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Growing up at FWYC!
This column came about as a result of the WOW Ladies Event in January. Maggie Loar asked me to
tell about my three daughters growing up at the Club. I asked each daughter to tell me her favorite
memory about growing up at FWYC, and all three responded. I shared some of their memories with
Commodore Dewrell and he decided that stories about growing up at the Club would make a good
column in the Letter Log. In the months to come, look for stories of members who grew up here.
So, here are some memories from the redheaded Black girls who were third generation FWYC members!
Molly’s favorite memories The yacht club was our life. It was where we felt comfortable and included in everything we did there. The
members were our second family. We followed in Dad’s footsteps and fell in love with sailing. We got to travel
all over the Gulf Coast racing in the GYA Capdevielle races and meeting all sorts of interesting people from
other yacht clubs. When it came time for the Cotillion Dance held at the yacht club, we welcomed the kids from
all over the county to our yacht club. It feels weird not living in Fort Walton Beach, not being a member of
FWYC, not raising my son there. It was the best life a kid could have growing up.
Molly, her husband, Mitch, and son, Elliott, live in Asheville, NC.
Becky’s favorite memories As a young child I remember FWYC being filled with kids. Whenever we were there it was a fun place to run,
play, swim and sail. Most of my fondest memories are the bigger activities such as sailing camp and the holiday
celebrations. I remember every year Easter, 4th of July, and Billy Bowlegs crews (whose boat parade left from
FWYC’s docks). FWYC was the place to be. I remember feverishly stuffing my face in the watermelon eating
contest, watching the older kids chase down the buttered watermelons bobbing in the swim area, and laying on
the bow of my parent's boat, rafted up with other members, as we watched the fireworks on the bay celebrating
the 4th of July.
I remember Sandy Zevin hollering and chasing us kids around the lawn. We acted afraid of the big, burly sailor,
but with every visit we sought him out as well as the other adults that encouraged us to be kids, to play, to grow
with a love of sailing, and to feel the warmth of a yacht club family. I can't imagine my life, or my future
children's lives without knowing the love of a yacht club.
Becky and her husband, Kevin, live in Slidell, Louisiana, and are members of Tammany Yacht Club.
Allison’s favorite memories 1. Easter egg hunts
2. Wednesday Night Fun Races and the post-race BBQs on the patio
3. Learning how to sail and be in charge of a boat by myself at such a young age. I still remember the final race
at the end of sailing camp when I was around 8 years old. I won the race, but someone protested. Yes, another
parent went to the "race committee" and protested saying that their kid had won. Luckily, someone videotaped
the race and discovered that the team who claimed to be winners, actually didn't sail the course correctly. It was
a good day for me. Not only did I win, but I learned a lot about the rules of racing. And the fact that people take
sailboat races very seriously.
Allison lives in Manhattan.
If you would like to share your experience about growing up at FWYC, let us know. Email Faye Bla