SAYRA Club of the Month

The Geechee Sailing Club was founded in 1971 with 14 charter members and its goal is to promote sailing, and boating in general, through education, fellowship and activities such as racing and cruising. Today the club has over 60 active member families and meets monthly. In that the club has no permanent structure, the social activities are created from year to year as members host events that include Caribbean pool parties, Fifties dances, oyster roasts, steak cookout, sailboat model regattas at an indoor pool in January, and fish fry that has occurred for over 14 years at the same home. The club’s premier event, the Change of Watch, is held each November to thank outgoing officers for their service and install incoming officers for the next year.

The St. Patrick’s Regatta in March and the Oktoberfest Regatta in the fall are PHRF events sponsored by the club. These are usually held in the Wilmington River with after-event gatherings at a marina or local restaurant. Classes A, B, and C are awarded trophies.

Cruising is also an activity enjoyed by many club members. Beginning in April, boats of all sizes and types gather for the first of many summer outings which include trips to St. Catherine’s Island, Blackbeard Island, Harbour Town, and other local anchorages around Savannah. A Christmas Boat Parade is held on the first Saturday of December as members dress ship with thousands of lights and creative decorations to compete for first prize.

The people of this club are an eclectic group and are happy to be nomadic. Sailboats, trawlers, and motor yachts make up the club’s fleet of vessels and ages of members range from the twenties on up. They are always up for a good time or a good deed and enjoy the camaraderie of the group. The picture featured above is a perfect example of the Geechee spirit - this was a cruise to Odingsell Creek in April 2008 where the participants gathered to send a photo greeting to the past commodore who was undergoing cancer treatment far from home.

www.GeecheeSailingClub.org

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