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Westerly Yacht Club

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• One Watch Hill Road Westerly RI 02891
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Westerly Yacht Club Will Now Allow Women Members, Reverses 88-Year Policy

Thursday, July 14, 2016

The vote took place after a firestorm of criticism of the club, from female leaders in the state to the ACLU . 

"310 great men deserve all of the thanks for bringing the WYC into this century, while 82 remain in the dark ages," said Julie Lynn Cardinal, who has been a vocal proponent for women members. "All is well that ends well. Congratulations WYC and all the beautiful women of this community, and welcome to 2016! "

Reaction to First Vote

GoLocalProv reported the following in Jun e, after the vote not to allow women members:

It's 2016 -- and women are still not allowed to become members of The Westerly Yacht Club. 

The club, which was officially formed in 1928, allows women to take part in club activities and hold leadership positions, but voted again Thursday night to maintain the males-only membership status quo. 

"I'm a daughter of a past commodore and BOD member, a grand daughter of a lifelong member, now divorced from someone who was a member, (became one because of my family), served on numerous committees during that time. My son has been a sea scout for years and a well respected and loved participant there. I was even employed there in the past as well.... and the list goes on," wrote Julie Lynn Cardinal on a public post. "And even I am given no consideration towards membership, because I'm a woman."

Related Slideshow: Rhode Island’s 50 Wealthiest and Most Influential - 2015 Edition

Paul O’Reilly, Newport Restaurant Group

(2013 Ranking: NEW)

You may not know the name, but you have probably tasted the food. Paul O'Reilly oversees maybe the largest and most diversified restaurant group in Rhode Island. In a state loaded with great restaurateurs, O'Reilly’s collection is impressive: Castle Hill Inn; TRIO and 22 Bowen’s Wine Bar & Grille; the Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar; the seasonal Smokehouse Café; the Boat House; Waterman Grille; Hemenway’s Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar; and seven Papa Razzi locations.

In 2014, his Newport Harbor Corp. sold nearly 4 acres on the waterfront known as the Newport Yachting Center for tens of millions.

Stephanie and Lincoln Chafee, Philanthropist and former Candidate for President

(2013 Ranking: 2)

No one fell more in the rankings over the past two years than the Chafees. The fall in influence was driven by an embarrassing failed campaign for the Presidency that started poorly with a focus on the metric system and went downhill from there.

Make no mistake about it, Lincoln Chafee could have been a significant force in Rhode Island and national politics at the conclusion of his term as Governor. He had close ties to the Obama White House and left the office far less scathed than former Governors like Ed DiPrete or Don Carcieri.

The Chafees stay in the rankings because of two factors. They are good at comebacks and the Chafees are wealthy, and Stephanie's side of the family (Danforths) are in the 1% of the 1%. Back in 2006, Roll Call magazine ranked Chafee as the 9th richest member of Congress.

The husband and wife team's combined wealth is estimated at between $150 million and $200 million.

Bready Family, former CEO Nortek/former CEO of Nabsys

(2013 Ranking: 10)

The Breadys - father Rick and son Barrett - are two of Rhode Island’s most ambitious and accomplished entrepreneurs. The past couple of years have been a mixed bag for the Breadys, as Barrett’s Nabsys collapsed after raising upwards of of $40+ million. It should be noted that the younger Bready had left the firm before it shuttered.

The father, Richard, hosted a major fundraiser for President Barack Obama in 2014 at his nearly $20 million mansion, named “Seafair.”

Neil Steinberg, President, Rhode Island Foundation

(2013 Ranking: 21)

Under Steinberg, the Rhode Island Foundation has been reinvented from a sleepy charity to a dynamic innovator. Not every move has worked, but their has been no shortage of effort to spark and fund improvements to Rhode Island’s quality of life and economy.

Today, the Foundation is deeply involved in the community narrative. Its peer organization — the Champlin Foundation — continues to operate in a cloak of secrecy.

The former Fleet banker was an unlikely innovator, but the Foundation is now sparking a dizzying array of initiatives. With assets pushing towards $800 million, the Foundation is the largest grant making organization in Rhode Island.

