St. Clair Yacht Club

Paul Hendrickson was forced to move his sail club in 1952, because the city was taking over his land to redirect the outlet of Fox Creek.  The St. Clair Yachtsmen Purchased four of his boats, and moved their operations to Kean's Detroit Harbor.  From the fall of 1952 to the spring of 1954, the club wag without a home, and accommodations for meetings were rented at the Whittier Hotel.



The club arranged a deal with Kean's under which several club members designed and built a second floor addition to an existing building in Kean's marina at the foot of Meadowbrook Street.  Later the club became generally known as the St. Clair Yacht Club, and the name was officially adopted in 1959.

SCYC added the "St. Clair Room" to its facilities at Kean's in 1959 again designing and assisting in the building of a dinning room and kitchen on the 'Second floor of the building, continuing the friendly partnership with the marina, which SCYC enjoyed.  Since the early 1960's, SCYC has sponsored the highly regarded Commodore's Invitational.  Held every January, this event allows new flag officers and Past Commodores from all the DRYA clubs to get to know each other on an informal basis.

St. Clair Yacht Club is now known primarily as a power boat club, and sponsors cruiser navigation contest (predicted log contests) under the sanction of the North American Cruiser Association (NACA) and Western Lake Erie Cruiser Association (WLECA), with SCYC members competing against members of yacht clubs and other' sanctioned bodies such as the Untied States Power Squadrons©˙.  SCYC members have built an outstanding record in this competition, including one national champion, several national second and third places, and many regional championships.

The 1986 National Predicted Log Championships were sponsored by, and held at, SCYC.

Sail activities picked up momentum in the late '70's, with the introduction of the Thomas Blakely Memorial Race, a two-day sailing event to the Thames River (Ont.) and back.  In 1981, SCYC introduced the annual "Blue Nose Turkey Race," held in the third week of November, and in 1982 we began the "Early Bird Race'' in early April, giving the club the distinction then of having both the first and last races of the yachting season.

Due to a combination of increasing rent and changes in the state liquor insurance and general liability laws, SCYC faced the real possibility of either going bankrupt or closing down altogether in 1986.

A decision was made to dissolve our long-standing relationship with Kean's.  St. Clair yacht Club entered 1987 as a "homeless" club, but was far from being washed up.  We went through a period of sharp decline in membership and emerged a stronger, healthier, club which today puts the emphasis on the real reason for being a yacht club - boating activities, racing, cruising, and attending rendezvous and social activities where members and guests enjoy the fraternal fellowship of SCYC members, guests, and members of other yacht clubs.

After several years of meeting in borrowed and rented facilities, a promising relationship with the Porterfield Wilson and John Carlo companies was developed 'over several intense negotiations, which led to SCYC again having a clubhouse.  SCYC moved into a 1,280 square foot facility in the marina office building, on September 1, 1991.  With a magnificent view of the marina and river it boasted a full service bar and facilities to entertain 150 people.

What began as a very friendly relationship soon soured with marina management refusing to grant more than a one-year lease.  Much of the time, SCYC was operating on a month-to-month verbal extension of an expired contract.

While there only six years, advances were made which would help the club grow and prosper.  Our membership grew and became more diverse, more nearly reflecting the multi-ethnic population of the Detroit metropolitan area.

Discussions with Kean's Marina led to the offer of a long term lease, renewable for a longer term, and the Board of SCYC decided that it would be in the best interest of SCYC to move back to our original home.  In the summer of 1997, SCYC leased what amounts to its original home, in the second floor of the marina building (which the members built in the "50's!).

Following much renovation and rebuilding, and the addition of a completely new bar unit, the "new" SCYC clubroom is again welcoming members and guests to enjoy the fellowship and comfort of an old-line yacht club, which enjoys widespread recognition.  

SCYC is entering the "21" Century as a strong and growing club, and is determined to live up to our reputation as the "friendliest club on the river".

Before there was a St. Clair Yacht Club...

A group of men and women sailors who enjoyed racing among themselves wanted to compete against other clubs using "CK" catboats, but found they were ineligible to do so.  They consulted a well-know yachtsman, Harry Kendall, who suggested they form a yacht club of their own.

This was done by an initial group of 24 sailors in 1945, and at their second meeting, Thomas Blakey was elected Commodore, John Theurkon, Vice Commodore, and Alfred Schultz, Rear Commodore.  The club was originally named the "St. Clair yachtsmen".  

The new yacht club was shortly accepted as a member of the inter-Lake Yachting Association (I-LYA), following in the spring of 1946 with membership in the Detroit River Yachting Association (DRYA).  The club was formally incorporated as the "St. Clair Yachtsmen, Inc.", in April of that year.

Cat-rigged "CK" sail boats were leased from the St. Clair Sail Club, a commercial club operated by Paul Hendrickson on Detroit's near east side.  The St. Clair Yachtsmen also held their meetings there.  Club members sailed primarily in team races against the Detroit Yacht Club, Detroit Boat Club and Edison Boat Club, all of which had club owned fleets.

The first season, the St. Clair Yachtsmen team was last in the standings, but Maury DeClercq represented us in the individual river championship - and won.  He went on to gain fame in many Port Huron - Mackinaw races over the years, becoming one of the "Old Dogs".  in their second year the St. Clair Yachtsmen's team won the over- all season championship.