By Linda Gordon | February 2025
Many of you may have questions about PICYA and RBOC—what they are and how they connect to our club. As a delegate to PICYA, I will be writing monthly newsletter articles to explain the functions of these organizations and provide updates on their activities.
This Month’s Focus: PICYA
PICYA (Pacific Inter-Club Yacht Association) is the only organization in Northern California dedicated to promoting recreational boating through coordination and information sharing for the benefit of boaters. Its purpose is to unite yacht clubs and boating organizations, foster inter-club communication, support yachting activities and social interaction, and organize programs that enhance the well-being of member organizations.
Founded in San Francisco on May 12, 1896, PICYA’s five charter clubs were California YC, Corinthian YC, Encinal YC, Pacific YC, and San Francisco YC. Today, PICYA has 104 member clubs across Northern California. You can learn more about its history and see the burgees of its member clubs at PICYA.org.
Representation and Meetings
Each club is represented by three delegates. Our current delegates are Gary Gordon, Linda Gordon, and Commodore Richard Panuschka. Delegate dinner meetings are held at different yacht clubs on the first Monday of each month, with occasional daytime meetings on weekends to accommodate attendees. Any yacht club member is welcome to attend. These meetings provide opportunities to network with members of other clubs, gather PICYA updates to share with their clubs, and participate in various PICYA committees.
Recent and Upcoming Events
PICYA organizes numerous activities and regattas throughout the year, which I will cover as they occur.
We recently attended the PICYA Change of Watch on January 25 in Redwood City. Despite a last-minute venue change due to a water main break at Sequoia Yacht Club, the event was a great success, with nearly 100 attendees.
Looking ahead, PICYA hosts two conferences each year for delegates and interested yacht club members. The Spring Leadership Conference will be held on March 29 at Encinal Yacht Club in Alameda. I will share more details in next month’s report.
If you have any questions or comments about this article, please contact me at PICYA@sltwyc.com.
Gary & Linda Gordon
PICYA Delegates
