The Eglin Yacht Club
HISTORY
1982 - 2025
| Part 2 by Gary Combs |
 |
CY 1982 to 1990 - Missing Some Data
Advisory Council
Bridge:
1982
Commodore: Ed Lussier
1983 Commodore: Billy Butler/Jim
Rheams
1984 Commodore: Arthur Sherman
1985 Commodore:
Bert Tagge
1986 Commodore: Ellen Barton
1987
Commodore: Jim Rheam
1988 Commodore: Larry Ankeney
1989 Commodore: Bubs Norris
1990 Commodore:
Bill Woodward
I joined the Eglin Yacht Club (EYC) in August 1986 shortly after participating in the annual EYC cruise to Shell Island, Panama City, Florida on the 4th of July. Nancy and I were 36 years old, owned a 23’ Searay Weekender – the smallest boat in the raft-up and one of only two boats without AC and generator. Times haven’t change much as I recall it was hot in early July and there were lots of no-see’ums and mosquitos. The raft up consisted of Neil and Hazel Schiable’s 36’ house boat, Mack and Phylis McClenahan’s 28’ motor sailor; Ray and Pat Seip’s 40’ wooden aft cabin Chris Craft Commander; Jerry and Norma Cote’s 34’ Carver Sedan Flybridge; Dave and Pat Vachon’s 1986 40’ Sea Ranger Trawler and finally, Phil and Dottie Thompson’s 48’ wooden aft cabin Pacemaker. We would continue to cruise with these guys for many years to come. Upon returning to Eglin, I joined and paid my $4 a month EYC dues. As I recall, there was no dive building nor flight in 1986, but I do recall the club had a working commercial ice machine. Below is a photo taken in early 1980s depicting what happened on most EYC Cruises.
(Tyndall AFB Yache Club hosting EYC 4th of July cruisers)
During the 1980s period, Tyndal AFB, Panama City, Florida also had an all-volunteer Yacht Club, located across the bay from Shell Island. Each year, the Tyndal Yacht Club hosted a 4th of July social on the Tyndal docks (photo above). Often, EYC boaters docked overnight at Tyndal Yacht Club docks.
Sadly, all of the above listed EYC Commodores are deceased; however, I did meet and drink with all of them! The EYC was opened every Friday at 5PM for happy hour drinks. The membership dinners always occurred on the third Friday of each month. Traditional cruises were: progressive dinner cruise starting at Joe and Tilly Eken’s water front home on Paradise Point, Paquito Bayou; the Commodore’s cruise mostly to Noreiga Point, Destin; Labor Day cruise to Marker 51 or Destin Harbor, 4th of July cruise to Panama City, Memorial Day cruise to various locations, several local Christmas lighted boat cruises and at a couple local cruises to Destin Noreiga Point or Spectra Island/Marker 51. The docks were often crowded for membership night dinners, and during this period, there were no finger piers nor way outside piles (photos below).
Around the February/March timeframe of each year, the Eglin Yacht Club hosted a weekend sailboat regatta. (Pictured is EYC Committee Boat and third photo is a race start)
Per the Troy Dent’s 1981 history notations, the EYC back dining room addition was official funded ($20,000) as a self-help project. The room and back deck were completed prior to me joining in 1986, so it must have occurred during the early 1980s. The project included a subfloor concrete slab with hip roof tie in to the existing facility roof. Photos below show the building before the addition and the construction of the back room. Shortly after construction of the back room, members also constructed a back porch/deck patio with concrete walkway down to the docks.
(EYC backroom addition early 1980s)
Based on dive member recollections, a small dive flight building was constructed prior to 1990; however, there are no photos nor any records of how or when the “Dive Hut” was constructed. For sure, the dive flight became an integral part of the EYC Yacht Club in the 1990s.
As a volunteer, I will be attempting to update the EYC History to present day
2025. If you are reading this article and note any errors and/or
have photos or additions to add, please don’t hesitate to email
anyone still alive!
Gary Combs
EYC Commodore, Vice
Commodore, Rear Commodore, Past Commodore, Board Member and
Volunteer and Historian
combsclockrepair@gmail.com
CY 1991 - 1999
Advisory Council
Bridge:
1991 Commodore: Tony Street
1992 Commodore: Dave York
1993 Commodore: Troy
Dent
1994 Commodore: Smitty Barto
1995 Commodore:
William Hanley
1996 Commodore: Don Coleman
1997
Commodore: Neil Schiable
1998 Commodore: Neil
Schiable
1999 Commodore: Ron Williams
Past Commodore:
Neil Schiable
Club Manager: Neil Schiable
I returned to Eglin AFB in 1992, and of course, Nancy and I rejoined EYC and began looking for another boat. Once again, I was social with all the above Commodores and actually worked (office mates) closely with Dave York and Neil Schiable. Dave York, Troy Dent and Smitty Barto were avid divers, so I am guessing the Dive Flight origins occurred in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Based on a 2000 edition of the monthly Sea Notes, the EYC Dive Flight, with Robert Hyde as a dive instructor, was holding monthly dive flight meetings and scheduling annual dive trips.
EYC Bridge members in 1993 Dive Flight Building
(Commodore Troy Dent, Vice Commodore
Smitty Barto and Rear Commodore Dave Vachon)
During the 1986–1990-time frame, the
dive flight building “referred to as the dive hut” was one
small room and members used two green Davey 4MB1 compressors
obtained through base DRMO. Each
compressor had two whips to fill two tanks and it took about
20 minutes to fill a pair of tanks from 500 PSI to 3000.
Of the three Davies compressors the members obtained,
one of them was sort of the hangar queen to keep the other
two running. When necessary, the dive
volunteers were able to wheel and deal and call the AGE guys
from base, and with a case of beer or something they would
come work on the Davey compressors. At
that time the dive flight also held diving classes in the
Yacht Club building with member dive instructors, and they
used the officer's club's pool for swimming sessions.
