VERO BEACH — Only a very limited number of people can boast that they remember a time before power boats. “Gasoliners,” as they were first known, were initially shunned by recreational sailors and only really began to take hold in this country during the early part of the 20th Century.
“In self-defense, they organized a little bit to help each other,” said Dan Thomas, a past Commander of the Vero Beach Power Squadron.
The country’s first Power Squadron was officially established in 1913 by Roger Upton, then Rear Commodore of the Boston Yacht Club, with a little assistance from Mother Nature. The group’s reluctant acceptance was granted after a squadron of power boats rushed to the rescue of a regatta of sailing yachts dismasted and disabled by a powerful storm.
“They just kept organizing it and other cities took it on,” says Thomas. “There are now 450 squadrons across the U.S. We are closely allied with the Canadian power squadrons which have the same basic operation; especially when it comes to the Great Lakes region where we share waters.”
Members of the Vero Beach Power Squadron incorporated in 1956 and leased land from the City to nestle their headquarters under moss-dripped oak trees adjacent to MacWilliam Park at the east end of the Barber Bridge.
“Not very many power squadrons have their own building; they either rent or have donated space,” Thomas notes with pride.
The waterfront property has been redesigned and improved over the years, with the most massive overhaul following the 2004 twin hurricanes.
“We had a foot of water each time; and mud,” says Thomas. “There are actually marks on the wall where someone measured the water level” adds Bob Scully, the squadron’s current Commander. “The hurricanes didn’t damage the structure, but it ruined everything inside.”
They requested assistance from members and he says, “Money started pouring in. Then there was a feeding frenzy of people starting to help.”
Like efficient deckhands, they pulled together to whip the facility into shipshape perfection – outfitted with new appliances, cabinetry, tables, chairs and furnishings, newly tiled floors and a fresh coat of paint – and still had money to spare.
With 370 members, they are currently the largest in District 8, comprised of 15 squadrons from Sebastian to Key West.
Membership includes all variety of boating enthusiasts, including some who have given up their seafaring days.
“A couple of years ago, we were number one out of 450 in terms of getting new members and retaining members; we grew in 2010 by 22 percent,” says Scully, adding with a grin that squadrons are known for their competiveness.
Women made the leap from auxiliary to full membership locally in the late 1960s, with Irene Leitz taking the helm as its first female commander in 1998.
It’s an exceptionally social group, but one that takes the mission of boating education seriously.
One of their primary functions is to educate the public through Boating Safety classes, such as the upcoming Americas Boating Course, held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 15.
The need is clearly there, as evidenced by an account of a couple heading out to the lagoon on their first nautical adventure in a newly purchased boat.
“They were launching the boat from the park and had no clue; they had no concept even of the buoy system,” says Thomas. “We invited them in and gave them a quick class.”
Most recently the club initiated a series of two-hour seminars on a variety of topics, including weather forecasting, proper use of anchoring, GPS, radar, engine maintenance, hurricane preparedness and how to read nautical charts.
“A group of us taught a class to teens at St. Edward’s on safe boating,” says Thomas. “They were able to get a certificate from Florida as a license that they can drive a boat.”
The law now requires those born after January 1, 1988 to earn a safe-boating certificate through an approved course before being allowed to operate a powerboat with a motor of 10 horsepower or greater.
“The squadron’s mission more than anything else is education,” adds Scully. “We teach every level from the novice to the advanced. I just took a class in navigation.”
Scully has earned the designation of junior navigator and is in the process of obtaining his navigator designation. Having completed all the courses available, Thomas has reached the senior navigator level.
“We like to think our members are the most educated,” says Scully. “We teach and encourage our members to take classes.”
“The reason we joined the power squadron was to meet fellow boaters,” says Judy Peschio who is on deck to become commander at the annual change of watch ceremony in January. “It’s been wonderful. We’ve met a lot of friends and got really involved. It’s absolutely more of a social group than other power squadrons.”
“My husband and I joined a power squadron in Michigan,” says Sue Hamel. “Our dream was to live on a boat and we did that for three and a half years and ended up here in Vero.”
In addition to the Friday socials, the squadron hosts approximately 15 sold-out meal events each year, with members assuming mess duty as cooks, servers and cleanup.
Throw in regular boating activities such as raft-ups and group cruises and you have the makings of a particularly strong social club.
“There’s a cruise coming up in October with boats going from Vero across Okeechobee to Ft. Myers down to Naples, Everglade City and then to Marathon,” says Scully. “That’s how we get members. People come in and have such a good time they invite their neighbors. The best thing for me has been the friendship and camaraderie.”
“We have the reputation of being friendly; the word is out,” agrees Peschio. “People from other power squadrons will hear about it and people moored at the Marina hear about it and come in. We have people coming from all over.”
Public service also plays a big part, with members volunteering time and raising money for various community activities, especially those encouraging the next generation of mariners.
This spring they hosted a fishing outing with the Boys & Girls Clubs, and Charlie Pope enlisted the help of fellow members to create the Youth Sailing Foundation of Indian River County, which utilizes squadron classrooms and instructors.
