The Potomac River Yacht Clubs Association (PRYCA) held its first formal meeting on September 18, 1971, at the Aqua-Land Yacht Club.  The charter members of PRYCA in attendance were Aqua-Land, Landmark, National Potomac, Prince George’s and Wicomico Yacht Clubs.  At present, there are twenty member clubs, including two of the Charter Yacht Clubs: Landmark and National Potomac.  The Association continues to grow, with five new clubs joining in the last three years.

 

The Potomac River Yacht Clubs Association’s purpose is to support recreational boating activities, specifically to “encourage and promote yachting, boating safety, and the advancement of yacht clubs within the Potomac River Basin”.  Over the years PRYCA has striven to fulfill two needs: first, to address common issues affecting Member Clubs and recreational boaters in general; and second, to support social and boating safety activities of mutual interest among the Yacht Clubs along the Potomac River.  To help further these goals, PRYCA joined the National Boating Federation (NBF) in 1979 as a charter member, and has established a close working relationship with the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Clubs Association (CBYCA).  We’ve also established liaison with local boating and environmental organizations such as the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, US Power Squadron, Potomac River Fisheries Commission, and the Anacostia Watershed Society.

 

To keep its member clubs informed, PRYCA published its first newsletter in April 1990.  This newsletter is currently published 4 – 5 times a year and sent to all member clubs.  Club involvement in PRYCA operations is also fostered by quarterly delegate meetings, which are held at various member clubs throughout the Potomac River area.

 

As a group, PRYCA has assisted member clubs procure insurance and has lobbied for hydrilla harvesting on the Virginia side of the River.  To monitor legislative activities impacting on recreational boaters, PRYCA works closely with the CBYCA, and we’ve provided comment to public forums on boating issues such as the Wilson Bridge opening schedule, proposed clean air legislation and funding for the Washington Metropolitan Police Harbor Patrol.  In addition, PRYCA was co-sponsor of the National Boating Federation’s fall meeting in 1993.

 

In the 1980’s, PRYCA sponsored the annual “Queen of the Potomac” Pageant where young ladies from the various member clubs competed for the title of Queen and Princess of the Potomac.  PRYCA has been a major contributor to the Washington, D.C. Blessing of the Fleet, held in May each year.  In July of 1996, the first Float-In was held at Aquia Harbour Yacht Club.  The purpose of the Float-In was to promote the interaction of the member clubs in a relaxed setting.  The high point of each Float-In since then has always been the nautical competition, which includes the dinghy race.  In 1992, Aquia Harbour Yacht Club formalized the inter-club competition and initiated the Aquia Cup trophy, awarded to the winning club.  In 1997 the Aquia Cup was retired and permanently given to Aquia Harbour Yacht Club, and replaced by the PRYCA Cup.  In 1993, PRYCA took over the sponsorship of the Float-In which was moved to Fort Washington Marina, where it is being held under a large tent with over 100 vessels and 200 participants attending.

 

In a typical year PRYCA sponsors a major event each quarter.  The Winter event is the Change of Command Dinner-Dance in January.  The Spring event in May consists of a dinner gathering hosted by National Potomac Yacht Club in conjunction with the Washington Waterfront Blessing of the Fleet.   PRYCA also sponsors marine safety activities such as the Safety  Day hosted by Mt Vernon YC in April at the start of the boating season.  The Summer event is the Float-In in July, and our Fall event is the End-of-Summer party hosted by Tantallon Yacht Club.  PRYCA also supports events hosted by clubs in the mid-Potomac region

 

PRYCA Member Clubs, as of November 1997, are listed below together with their location and date of joining. 

 

PRYCA Club (* Charter Member)	Location	Year Joined
Aquia Harbour Yacht Club	Aquia Harbour	1982
Capital Yacht Club	Washington Channel	1982
Cobb Island Yacht Club	Cobb Island	1996
Colonial Yacht Club	Colonial Beach	1982
Dahlgren Yacht Club	Naval Weapons Center	1997
District Yacht Club	Anacostia River	1982
Eastern Power Boat Club	Anacostia River	1987
Fairfax Yacht Club	Occoquan River	2000
Fort Belvoir Yacht Club
Fort Washington Boating Association	Piscataway Creek	1995
Landmark Yacht Club *	Aquia Creek	1971
Marinette Yacht Club	Potomac River	1982
Mount Vernon Yacht Club	Dogue Creek	1982
National Potomac Yacht Club *	Columbia Island	1971
Occoquan Yacht Club	Occoquan River	1987
Prince William Yacht Club	Occoquan River	1993
Quantico Yacht Club	Marine Base, Quantico	1995
Seafarers Yacht Club	Anacostia River	1982
Swan Point Yacht Club	Cuckold Creek	1996
Tantallon Yacht Club	Swan Creek	1982
Washington Yacht Club	Anacostia River	1982