The Corpus Christi Yacht Club will be 100 years old come November 13, 2023. A youngster compared to New Orleans’ Southern Yacht Club (169 years old), and the Houston Yacht Club (117 years old). But it is the third oldest yacht club in the Gulf Coast.
Incorporated in November 1923, it might be of interest to consider the Club’s start in light of events of that time.
The population of Corpus Christi was then about 15,000, There were 1,000 telephones installed and the City was recovering from the great 1919 hurricane that had devastated the City just four years earlier. In 1921, everyone’s interest was focused on the waterfront. Just before the storm hit a $600,000 bond issue had been approved for construction of the rock breakwater. After the storm, the State Legislature had to come to the City’s aid by passing a bill remitting ad valorem taxes of seven nearby counties for 25 years for the construction of “seawalls and breakwaters”. The Federal government, the State and the City had joined hands for the massive project of creating the Port of Corpus Christi. The project included dredging the ship channel from the City to the Gulf finishing the rock breakwater around the waterfront, and dredging the inner harbor to make Corpus Christi a deepwater port.
We have very little record of the early days of the Club. We do know however, that although its charter from the State is dated November 13, 1923, it was organized earlier, probably in the spring of 1923. By February 29th, 1924, according to a news item in the Corpus Christi Caller Times, there were 82 members and the Club was making plans to celebrate its first anniversary.
Contact Info
Address:
98 Coopers Alley, Corpus Christi, TX 78401, United States
Phone: 361-883-6518
Website: www.ccyc.com