Many weekends’ members filled 40-60 tanks with those
two Davey compressors.
(One of the two mobile Fire Department Air Units – both units were located directly behind dive building – this unit became a donor for parts to keep the other air unit functional)
With influential leadership by Dave York, Troy Dent, Smitty Barto and Neil Schiable, the EYC dive flight flourished. In early 1990, the dive flight building was expanded to two rooms. In 1996, there was a self-help effort to install the siding on the building. Improvements to the building made a huge difference (separation from the compressors and extra space for air banks etc) After Smitty Barto had left, for a few years, the dive flight had a husband/wife team (MSgt Dave and Wendy Hodgson) from the EOD school as members - Dave was a dive instructor and his wife a travel agent who helped the club book trips to dive in the Keys each year while they were assigned here. Later, Mike Graham came in with a lot of energy and reorganized many of the processes at the dive flight including specific training and updating things for compliance with safety requirements. Also, during Mike Graham’s leadership, another member, Robert Hyde, became an official in-house scuba instructor. Until his unexpected death in 2016, Robert Hyde was the spirit and leadership for the EYC dive flight. Robert Hyde was the last of EYC dive instructors.
As EYC history shows, the docks required frequent upgrades and tweaks. In January 1994, Troy Dent, upper left, Tony Holland, upper right and Ed Vallish, at the power breaker box, upgrading the dock power to 30 amp plug service.
Maybe the most memorable occurrence of the 90s was Hurricane Opel on October 4th, 1995. By October 4, Opal was an intense 150 mph, Category 4 hurricane. With a minimum pressure of 916 millibars, Hurricane Opal was the most intense Category 4 Atlantic hurricane on record. I had purchased my 1988 34’ Searay Sedan Bridge in July 1995 in time to enjoy many of the annual traditional EYC cruises. Hurricane Opel became a fast-moving storm arriving in the middle of the night. On the 3rd of October, I assisted Barry Bradshaw in securing his 30’ Catalina sailboat to the docks in Bear Creek, Eglin AFB. I recall that Barry’s comment that afternoon was “if this boat goes it will take the entire dock with it!”. On well, Hurricane Opel did indeed unearth the entire dock with Barry’s boat still securely tied to the decking and piles as it rested, almost undamaged, on a heap of mostly other pontoon and sailboats that were docked in the Bear Creek marina. I think only one sailboat in the Bear Creek marina survived Hurricane Opel.
Eglin’s Bear Creek Marina and
Eglin Officer’s Beach Club post Hurricane Opel
As I recall, the EYC buildings and
docks were not severely impacted by Hurricane Opel.
With the exception of Barry Bradshaw’s sailboat and
some upper bridge damage to my 34’ Searay, the remainder of
the EYC cruising boats survived the storm without
significant damage.
The annual February Sailboat Regatta continued to be held. The Nan-Sea’s, my 34’ Searay, was the committee boat for the 1994 race. Annual EYC canoe trips were organized to the Blackwater creek area (photo below).
The annual progressive dinner during the 90s included two cruise destinations (Joe Eken’s backyard for toxic frozen mostly Vodka slushes) and then across the Bayou to Dave Vachon’s backyard for salads. Yes, the slushes followed the cruisers. The final destination was to EYC docks for a grill your own whatever dinner. The club had a huge concrete block outdoor grill with pad on the south side of the backyard. The grill and its concrete pad were covered in 1999 by a self-help project lead by me, Gary Combs. During inclement weather, the progressive dinner only had one destination – the EYC docks. Member’s hated grilling in the rain – thus, the cover was constructed in only one work day.
The annual progressive dinner during the 90s included two cruise destinations (Joe Eken’s backyard for toxic frozen mostly Vodka slushes) and then across the Bayou to Dave Vachon’s backyard for salads. Yes, the slushes followed the cruisers. The final destination was to EYC docks for a grill your own whatever dinner. The club had a huge concrete block outdoor grill with pad on the south side of the backyard. The grill and its concrete pad were covered in 1999 by a self-help project lead by me, Gary Combs. During inclement weather, the progressive dinner only had one destination – the EYC docks. Member’s hated grilling in the rain – thus, the cover was constructed in only one work day.
CY 2000
Advisory Council
Bridge:
Commodore: Ron
Williams
Vice Commodore: Roger Heath
Rear
Commodore: Robbie Roberts
Past Commodore: Neil
Schiable
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
VOLUNTEERS:
Boating: Dave Vachon
Budget/Finance:
Jerry Souders
Club Manager: Neil Schaible
Diving Activities: Jim Bayes
Entertainment
Hazel Schaible
Membership: Jerry Peterson
News
Editors: Jan/Fred Westfall
News Circulation: Tom Rief
Quartermaster: Fran Souders
Safety: Connie Gluvna
Secretary: Connie Inman
Sunshine/Grapevine: Kay Dent
Reservations: Linda Gail Martin
In CY2000, a
plumbing leak in the bar area resulted in major damage to
the flooring around and under the bar.
Tiles lifted from the subflooring and a portion of the
flooring caverned in due to water damaged plywood.
This portion of the club is above grade, so members
crawled under the flooring to inspect structure which was
deemed okay. Base plumbing
contractors repaired the leak, but the flooring would
continue to be an issue for following years.
The last overnight cruise of CY2000
(November) was to the docks at Fort Walton Landing.
I can recall that only two boats made thus event, but
several members joined the cruisers for dinner at a local
Italian restaurant.
During CY2000, Peggy and Ray Storey, live aboard sail boaters, joined EYC. The Storey’s moved there 34’ Twin Diesel Catamaran from the Panama City area to Eglin where Peggy worked in a civilian service position. Both Peggy and Ray were certified Boat Captains with tons of experience travelling to the Bahamas yearly and lots of other destinations. Their membership instilled new life in the EYC boating community. The Storeys suggested a new Labor Day Panama City destination to Crooked Island, an unmarked Tyndal AFB cove 12 miles south down the coast from the Panama City Gulf entrance. For the next several years, the EYC cruisers planned annual end of May cruises to Crooked Island. Local knowledge was required to navigate the deep but narrow unmarked passage into the Crooked Island anchorage.
