cal yacht club marina del rey

‘Nothing left’: After California Yacht Club fire, residents mourn loss of a beloved spot

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In an instant, an overnight seaside blaze engulfed decades’ worth of boating trophies, historical artifacts and cherished memorabilia at the California Yacht Club in Marina del Rey on Monday.

Fire crews attempted to control the blaze as heavy smoke and flames consumed the two-story building. By the time they had subdued the fire two hours later, only the skeletal remnants of the clubhouse were left standing.

John Myers, senior vice president of the club, said the blaze had been reported by an employee working late in the clubhouse Monday night. The fire spared the remainder of the facilities on the ground, including the docks and the yachts moored there. But the clubhouse, and particularly its second floor, was all but wiped out.

“We are working closely with the Los Angeles County Fire Department in their investigation of the cause of the incident and will share those findings when they become available to us,” Myers said.

Members are left mourning, comparing the loss to the death of a loved one.

Jennifer Dakoske Koslu awoke in Rancho Mirage at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, before the sun had risen, to find her phone inundated with text messages from club members.

The first message she read simply stated, “The CYC is gone.”

“As soon as I opened my phone, it went to a link on the Citizen app and saw a video of the club burning. I was shocked,” Dakoske Koslu said.

For the last 24 years, Dakoske Koslu and her family have been dedicated members of the CYC, whose clubhouse is a few miles away from their home in Playa del Rey. She said it is where her children have grown up, familiarizing themselves with every inch.

“I remember taking my son there on the Fourth of July when he was just 3 weeks old. It was the first place we went with him as a newborn,” Dakoske Koslu said.

She and her husband biked to the club in the aftermath of the fire, greeted by the charred remains of the building on Wednesday afternoon.

“The destruction is unbelievable. It’s clear that the fire was burning intensely on the second floor,” Dakoske Koslu said. “There’s nothing left.”

The second floor once housed a collection of the club’s prestigious racing trophies, kept on display for members and visitors. The fire melted all but a single salvageable California Cup. Most notably, the priceless King of Spain Trophy, acquired in 1929 from King Alfonso XIII, was lost.

Additionally, the club lost cherished photographs of every past commodore, a significant position within a yacht club. Members said they didn’t know if anyone had digitized the images of the commodores or of the club’s founders.

“We would tell yachting stories at the bar around lots of memorabilia, and the yachting artifacts behind the bar are all gone now,” Tom Materna said. “The yacht club provided us a facility for the off-the-water celebrations after hard-fought competition on the water.”

The CYC dates to the early 1920s, started by boat owners from the Los Angeles Athletic Club and other yacht clubs. The Board of Harbor Commissioners approved the first clubhouse in 1922, designed by famed architect Edwin Bergstrom, co-designer of the Pentagon.

In 1965, the yacht club submitted a proposal for an all-encompassing $1-million, two-story, 10,000-square-foot clubhouse on four acres off Admiralty Way. Members envisioned a state-of-the-art facility with 170 boat slips, a guest dock, a small boat hoist and a dry land storage facility for boats. The clubhouse that resulted was dedicated on June 10, 1967.

Then-Commodore William A. DeGroot Jr. told The Times that the triangular parcel of land on which the clubhouse still sits is a “perfectly logical place for a club facility, and a commanding view down the main channel of the marina.”

Though the building has historical significance to its members, it does not have a historic designation, according to Linda Dishman, president of the Los Angeles Conservancy.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragedy and so grateful for the outpouring of support from the community and our members,” Myers said. “CYC has been a beacon for the nautical community for the past 101 years.”

Materna, 68, first found out about the fire through Facebook as friends posted videos and photos of the damage Tuesday morning. Then he began receiving calls and text messages from friends.

“Everybody woke up in the morning and realized we’d lost a significant part of the sailing community,” Materna said.

His connection to the club dates back nearly 52 years, to when he was just 16 years old. After spending 30 years sailing professionally with Hobie Cats, mainly racing catamarans — a watercraft with two parallel hulls of equal size — he recently served as a crew member on other club members’ racing yachts.

The CYC is pivotal in the boat racing community, organizing and hosting events such as the Optimist National Championship and Junior Olympic trials, Materna said. He fondly remembers the hundreds of people from across the globe converging on the marina for similar events.

The main topic among members now is what’s next for the club. Dakoske Koslu noted that the club’s ownership changed over the last few years, and many are unsure and concerned about the club’s continuation after the fire.

The club relocated to the marina in 1967, leasing the land it sits on from the county.

