A patriarch of Maryland yachtsman, the Honorable William (Bill) B. Matthews Jr, was inspired to form an organization of yacht clubs in the Chesapeake Bay area, and this led to the founding of the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Clubs Association (CBYCA) on September 25, 1957.
On this date, William Shriber, Jr. hosted a meeting in the offices of radio station WFBR, at which, in addition to Bill Matthews, George Wallis, representing Commodore James P. Libertini, Baltimore Yacht Club, Frederick Bergling representing Commodore H. P. White, Bush River Yacht Club, Commodore Austin Sedicum, Maryland Yacht Club, and Commodore Gilbert Quinn, Ventnor Yacht Club, were in attendance. Commodore Tignor, Boumi Temple Yacht Club, though absent, was also a member of the founding group. These individuals, with Miss Harry Wolf, as secretary, formed the steering committee which led to the establishment of CBYCA. Bill Matthews was elected as its first Commodore.
The Chesapeake Bay Yacht Clubs Association was founded with three basic objectives:
1. To protect the interests of better boating in the Chesapeake Bay area through legislation;
2. To define and set up standards of recognition for yacht clubs in the Chesapeake Bay area so as to distinguish between those yacht clubs completely controlled by the members thereof and those wholly, or partly, controlled by commercial ventures;
3. To act as a liaison and coordinator between yacht clubs as to coming events, such as Opening Days and Commodore Balls, and as far as possible, prevent overlap of these types of events.
During the ensuing years, CBYCA has provided continuous service to its member clubs, and in many respects, to boating, in general, in the Chesapeake Bay region. In 2019 CBYCA has a membership of over 100 yacht clubs whose collective membership totals more than 60,000 recreational boaters who cruise the Chesapeake Bay area, and whose geographical location includes Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia.
CBYCA was a founder and charter member of the National Boating Federation (NBF), and through the NBF, the CBYCA participates at the national level in legislative matters affecting recreational boating. CBYCA has also established cooperative agreements with the Potomac River Yacht Clubs Association (PRYCA), Boater Voter Coalition (BVC), Mid-Atlantic Association of Shrine Yacht Clubs (MAASYC), Delaware River Yachtsmen’s League (DRYL), Chesapeake Commodores Club (CCC) and the Yacht Clubs of Maryland (YCM) to work together to promote regional activities in pursuit of our mutual objectives.
CBYCA also maintains representation on the Maryland Boat Advisory Committee and the Virginia Boating Advisory Board. All proposed legislation affecting recreational boating in these states must be submitted to these respective groups for review and advice before becoming law. CBYCA actively participates at the state levels regarding legislation of interest to recreational boating. As a result of CBYCA efforts, the Boat Advisory Committee was legislatively established in the Maryland Boat Act. In addition, CBYCA maintains continuing representation with the following boating-oriented organizations: U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, and United States Power Squadrons. From 1986 to 1991, the Association had a Political Action Committee.
In summary, CBYCA is a viable, volunteer, premier association of yacht clubs, boating clubs, and sailing associations dedicated to the concerns and interests of its member clubs, safe boating, quality legislation regarding recreational boating, and the Bay environment.
Clubs located in the 5-state Bay region with interest in CBYCA membership should contact the Qualifications Officer.