The anchorage area was protected from all wind directions, pristine with zero development and no tourists. Internet file photos above and below show the area.
The EYC Dive Flight, all volunteers, was fully operational with working air compressors, rental equipment and many dive educational courses. Members could easily become dive certified and enjoy free tank refills and access to rent dive equipment.
The last
overnight cruise of CY2000 (November) was to the docks at
Fort Walton Landing. I can recall that
only two boats made this event, but 16 additional members
joined the cruisers for dinner at the local Café Italian
restaurant. Following the dinner, members
were invited back to Dave Vachon’s boat for after dinner
drinks.
CY 2001
ADVISORY COUNCIL:
BRIDGE
OFFICERS:
Commodore:
Ron Williams
Vice Commodore:
Roger Heath
Rear Commodore:
Robbie Roberts
Past Commodore:
Neil Schaible
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
VOLUNTEERS:
Boating: Dave Vachon
Budget/Finance: Jerry Souders
Club Manager: Neil Schaible
Diving Activities: Jim Bayes
Entertainment Hazel Schaible
Membership: Jerry Peterson
News Editors: Jan/Fred Westfall
News Circulation: Tom Rief
Quartermaster: Fran Souders
Safety: Connie Gluvna
Secretary: Connie Inman
Sunshine/Grapevine: Kay Dent
Reservations: Linda Gail Martin
This year, the Council continued
to emphasis the need for volunteerism especially for
hosting membership night dinners with less than 10% of
the membership volunteering. For all events, the
membership volunteerism was less than 43%. To assist,
hosting membership dinner guides were developed those
who would volunteer for the first time.
Numerous boating events were held during the year
with a Labor Day cruise to Pensacola’s Seville Harbor
followed by a raft up in a Fort McCray gunk hole (photo
below) near the Pensacola Bay Harbor entrance.
CY 2002
ADVISORY COUNCIL:
BRIDGE
OFFICERS:
Commodore:
Gary Combs
Vice Commodore:
Dave Vachon
Rear Commodore:
Robbie Roberts
Past Commodore:
Ron Williams
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
VOLUNTEERS
Club Manager:
Neil Schaible
Entertainment:
Hazel Schaible
Finance:
Mack Kirkland
Quartermaster:
Brenda Bradshaw/Gail Southworth
Membership: Bob Gramm
Membership roster totaled 174.
Family night grilling on EYC back porch without an awning (photos above)
The club’s front AC broke again
and was repaired. Base CE was tasked for installation
of an emergency water shut off switch prior to an attempt to
repair the condensation damaged ceiling tile. It
appears the switch was installed, but it wasn’t properly
connected. Condensation from this AC would continue to
be a warm weather plague for the kitchen area of the EYC
building. The bar area frozen pipe water damage to the
flooring tile was repaired and the ceiling tile would see a
volunteer effort to apply a coat of paint, but no AC
replacement occurred. A new ice machine was received
and installed.
Neil Schiable (too many hats to mention) collecting late dues – February 2002. EYC 2002 New Years Eve party (photos above).
EYC members enjoyed many events in 2002, members could even learn line dancing (photo below), learn the YMCA group dance, participate in karaoke parties and most events ended with Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA. (original song release in 1984). The annual EYC progressive dinner cruise (photo below) was always a cruise highlight with many non-boat owners cruising on member big boats to another member on the water home for salads and snacks prior cruising back to EYC docks.
Progressive dinner with one or two cruise destinations ending at EYC docks with grill your own “whatever” dinner (photos above)
These were the times when wine was routinely included with membership night dinners! Some really good times were enjoyed by all (photos: Fred and Jan Westfall/Gary Combs must have smelled good!). BTW, the wine was donated by the gracious member who was hosting the event. Can you believe that in 2002, all beers were fifty cents and sodas were a quarter?
CY 2003
Advisory Council
Bridge:
Commodore: Robbie Roberts
Vice Commodore: Dave Vachon
Rear Commodore: John Faris
Past Commodore: Gary Combs
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Jerry Cote, Jim Bayes, Dick Gercak, Bob Gramm,
Robert Hyde and Les Gerlach
VOLUNTEERS:
Entertainment: Hazel
Schaible
Club Manager:
Neil Schaible
Financial:
Bill Woodward
Membership:
Bob Gramm
Rear deck expansion
almost complete.
CY 2004
Advisory Council
Bridge:
Commodore:
John Faris
Vice-Commodore:
Chris Gilbert
Rear Commodore:
Tommy Graves
Past Commodore:
Robbie Roberts
Council Members:
Jim Bayes, Robert Hyde, Chris Gilbert, Tom Graves,
Mark Nauman
Club Manager:
Neil Schaible
Entertainment:
Hazel Schaible
Secretary:
Connie Inman
Financial:
Neil Schaible
Boating:
Dave Vachon
House:
Les Gerlach
Diving:
Jim Bayes and Robert Hyde
The club manager coordinated with
base officials on dredging the entrance to Ben’s Lake.
He also reported missing entrance channel markers.
Both dredging and replacement of entrance channel markers
occurred.
Both club and dive flight
operating instructions were updated. One of the dive
flight’s two compressors went out of service.
During 2002-2004 time period, the
club was fortunate to have an EYC member who invited club
members to a pot lunch dinner cruise to Sun King Towns – a
condominium complex inside Destin Harbor. The
invitation included overnight dockage for up to 12 boats.
For overnight dock moored cruises, the cruisers often
planned and enjoyed a bring a dish breakfast on the
following day.
Marker 51 Mulkey Island EYC 2004 Cruise.