Ned Handy, President and Chief Operating Officer, Washington Trust

In 2013, it was a bit of a hiring coup d'état when Joe MarcAurele recruited Handy to join Washington Trust as President and Chief Operating Officer. Previously, he had 18 years at Citizens Financial Group, and was President of Citizens Bank Rhode Island and Citizens Bank Connecticut. 

His Connecticut connections have been part of Washington Trust's Connecticut growth.

The Brown University graduate serves on a range of boards including Rhode Island Foundation, Crossroads Rhode Island, Delta Dental of Rhode Island, Rhode Island Hospital Foundation, Providence Foundation, Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy and Salve Regina University. 

Charlie Townsend, CEO of Aloha Partners II

(2013 Ranking: 48)

Ever tap into the wireless on an airplane? The provider is almost always Gogo and Townsend is on the Board of the company. Rhode Island’s Townsend is everything wireless. He sold Aloha Partners for $2.5 billion.

Now, Townsend is the General Partner and CEO of Aloha Partners II. Aloha Partners is the 8th largest owner of wireless spectrum in the United States, and holds wireless licenses in 12 of the top 50 markets. He has served on the Board of Directors of CTIA – The Wireless Association since 1988. 

Townsend is a Virginia and Harvard MBA grad.

Myrth York, Political Influencer, Investor

She was arguably the King-maker in the last two Mayoral campaigns helping both Angel Taveras and Jorge Elorza win office, but in both cases once in office she has lost influence over each of them. The three-time Democratic nominee for Governor has been the titular head of the progressive wing of the Democratic party in RI for decades.

The former State Senator from the East Side went all in for both Gina Raimondo and Jorge Elorza and she won big. 

Recently, she scored an appointment to the Beacon Insurance Board as a part of a Chafee-Raimondo agreement.

York has been the Chair of the Zoning Board during the tenure of Providence Mayor Angel Taveras. The changes to zoning on Federal Hill under the York leadership of the Zoning Board have been widely scrutinized.

York is seen as a mentor to Brett Smiley, the City of Providence’s Chief Operating Officer.

Mark Meiklejohn, President and CEO, BankRI

The bank that keeps going and growing was originally a premier regional business bank, and is now taking on all comers for consumer business. 

Meiklejohn joined BankRI in January 2006 as the Director of Commercial Banking. He took over for Merrill Sherman and has changed the culture of the bank.

The former Fleet and Citizens executive has become a force in the community. He was recently the past President of the RI Bankers' Association and serves on the Boards of the United Way, Providence Chamber of Commerce, the RI Public Expenditure Council and as a Trustee for both the Providence Foundation and YMCA of Greater Providence.   

Jonathan Savage, Shectman Halperin Savage LLP

Savage and his partners have built one of the largest firms in Rhode Island. As other corporate firms have merged, paired back and shifted focus to Boston, 

Shechtman Halperin Savage have staffed up and filled the void. He has built his practice on serving as receiver or Special Master on many of the biggest busts in RI: Landmark Medical Center, The City of Central Falls, LJ Crane & Rigging, Nestor Traffic Systems, Inc., American Biophysics Corporation, and Marathon Construction, Inc.

Now, as Chair of the Airport Corporation he has focused on reversing the trend of smaller and smaller annual passenger counts by bringing in new airlines, expanding the airport and upping the marketing.

Merrill Sherman, former BankRI President and now Consultant

(2013 Ranking: 23)

Once rumored to run for Mayor of Providence and for Congress, Sherman has become a close confidant to Governor Gina Raimondo. Today, she is the Principal at Sherman Consulting and serves as special master on foreclosure cases.

She served on Raimondo’s transition team and shortly there after was appointed to Chair the Board for the multi-billion Clean Water Finance Agency. 

Sherman sits on several boards including Brookline Bancorp, Inc.; Brookline Bank; Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Rhode Island and Rhode Island School of Design. 

Don’t be surprised to see Sherman make a run for elected office in the future.

Angus Davis, CEO and Founder of Swipely

(2013 Ranking: 46)

Davis may be Rhode Island’s most successful and experienced technologist and he not even close to hitting 40 years-old.

