The A.B.Y.A. was formed in 1967 due to the rapid increase in the popularity of boating in the Anchor Bay/Lake St. Clair area and the problems that were developing related to boating and boaters.

The first commodore of the A.B.Y.A. was Don Green, P/C of North Star Sail Club, who was the one that was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the formation of this organization. His Bridge consisted of Vice-Commodore Frank Richey, P/C Bayside Yacht Club and Secretary/Treasurer Ed Menninger, P/C Bayside Yacht Club.

Ed Menninger designed and was accepted by the group the official burgee for the Anchor Bay Yachting Association, which is still used today. He also did the artwork for the individual membership cards and certificates of membership, which clubs would display in their clubhouse.

The requirements for clubs wishing to become members of A.B.Y.A. were that they be chartered by the State of Michigan, have at least 20 members, and be willing to pay an annual membership dues.

Charter members to this organization were: Bayside Yacht Club, Belvidere Boat Club, Chrysler Yacht Club (now North Channel Yacht Club), Clinton River Boat Club, Conger Bay Boat Club, Huron Pointe Yacht Club, North Star Sail Club, Poorman’s Yacht Club, and Sand Pointe Yacht Club.

As the Association took on more responsibilities and became more involved in activities, it became evident that additional officers were needed to help with the work. The Secretary/Treasurer’s office was split into two separate offices, and later the list of officers was expanded to include the Rear Commodore Kenny Pearce, P/C Poorman’s Yacht Club, with the Officer of Fleet Captain to follow.

A.B.Y.A. formed the ABYA Past Commodores Club in 1971. This Club was opened to all ABYA member clubs Past Commodores, mainly as a social group to encourage fellowship between clubs.

Anchor Bay Yachting Association membership meetings are held on the first Monday of each month with a different club hosting the meeting each month. There are, however, exceptions to these meeting schedules, which are given to our membership. All ABYA Past Commodores are considered delegates and may attend meetings and vote on all matters coming before the membership. Most clubs send their Past Commodores as their delegate.

At our General Membership Meeting, a speaker is usually invited to discuss various issues of interest to the boating community. Delegates from the various member clubs of the ABYA then disseminate this same information to the membership of their own clubs.

The A.B.Y.A. also promotes camaraderie among its members by sponsoring various social functions throughout the year. The year’s first major event is our Spring Rendezvous, which is held the first weekend of March. This event has grown throughout the years to the point where we now have approx. 400 members attending for the weekend activities. The highlight of the weekend is the very popular RUBBER BAND BOAT RACES. These boats built by members of our member clubs can cover the distance of thirty feet in a swimming pool in less than a second. The speeds that these boats achieve has forced us to go from stop watches to an electronic timing device just so the times could be recorded accurately. In June, we host a Spring Dinner Dance at one of our member island clubs. This event has been a good kickoff to the boating season. In recent years our September meeting has been changed to Sunday and the island club where this meeting is held has extended an invitation to all attending the use of their facility for that particular weekend. October is another Sunday meeting and again the island club where this meeting is held offers up a full weekend for those wishing to go by boat. However, unlike other Island meetings held throughout the summer, this one can still be accessed by car. The last major A.B.Y.A. event for the year is held on the first Saturday of December. This is our annual Commodores Christmas Ball and has had attendance reach over 700 people.

In November the most important meeting of the year, as far as the future of the A.B.Y.A. is concerned. It is at this meeting that the delegates have the opportunity to vote for one individual who will fill the open position of Secretary and eventually move the A.B.Y.A. in the direction that was set by our first Commodore and his Bridge.

Anchor Bay Yachting Association has prided itself in doing many things for the good of the boating community in general. Projects taken on by the A.B.Y.A. over the years have been: Implementing the plan that resulted in the dredging of the Clinton River and the construction of the harbor entrance at the mouth of the Clinton River; Organizing a cleanup of Gull Island with all the debris being carried away; Providing a large number of workers for the Clinton River Cleanup; Petitioning the Coast Guard to place markers in North Channel earlier in the spring; Being instrumental in getting the Coast Guard to reposition Pointe Huron Buoy #1, making it easier to pick up range markers at Metro Beach; Organizing a Town Meeting, with the DNR invited, for the purpose of guaranteeing the placement of pump out stations at convenient locations; Purchasing land for $100 and attending meetings in full dress uniforms to oppose building high rises in area.

The Association located the submerged “Glacier Rock” off Belle Maer Harbor. This was reported to the Coast Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the DNR, and as a result is now shown on navigation charts.

The Anchor Bay Yachting Association, with funds raised from club membership dues and money generated from the various events we put on is able to return this money to the boating community.

Some of the programs and organizations that we have made donations to, sponsored, or promoted over the years include: Macomb County Sheriff’s Dept. Marine Division, St. Clair County Sheriff’s Dept. Marine Division, Wayne County Sheriff’s Dept Marine Division, Great Lakes Division of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets and the Pride of Michigan, Boat Town Parade of Lights, Venetian Festival of Lights, SOS Foundations (Save Our South Channel Lights), Miss Boat Town Beauty Pageant.

Some equipment that we were able to provide to these organizations and programs include: 2 cardiac defibrillators, laser range finders, “NO WAKE” buoys at entrance to Metro-Beach and Clinton River, The Marine Safety Book Program, “NO WAKE” charts, Life Jacket program and Bobby the Boat, a robot which is used in boating education and awareness aimed at our youngsters. These do not represent all the organizations that we have supported nor does this go into great detail as to what type of support they have received from us.

The Anchor Bay Yachting Association which represents 28 boat, sail and yacht clubs with approximately 5,000 members from Lake St. Clair to Black River in Port Huron. As we start our 40^th year you can see a lot has been accomplished since its formation. However there is still a lot to do when it comes to safety in and around the water and the preservation of our waterways.

www.abya.org

2007 Bridge of the Anchor Bay Yachting Association:

Terri Calihan…………..……..Commodore

Scott Bell..............…………Vice-Commodore

Gary Nowicki........…….……Rear-Commodore

Lois Conte….………….…...…Fleet Captain

Vince Boghian...…........………Treasurer

Nat Pulizzi....................………Secretary 

Art Brooks.........……….Past Commodore 2006