2004 EYC Seville Harbor Marina 4th
of July Cruise
Note, CY2004 was an eventful
boating period even though Hurricane Ivan, with a record
storm surge, grounded a member’s house boat up into the
yard. Hurricane Ivan also ripped off the back porch
canopy. The club manager requested funds from base
services to replace the small destroyed canopy with a larger
full deck cover. The council discussed replacing of the
covering of the back deck canopy (photo below). Cost
and scope were completed. Two options were considered,
one just for a smaller deck area and the other for the
entire length of back deck.
Back porch cover in 2004 prior to
Hurricane Ivan (photo above) – Buffet on the Bayou party and
October Fest with full band (High Cotton) led by Hazel
Schiable. The chicken dance was a club favorite for
October Fest membership night dinner!
Many club improvement actions
occurred in 2004 to include purchase of a new ice machine
for $3500 and a self-help project to install a cover (funded
by the base) over the back porch.
Expanded back porch decking was
in like new condition (Charline Harris & Nancy Combs).
Tony & Joyce Holland hosted Italian Dinner was a highlight
of the year. Besides being recognized as a local author,
Joyce Holland was an excellent cook. The Holland’s
hosted several annual parties at the Okaloosa Island
waterfront home to include the early June Billy Bowlegs
events which for boaters occurred in the shallow waters
between Fort Walton Landing Park and the Holland’s home.
The Billy Bowlegs pirates on local party boats always lost
the war after attempted to storm the city at park docks.
Routinely, 100s of boaters moored and/or rafted up just off
the Landing on a shallow sandbar (photo below, note Brooks
Bridge in background).
In CY2004, the advisory council
began discussions on requiring reservations for the first
Friday family night. The decision to require
reservations did not occur; however, there were steps taken
to make sure that family night did not cost more than its
income.
CY 2005
Advisory Council
Bridge:
Commodore: John Faris
Vice Commodore: Tommy Graves
Rear Commodore: Jerry Cote
Past
Commodore: Robbie Roberts
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
VOLUNTEERS:
Club Manager &
Financial: Neil Schaible
Entertainment: Hazel Schaible
Quartermaster: Karen Roberts
Secretary: Connie Inman
Membership: Bob Gramm
Membership rosters totaled 146.
* Buoyancy Compensators from $5 to $8
* Tanks from $3 to $4
* Weights from $2 to $3
* Flags from $2 to $4
John Faris presents framed burgee at Panama City docks.
The EYC Memorial Day weekend raft up on Crooked Island Panama City
Pictured above is the 2005 Crooked Island EYC Champagne Dingy cruise. The dinghy carried a cooler of champagne – one required per tube rider (14 bottles). The cruise was over when the last bottle was uncorked.
The EYC dock was used as one of the multiple card stops for the 14 May 2005 American Business Women’s Association Annual Charity Poker Run.
Patio cover was installed and a new propane
grill purchased in CY2005.
CY 2006
Advisory Council
Bridge:
Commodore:
Tommy Graves
Vice Commodore:
Dave Vachon
Rear Commodore:
Keith Dodson
Past Commodore:
John Faris
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
VOLUNTEERS:
Club Manager &
Financial: Neil Schaible
Entertainment: Hazel Schaible
Secretary: Connie Inman
Membership: Bob Gramm
Boating: Pat Seip
Membership rosters totaled 197. Yearly dues were $72.00 per fiscal year.
Both the Progressive Dinner
cruise and the July 4th Pensacola cruise went
very well and everyone had a great time. A local Marker 51
cruise occurred on July 28th and the Commodore’s
Champagne cruise occurred on August 25th.
Bob Gramm volunteered to be POC for the annual canoe trip
on, July 14th and 9 canoes were reserved.
EYC 2006 Cruise to
Noreiga Point, Destin Harbor
EYC docks and Dive
Flight rental desk on a membership night in 2006
Texas themed membership night with Karaoke (photos above and below)
Second destination on
2006 Progressive Dinner cruise to Dave Vachon’s backyard
In June 2006, the dive flight had
seven serviceable rental regulators on hand. The
council submitted a purchase request for the purchase of 15
each “Oceanic Alpha 8 Sport + DVT (dry valve technology)
regulator combos,” not to exceed $5,500.
CY 2007
Advisory Council
Bridge:
Commodore: Tommy Graves
Vice Commodore: Gary Combs
Rear Commodore: Keith Dodson
Past
Commodore: John Faris
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
VOLUNTEERS:
Club Manager:
Neil Schaible
Entertainment:
Hazel Schaible
Secretary:
Connie Inman
Membership:
Bob Gramm
Dive Flight: Robert Hyde
Membership rosters totaled 224 compared to last year's 189 members.
The boating POC organized a
dinner cruise to the Crab
Trap in November. During this period, lots of members
decorated their boats for several local on the water
Christmas Parades. The Ft Walton Beach Boat Parade was held
on December.2. Members also participated in San Destin
Baytown Christmas parade on December 9 and the annual Destin
Harbor Christmas parade on the following Sunday.
(2007 Memorial Day
Weekend cruise to Crooked Island, Panama City)
The dive flight continued
offering dive classes through the winter. The dive
flight’s backup compressor broke down later in the year with
an equipment failure, however, the compressor was quickly
repaired.
As the year ended, the club’s ice
machine temporary repair was holding. Dive compressor #2
was repaired. Free ice and free dive tank air refills were
perks for membership.
The dining room back wall was
painted by CE. Main building and dive flight signs were on
order.
CY 2008
Advisory Council
Bridge:
Commodore: Bob Gramm
Vice Commodore: Kevin O'Leary
Rear Commodore: John Faris
Past
Commodore: Tommy Graves
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
VOLUNTEERS:
Club Manager:
Neil Schaible
Entertainment:
Hazel Schaible
Boating:
Pat Seip
Secretary:
Connie Inman
For CY2008, the EYC had 182 members.
