detroit yacht club commodore

Historic Detroit

Every building in detroit has a story — we're here to share it, detroit yacht club, by dan austin, historicdetroit.org.

The Detroit Yacht Club has had five homes since being formed shortly after the Civil War, but it is its current home that gives it the largest yacht club clubhouse in the United States.

There were earlier yacht clubs in the city, including the Peninsular Yacht Club, which was founded in 1858 or 1859 as the first yacht club in Detroit. That was followed by the International Yacht Club in 1867 or 1873 (sources disagree), which lasted until 1877. The pre-motor Motor City was in need of a new club to fill that gap.

The DYC was organized on May 30, 1878. Samuel Cowan was named commodore; C.W. Ives vice-commodore; O.W. Baker president; E.H. Telfer vice president; George Newberry secretary; and S.H. Ives treasurer. The officers decided to celebrate by holding a regatta on the Detroit River that July 4 (though the event was delayed by a day on account of weather).

"This club is composed of the best yachtmen in Detroit and vicinity, and is a happy combination of experience, as represented by the older members, and enthusiasm and energy as shown by the younger sailors," the Detroit Free Press wrote July 6, 1870, while covering that first regatta.

A small clubhouse and sailing shed were built at the foot of McDougall Street just south of Jefferson Avenue in the late 1870s.

That was replaced with a clubhouse on Belle Isle that was built for $10,000 in 1891. It was lost in a fire in 1904. That facility was replaced by another clubhouse that was built atop the old one.

But with Detroit's growing wealth came a growing membership in the DYC, and an even bigger facility was needed. The cornerstone for the present, villa-style clubhouse was held April 22, 1922. The building opened the following year and cost $1 million (about $12 million in today's dollars) to build. Its design was entrusted to George D. Mason, the same man who built the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island and the Masonic Temple , Gem Theatre and several churches in Detroit. Mason also is considered the mentor of legendary architect Albert Kahn.

By the year after the new clubhouse had opened, membership in the club had reached 3,000, and racing legend Gar Wood brought attention to the DYC by setting world speed records and by winning Gold Cups.

The DYC was hit hard by the Depression, but bounced back and underwent several expansions in the 1950s and '60s, including new docks that boosted the number of boat wells to more than 350.

Today, the DYC continues to thrive, and its clubhouse continues to impress.

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Founded shortly after the Civil War, the Detroit Yacht Club (DYC), housed in the beautifully restored 1920s Mediterranean style villa, continues to be one of the largest yacht clubs in the United States.

The 1920s were golden days for the DYC. Gar Wood brought the club world class attention with his world speed records in a hydroplane and his Gold Cup victories. During the Great Depression, membership at the club severely dropped and some services were discontinued.

By 1946 the Club became debt free and the women of the club formed the first women’s sailing organization in the country and raced the Club’s catboats. During the 1950’s the Grill and River Vista were enlarged, movie equipment was installed in the ballroom so that theater quality films could be shown every Sunday evening and a little later, an outdoor Olympic size pool was added along with Front and West Docks to increase the number of boat wells to over 350.

Today the DYC offers a wide range of activities to ensure there is something for everyone.

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Detroit Yacht Club: A Storied Legacy of Elegance and Community

Nestled along the picturesque shores of Belle Isle Park in the heart of Detroit, the Detroit Yacht Club (DYC) stands as a testament to the city’s rich maritime history. Established in 1868, the DYC is one of the oldest and most prestigious yacht clubs in the United States. Over the years, it has become an iconic symbol of elegance, camaraderie, and community. With its breathtaking views, historic architecture, and a deep-rooted passion for boating, the Detroit Yacht Club continues to captivate both locals and visitors alike.

The DYC boasts a magnificent clubhouse, an architectural gem that exudes timeless grandeur. Designed by renowned architect George D. Mason, the clubhouse showcases a unique blend of Georgian Revival and Colonial Revival styles. Its stately columns, intricate detailing, and sweeping verandas create an ambiance of refined sophistication. The clubhouse serves as a gathering place for members, offering a wide array of amenities including dining facilities, a swimming pool, tennis courts, and even a private marina for docking members’ yachts.

Beyond its remarkable architecture, the Detroit Yacht Club is renowned for its vibrant social scene and active boating community. Members share a passion for the open water, fostering a strong sense of camaraderie and friendship. The club organizes numerous regattas, sailing races, and boating events throughout the year, attracting sailors of all skill levels. Whether it’s competing in a race or simply cruising along the Detroit River, the DYC provides an unparalleled platform for boating enthusiasts to connect, learn, and indulge in their shared love for the water.

