Gulf Yachting Association 

Establish the founding date of the Biloxi Yacht Club to Eight of August, 1849. 

The course of events that initiated the search to discover the true date of the Biloxi Yacht Club started with the existence of two trophies, an 1870 trophy uncovered in New York City and a 1857 chalice from an estate in Mobile, Alabama. The check of local records proved of no avail. The local newspaper burned in 1888, hurricanes and the war of Northern aggression took its toll on the preservation of Yacht club records. Checking records in mobile, Alabama was Fruitless. New Orleans was a God Send not only one paper, but four had recorded the fact that the Biloxi Regatta Club was alive and well in Biloxi. Not only did it show that Biloxi was a large thriving town with five watering holes (hotels) where other areas at that time only had one. Established in 1699, Biloxi became a major area for boating. In 1849 there was a long wharf that large ships could load and unload, and many private piers with an active sailing community. 

The New Orleans paper discussed the race of 1849 and subsequent races of that period. The New Orleans papers went into great detail on the 1849 race because the Biloxi Regatta Club was excluding any boat that won two first place finishes from racing in their regatta. 

On august 8, 1849, the race was held with UNDINE of Mobile, Alabama, owned by Hon. J. W. Lescene taking first. Second was MARY ANN owned by James & Co. with third taken by FLIRT owned by A.B. Cammack of Biloxi. Justification for the date of august 8 1849, can be found in the following papers. 

             

 

Provided as attachments are excerpts from the listed papers.

As researched by Otto E. Larsen