Michael Graham, dive flight POC
and Robert Hyde, dive instructor, continued to lead an
active dive program. Compressor service and
maintenance seemed to be a reoccurring issue. All the
traditional annual EYC cruises occurred to include the
Memorial Day weekend cruise to Crooked Island, Panama City.
The small ice machine in the bar
area became non-functional and a member volunteered to
repair it. Eventually, this machine’s need for
maintenance would result in its demise. With plenty
ice in the large commercial unit on the back porch, ice
would be easily available and plentiful for the bar.
The replacement of a new small ice machine was waiting procurement.
Dave Vachon pointed out that the
TV cable on the docks was not working well and volunteered
to troubleshoot and purchase the parts to repair it.
Neil verified that sufficient funds are available to cover
cost of replacement parts.
CY 2009
Advisory Council
Bridge:
Commodore: Bob Gramm
Vice Commodore: Robbie Roberts
Rear Commodore: John Faris
Past
Commodore: Tommy Graves
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
VOLUNTEERS:
Club Manager:
Neil Schaible
Entertainment:
Hazel Schaible
Boating:
Carolyn Leonpacher
Secretary: Connie Inman
The club had 204 members
including 3 who were deployed.
The Commodore’s Cruise occurred
on 29 August. to Noriega Point; the Labor Day Cruise is
“heading West” with Gary Combs POC; and the Progressive
Dinner occurred on 10 October.
Commodore’s cruise to
Destin Harbor
In August, the dive flight
reported that the compressor #1 is currently operating at
reduced capacity. The new compressor needs an air
filter installed to get it fully operational and the air
banks are waiting on their final hookup. Work orders
have been submitted for additional power requirements and a
telephone. Dive classes and events continued with dive
equipment rentals up over last year.
Marker 51 raft up
CY 2009 Halloween party
YMCA Karaoke sing along which is an EYC favorite song!
EYC cruise to downtown
Milton for Viking fight off – Milton Viking crew won and
then hosted aa 4 hour happy hour! Photos above and
below.
CY 2010
Advisory Council
Bridge:
Commodore: John Faris
Vice Commodore:
Gary Combs
Rear Commodore: Tommy Graves
Past
Commodore: Bob Gramm
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
VOLUNTEERS:
Club Manager:
Neil Schaible
Entertainment:
Hazel Schaible
Boating:
Robbie Roberts
Secretary: Connie Inman
In July, the EYC membership roster was 190 members.
Mid-year, the dive flight’s
Liberty compressor electrical service was installed, and for
a brief period, the trailered Fire Department Air Unit was
running on its own diesel generator.
Champaign dinghy tube
pull at 2010 Crooked Island cruise during Memorial Day
Weekend.
EYC Dive Flight under
water pumpkin carving event
2010 Halloween dress up
night – the Karen and Bob Gramm in sporting attire!
CY 2011
Advisory Council
Bridge:
Commodore: Dave Vachon
Vice Commodore:
Karen Roberts
Rear Commodore: Phil Krajeck
Past
Commodore: John Faris
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
VOLUNTEERS:
Club Manager:
Neil Schaible
Entertainment:
Hazel Schaible
Boating:
Ray Seip
Secretary: Connie Inman
Mid-year, EYC recorded 168 with
192 members by August
As picture above, the first stop
for the 2011 progressive dinner cruise was Dave Vachon’s
water front home. Progressive dinner cruises continued
to end up at EYC docks for a cook your own meat dinner.
CY 2012
Advisory Council
Bridge:
Commodore: Tommy Graves
Vice
Commodore: Norm Leonpacher
Rear
Commodore: Jerry Jacobs
Past
Commodore: Dave Vachon
Council Members: Mike Guidry, John Faris, Jerry Moore, Steve Elliott, Armand Izzo and Jeff Roxtron
VOLUNTEERS:
Club Manager:
Neil Schaible
Entertainment:
Hazel Schaible
Boating:
Carolyn Leonpacher
Secretary: Connie Inman
Membership: Bob Gramm
Membership in January 2012 was
149 and 177 by mid-year.
2012 Bluewater Bay Marina circle raft-up.
Themed events marked
this period, above are EYC members dressed for the Redneck
Happy Hour on Friday night, Crooked Island.
The 2012 Viking themed
December membership night Christmas Party.
Members dressed as
hippie 60’s style for Halloween Party during a 2012
membership night party.
CY 2013
Advisory Council
Bridge:
Commodore: Kevin O'Leary
Vice Commodore:
Jerry Jacobs
Rear Commodore: Jeff Roxtrom
Past
Commodore: Tommy Graves
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
VOLUNTEERS:
Club Manager:
Neil Schaible
Entertainment:
Hazel Schaible
Boating:
Carolyn Leonpacher
Secretary: Connie Inman
Membership: Bob Gramm
The membership POC reported only
174 members at the beginning of the year. Diving
equipment was operational with 5 of the new received 10 BCDs
also in service. The ice machines were in repair and
the club desperately needed a replacement outdoor grill.
Annual cruise events included:
the EYC Memorial Day cruise to Crooked Island, the Panama
City; 4th of July cruise to Pensacola, the
September time frame progressive dinner cruise, the October
time frame Commodore’s cruise and the December time frame
Christmas lighted boat parades.
As picture above, the first stop
on the 2013 progressive dinner cruise was Tommy Graves water
front home. All progressive dinner cruise continued to
end up at EYC docks for a cook your own meat dinner.
EYC cruisers continued to travel
70 miles down the coast on way for the Memorial Day Crook
Island, Panama City weekend cruise. This uninhabited
and mostly unknown anchorage was comparable to anchorages in
the Florida Keys and/or Bahamas. Photos above are of
Crook Island during a 2013 cruise. That star fish is
in 5 feet of water and both the sunset and sunrises were
glorious. The area was pristine and I hope it’s still
pristine.
CY 2013
might have seen the end of annual February EYC sailboat
regattas. Nancy and I were crew members on a sailboat in
this race – we came in last! Just check out the number of
sailboats at EYC docks in February 2013.