He founded TellMe Networks -- and sold it to Microsoft for $800 million. Now, Swipely, is pilling up the accolades. The company founded in 2009, has raised $40.5M and landed over 3,000 customers.

Combined the company has "sales under management" of over $4 Billion

He has been tapped for most every tech award by Forbes and Fortune - a big win by Swipely would be a big win for Rhode Island.

Paul Choquette Jr., Vice Chair, Gilbane, Inc.

(2013 Ranking: 19)

Like family member Tom Gilbane #38, their is no decay in influence, but the engagement in Rhode Island has diminished. Choquette has served on most every major board including Lifespan, the Brown Corporation, Trinity, and the RI Economic Development Corporation. It is the latter of those appointments and the vote for 38 Studios loan guarantee that is the blemish.

He was a football star at Brown, and legal counsel to then-Governor John Chafee in the early 1960s. 

But, make not mistake about it, the family's wealth and the company's influence has only increased, it's just their desire to play in the Rhode Island “sandbox” has decreased.

Tom Gilbane, Jr., CEO and Chairman, Gilbane, Inc.

(2013 Ranking: 33)

The Gilbane family’s wealth and influence is growing, but the company’s move to Boston has made the them more and more a regional and national player.

Gilbane and Paul Choquette have been two of the leaders in growing Gilbane from a strong regional construction force to a national firm over the past four decades. 

In 2014, when GoLocal ranked the 9 wealthiest families in New England, the Gilbanes came in at #7 based on Forbes Data: With a net worth of $1.4 Billion, the family is ranked as the #147 wealthiest family in America.

Richard Baccari, Churchill and Banks

Baccari has had a tumultuous couple of years. The mega-developer has put together a massive collection of successful projects throughout the region, but not without great effort and some pain.

In 2014, he was cleared of Federal conspiracy and bribery charges relating to the North Providence Municipal corruption probe.  

In early 2015, Baccari announced that he would be handing over the reins to the development company to his son, Richard, Jr.

The portfolio of retail, office, residential and commercial are many of the best known properties around the region. He continues to be a major force in Rhode Island.

Mark Pelson, PCI Private Equity

(2013 Ranking: 44)

Pelson is a quiet leader in business and politics. His relationship with the infrastructure of private equity in the state and his close relationship with Governor Gina Raimondo puts Pelson in a unique power position. He served on Raimondo’s transition team.

He has served as Chairman of Lambert's Cove Acquisition Corporation since its inception. He is a partner in several Providence Equity funds where he has served on numerous corporate boards.

Pelson has served on the Board of Overseers of Children's Hospital Boston and as Chairman of The Wolf School in East Providence.

Donald Sweitzer, Chairman, IGT Corporation (formerly GTECH)

There is the outside game and the inside game, and Sweitzer is very good at the inside game. In a company that has changed CEO a number of times, moved headquarters, been acquired by an international concern and rebranded, he continues to play his roll as top political adviser to the global gaming company.

Sweitzer is an “ambassador for the Company when interacting with global customers, current and potential partners, and government officials,” says his corporate bio. Additionally, Sweitzer advises IGT's CEO on government affairs and general business matters. 

Prior to joining GTECH way back in 1998, he was a national Democratic consultant.

Michael Mahoney, CEO Boston Scientific

(2013 Ranking: 26)

It has been a good couple of years for the Rhode Islander and CEO of Boston Scientific. The once volatile medical device firm has seen a far steadier path under Mahoney’s leadership.

Boston Scientific recorded $7.3 billion in sales in 2014. As President and Chief Executive Officer, Mahoney made $10,329,264 in total compensation. Of this total $921,302 was received as a salary, $1,404,150 was received as a bonus, $1,899,718 was received in stock options, $6,044,228 was awarded as stock and $59,866 came from other types of compensation, according to Salary.com.

Magaziner Family, State Treasurer, Clinton Foundation, Philanthropists

(2013 Ranking: 31)

Seth Magaziner is the General Treasurer of RI; his father, Ira, is the vice chairman and chief executive officer of the Clinton Health Access Initiative; and his mother, Suzanne, chairs the Board of Trinity Rep.

