The History of
The Southern California Yachting Association Commodore’s Cruise

 The Southern California Yachting Association Commodore’s Cruise is an annual event that takes place later in the year during the month of September or October.  This is a time for Commodores from all over Southern California to gather for three days to share stories out of their home Clubs from the past year and take comfort that they are part of a larger yachting community who all experience similar, if not the same, joys and struggles.  Solace at this time of year can be found with discussions of the upcoming Change of Watch Ceremonies (the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel).

The SCYA Commodore’s Cruise has roots going back to the 1930s where the early Member Clubs of SCYA would gather at Catalina Island to share stories, tell jokes and brag of their accomplishments, even if they might be considered “tall tales”.  Catalina Island Yacht Club, Long Beach Yacht Club, Los Angeles Motor Boat Club, California Yacht Club, Los Angeles Yacht Club, Newport Harbor Yacht Club and San Diego Yacht Club are among the early Southern California Yacht Clubs that would gather for these annual events.

After World War II the roster of Southern California Yachting Association vastly increased as did the Membership of the older SCYA Member Clubs.  As time went on, many of the founding SCYA Clubs, which traditionally celebrated the annual Commodore’s Cruise as a group, began focusing their efforts on their own home Clubs with their vastly larger memberships.

In 1974 the Commodore of the Catalina Island Yacht Club spent Opening Day season visiting various yacht clubs in Southern California and enjoyed the hospitality that was demonstrated to him.  As a result, he asked the standing Commodores of the SCYA Member Clubs to attend at Catalina Island Yacht Club in Avalon for three days in October to enjoy a weekend of comradery. The activities included, the annual pool tournament, miniature golf tournament and of course, enjoyment of the company of fellow Commodores.  The SCYA Commodore’s Cruise has been held at CIYC 40 times over its 47 year history.  One time it was held at the Coronado Yacht Club and in 2015 a traditional cruise was taken aboard the Pacific Princess Cruise Lines.  For 2024 the SCYA Commodore’s Cruise will be held once again in the stories Catalina Island Yacht Club.

Here is the complete invitation graphic from 1932 
IGNORE THE DATES !!!

More history coming soon.