In addition to its boating and social activities, the Detroit Yacht Club plays a vital role in the local community. The club has a long-standing commitment to philanthropy, organizing various charitable events and fundraisers to support causes that benefit Detroit and its residents. From providing sailing opportunities to underprivileged youth to hosting educational programs on water safety, the DYC strives to make a positive impact beyond its membership. Moreover, the club has played a part in the revitalization of the Belle Isle Park, working closely with local authorities to preserve and enhance this cherished natural treasure.

As the Detroit Yacht Club enters its next century, it remains a beacon of elegance, unity, and maritime heritage. Its rich history, breathtaking clubhouse, and unwavering dedication to boating and community make it a true gem in Detroit’s cultural landscape. Whether one is an avid boater, a lover of history, or simply seeking a place to connect with like-minded individuals, the Detroit Yacht Club continues to offer an unparalleled experience. With its commitment to tradition and its eye towards the future, the DYC is poised to leave an indelible mark on the city’s landscape for generations to come.

Watch CBS News

Detroit Yacht Club Getting Historic Designation

February 1, 2011 / 8:00 PM EST / CBS Detroit

DETROIT (AP) - The Detroit Yacht Club has been notified that it will be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The club that's located on Belle Isle in the Detroit River said Tuesday that the designation will take effect on or around March 1, when the Department of Interior gives it the official listing.

The Detroit Yacht Club was formed in 1868 at the site of what now is Owen Park. The current clubhouse was designed by architect George Mason and built in 1922.

Commodore A.J. Telmos said in a statement that the listing is a "tremendous honor'' that recognizes the club's national importance.    ---    Online:   http://www.dyc.com

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.

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The Detroit Regional Yacht-Racing Association was established in 1912 as the Detroit River Yachting Association by the Commodores of the Detroit Boat Club and the Detroit Yacht Club, Commodore Harry Austin and Commodore Harry Kendall, respectively. Originally founded to be a clearing board to assist local clubs in resolving conflicts with their individual summer regatta calendars, the DRYA is now a Michigan Corporation and a registered Non-profit organization. Our incorporation articles summarize what we're all about, they read:

The purpose of the Association is to encourage and promote, in the United States and Canada, the general interest in boating, yachting and sail racing by amateur sailors (including junior and collegiate sailors) by all appropriate means, including (among others) the following:

Establishing high standards of skill for seamanship, boat handling and navigation of yachts

Encouraging the ownership of boats and yachts by individuals and member clubs and the development of suitable seaworthy yachts for racing and cruising

Encouraging and improving the quality of racing by developing and publishing standard sailing instructions, by assisting and supporting member clubs in coordinating the scheduling of races, regattas and related events, by serving in an advisory capacity to member clubs in the organization, conduct and scoring of races and regattas, by providing equipment for conducting races and qualified judges to hear and decide protests and appeals and by any and all other appropriate means

Improving communications among member clubs and individuals interested in racing and in general, to make known to the member clubs the desires of sailors eligible to race in their regattas

Promoting, developing, adopting and equitably administering rating and handicapping rules for racing and providing handicaps to members and others;

Maintaining membership in the United States Sailing Association as a "yacht racing association" and, from time to time, membership in other organizations with similar or related purposes

Acting as an intermediary between member clubs and individuals in their relations with civic and governmental bodies when the general interests and welfare of boating, yachting and sail racing are involved

Maintaining harmonious relations among its member clubs and individuals.

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2024 Board of Governors

Commodore Mike Helm Commodore2024 @byc.com  

Vice Commodore Paul Falcone [email protected]  

Rear Commodore Sandra Svoboda [email protected]

Sr. Governor Todd Riley  

Sr. Governor Dave Scully

Jr. Governor Jim Morphew

Jr. Governor Erik Ryan

Secretary Rebecca Guerriero 

Treasurer Jim Baubie

Membership & Member Services Jeff Putnam 

Fleet Measurer Spencer Channell

Fleet Captain Kurt Hohn

Fleet Surgeon Dr. Thomas Kopp

Fleet & Regatta Director Andrew Groh  

PAST BAYVIEW YACHT CLUB COMMODORES

Prestigious Detroit sailing club gets first female commodore in its hundred-year history

Lynn Kotwicki allowed a little extra time to stop at Mt. Olivet Cemetery on Van Dyke in Detroit the day she drove from Royal Oak to Bayview Yacht Club.

She wanted to share the very special day with her father, a retired truck driver, and it had to be done graveside.

"I knew he would be smiling down," Kotwicki said. "I know he's proud."

On that Dec. 1, she became the first female commodore of the prestigious sailing club,  which was founded in 1915 and overlooks the Detroit River.

