The Mount Dora Yacht Club is located in beautiful Lake County, Florida. Their clubhouse is nestled in the quaint town of Mount Dora along the banks of Lake Dora. The goal of the club is to provide an enjoyable atmosphere where sailors can gather for social events, promote water activities, and cultivate community relations.
History of the Club:
In 1913, Henry C. Fuller and a group of fellow boat owners met at his boathouse to discuss and make plans for organizing a yacht club. They enthusiastically drew up Articles of Incorporation, subscribed money to buy land on the lake and build a clubhouse, and voted for the officers, making Henry C. Fuller himself the first Commodore. Built at a cost of $5,000, the clubhouse was ready for the new members to enjoy by October of the same year. The first Regatta, featuring power boats, took place shortly after the opening of the Mount Dora Yacht Club. Many regattas were held that year to encourage boating, but the first one was so special that all the businesses closed so everyone in town could watch the races.
The first inland waterways yacht club in Florida, the Mount Dora Yacht Club received its charter on October 11, 1913, signed by Governor Park Trammel. The club has been in existence ever since and celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2003.
The original club was formed for the "promotion of yachting and education in seamanship." All members were required to be boat owners, a rule which was enforced until the 1940s, when the loss of membership due to the war, and gasoline rationing made the requirement impractical. During World War II, several MDYC members assisted the Coast Guard in patrolling Lake Harris every day. The Club itself was used as a USO during the war, and food was prepared by the members, who bore both the expense and the sacrifice of some of their food ration coupons in order to provide for the servicemen and women who visited the USO. Some 17,000 servicemen and women were entertained at the Mount Dora Yacht Club. At the time Mount Dora’s population was less than 4,000 people. The club never closed its doors, even though World War II took a heavy toll on the membership. It remains the oldest inland waterways yacht club in Florida.
Both regattas and cruises were major activities in earlier years, and continue to be so today. In the beginning, however, races were held for power boats and speed racing. Since 1953, Sailboat Regattas have replaced them, and have been held every year since except for one when a storm with lightning prevented the Regatta from taking place.
In 1966, the Mount Dora Yacht Club's original building burned, and a new one took its place at the foot of 4th Avenue on Lake Dora.
Mount Dora Yacht Club WebsiteVisit Instructions:To log a waymark, please take a picture with or without a GPSr in the shot at the location. Pictures with sailboats get you "extra credit!"
Please add descriptions to your log that would be helpful to sailors hoping to visit the location. Any "salty dog" stories are also encouraged!