FBYC History....

Jere Dennison

In the olden days, our club issued Registry Certificates for yachts, and in fact for all boats of any size, owned by members. I do not know when this practice began nor do I know exactly when it ended. Members were always a little baffled as to what to do with these certificates: frame them for the home, boat or just keep them in a file somewhere as proof of their entitlement to “fly the Club burgee,” “participate in all activities sponsored for her Division,” and specifically to vote in club elections.

Plainly stated was the certification that the owner “is entitled to all rights and privileges of a voting member of the Club.” Sort of like the curious certification on a college diploma that I suspect was the model for this document. However, I don’t recall a single incidence at the Annual Meeting when a member was required to produce his certificate to exercise his voting privileges!

The Fishing Bay Yacht Registry Certificate pictured nearby was issued for my Cal 20 “Urchin” in 1971.  It bears the facsimile signature of Commodore Allen Potts but the actual signature of Secretary Harmon H. Haymes. I have held on to several of these certificates over many years, finally concluding what to do with them: save them as historical curiosities to amuse future members of the Club!