Useppa Island Yacht Club’s McMahon Regatta and More
by Bob Stevens, Race Committee Head
The Useppa Yacht Club, which has been in existence for many years now, has only two things, a Commodore, Jim Doherty, and a burgee: a palm tree on a white background with “UYC” inscribed. The Club has no by-laws, no meetings, no dues, and a very impressive history of dealing with RULE 2, which is: “If you suggest it, you do it.”
Because of RULE 2,we do sail every Saturday morning on Pine Island Sound, with sometimes 11 or 12 Sandpipers on the water. We sail three races, then hurry in to Bill’s Grill (named after Bill Newbold, who suggested lunch on the beach years ago and got it started), a fabulous hot dog, hamburger, and all the fixin’s lunch on the beach provided to us by Kay Chapin and her crew of volunteers.
We hold an annual Club Championship regatta, the Jack McMahon Regatta, named after our first and beloved Commodore, Jack McMahon, who lived on Useppa Island for many years with his wife Pat. Pat was at the McMahon Regatta on March 14, which was won by Bill Welch who was sailing with his wife Sherry.
Every other year Mike Albert organizes a Catboat Rendezvous, and we hold, at the same time, the Sandpiper “Worlds” right here on Useppa Island. Lots of fun for us all.