The younger has pledged to create a higher level of transparency as he manages the more than $7 billion dollar state pension system. The management of the assets has been widely criticized for the lack of disclosure tied to payment of massive fees to hedge funds. Ira Magaziner who has had a storied career as a business consultant and as an advisor to the Clintons, but it has not been without controversy. Most recently, a  New York Times article  was scathing regarding his performance at the Clinton Foundation. 

Combined, the Magaziner family touches most every component of Rhode Island life and play at a national level as well.  A Hillary Clinton Administration could mean more big things for anyone of the three.

Brian Goldner, CEO, Hasbro

(2013 Ranking: 32) 

Goldner may have changed Hasbro more in the past five years than the company changed in the previous 50 years. He transformed the company from a manufacturing based toy company into an multi-media, entertainment company. It looks a lot more like EA sports than it does like the old Milton Bradley subsidiary. The move of a division and workers to Providence has been part of the transition of the company.

The reinvention he has implemented is dubbed as “Hasbro's branded-play strategy through the global re-imagination, re-invention and re-ignition of Hasbro's world-class brand portfolio.”

As President and Chief Executive Officer at Hasbro, Goldner made $14,437,987 in total compensation. Of this total $1,300,000 was received as a salary, $2,300,000 was received as a bonus, $2,798,372 was received in stock options, $7,741,677 was awarded as stock and $297,938 came from other types of compensation, according to Salary.com.

Terry Murray, Former CEO of Fleet Bank

(2013 Ranking: 36)

Murray loves baseball. When CEO at Fleet he signed a massive sponsorship deal with Major League Baseball. Murray’s passion about the sport put him back in the public eye when he joined the new ownership group that purchased the PawSox from the Mondor family. He along with two other members of the list - Habib Gorgi and Tom Ryan — came under public scrutiny when they asked for more than $120 million in public financing.

Murray grew up in Woonsocket, attended Harvard, and then grew and merged Fleet Bank from a regional to global player.

He orchestrated the merger between Bank Boston and the Fleet Boston to became the 7th largest lender in America before being bought by Bank of America.

He is one of two Rhode Islanders who belong to Augusta National.

Bruce Van Saun, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Citizens Bank

No one may determine the future of Providence more than Van Saun. The CEO of Citizens has navigated the company's spin away from the Royal Bank of Scotland and its public offering. 

Now, he will set the course for the future of the city and his bank. 4,000 employees in downtown Providence would be great for the city, state and carbon foot print -- instead of thousands of cars driving to Smithfield.

He is a behind the scenes “data guy” and for Citizens to compete and grow the company will need to recruit smart technologists —and they don’t want to be working at a campus in the burbs. 

Van Saun has held a number of top jobs with Bank of New York and later Bank of New York Mellon, including Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer. He is a director of Lloyd’s of London.

A Van Saun move to Providence and redevelopment of a downtown campus with the Superman building is a game changer for Rhode Island - they build statutes for people with that kind of vision.

John Bowen, Chancellor, President, and CEO of Johnson and Wales

Johnson and Wales continues its metamorphosis. Bowen is by far the longest serving college President having been appointed in 2004.

He oversees more than 17,000 students and approximately 2,000 employees at campuses around the country: Providence; North Miami, Fla.; Denver, Colo.; and Charlotte, N.C. 

The University's growth has been significant and transformational in downtown Providence. 

He has been a Director at Washington Trust, as a Director for Newport Harbor Corporation and was Chairman of the Providence Foundation. 

Joe MarcAurele, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Washington Trust

(2013 Ranking: 24)

MarcAurele has helped to grow Washington Trust into a major banking player in Rhode Island and now with a major focus on growth in Connecticut.

He started his career at Fleet and had a major stint at Citizens but jumped to take over the Presidency of Washington Trust in 2009. 

He has served as President of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and a trustee of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, and Rhode Island Hospital Foundation.

MarcAurele received an Honorary Degree of Business Administration in Financial Services Management from Johnson and Wales University and an Honorary Doctorate of Business from Bryant University.

As Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Washington Trust, he made $1,134,661 in total compensation. Of this total $514,596 was received as a salary, $318,407 was received as a bonus, $208,653 was awarded as stock and $93,005 came from other types of compensation, according to Salary.com.

