Platinum Point Yacht Club @ Burnt Store Marina was formed in 1984 through a joint effort of interested boaters and marina representatives. As condominium ownership increased and more yachts moved into the marina, it became evident a yacht club would be a viable asset. The plot of land separating the two yacht basins of BSM was named “Platinum Point”, and the developer placed the original yacht club drawings at the tip of that property: thus the name Platinum Point Yacht Club.
With a grant of five thousand dollars from the developer, memberÂship solicitation began and the new club took shape, housed in a double-wide trailer behind the Marina Ship & Grocery Store.
Programs were developed to bring people together who liked to “Talk Boats” within a yacht club as the social hub, as well as a focal point for all yachting activities in the marina. PPYC became a member of the U. S. Sailing Association, the Florida Sailing Association, and the Register of American Yacht Clubs.
Membership rapidly climbed toward the 250 member goal established in the By-Laws. This increase in membership, a very cooperative developer (Florida Design Communities) and the PPYC planning Committee, resulted in the purchase of a 1.286 acre waterfront plat of land on which to build a new clubhouse. This land was initially surveyed and appraised in 1987.
A Gala Champagne Celebration was held on February 18, 1995, at which 243 members and guests raised their glasses to join in an official inaugural toast of “Calm waters to sail together”. With that, the new Platinum Point Yacht Club was officially opened!
Growth and expansion over the ensuing years are testimony to the superb leadership by PPYC Flag Officers and dedicated Board members. Committee chairmen have provided a very active social and yachting calendar. Educational seminars on boating, racing and related activities are conducted by club members who are qualified as U.S. Sailing Judges, as well as U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and Power Squadron instructors. In addition, other members with fields of special expertise have given of their time and knowledge. CPR classes, and seminars on radio usage and GPS have been presented, as well as other non-boating-related topics of interest to our members
April 12, 1994 was designated as the date for the official ground breaking, which marked the beginning of construction. Design work was done by PPYC members, assisted by Florida Design Communities architects. “FDC” was also the general contractor for the project.
Over the years, Platinum Point Yacht Club has sponsored many races and regattas, listed below:
Clark Mills Regatta
Charlotte Harbor Challenge Cup Series
Charlotte Harbor Interclub Races
Coffey Memorial Races
Comet Mid-Winter Regatta
Golden Conch Regatta
J-24 Florida State Championship
LaserRegatta
Lightning District Championship
Optimist Youth Regatta
PHRF Club Weekly Racing (Fitch Memorial Trophy)
Sonar Mid-Winter Regattas
Soling U.S. Championship Regattas (1989-2000)
1991 Soling Olympic Pre-Trials
1992 Soling Olympic Match Racing Trials
2000SolingU. S. Championship
2000 Soling Olympic Qualification Regatta
Most notable of all was the 1992 Soling Championships and Olympic Trials. Twenty-nine teams participated during a seven day regatta One three-man crew became the United States Soling team to comÂpete at the Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain in July of 1992. The club is proud to have contributed to a successful 1992 Olympic Silver medallist, and a 1996 Olympic Bronze Medallist.
Platinum Point Yacht Club’s race management expertise and the ideal sailing conditions on Charlotte Harbor brought the U. S. Soling teams back for several years. PPYC members made the sailors proud to have been in a competition expertly operated in a hospitable atmosphere.
