Tampa Sailing Squadron has existed as a chartered not for profit organization for over 25 years, but the roots of the club go back into the 1920’s.
Harold Balcom, the first Commodore of the club, recalls it existed back in the early 1930’s as one of several groups of young boys who sailed boats off the Bayshore Boulevard area.
The Squadron at that time was centered around the Tampa Yacht and Country Club. Its membership of young boys was loose and interchangeable with other kids from the Newport Navy, a Barcelona Avenue group and a Rome Avenue Club. Harold recalls the club was at one time known as the “Sand Pit Yacht Club”. It was named after a pile of sand and shell located on the bay side of the Gandy Boulevard and Bayshore Boulevard intersection. The kids tied up their boats in a small canal and played on the sand pile.
Contact Info
Address:
1250 Apollo Beach Blvd, Apollo Beach, FL 33572, United States
Phone: +1 813-645-8377
Email: dockmaster@sail-tss.org
Website: www.sail-tss.org