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T�l� M� � St�ry . . .
Catalina 22s Rendezvous at FWYC
Each May over 20 Catalina 22s converge at Fort Walton Yacht Club to participate in their annual
Northern Gulf Coast Cruise (NGCC). For 2014 they embark on May 10. Ever wonder who these
boaters are, where they are coming from, and where they are going?
In 1969 engineer and entrepreneur Frank Butler formed a privately held company, Catalina Yachts, to build recreational
sailboats beginning with a small sloop designed as a family sailor. He needed an expert for the design, testing and
demonstration marketing of his first sailboat and found FWYC’s Beattie Purcell, a champion sailor from Northern
Ireland, fit the bill. They embarked on the design of the C22, known as the rugged little Volkswagen of the sailing world.
The C22 launched Catalina Yachts and Beattie’s career as the plant manager building the boats. With nearly 16,000
hulls built; it has a long pedigree and worldwide fan base.
In 1996, two C22s owners (Dee and I participated) decided to test the possibility
of a week-long cruise sailing from Fort Walton Beach to the head of Wolf Bay,
AL to visit Wolf Bay Lodge and back, a voyage of about 160 miles. From that
experience the NGCC has grown to two dozen boats visiting the FWYC each year.
Participating sailors have come from as far away as California, Germany, and
Canada. SAIL Magazine’s executive editor accompanied the cruise in 2005 and
published a story of his adventure in its August issue. Pictures and articles on the
NGCC have been featured in West Marine’s annual calendar and other local,
regional and national publications.
The Fort Walton Yacht Club and local C22 Fleet 77, still host the NGCC and the
sailors still follow the same course except that Wolf Bay Lodge (burned down)
has been replaced by Bear Point Marina as the western destination. Pre-cruise
Catalina 22s in formation before
picnics and post-cruise banquets at FWYC are always a highlight of the visit. passing under the Navarre Bridge on
Many stories of the NGCC and the hospitality of FWYC are published to the C22
a cruise in May 2005.
worldwide community online following every cruise making this a great publicity
event for the Club in addition to sales from dock fees, the dining room and the lounge. Publicity also prompted the first
C22 National Championship Regatta hosted by FWYC in 2001 with two more since.
So, next time you see these sailors give them a big welcome for keeping traditions alive while promoting recreational
boating and our FWYC.
Mickey La Garde
If you are willing to share an on-or-about the water adventure, please let me know at [email protected].
Let’s tell a story! - Pat Tye
The Fort Walton Yacht Club
is sponsoring a
Saturday, April 5, from 8:00 a.m. to
Noonish
Tables are FREE Donations Accepted!
All Donations will go toward the
South Parking Lot Paver Project.
To Reserve a FREE Table - Contact:
One of the followingTheresa Sampson at [email protected]
Suz Weston at [email protected]
Pat Tye at [email protected]
~ Fort Walton Yacht Club, Established in 1951 ~