While the distinguished Detroit Yacht Club on Belle Isle is older, founded in 1868, Bayview has earned a reputation  over the past century as a club of hardcore sailboat racers who compete and win nationally and internationally.

Fewer than 10% of its 932 members are women but their numbers have been steadily climbing, according to the club. Its annual budget is an estimated $4 million.

Applications from potential members have spiked since Bayview completed a $5 million clubhouse renovation in the summer.

'Relentless'

At Bayview, athleticism is key. Reading the wind is key.

Kotwicki, 49, has raced all over the world.

She has represented the U.S. in competition. She has raced in the Caribbean. She has raced to Bermuda. She is preparing now to crew for her 25th trip on the historic Bayview Mackinac race from Port Huron to Mackinac Island in July.

"I actually grew up power boating," Kotwicki told the Free Press. "Since I was born, my family had a powerboat in St. Clair Shores. On Friday, dad gets home from work, we head down to the boat and come home on Sunday at dusk."

At 9, her mother passed away. And when friends wanted her father to keep sailboat racing, he didn't plan on leaving his little girls at home in Warren. 

"That boat owner basically kicked off the other adult crew, brought his two kids and my dad brought me and my sister. They called us the kiddie crew. It was a Catalina 38 named 'Relentless,' " Kotwicki said. "A couple times a week, me and my dad and my sister were doing something we loved together."

She stopped talking briefly during the interview to regain composure. She explained that her father died in 2016. He never saw her win election to lead the club. 

"To me, being the first female (commodore) is not why I ran. I felt it was my turn to give back to the sailing community. Bayview has afforded me so many opportunities," she said. "I knew I was qualified, therefore I ran. It wasn't to go break the glass ceiling. But having said that, it's pretty cool. And an honor."

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People from across the sailing community have reached out to applaud her ascent. It reflects that more women are racing and they're respected sailors.

"It's long overdue," said Kotwicki, a business management consultant who lives in Royal Oak. 

'Level of respect'

Sailors at Bayview judge a lot by a person's skill on the water.

And Kotwicki has made a name for herself.

"At our club, you couldn't become a commodore unless you were a sailboat racer and an avid sailor. The fact that Lynn is the first woman sort of goes to the level of respect she engenders from the membership," said Chuck Bayer, a past commodore who served in 2004. "You have a fairly male-dominated sport and a fair amount of, well, old curmudgeons. She broke the glass ceiling at our club."

Bayer, 65, a real estate developer from Grosse Pointe Farms, is preparing to race 635 miles for three to five days from Newport, Rhode Island, to Bermuda in June.

Kotwicki will be the only female racer among his crew of 14 or 15 on "Arctos," an Andrews 70 ultralight, which is sometimes called a sled because of a long, narrow canoe body made to run before the wind.

"She's become quite an accomplished offshore sailor. Of the people in the Great Lakes, probably fewer than 40 in the Detroit area have gone offshore in the ocean for a 600-plus-mile race," he said.

Strength and agility

Bayer, himself a national champion who has competed all over the globe, said sailors have a unique connection because they depend on each other for safety. 

"Some people probably view sailing as a country club-type sport that isn't very physically demanding. But sailing on these kinds of boats requires a huge amount of strength and agility and you rely upon your crewmates, quite literally, for your life," he said. "People die in offshore races. We're strapped in often with harnesses and tethers and we're bolted to the boat so when waves come, we don't wash away."

Few non-sailors understand the level of intensity and danger that sailing involves.

"You have to know what you're doing,"  Bayer said.

Kotwicki has worked to bring women into leadership positions at the club while also expanding sailing programs with Women on Water (WOW) events. 

This year her work will also include planning for the 100th consecutive Bayview Mackinac Race in 2024. The celebrated freshwater competition from Port Huron to Mackinac Island attracts international competitors.

'Keep us on course'

The fact that Kotwicki is female didn't factor into her election at Bayview, said Hans Brieden, 55, a health insurance consultant from Grosse Pointe Farms and 2017 commodore.

The new commodore paid her dues over the years, he said. 

"She's simply qualified. It just matters that you can do the job. It's to take the helm of the boat and just keep us on course," Brieden said.

Tim Prophit , 63, of St. Clair Shores, has known Kotwicki 35 years and raced against her.

"She's an active sailboat racer, organized, professional, enthusiastic," said Prophit, who served as Bayview commodore in 2014. "I don’t think it’s remarkable that she’s a commodore. There are fewer of them because there are fewer women in sailing. She’s the first woman to run for commodore (at Bayview) and got elected on her first try."

He just finished his term as 2021 commodore of the Detroit Regional Yacht-Racing Association, which includes Bayview and two dozen other boat clubs.

