Welcome!
A brief history of the Port Orchard Yacht Club
In the mid-1900s several local businessmen and a few Puget Sound Naval Shipyard employees, all boat owners, desired a local yacht club. Most of the fledgling yachtsmen moored their boats at Lieseke’s dock, east of the club’s present location.
Russ Sweany, a local real estate broker, was not confident a yacht club would ever be built in Port Orchard. He and his wife expressed interest in joining the newly established Bremerton Yacht Club, but were denied. However, Bremerton Yacht Club was interested in helping to establish a yacht club in Port Orchard.
Soon after the Port Orchard Yacht Club (POYC) was established. The Concordia, an old Mosquito Fleet ferry boat was purchased for $1,000, and became the first clubhouse. Prior to this, members met at each other’s homes and boats. Russ Sweany was voted the first Commodore, 1956-1957, and shortly after, the club was accepted into the Grand Fourteen Clubs of Puget Sound. The Concordia clubhouse was retired in 1969. As the new owners towed the Concordia into Sinclair Inlet, club members held their collective breaths, praying the bilge pumps would keep working! Through land donations and purchases, the club was able to acquire land for a new clubhouse, which was completed in 1978.
The POYC burgee, a white fouled anchor with a navy-blue background was designed by Helen Hester, who won the burgee design contest. Ever since, this burgee has been the symbol flown over vessels of POYC.
POYC has continued to grow in size and prominence among Puget Sound yacht clubs. Today, members still enjoy cruising to destinations near and far and sharing their adventures with friends during the many social events, and will hopefully continue to do so long into the future.
UPCOMING EVENTS
**Notice**
Reciprocal moorage will be unavailable from 12pm Friday, June 13 to 12pm Sunday, June 15, 2025 to accommodate guests attending the POYC Commodore Ball.
