FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Sunset celebrations and pool parties will soon be featured attractions at the new Fairhope Yacht Club, expected for completion by early summer, according to a news release. The old facility was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
“We’ve had our members pull together to rebuild the FYC,” said Tommy Yeager, lifelong member and former commodore at the club. “As a sailor, the club is a part of my life as it is for the other members. This landmark is definitely being rebuilt due to popular demand by the town.”
Features of the new building include an improved clubhouse and installation of a swimming pool, the first in club history. The clubhouse, designed to withstand 140 mile-per-hour winds, will consist of a 10,000-square-foot interior with an additional 5,000 square feet of an elevated exterior porch.
After experiencing an extensive amount of damage from the hurricane, the yacht club is taking precautions by rebuilding with BluWood, a termite, mold, mildew and fungus-resistant lumber manufactured by Edgefield Lumber Co. in Loxley.
“While the exterior of the club is a concrete structure, we chose to frame the interior walls with BluWood because of its resistance to mold and mildew damage,” said George Roberds, head of the FYC building committee. “The club experiences a great amount of moisture and humidity from Mobile Bay, and the walls are one of the most exposed areas of the building.”
Since its opening in 1942, the FYC has offered a variety of sailboat races and social events. Last weekend, the club was host for the 50th anniversary Dauphin Island Race.
After its completion, the club’s membership is expected to grow during the next year because of the interest shown in the new pool by younger families, Yeager said.
“This beautiful building will bring in a new generation of sailors and help carry the FYC into the next century,” he said. “It provides a refuge for the members to escape the realities of the world. I, as well as many of us, can’t wait to step into the new club, see friendly faces, and most importantly, sail Mobile Bay.”