Later in the year there was council discussions concerning
partnering with Bluewater Bay for a sailing regatta, and I
recall at least one event occurred in the following year.
As I recall, Barry Bradshaw actually placed in the race.
CY 2014
Advisory Council
Bridge:
Commodore: Tommy Graves
Vice Commodore:
Jerry Jacobs
Rear Commodore: Dave Vachon
Past
Commodore: Kevin O'Leary
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
VOLUNTEERS:
Club Manager:
Norm Leonpacher
Assistant Club Manager:
Jerry Jacobs
Entertainment:
Susan Jacobs
Boating:
Tommy Graves
Membership: Bob Gramm
Secretary: Connie Inman
Membership in September was
reported as 154.
As an all-volunteer club, annual
cleanup of grounds and club interior were usually scheduled
in the cooler months. Note the Dive Flight’s Liberty
compressor and the huge brick & concrete barbeque grill in
the two December 2014 photos above.
As picture above, the first stop
on many of the progressive dinner was Gary and Nancy’s
waterfront home, followed by a second stop to Phil and
Astrid’s waterfront home. All progressive dinner
cruises continued to end up at EYC docks for a cook your own
meat dinner.
Then the transfer of Mike Graham,
PCSd, in October was another big loss for the dive flight.
Fortunately, other members step up to fill the vacant
positions.
Commodore’s cruise to
Jerry & Susan Jacob’s backyard
Krajeck and Combs
backyards in 2014.
The 2014 Bluewater Bay circle
raft up (photo above) right outside the marina in Rocky
Bayou. Regardless of the weather, this one-night
raft-up was one of my favorites – pictured are 6 EYC
cruisers.
CY 2015
Advisory Council
Bridge:
Commodore: Jerry
Jacobs
Vice Commodore: Dave Vachon
Rear Commodore: Adrian Mijangos
Past
Commodore: Tom Graves
Council Members: Phil Krajeck,
Randy White, Jerry Cote, Rob Hyde, Dwayne Hopkins and, Mike
Guidry.
Club Finance Manager:
Pete King, Cindy Wodjac
Membership: Bob
Gramm
Entertainment: Susan Jacobs
Secretary: Bob Gramm
By end-year, membership
chairperson reported 142 members. Several cruises were
planned to include a trip to Orange Beach’s Wharf, Blue
Water Bay Circle raft up on 12 September, the Progressive
dinner cruise and late September Commodore’s cruise.
Photos below of 2015 Progressive dinner cruise first stop to
Dave Vachon’s back yard. Eating, drinking, playing the
shallow water and cruising around the local area were
enjoyed by many members.
Ice machine maintenance due to
power outages was an issue which was addressed. The
board discussed lawn care by FSS and another topic was dock
upgrade concepts. A front entrance door handicap ramp
was constructed and installed by Gary Combs. The board
discussed ending club telephone service and maintaining TV
cable service; however, both were still be maintained by end
of year.
CY 2016
Advisory Council
Bridge:
Commodore: Jerry Jacobs
Vice
Commodore: Gary Combs
Rear Commodore: Adrian
Mijangos
Past Commodore: Tommy Graves
Council
Members: Joe Throgmorton, Paul Wojdac, Jerry Cote,
Mike Guidry, John Faris and Robert Hyde
Finance Chairperson: Pete King, Cindy Wojdac
Club Manager: Jerry Jacobs at end of CY
Membership: Bob Gramm
Entertainment:
Susan Jacobs
Secretary: Fred
Westfall
Boating:
Dave Vachon
Membership total 107 which was
down from 142 in CY2015.
In June, Adrian Mijangos
reported that all the current projects (the floor damage
repair, the façade replacement on the front of the EYC,
repair on the roof on the shed at the side of the main
building) are still on hold pending action by the EYC
building manager, Karen Kunnen. With loss of the EYC
dive instructor contract and declining membership, the
club finance chairperson reported that EYC might face
several financial hardships in future years.
Several discussions occurred on marketing strategies to
increase membership.
The September Bluewater Bay
Marina circle raft was a huge EYC cruise event with the
traditional Commodore’s cruise in October to Destin’s
Noreiga Point. One traditional social highlight
was the September Membership meeting Dive Flight hosting
of a Fish Fry along with voting on next year’s fiscal
year EYC Advisory Board.
CY 2017
Advisory Council
Bridge:
Commodore: Cindy Smith-Wojdac
Vice Commodore: Gordy Fornell
Rear Commodore: Cheryl Gerhardstein
Past Commodore: Jerry Jacobs
Council Members: John Faris, Doug Collins, Jim Heald, Paul Wojdac Pet King, Joe Throgmorton, Bob Gramm
Club
Manager: Paul Wojdac
Club Finance Manager: Pete King
Membership:
Bob Gramm
Entertainment: Susan Jacobs
Secretary: Fred Westfall
By end of the fiscal year, the
club had 140 paid members.
Several members participated in
the EYC cruise to Panama City/Crooked Island during the July
4 weekend. Other annual cruises were to Marker 51,
Commodore’s Cruise, Progressive Dinner Cruise, Blue Water
Bay Marina, Northlights Marina and a small cruise to the
Wharf in Orange Beach, Alabama.
Pictured are the Noreiga Point, Destin and Marker 51 Cruises
EYC docks in 2017 and photo of the Heald’s with Santa Graves during the December 2017 Christmas Party.
During
the year, Bob Gramm revised or updated several of the club’s
operating instructions.
Cindy Smith-Wojdac announced
that Team Eglin Connect has offered us a booth at their June
2 event. Cindy will send out an email requesting volunteers
to man the booth. The club participated and continued
marketing strategies to maintain a strong membership which
was vital to the financial status of the Eglin Yacht Club.
