yacht clubs marblehead ma

Monday, November 6, 2017

The three yacht clubs in marblehead, massachusetts.

I haven't been in any of the three yacht clubs in Marblehead, Massachusetts, for some years, but I remember how each used to demonstrate physically its place on the New England social ladder. Out on Marblehead Neck, where all the summer people have their places, are the Eastern Yacht Club and the Corinthian Yacht Club. Old families with old money — that is, families that have been in the area (including the Boston area) for a number of generations — belonged to the Eastern Yacht Club. No one else was allowed to join. The clubhouse itself always looked to me as if it might collapse. It needed stain or paint, there always seemed to be a loose board or two out on the porch, and the dining and other facilities were modest, though with a certain quiet, old charm. However, belonging to the Eastern meant you were "in." If you didn't belong, you were "out" — and might just as well join the Corinthian Yacht Club.

The Corinthian accepted new people with new money, and its clubhouse and docks were new, meticulously maintained, modern, and posh. To a Texan or anyone else not knowledgeable in New England ways, inspection of the physical facilities of the Eastern and the Corinthian back in those days would have caused the Corinthian to be the immediate and obvious choice. From the New England point of view, that would be all well and good. As my aunt on my father's side once told me, "A Texan may be a braggart, but he can never be a snob."    

Then there was the Boston Yacht Club, located across the harbor from "the Neck," in the town of Marblehead. It was always considered the place for those not in any way interested, or able to be interested, in social considerations. It was for townspeople. So its clubhouse was neither run down nor posh. It was straightforward, perfectly comfortable, practical. Of course, some members of old area families, particularly the young ones with old money, deliberately chose the Boston Yacht Club over the Eastern. That's a related but slightly different form of snobbery, which was negated completely if you belong to both, as some did.

- Judson Hale, Inside New England < http://amzn.to/2x2m576 > 

13 comments:

Very amusing, but where does the Boston Yacht Club fit in this pecking order--the yacht club on the other side of the harbor not on "The Neck" and the sponsor of the venerable Marblehead-Halifax Ocean Race?

In my opinion, it's number 1!!

Meghan, right? :)

This all reminds me of the book The Status Seekers written in 1959 by Vance Packard. It's one of the most searing and sardonic looks at social status I've ever read. It really opened my eyes.

Jud with one d - I bet he'd write it the same way now!

But what about Pleon?

Pecking order is quite a bit different today. And Marblehead has 3 clubs on the town side and 3 clubs on the neck side.

Hilarious, but I think a Texan can be a snob. A lot are old southern families going back to the First Families of Virginia and the Jamestown group can be just as snobby as the Plymouth haha

If that's the case you will never know it because FFV and Jamestowne Society members do not brag. The snobs are the Highland Park new monied.

For many years my family enjoyed "belonging" at the Boston Yacht Club. We always parked just outside that quite small parking lot at the club and for good reason. We would take the launch out to our sailboat and sound the horn for pickup when it was time to get a ride back at the end of the day....one prolonged, two short if my memory serves me right. What a wonderful aura to the place...until they finally figured out we weren't actually members! Ooops! My father had an uncanny knack for walking into places he didn't belong as if he owned them. Ultimately we joined the Corinthian for real...I think. If we weren't members there I feel for whoever had to pick up our food tab at the pool.

That is a great story, I'll bet your father is/was an interesting man.

Are these ‘rules’ still applied in 2018 ? I am a member of the Royal Cape Yacht Club ( 44 years good-standing) and I can tell you things have changed. When I joined in 1974 I was given a ‘look up, and down’. I recall a superior of mine, possibly twice my age, who applied at the same time but was ‘blakballed’ as not being ‘suitable’. Somehow I doubt this still goes on. Except perhaps at certain clubs in the St James club area in London.

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Eastern Yacht Club

easternyc.org

47 Foster Street

Marblehead , MA 09145

(781) 631-1400

The Eastern Yacht Club was founded in 1870. Throughout its history “the Eastern” has consistently pursued its mission of “encouraging yacht building and naval architecture and the cultivation of nautical science.” Yachts flying Eastern colors successfully defended the America’s Cup three times in the mid-1880’s. Its interest in the America’s Cup continued into the 20th century when Eastern members built J-Boats and 12-Metres in the hope of defending the America’s Cup and Eastern members sailed on a number of 12-Metres that successfully defended the Cup.

