IRYC Club History
The Indian River Yacht Club (IRYC) was chartered on April 30, 1941 by a group of local sailboat enthusiasts who envisioned a Club on the Indian River Bay. We are grateful to those charter members, Charles Cullen, Horace Oakie, Ban Faucett, Big Jim Rogers, Bob Purnell, Tom Purnell, Albert Wildberger and Wilson Baker for their vision.
Originally the Club was set up in a vacant barracks building on the beach in Riverdale by Dr. Aubrey Smoot. By 1963, Club membership outgrew the barracks and our current location was purchased. Initially a family home, Club member volunteers worked tirelessly to complete renovations to make it our Clubhouse. The brick fireplace is original to the house.
The Jones Cottage and the additional parking area were also purchased in 1963.
During the 1960’s and 1970’s Orville Layfield ran a restaurant in the downstairs area on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Orville was well known for his crab cakes and chicken and dumplings.
In the first few years, members were assigned lockers where they kept their liquor of choice, complete with names written on the bottles. They then would bring their beverages to the bar and make their own drinks. After a few years the bar was licensed by the The Office of the Delaware Alcoholic Beverage Control Commissioner.
Volunteering is the backbone of our Club. Early on bartending and cooking were done by volunteer members. Members would sign up to make their own special dishes and serve them each Friday in addition to cooking for special occasions.
In the early 1990’s part time weekend bartenders were hired. In 2016 the IRYC Board of Directors voted to hire bartenders to serve beverages when the Club was open. We now enjoy having our own Chef and Sous Chef preparing delicious food for us.
The Club has had many talented and hard working Commodores. Vivian Ellingsworth made Club history as our first female Commodore from 1999 to 2000.
Currently IRYC consists of a Clubhouse, swimming pool and a pier with 80 boat slips. In addition, we manage Jones Cottage as a rental property.
The Clubhouse is open Tuesday through Sunday beginning at 4.
Dinner is served Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 7.