CY 2018
Advisory Council
Bridge:
Commodore:
Cindy Smith-Wojdac
Vice Commodore:
Gordon Fornell
Rear Commodore:
Dave Vachon
Past Commodore:
Jerry Jacobs
Council
Members: Susan
Jacobs, Gerry Harvey, Valerie Burrelle, Paul Goodenough, Jim
Heald, Doug Collins
Dive
Flight: Doug Collins
Club Manager:
Paul Wojdac
Club Finance Manager:
Pete King
Membership:
Bob Gramm
Entertainment:
Susan Jacobs
Secretary:
Fred Westfall
The traditional EYC 4th of July cruise was to Marker 51.
With both EYC stoves shut down due
to a base safety concern, the club submitted a request to
fund purchase of the required fire suppression equipment for
the kitchen and they requested installation by the CE Alarm
Shop, who during this period were frequently holding special
events in the facility. The Alarm Shop personnel did
agree to install the equipment and even look for available
excess useable equipment from other base facilities.
With kitchen stoves out of
service, the outdoor grill became the primary cooking
equipment and was used monthly for the family night
hamburger events. Several grill burners are
nonfunctional and the heat deflectors over four burners were
rusted, thus a new grill was procured. Membership
dinners continued to be held either catered or pre-cooked
outside the club. The base’s donation of food warmers
helped make the loss of kitchen stove palatable
Bluewater Bay Circle Raft
up – Commodore’s Cruise to Noreiga Point and EYC
Octoberfest.
CY 2019
Advisory Council
Bridge:
Commodore:
Susan Jacobs
Vice Commodore: Gordy
Fornell
Rear Commodore:
Gerry Harvey
Past Commodore: Cindy Wojdac
Council Members:
Jerry Cote, James Fulton, Heather Mallot, Valerie Burrell,
John Ferguson
Club Manager:
Jerry
Jacobs
Club Finance Manager: Cindy
Barber
Membership: Bob Gramm
Entertainment: Susan Jacobs
Secretary:
Fred Westfall
Dive Club: Gerry Harvey
By
mid-year, Bob Gramm reported that EYC had 120 total members.
4th
of July Cruise to Boggy Bayou and First Ever EYC Open House
Membership Drive Event
As mentioned in CY2018 report,
the base safety office had ruled that the EYC kitchen stoves
(2 of them) were being used similar to a restaurant, thus
the kitchen required restaurant fire suppression safety
fixtures. The club continued to support monthly dinner
meals and many special events without use of these stoves.
Discussions were in the works to convince the base civil
engineering alarm shop to install the required fire
suppression equipment that would allow use of the kitchen
stoves.
Although not beautiful, the dock repair effort resulted in a structurally better EYC dock.
The need for
cable TV service was tabled indefinitely with installation
of a donated flat panel TV and entertainment equipment that
could accept hot spot internet connectivity.
Please note that you can view
these photos and many more for each year on the EYC Website
Photo Gallery.
No one is exactly sure when it
occurred, but the council was notified that the club’s dive
portion could not be called a “flight”, so signage and
references were changed to “Dive Club”.
CY 2020
(Beginning of COVID
quarantine era)
Advisory Council
Bridge:
Commodore: Gary Combs
Vice Commodore: James Fulton
Rear Commodore:
Gordy Fornell
Past Commodore:
Susan
Jacobs
Council Members:
Barry
Bradshaw, John Ferguson, Valerie Burrelle, Doug Constantine,
Heather Mallet, Marty Schmieder
Club Manager:
Jerry
Jacobs
Club Finance: Marty Schmieder
Membership: Bob Gramm
Entertainment: Susan Jacobs
Secretary:
Fred Westfall
Membership hovered around 140.
With a volunteer work force,
members began installing a drop ceiling in the main club
area using both member and club funds. By end of year,
about half of the ceiling remained to be completed. In
August, members met with Mr. Kramer, 96FSS Flight Chief, to
request building funds of $1300 to finish the project.
The requested funds were approved.
Susan Jacobs reported that our
off base (Combs Park) membership meal on Friday, August 21
was well attended and that it was nice to see familiar
faces, even if they were covered with masks.
Gary Combs reported that the
September 5, 2020 local Cruise to break the Guinness Book of
World Records for a boat parade was well attended by EYC
members. Upon return from the parade, several members
spent the rest of the weekend at Marker 69 on the
Intercoastal Waterway (Photo).
Advisory council members met with
FSS concerning a new contract for EYC Dive Club Instruction
with a certified member dive instructor. There was
also discussion on obtaining a MWR or new dive compressor to
replace the high maintenance old dive club compressor.
Neither of these efforts were fruitful in 2020.
CY 2021
Advisory Council
Bridge:
Commodore: Gary Combs
Vice Commodore:
James Fulton
Rear Commodore:
Gordy Fornell
Past Commodore:
Susan
Jacobs
Council Members:
Barry Bradshaw, Valerie Burrell, John Ferguson Tom Graves, Marty SchmiederClub Manager:
Jerry JacobsClub Finance: Marty Schmieder
Membership: Bob Gramm
Entertainment: Susan Jacobs
Secretary: Fred Westfall
Dive Flight: Mike Guidry
Membership hovered around 133.
From 2020, the club’s ice machine
had stopped working due to a defective plug and replaced by
base civil engineers. The club’s front room drop
ceiling was completed in February.
Due to limited activity since
March 2020, some of the beverages had become stale and were
discarded with paperwork submitted to FSS to account for the
loss of stock.
CY 2022
Advisory Council
Bridge:
Commodore: Gary Combs
Vice Commodore:
Barry Bradshaw
Rear Commodore:
Justin Bracken
Past Commodore:
Council Members:
Dale Berryhill, Gordy
Fornell, Rich Hall, Mike Guidry and Marty Schmieder
Club Manager:
Jerry JacobsClub Finance: Marty Schmieder
Membership: Bob Gramm
Entertainment: Susan Jacobs
Secretary: Fred Westfall
Dive Flight: Mike Guidry
Membership roster totaled 142.
