht Club is proud of the positive reputation we have earned in our tiny corner of Baltimore City - Historic Fells Point.