Rio Grande Sailing Club
In the mid 1950s, there was no organized sailing or racing in New Mexico.
In 1957, Jim Roy, from Albuquerque, and Rusty Brewington, from Holloman AFB,
were cruising in Rusty’s Polaris 23. They launched from Las Platitas in
Guaymas, Mexico, and sailed to La Paz and back. Over a suitable beverage,
or two, they decided to form a sailing club. Upon their return to New
Mexico, they organized the New Mexico Yacht Club. Other early members
included Al Quant, Dick Rudolph, Tom Tippolt, Hap Crawford, and John Locker.
The early boats were mostly day sailors; Petrels, Mercuries, Snipes, two
eighteen-footers, a sloop, and a schooner.
The Rio Grande Sailing Club’s pioneer sailor was Jim Cocke. He set sail
on Elephant Butte Lake back in 1945. Jim and a friend from Los Alamos
probably were the first two people to put a sailboat on Elephant Butte. It
was built with junk materials and it lasted one weekend because of
construction flaws….the standing rigging failed but the mast was kept
upright by running a rope from the mast top around the boat to mast top.
The club was incorporated as the New Mexico Yacht Club under certificate of
incorporation no., 43,354, filed on August 17, 1960 by Russell D.
Brewington, James R. Roy, and Glen G. Milford: “That the objects and
purposes for which the corporation is formed, are: to bring together those
persons who are interested in sailing, cruising and other water sports; to
hold, stage and conduct regattas, water sport contests of all kinds, and
other types of entertainment related thereto; to build, own and operate a
clubhouse; to instruct and educate those interested in the sport of sailing,
cruising and other water sports; to further and promote fellowship and
sportsmanship; and to instruct and educate its members in all phases of
safety in the conduct of the sport.”
John Locker negotiated with an El Paso club to join with the New Mexicans in
the early 1960s. The Texans suggested the name change to make it more
inclusive. The club burgee was suggested in a design contest that was won
by John Culp.
Several of the day-sailor owners found a house boat for sale. It was a good
place to get out of the hot sun for a few hours in the heat of the day, and
also a good place to sleep. Quant, Roy, Holman, and Holovka paid $50 each;
a total of $200 for this craft. Other members of the club thought this was
a good project for the club. The original four were given dues credit for
their purchase and the house boat became club property. Unfortunately,
there were now too many users to permit overnight sleeping, so more members
meant more rules.
In due course, a storm at Elephant Butte destroyed the house boat. During
the winter of 1971, the Albuquerque Fleet built a new one at Tom Nevison’s
Southwest Yacht Sales. The agreement was that the Northern Fleet would
build the pontoons, the support structure, and the deck. The Southern Fleet
would add the shelter. The houseless houseboat was transported to Elephant
Butte and launched, but the house structure was never added. A few years
later, it was also lost to a storm.
As early as 1970, the day sailors raced under the Portsmouth handicap
system. The cruisers raced under PHRF. Several class races were also
conducted for Santana 22s, Venture 24s, and Venture 21s. In the
Commodore’s summary for 1971, Roger Eaton reported that fifty eight boats
participated in racing; thirty four were cruisers and twenty four were day
sailors.
Since then the club has continued to serve as the sailor’s oasis in the
desert, continuing to host events through seasons wet and dry.