An official EYC cruise was held
in conjunction with and EYC open house on August 20.
Visitors were offered tours on EYC member yachts on the
docks. Eglin Pet Welfare participated with dogs and
cats for adoption.
Dive club members received two
bids to replace the club’s BCDs and noted that the minimum
age of club BCDs is 10 years and the majority of the club’s
BCDs were over 30 years old. In the most recent BCD
rentals, both BCDs failed during the dives. The plan
was to replace all BCDs and reduce the total number to seven
to match the number of regulators. Four BCDs were
purchased during the calendar year.
CY 2023
Advisory Council
Bridge:
Commodore: Barry Bradshaw
Vice Commodore:
Adrian Mijangos
Rear Commodore:
Past Commodore:
Council Members:
Dale Berryhill, Mike
Guidry, John Faris, Gordy Fornell, Susan Jacobs and Marty Schmieder
Club Manager:
Jerry JacobsClub Finance: Marty Schmieder
Membership: Bob Gramm
Entertainment: Susan Jacobs
Secretary: Fred Westfall
Dive Flight: Mike Guidry
Membership totaled 165.
Several broken seal windows in
back dining area were replaced by base CE and a new family
night gas barbeque grill was purchased through FSS.
After much discussion it was
decided that any organization hosted by a member will pay
the nominal rental fee. The only exception is the 96
Alarm Shop. Additionally, the AERO club will start
being charged after the commodore sends them a notification
letter.
In February 2023, Diver Dan took
up permanent residence near the club fireplace. The
council awarded Diver Dan an honorary EYC membership for
life.
Party of year was Colonel Eric
Paulson’s retirement in August 2024 (photos above and below)
Open House with two new members
– both active duty CMSgts.
2024 EYC Marker 51 cruise with
happy hour on board the “Nan-Sea’s”
CY 2024
Advisory Council
Bridge:
Commodore: Barry Bradshaw
Vice Commodore:
Adrian Mijangos
Rear Commodore:
Eric Paulson
Past Commodore:
Council Members:
Dale Berryhill, John
Faris, Mike Guidry, Susan Jacobs, Helen Jantscher and David
McClintic
Club Manager:
Jerry JacobsClub Finance: Wendy Paulson
Membership: Bob Gramm
Entertainment: Susan Jacobs
Secretary: Fred Westfall
Dive Flight: Mike Guidry
Membership total was 134.
During the first half of the
year, EYC requested FSS support to re-establish an EYC dive
club instructor contract. After several meetings and
emails, the council decided to not pursue a contract due to
the complexity required by a new contract.
Earlier in the year, an Army 7th
Special Forces boat rammed the south end of EYC docks
resulting in the dock being declared unsafe. FSS and
the base removed the “Members Only” sign on the EYC dock.
Rationale was that it had to be public domain in order for
CE to repair the dock and wiring that was damaged when the
dock was damaged. Upon inspection, CE condemned the
dock wiring, so no boating events were held during 2024 at
EYC docks.
EYC dock structure near
completion on 23 August 2024.
Dive Club members identified
eight small compressors in DLA that might temporarily meet
dive air refill requirements. FSS worked with the DLA
to get three of these transferred for EYC use. Once
received, dive members determined the units were not
repairable. Efforts continued to find a DLA surplus
replacement. The answer was a Fire Department surplus
unit at Hurlburt.
Susan Jacobs, Tony Holland and
Al Bills pose for a photo on Italian night while Eric and
Wendy Paulson display some PDA.
CY 2025
Advisory Council
Bridge:
Commodore: Barry Bradshaw
Vice Commodore:
Susan Jacobs
Rear Commodore:
Eric Paulson
Past Commodore:
Council Members:
Dennis Donegan, Helen
Jantscher, Chuck Madden, Scott Rothlisberer, Dave Vachon and
Mike Guidry
Club Manager:
Jerry JacobsClub Finance: Wendy Paulson
Membership: Bob Gramm
Entertainment: Susan Jacobs
Secretary: Fred Westfall
Special Functions: Fred Westfall
Dive Flight: Mike Guidry
Membership was 131.
In 2024, a 7th Special Forces
boat captain accidently rammed the south end of the EYC
docks breaking several piles and dropping a portion of the
deck into the bayou. In an agreement between 7th
Special Forces, Hulburt AFB and Eglin FSS, the club’s dock
was to be totally rebuilt this year to match existing
structure. Most of the support structure was finished
by end of August – which was the contractual completion date
(25 August). Electrical outlets and water were also
accomplished but neither were equivalent to what existed
prior to the damage. Only 6 electrical outlets were
installed on the new dock and two of these were 20amp
circuits. Prior to the rebuild, the docks had 15 30amp
outlets. Dock photos below
Due to no access to the club
docks, there were no official boating events for Calendar
Year 2025.
May first ever Crawfish &
Shrimp boil with EYC dock construction in background
(photo). Dive club 2025 VIP event with working air
compressor in background.
In conjunction with FSS
management, the commodore arranged to have FSS provide lawn
maintenance at what was considered a high cost of $250 per
mowing. Several members questioned the cost and
frequency for base mowing services. For example, the mowing
in July was conducted one week after the volunteer member
lawn mowing had occurred. In addition, FSS mowed out
to the street which is not considered responsibility of EYC
but EYC was still charged for it. There was also
concerned about the $98 administrative fee that was added to
the mowing bill. The council approved a motion that the
area be cut only once per month and only from May to October
The council approved purchase of
3 new BCDs to add to dive rental equipment. The dive
club had 1 small, 2 mediums, 2 larges and 2 extra-large
Mares BCDs for rent. (photo below) along with tanks, etc.
Address
2816 Boatner Road
Eglin AFB, FL 32542
Contact Us by Email:
eglinyachtclub@gmail.com
DINNER RESERVATIONS
Contacts
PO. Box 1735
Eglin AFB, FL 32542
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