For Columbus Day, October 12, 1966, John Amendola and his wife Nicoletta thought it would be a great idea to celebrate Columbus Day at sea. Surely no greater tribute could be paid in honor of the Admiral of the Ocean Sea! And so, with the accompaniment of John’s cousin, his wife, and Nicki’s younger brother, a Pearson 26 out of City Island, New York was chartered for the day. (This noted event was recorded on film and is a matter of record.) A boisterous day—windy and cold, but sunny—provided the background of greater things to come.

1967 through 1969 went unnoticed, but on Columbus Day, 1970, John Amendola, Donald Fagon, and Anthony Sturniolo set forth to hold an impromptu small boat race using OK Dinghies out of Travers Island on the Long Island Sound, New York. (This too, is a matter of record as the whole affair was filmed from a chase boat, captained by Don Fagon’s father.)

The following Columbus Day, 1971, John Amendola, Donald Fagon and his brother, Bruce, chartered an Irwin 28 out of City Island, New York for the day’s celebration. Subsequent Columbus Days—1973 and 1974—are obscure, but in 1975 through 1979, John Amendola kept the tradition alive sailing his own boat on Columbus Day with as many friends who would want to go.

Finally on Columbus Day, 1980, John Amendola with Moby Nick II & Charles Strahley in an early Sligo Charm, set out to have a bona fide open water sail race. Thus, the tradition of a Columbus Day sail race was started and has been carried on without exception ever since.

In early March, 1985, six sailors who had participated in the Columbus Day sail races decided to go one step further and officially form a yacht club. In principle, they acknowledged that cruising was the ultimate pleasure of yachting and that Christopher Columbus was the ultimate cruiser. His exceptional sailing qualities as an explorer, adventurer, and—most importantly—navigator, epitomized all those things that every true sailor must be. These members comprised: John Amendola, Philip Costantino, Andrew Criscuolo, Anthony Esposito, Malcolm Hartman, and Eugene Schiavone. Andy Criscuolo was selected as the commodore.

Later that year, it became apparent that the newly formed club would need its own burgee for the upcoming Columbus Day event, and so Anne Manz designed and hand-made the first club burgee.

Club Historian and Founder: John B. Amendola Sr