Eastern members have built numerous off-shore racing boats that have successfully competed in local and international races. The club’s members currently own approximately 10 different types of one-design class boats and have won world and national championships in a number of those classes.

The Eastern’s race committee is active throughout the summer and is recognized as one of the very best in the country. Throughout the clubhouse you will find paintings, photographs, trophies and models that mark the history of America yachting from the glorious days of huge racing yachts to the present day streamline one-designs. The club’s model room contains over 65 half-models of historic and modern yachts. Additional half models and many stunning full models are displayed throughout the Club.

From the Commodore:

“The Eastern Yacht Club is very pleased to be included among the yacht clubs which have become NSHOF Founding Members. Since the beginning, the Eastern has been a leader in yacht racing. The Club is proud that three of its members, Ted Hood, Gary Jobson and Harold Vanderbilt were among the initial NSHOF inductees and that another inductee, Charlie Barr, is the great uncle of one of its current members. The support that the NSHOF will give to sailing through it educational programs and its preservation of yachting history indicates that it will have a critical role in yachting’s future. It deserves the broad support of the yachting community.”

Phil Smith, Commodore

In 1870, twelve Boston gentlemen organized themselves as the Eastern Yacht Club, a club dedicated to the promotion of yachting. Within one month, they had enrolled 110 members with 23 yachts. The Clubhouse on Marblehead Neck was completed in 1881.

From the beginning, the Club became a leader in yacht racing with Puritan, Mayflower, and Volunteer, all flying Eastern colors, successfully defeating their British challengers in the America’s Cup in 1885, 1886, and 1887, respectively. The Eastern has hosted a multitude of local, national, and international sailing events from the Sonder class regattas that preceded WWI to the competitive one-design and PHRF races of today, including the Etchells Worlds, Star Worlds, IOD Worlds, Olympic Class Regattas, Viper 640 North Americans, Sonar North Americans, Shields Nationals, and the Soling North Americans, a preliminary race for the ’96 Olympics. In 1994 the club received the coveted St. Petersburg Trophy, awarded for the Race Committee’s outstanding management of the Star North Americans.

A visit to the Eastern is a walk through yachting history, from the glorious days of the huge racing yachts to the present-day streamlined one-designs. Nearly 130 years of yachting history resides here. Throughout the Clubhouse, you can find trophies and medals marking the Club’s illustrious history.

Video: A Contemporary History of Eastern Yacht Club

Bonus Interviews: Favorite Childhood Sailing Memories from the Eastern Yacht Club

Bonus Interviews: Favorite Sailing Memories from the Eastern Yacht Club

Quick Links

Getting Here

The Sailing Museum & Hall of Fame

365 Thames Street

Newport, RI 02840

401.324.5761

[email protected]

Dolphin Yacht Club

Review Highlights

“ Sit on the deck with an amazing view of the Marblehead harbor and let Lill and Mike take care of you. ” in 3 reviews

“ The all new staff and new chef have brought this club to a whole new level. ” in 2 reviews

“ The food (biased pork and quinoa salad with salmon)was just yummy, our waiter Drew could not have been more efficient and the setting was exquisite. ” in 2 reviews

Location & Hours

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17 Allerton Pl

Marblehead, MA 01945

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When my husband lived in Marblehead, he was a member of the Dolphin. He absolutely loved it! He loved the ambiance, the food and the drinks ! And of course, the people! So we were visiting and had to go back! It's redone but the people and all are still great! We love Marblehead! Definitely stop by here!

This is a wonderful place at the harbor in Marblehead. Sit out on the patio for great views of the ocean and the point. This is a members only restaurant so you need a membership or have a member with you (they check membership ID's). Extremely limited parking, better to park on the street above. I had the pulled pork grilled cheese sandwich which was very good. It was like a club sandwich with grilled cheese on one side and pulled pork on the other. The jalapeños were a nice and needed touch to add a spicy element to the sandwich. I highly recommend this restaurant to try if you know a member.

Lobster salad: tasteless Green salad: very good View: outstanding Service: clueless but eager Once the management wakes up and trains the employees properly, there may be some hope for the future. For now, it's one of the few waterfront locations in town, so guests will choose it despite the reviews. Yacht club members would find better meals at Shubie's Marketplace; picnic on your boat, folks!