“I don’t think the county has really valued the contributions of the California Yacht Club as an important part of the Marina. They value Trader Joe’s because it’s more money for them,” Dakoske Koslu said.

Dakoske Koslu said she’s seen numerous small marine-oriented businesses displaced from the marina, making way for more commercialized developments such as Trader Joe’s and Recreational Equipment Inc.

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Anthony De Leon is a 2023-24 reporting fellow at the Los Angeles Times. Born in Fresno to a Chicano family, he pursued his higher education in his hometown, earning an associate‘s degree in journalism from Fresno City College and then completing a bachelor’s in media, communications and journalism at Fresno State. He went on to complete his master’s in media innovation at the University of Nevada, Reno.

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My husband and i had our reception here on August 8, 2011. I was absolutely wonderful. The building itself was immaculate with hanging fixtures and embellished ceilings. the dance floor was massive which is really good for big groups like my crazy family! The establishment has a full service bar all night where the drinks were served all night free of charge. The DJ was wonderful and was really good about following people's requests while staying appropriate for the young ones in the room. The was a beautiful view of the marina from both the warm comfort of the hall as well as outside when you go out to catch some fresh air. The staff was very friendly and really made it a special event for my husband and me. Everyone after the wedding kept telling us that we "had the most fun wedding they had ever been to." Which i thought was a huge compliment which couldn't have been achieved without such a wonderful reception venue. If you're looking for a place that can mix a fabulously high-energy atmosphere with one that also breathes refinement and class, The Marina Del Rey Yacht Club is for you!

• Conference/Meeting, Banquet/Event Hall, Country Club
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• Max Number of People for an Event: 350
• Number of Event/Function Spaces: 8
• Special Features: Waterfront Event Spaces, Outdoor Event Spaces, Tables, Linen, China, Glass & Silver included, Complimentary WiFi, Guest Parking Lot Available for a charge
• Total Meeting Room Space (Square Feet): 4,000
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by Marie Rogers | Jun 5, 2024 | Yacht Club Members

California Yacht Club (CYC) calyachtclub.com 4469 Admiralty Way Marina del Rey, CA 90292 (310) 823-4567 Fax:(310) 822-3658

Total: 950 members – 65% sail, 35% power.

Facilities:  CYC boasts nearly 300 slips from 25’ to 120’, two separate outdoor restrooms, 2 hoists and a launch ramp. Additionally, the Club has 100+ dry storage spaces and storage garages for members. Guest docks are first come, first served, but call for reservations. First night free for reciprocal club members. CYC monitors channel 68.

CYC also has a wide variety of additional recreation activities available to members and their guests such as the 4 lighted pickle ball / paddle tennis courts, a heated pool open year-round with swim classes (youth and adult) as well as complimentary water fitness classes. The Club also hosts numerous Club events (Memorial Day, Christmas, Easter, etc) throughout the year as well as a la carte and private event food & beverage options for members. Please see website for hours and more F&B detail.

  Junior program:  Year-round. Junior Sailing and Rowing Program. Open to all youths in the community (ages 8-18). Full-time Junior staff.

  Comments:  Active power, sail and rowing fleets. Family friendly Club with a full schedule of races, cruises, and social activities.

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980 Harbor Crossing Lane,  Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

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James Allan

310-437-7500

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Former home of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, in the Marina's secret Exclusive gated enclave with just 12 homes situated across from the Ritz Carlton and the California Yacht Club. Harbor Crossing Lane homes span 30 to 120 feet apart with total privacy offering gated security. This 4BD l 3BA, plus Den/loft all open to a floor plan perfect for entertaining your friends or large Family. Gourmet kitchen, sprawling island, and breakfast corner opening to the family room with an additional fireplace. Granite counters, custom cabinets, and stainless-steel appliances makes for an entertainer's dream. Side garden patio area off Kitchen through sliding doors. Open floor plan with large Living room and formal dining room area. Wood floors adorn the second level with large luxurious primary suite w/spa like bathroom, dual vanities, and separate Jacuzzi spa tub and steam shower. Primary included additional fireplace, expansive walk in closet, and private Balcony w/ Views of the Marina. 4th Bedroom perfectly designed for Office, Guest room, or Den. 3rd level has bonus Loft/ den room perfect for an office or work out room leading to patio area with views of the Ritz-Carlton and Marina. Oversized 2 car garage and additional parking for up to 4 more cars. Additional features include whole-house water filtration system, automatic lighting, and monitored/remote-access camera security system. This property offers privacy and a location par none for Marina and Beach living. Walk to Traders Joe's, Abbott Kinney, and exceptional Restaurants all within a short walk.

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