The Gulf Yachting Association was organized to promote the sport of yacht racing on the Gulf Coast and nearby areas. Founded in 1901 and reorganized in 1920, the GYA has grown from the original six clubs to over thirty member organizations. The GYA sanctions various yacht events, including interclub competition in Flying Scots, and serves to coordinate the activities of its members.

The GYA is a member of the US Sailing. In this capacity, the GYA provides representation to the national body for Gulf Coast sailors, runs quarter-final eliminations for national championships sanctioned by US Sailing, and provides an Appeals Committee to hear and decide appeals involving the racing rules.

The GYA is one of four yacht racing associations forming “Area D,” one of ten “Areas” in the United States. Areas have a representative on the Board of Directors of the United States Sailing Association and the same individual serves as a member of the Council of Sailing Associations, an important representative body within US Sailing. Areas are geographical delineations within the jurisdiction of US Sailing that serve many functions in the administration of the sport.

From the Commodore:

The National Sailing Hall of Fame (NSHOF) is pleased to welcome the Gulf Yachting Association as one of its founding members. Originally founded in 1901, the GYA is one of the oldest associations of yacht clubs in the United States, and is the organizing association for sailing in the entire Gulf Coast area.

The GYA is comprised of 33 member clubs, and 9 member affiliate clubs in the Gulf region, which compete in a unique series of interclub competitions. These interclub competitions, one of which is the Lipton Cup, promote the sailing traditions and the spirit of sportsmanship amongst the competing clubs.

We admire the efforts of the National Sailing Hall of Fame in not only recognizing past accomplishments of the sport, but also in promoting the sport in general, as well as values of sportsmanship and camaraderie, for future generations.

Pete O’Neal, outgoing Commodore of the GYA, has expressed his excitement with the opportunity to join the NSHOF in promoting our beloved sport. “As the first yacht club association to join the NSHOF as a founding member, we are very pleased to have this opportunity to assist and strongly encourage other clubs and associations to do likewise.”

Incoming Commodore Daniel B. Killeen, III, recognizes the honors of our athletes, but sees the importance of training the next generation and believes that teaching math and science through sailing will provide that foundation in a most unique way.

Daniel B. Killeen, III, Commodore

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History

A GYA Historical Records Collection was established in 1993 in the Special Collections Department of the John C. Pace Library at the University of West Florida in Pensacola. (Phone 850.474.2213) Currently, the collection contains the Minutes of GYA Board Meetings from November 1920 through December 1984 and originals of Lipton Regatta results from 1920 on.

Currently, the collection maintains minutes up to present year which are held in the archives.

Click here for a list of GYA Member Clubs