The Southern Bay Cru’z Club (SBCC), established March 2010, is a boating and yacht club whose primary purpose is supporting, promoting and enhancing the boating community throughout the Little Creek harbor area, in the City of Norfolk, Virginia.
From the onset, SBCC created an affiliation with the Vinings Marine Group (VMG) in Hampton Roads and extended membership to the three VMG marinas in the Little Creek area as well as the Willoughby Harbor marina in the Ocean View area of Norfolk, Va. Membership was later opened to all boaters in the Little Creek harbor area and, if sponsored by an active SBCC member, membership can be approved and granted to any boater in the Tidewater area.
SBCC seeks to promote, enhance, and encourage safe and fun boating, regardless of the type of vessel owned, by providing members a complete array of boating activities that find appeal regardless whether the member is a weekend cruiser, a sail boater, a recreational fisherman or a live-aboard. To achieve this diversity of interest, the SBCC has developed three supporting pillars which have become its prime focus within the boating community. These pillars are a Boater Education Training Program, a Cruising Schedule and a Social Calendar.
The SBCC has a governing board, headed by Commodore Israel “Rod” Rodriguez, consisting of elected officials and officers appointed by the Commodore to fill positions required to effectively support and operate the organization. Rod also doubles as the Club’s Training Officer.
2014 will be an extremely active year with seven cruises planned, both short and long, 5 training sessions, including a Sail and Sail Trim presentation, a “Partner in Command” hands-on, in-the boat, training that is geared towards assisting 1st Mates being prepared to support their Captain, and a boating certification course, now required by the State of Virginia, conducted by the Virginia Beach Sail and Power Squadron. The Sail and Trim presentation was conducted on March 30th by David Gross/Quantum Sail Design Group© Annapolis and drew in more than 30 attendees and left them eager for more of the same. The certification training has been scheduled over two days in April (12&19) and the “Partner in Command” training is set for May 10.
Not to be outdone by the Training Program, the Social Committee has numerous planned activities both as part of the cruising schedule and also land-based which are enhanced by impromptu get-togethers dock-side and pool-side. This year the Club also has started to use an expanded training facility which will double as a Club house. This area also has a large deck area attached for the Club’s use for Bar-B-Qs and other social get-togethers.
The highlight of the social year is always the Season Kickoff event in May that covers a full weekend of music, dining, dancing and fellowship. There is a flag raising ceremony, a blessing of the fleet, a distinguished speaker, and the traditional “sock burning”.
The Club is most fortunate to have supportive, involved sponsors who provide the Club, and its members, discounts on merchandise and services, donations for the various raffles and fundraising events, assistance in media support on their websites and in their retail facilities. Check the Club out on their Facebook site Southern baycc, or pick up a Brochure at any of the supporting Marinas stores. Reach the Club at: [email protected]
