Fort Walton Yacht Club Letter Log
April 2018
30° 25.60’N 86° 35.58’W
FCYC and GYA Reciprocal Benefits
by Diana Moore and Pat Tye
The Fort Walton Yacht Club has memberships with the Florida Council
of Yacht Clubs (FCYC) and Gulf Yachting Association (GYA). One of the great benefits is to afford our
members reciprocity privileges to visit over 70 Member Yacht Clubs by car or boat to enjoy their
facilities. All FWYC membership categories except Non-Resident and Seasonal qualify for reciproc-
ity privileges. Our Juniors and Junior Associates would be welcome for a regatta or other event but
have no charge back privileges.
Diana Moore has set a goal of visiting as many of the Member Yacht Clubs as she can during her
RV travels, enjoying the dining and available amenities. Only a few Clubs can accommodate over-
night stays in an RV. She accesses the Club website for details of the facility and always calls ahead
requesting a visit and/or dining reservation. Dress codes vary for each Club and are enforced; and
there may be restrictions regarding reciprocity visits.
For the crew of Blue Moon , David and Pat Tye, their preferred method for Club hopping is visiting
by boat. For the FCYC, most Clubs offer one free night for a slip on a space available basis and a
better-than-commercial rate for additional nights. It is always best to make reservations as far in
advance as possible, especially during busy boating seasons. If no slip is available, most Clubs will
provide information on other marina or anchoring options. Use of all the Club facilities is usually
included.
For a complete list of Yacht Clubs, contact and visitor guidelines information, please access the
following websites: www.floridacouncilofyachtclubs.com and www.gya.org (PFD Directory available
on website under Documents)
For the FCYC, there is a handy guide to all the Clubs available for purchase in the FWYC Office. You
may choose to become an auxiliary member of the GYA, their guide is included in your membership,
but is online as well.
To make the most of your visit as guests, please be reminded to respect local Club rules and tradi-
tions. Always carry your FWYC Club Card with you to present at the Yacht Club.
Most FCYC Clubs bill all fees back to our Club which you then pay on your regular monthly bill. Some
will allow you to pay as you go. In the GYA, some, but not all of the Clubs offer similar benefits.
Diana states that there was a definite learning curve to being a guest in the Club system for some-
one new to the procedures. To help ease things for other travelers, she has helped to design a handy
guide to reciprocal protocols. It will soon be included in the Newcomer’s Briefing and be available in
the office.
We hope you get out and enjoy this wonderful FWYC benefit by whatever mode of travel you
choose.
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