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West Indies Yacht Club
The West Indies Yacht Club is a Yacht Club located on Old Harbour, St Catherine, Jamaica. Founded in 1885. The Club is home of the second largest Caribbean fleet of classic sailing vessels (built before 1939). It has about 360 members (Dec 2015). The Club is also the home of one of the largest marine photographs collection in the world, dating from the early days of the art with 19th Century photos taken by the french Louis Daguerre, possibly the only surviving samples in the world. This collection has been given by the Club actual Commodore, Sir Thierry Waterford-Mandeville, KLJ., from His family's archives with the aim it would be open for research and to scholars.
Contents
- West Indies Yacht Club
- History
- Clubhouse
- Dress Code
- Membership
- The WIYC Marine Photograph Collection
- The Club Burgee
- References
The West Indies Yacht Club holds several reciprocal arrangements with many prestigious other yacht clubs worldwide.
History
The West Indies Yacht Club takes its deep roots to the short-lived British West Indies Sailing Club, founded in 1885 at the time of the British West Indies, and came almost defunct by the end of World War Two. Still, some members gathered informally and the need of a second yacht club of the island of Jamaica was needed, so the decision came to revive the old spirit of yachting of the former sailing club in a new structure, the West Indies Yacht Club. Recently, the revival of the Club has drawn much attention on preserving a classic fleet in the West Indies, as well some articles in books to explore the origins of the club. The Club is now showing on Imray Marine Charts since 2015.
Clubhouse
The West Indies Yacht Club is currently building a new Clubhouse (shall be open by mid-2017), incorporating parts of an old plantation house built in the 1860s. The new plans included the restoration of the Ballroom and Library to their former glory, and adding modern and convenient facilities for Members and their Guests' enjoyment.
The main building is Grade A listed and features in the bar a rare example of the 1930s interiors decoration in the West Indies, with art-deco stucco and mirrors. The other rooms of the Clubhouse are in the late 19th Century English-style.
The Clubhouse sits on an 12 acres estate with a tropical botanic garden, as well a private beach.
Dress Code
A strict dress code is enforced and Gentlemen shall always wear a jacket and a tie, and after 6pm Black Tie (tuxedo). Ladies shall wear the appropriate attire accordingly.
Membership
The West Indies Yacht Club is a private member's Club. Membership is open to Gentlemen and Ladies alike, and it is strongly recommended to have at least one proposer to support aspiring members. However, this is not mandatory and after an interview with the applicant, the Club Secretary could act as proposer.
The WIYC Marine Photograph Collection
In December 2015, Sir Thierry Waterford-Mandeville, KLJ., acting as Commodore of the Club, presented the General Committee with over 800 vintage marine photographs, most of these dating from the early days of yachting. This collection is most remarkable as its features 5 works of Louis Daguerre, and might be the only marine photographs of this artist surviving today. The collection also included original menus signed by Prince Albert for suppers given on board of the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert, as well very rare photographs of the Italian Royal Family in the 1920s aboard the family's private yacht.
The collection was the result of the accumulation of marine-related photograph and documents by different generations of the family. They were very keen on such topic as they established themselves in the West Indies in the mid 18th Century and financed marine commercial expeditions. The collection is open to scholars and is displayed in the Club Library.
The Club Burgee
The 12th December 2015, the General Committee adopted the new version of the West Indies Yacht Club's burgee.
The Order of Christ Grand Cross was the same as the one displayed on Christopher Columbus sails showing the connection with the great explorers of the past and the blue color stands for the warm Caribbean sea.