"I’m a big believer in meritocracy," Prophit said. "You succeed or fail or become mired in mediocrity based on your skill set and how well you play with others."

Three stars now

Still, being a female commodore may still have its uncomfortable moments.

Cindy Porter, 59, of Royal Oak was 2021 commodore of the Great Lakes Yacht Club on the "Nautical Mile" on Jefferson Avenue in St. Clair Shores, and she attended multiple events where she was told to get in line with wives attending with their commodore husbands.

"More than once, I had to hold up my (jacket) sleeve and point to the stars," Porter told the Free Press.

A commodore wears three gold stars on the sleeve to signal authority.

"I think we want to encourage more women to be involved in club leadership," Porter said. "I brought a business background as a banker. With diversity, you get different decisions and better decisions."

She said she is actually the fifth female commodore to serve at her club, which was founded in 1952 by a group of Jewish sailors barred from membership at other clubs. The Great Lakes Yacht Club elected Eve Kommel to be commodore in 1983 — among the first women in the country. Forty-three years earlier, she had been forced to leave Germany because of Hitler's effort to eliminate Jews, she told The Jewish News in 2002.

Now 91 and living in Grosse Pointe Shores, Kommel hasn't raced sailboats for quite some time. But she remains active and her love of sailors hasn't faded. Her sister Margot Gardner, 86, of Bloomfield Hills said Kommel responded to news of the Bayview commodore by saying simply, "If they elected her, then they think she's fit for the job."

Gardner, also a sailor, said she was surprised. "I just think of Bayview as being a racing club and very masculine."

Kommel rarely discusses her trailblazing history these days, though she has been recognized with loud applause when her name is announced at yacht club events. Now with Kotwicki, a small but mighty sorority of female commodores grows.

More: 9-time champ almost had to miss Mackinac race. Then competitors stepped in

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Contact Phoebe Wall Howard at 313-618-1034 o r [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter @phoebesaid . 

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Commodores Club

Past Commodore

A person is eligible to apply for membership of South Easter Michigan’s Commodores Club after completing a full term of his/her Commodoreship at an affiliated DRYA club.

The Past Commodores Club of South Eastern Michigan is a group of Past Commodores from the DRYA clubs of the same are who seek to continue in social and philanthropic endeavors.

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Bayview Mackinac Race already sees record number of entrants for 100th sailing

This summer's 100th sailing of the Bayview Mackinac Race will see a record number of boats and sailors participating — with more still registering daily.

The Bayview Yacht Club said Friday 331 sailboats had registered, breaking the old record of 316 set in 1985. But with registration deadline set for June 1, the final number is expected to easily grow.

And competitors will be arriving from all over. As of Friday, 16 states and Canada are represented.

The milestone event was expected to stir a large amount of interest from sailors who have participated in the extremely popular Michigan summertime event, and it has. The race is regarded as one of the most popular and difficult in North America.

"This growth in participation speaks volumes about the enduring appeal and significance of the sport of sailing and the race," said Michael Helm, Bayview Yacht Club commodore. "While we anticipated an increase in the number of participants for our 100th (race), I attribute the immense response to a broader trend of people seeking outdoor activities and embracing the natural beauty that Michigan has to offer.

"Sailing in particular takes advantage of this and is an activity accessible for enthusiasts and newcomers alike."

Bayview Yacht Club has hosted the annual sailing event since 1925. But never has the race attracted the level of interest from competitors, sponsors and partners as this year, a wide audience attracted by the historic 100th sailing.

"Our sponsors are vitally important to everything we do, not only for the financial stability of this and future races, but we are looking for experiential opportunities surrounding the event for participants’ and fans' enjoyment," said Charlie Trost, 2024 Bayview Mackinac chairman. "The strong support we are seeing surrounding the 2024 Bayview Mackinac Race ... is affording us a great deal of stability for the race which in turn permits us to explore a number of ideas to expand sailing among new and non-traditional audiences."

For July's milestone race, all competitors will sail on the 1925 Original Course, used during the first Bayview Mackinac race covering 204 nautical miles (235 statute miles).

From its traditional start in southern Lake Huron, the fleet will head north on one course along the Michigan shoreline before heading west, passing south of Bois Blanc Island, and finishing west to east at the finish line between Round Island and Mackinac Island.

The original course started three nautical miles south of the current one, off Lakeside Park in Port Huron. As the race has increased in participants the starting line was moved to its current location to accommodate the required starting line length and sufficient depth over its entire length.

