In 1958, ten yachtsmen put up $100 each and founded the Bahia Yacht Club, based in minimal leased facilities on the grounds of the Balboa Bay Club. Bahia means “bay,” and was also the name of the boat belonging to the first commodore, Don Bussey. The initials BYC were the same as an already established club in the harbor, so the word Corinthian was added to avoid duplication of initials. The original burgee, which was the Balboa Bay Club burgee in reverse, was abandoned for the present one when the club was accepted as a member of Southern California Yachting Association in 1959.
In the early years, the club consisted mainly of a very active small-boat racing fleet and an enthusiastic group of cruising boats – power and sail. Most BCYC regattas concentrated on small boats until the idea of racing 10-meter boats on a boat-for-boat basis was advanced. Although class racing is commonplace now, it was a daring concept in 1963.
When Pat Dougan entered Columbia in the 1964 America’s Cup Trials with Walter Podolak and a crew mainly from BCYC, the club became known world-wide. This was the first time in the history of this race that the West Coast had been able to produce a challenger!
BCYC negotiated a new lease giving members full use of BBC facilities, but the expanding membership wanted a new identity. Orange Coast Yacht Club was invited to participate in a merger to finance and construct a new facility.
Contact Info
Address:
1601 Bayside Dr, Corona Del Mar, CA 92625, United States
Phone: 949-644-9530
Email: natashav@bcyc.org
Website: www.bcyc.org