See all photos from Sam S. for Dolphin Yacht Club

Great food and atmosphere, the wait staff was courteous and helpful My wife and I enjoyed the food and view of the harbor

From the food to the music nights and beautiful view of the harbor the Dolphin Yacht Club is by far one of the hot spots this summer!! Yes parking is limited, but everything else makes up for it!! Friendly waitstaff and awesome members!

The service has been below average all season. Worse, the food has been bad and tonight was not edible. How do you screw up chicken?

The Dolphin holds a special place my heart. Been a member for almost 10 years. Like with all clubs at the end of the season, staff has scattered and service was meh. The lobster eggs benedict, however, made up for it.

Just ate here for the second time this season (first year as members of the DYC). Everything was great! They have painkillers and a couple of varieties of mojitos - all drinks are excellent and strong. Diverse menu with options for everyone. Had the swordfish the first time and carne asada the second - both cooked perfectly and delicious. Also very accommodating for kids. There is no set kids menu but the chef will make just about anything for them. Food is great, drinks are excellent and the view is amazing.

I thought I previously reviewed the Dolphin, but I guess not. We have eaten here multiple times for lunch, brunch and dinner with our parents who are members. Their deck is great and overlooks the harbor, but unfortunately nothing else is worth a return visit. Food is always just uninspired, as is the service. For a yacht club you expect a more welcoming approach to service. My water glass would remain empty for at least 20 minutes before anyone noticed, or returned to our table. Parking is an issue. They have less than 8 parking spaces so it's best just to park near old town and walk. I'm still just surprised that people pay for rights just to enter/dine in this establishment. Disappointing.

Food was fabulous and service was great!! Many of the servers are new and it may even be there first service jobs. I really like the job shadow program where 2 servers are being paired up to train... This is resulting with far less clueless servers than in previous seasons! Dining room manager, Amanda, is doing a wonderful job! Kudos to our new chef and kitchen staff as well! I'm loving the menu and look forward to potential weekend "features" (because everything on the menu is special) to be made available !! Keep up the good work!!

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OBITUARY: Susan Marie Schuster (Quade)

Susan Marie Schuster passed peacefully on March 7, 2024, at the age of 76. The cause of death was complications from Alzheimer’s disease.

Sue grew up in Cincinnati as one of six children to George and Mary Schuster. She attended St. Ursula’s Academy, remembering her early school days being shaped by fierce but devoted women of the cloth.

Sue graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1970 with a degree in education and went on to have a nearly 40-year career as a devoted teacher and school administrator.

During one of her summers in college, Sue lived on Cape Cod as a nanny where she met her future husband, David, at the famed Hunt Club in Falmouth. Sue and David married and relocated to the Back Bay in Boston, and Sue began her teaching career in the Beverly Public Schools. While in Boston, she earned her master of science degree in teaching at Lesley University.

After falling in love with the charms of Marblehead, Sue and David moved to the seaside town and had two children, Alison and Jonathan.

Sue was a devoted mother who enjoyed her family and their many activities. She was a common fixture at her children’s hundreds of swim meets, soccer games, baseball practices, sailing regattas and lacrosse tournaments.

Susan enjoyed going to their New Hampshire condo at Loon Mountain, hiking the White Mountain trails and even taking up skiing to be with family and friends. Sue loved the ocean and beaches — whether in Marblehead, the Corinthian Yacht Club or their second home on Cape Cod.

Sue was known for her intelligence, wit and being empathetic to others’ needs. Sue leaves a legacy both through her family and the countless students whose lives were touched by her passion for teaching. Sue’s last decade of her career was spent at Tower School in Marblehead as a math and history teacher, as well as a division head and secondary school placement administrator. She loved teaching and felt pride in working with struggling students who needed a boost.

Sue also enjoyed the relationships she made across secondary schools and the work she did in helping families determine the next step in their children’s education. When former students returned home for school break, they would often find Sue at Tower School, or even her home, to joyfully share their accomplishments. This meant the world to her.

Sue is survived by her husband of 53 years, David Quade; her children, Alison Spring (in Marblehead) and Jonathan Quade (in Kennebunk, Maine), along with their spouses, Peter Spring and Danielle LePointe-Quade; her grandchildren, Ethan, Charlie and Libby Spring, and June Quade.

Sue would be proud to know she is contributing to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease through the donation of her brain to the Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center at McLean Hospital. Donations in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association .

A celebration of Sue’s life will be held at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead in June.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for Susan’s family may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome.com .

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