The decision to return to the original course in July "adds a unique historical dimension to an already prestigious event, promising an unforgettable experience for participants and fans alike," Trost said. "Bayview Yacht Club has worked very hard behind the scenes to ensure we have a competitive, fair, and fun race for all the competitors.

"The race is not only a test of skill, but also a celebration of the enduring spirit of adventure and competition."

100th Bayview Mackinac Race

▶  When:  10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 20

▶  Where:  Lake Huron, just north of the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron.

▶  Did you know?  The Mackinac Race is one of the longest consecutively run long-distance freshwater races in the country. Over 2,500 sailors will compete in this year's race.

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D.C.’s ‘Five-Star Dive’ Commodore Changes Hands

The Dupont bar’s next era calls for ube-fied French toast, espresso martinis on draft, and more vegetarian options

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Share All sharing options for: D.C.’s ‘Five-Star Dive’ Commodore Changes Hands

Commodore , D.C.’s treasured dive since 2016, has two new co-captains at the helm. Previous owner Matt Crofcheck recently handed the keys over to longtime employee Rob Van de Graaff, who tapped fellow industry vet Steve Kim as his new co-owner cohort and executive chef ( 1636 17th Street NW ).

“We’re paying homage to the original — Southern comfort food done well, and a focus on seasonality,” says Van de Graaff, a bartender and general manager at Commodore since 2017.

Van de Graaff and Kim first met as brief coworkers at Capitol Hill whiskey bar Barrel in 2016. Graaff left for Commodore, while Kim went on to cook for James Beard Award-winning chef Kwame Onwuachi at Philly Wing Fry and now-closed Kith and Kin. Kim most recently led the kitchen at Todd Thrasher’s Tiki TNT on the Wharf.

Kim unleashed Commodore’s biggest brunch menu yet on Saturday, April 27, quickly followed by a dinnertime refresh on Wednesday, May 1.

Tap lines are devoted to nine rotating beers — and one espresso martini on draft. “It’s a game changer for speed. Once one goes out, six others want it,” says Van de Graaff.

His fast-pouring recipe includes cold brew, chicory liqueur, chocolate bitters, and chile-forward amaro for a subtle spice. Other bar edits include adding frozen cocktails to the mix to help customers beat the heat across its 45-seat patio this summer. The team also purchased a new snow cone machine to offer icy treats adorned with booze (or not).

Kim contributes fine dining techniques and Asian elements across the menu like miso butter, gochujang, Kewpie mayo, and ube that pay homage to his Korean background.

New brunch drops under his watch include a vibrant French toast topped with ube whipped cream, mint, fresh fruit, and ube-maple syrup. “You expect it to be sweet but it’s nice and light,” says Kim. The hangover-friendly Carl’s Sausage Fest platter features Berkshire pork sausage, confit garlic fried egg, chipotle mayo potatoes, and sourdough or rye with Guinness mustard.

The original Commodore closed at the corner of 11th and P Streets NW in late 2019, which is now home to Little Gay Pub . Commodore, lovingly nicknamed a “five-star dive bar,” continued to maintain a devoted neighborhood following upon resurfacing in Dupont in 2021 .

To appease its diehard regulars, who show up anywhere from a few to seven days a week, some items aren’t going anywhere. That includes its wings, fried chicken meal deal, and top-selling smash burgers. The untouched Schlogan — still named after Commodore’s original placement between Logan Circle and Shaw — features two Roseda Farm patties, white American cheese, bacon bits, and homemade sauce on brioche.

The old Commodore wasn’t big on vegetarian options; its previous chef finally caved and put an “Alright Already” meatless mushroom burger on the menu. This time around, sub-ins include gluten-free buns, vegan cheese, and Impossible patties. A sauteed garlic asparagus starter that screams spring loops in Parmesan, gremolata, adobo kale chips, and pickled fresno, while Calabrian honey-flanked Brussels sprouts come with creme fraiche.

The expanded dinner menu also introduces an array of handhelds. One piles pesto, bacon, burrata, heirloom tomato, and arugula on sundried tomato-and-rosemary focaccia, while the El Diablo features roasted herb turkey, prosciutto, mozzarella, lemon pepper arugula, and fiery aioli.

Weekly programming now includes industry Mondays with an all-night “prix fixe” menu ($21.50) and drink discounts like Malort-and-beer combos that pay homage to Van de Graaff’s Chicago roots. He claims Commodore is in the running for the most Malort sales around the city (fellow dive Ivy & Coney is up there, too). There’s also trivia Tuesdays at 7 p.m. and debut drag bingo on the first Wednesday of each month. Commodore also partners with DC United and shows soccer games with sound alongside Heineken specials.

Weekday hours start at 4 p.m. and noon on weekends, with service until as late as 1 a.m.

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