New Clubhouse

The Project

In 1998, Commodore Judy Buis appointed a Building Committee to look into replacing Fishing Bay Yacht Club?s Main Clubhouse on Fishing Bay. The Committee challenge has been to assure we keep the character of the Club intact and not ruin the Club emotionally, physically or financially with a new structure. During 2000 we progressed to the point where we hired an architect and in November the Trustees approved the design and a fund raising campaign to help pay for the building. The detailed working drawings were completed and a building permit was issued to FBYC about March 1, 2001. The existing building has been demolished and new construction will begin soon, with completion toward the end of the 2001 sailing season.

The plans provide for a new two-story building located on about the same footprint as the existing building. The new Front Porch is much larger than the existing porch. The first floor would be dominated by a Great Room (twice the size of the existing fireplace room) and a screen porch (the same size as the existing porch). The room would have 10? high ceilings and a gas log fireplace. In the summer the first floor would have an airy feeling, with ceiling fans and a breeze blowing through the building. On colder days, the Great Room could be closed off from the screen porch and the breezes; the fireplace would keep the great room warm. The walls will be "Frisbee-proof", the floor danceable, easily maintained and ready for sand being tracked in and out. There would be a much-improved kitchen on the west side and new bath rooms on the east side of the building. They include showers and handicapped facilities and are about the same size as the new baths at Fannie?s House. These baths could be entered from the Great Room or from outside entrances facing the pool. There would be no air-conditioning or heat downstairs, and we have endeavored to maintain the feeling of the existing clubhouse downstairs best described as "screen doors slamming".

A heated and air-conditioned room and an outside deck, partly screened in and partly open, and overlooking Fishing Bay and the launching ramp would dominate the second floor. These spaces are intended to create an environment where adult members can sit down in comfortable chairs to eat, talk or read and can assemble after races and in the evenings. There would be a small snack bar and two small bathrooms upstairs.

Included in the building would be a sailing office and more storage space in both the kitchen and elsewhere. Upstairs there would be two small offices/protest rooms. Because of the use and size of the second floor, there must be 2 sets of stairs for fire purposes, which take up a lot of room!