John Hazen White, CEO Taco

The third-generation CEO of one of Rhode Island’s most successful and enduring manufacturing companies has demonstrated skills at both corporate leadership and political disruption. Never shy, Hazen White has been a loud voice in funding efforts to reform issues in Rhode Island, including pension reform, master level and a failed effort to adopt a Constitutional Convention.

Taco has made a number of global acquisitions and entered into a series of strategic partnerships. He is the principal funding source for the Hummel Report and has endowed the John Hazen White Forum on Public Policy at the Brookings.  

The reach of his philanthropy targets many education and cultural efforts in Rhode Island, with annual gifts totaling a little more than $400,000.

Robert DiMuccio, CEO Amica Insurance

There is not a Rhode Island CEO who is more connected to the community than DiMuccio. Whether it is the Boy Scouts or the NAACP, he is usually there picking up a well-deserved award for contribution to the community.

Amica which has grown from a small mutual insurance company in which you needed to get a reference in order to join back in the 1970’s, to now a national power - nearly always winning top ranking for quality and customer service.

In April of this year, DiMuccio was featured in a Forbes piece, “In Search of Building a Great Company." The publication wrote, “Since 2005, when Bob became CEO of the 108-year-old mutual company, Amica has won a remarkable 29 J.D. Power awards.”

He serves on a range of Boards including Washington Trust’s.

Frederick Butler, Chair of the Board of RI Foundation

Butler may be on more high profile and influential boards then any other Rhode Islander. The former top level executive at Textron is now the Chair of the Board at the Rhode Island Foundation.

He is chairman of AAA Southern New England’s board of directors, a commissioner of the Rhode Island Ethics Commission and a trustee of Salve Regina University. He is vice chairman of the board of directors for Delta Dental of Rhode Island, a past chairman of The Providence Foundation, and a former board member of the United Way of Rhode Island.

Butler is a graduate of Harvard University and Harvard Law School. He worked at Textron in various legal and executive positions from 1980 until his retirement in 2009, and has held numerous leadership positions in Rhode Island, including chairing the Providence Foundation and the board of FirstWorks Providence. Butler is a commissioner of the Rhode Island Ethics Commission and a trustee of Salve Regina University.

Thomas Tisch, Chancellor, Brown University

(2013 Ranking: 29)

As Brown's influence is getting bigger and broader in Rhode Island, so does Thomas Tisch's in Rhode Island. 

His wealth would be significantly higher, but as a member of the Sears Board he bet big on the performance of the company. According to a Barron’s April of 2014 story, Tisch purchased 475,000 shares of Sears’ stock for $15,940,000 at $33.50 a share.

That increased his holdings to 620,824 shares plus another 933,478 shares in a trust.  The value of his Sears holdings have decrease from $52 million to about $30 million.

Already a powerful financier from one of America's most influential families, he is managing partner of Four Partners, an investment firm in NYC.

In addition to serving on the Sears board, he serves on the boards of directors of kgb inc. Additionally he serves on the boards of trustees for the New York University Langone Medical Center and KIPP New York.

Editor's Note: an earlier version misidentified him at Provost, we apologize for the error. The Provost is Richard Locke .

Charles Royce, Royce Funds/Ocean House/Weekapaug Inn

(2013 Ranking: 38)

The billionaire Royce has made a profound impact on Rhode Island’s hospitality industry by restoring and dramatically enhancing two of the most historic and unique Victorian properties in the state. He has invested tens of millions in developing the Ocean House in Westerly and the Weekapaug Inn into brimming expressions of Victorian architecture.

Royce holds a bachelor's degree from Brown University and a Masters of Business Administration from Columbia University. He has been a major donor to Brown and funds the Royce Fellowship at Brown.

Bernie Buonanno, III, Managing Partner at Nautic Partners

An accomplished private equity financier — he and Habib Gorgi (#15 on the list) have built their once spinoff from Fleet Bank boutique into a billion dollar concern. The connections with others in the power structure in Rhode Island is a veritable family tree.

His sister Helena Foulkes is #5 on the list, his father is the chair of the Convention Center Authority and Helena’s husband (Bill Foulkes) serves on the state’s Board of Education.

Buonanno was an all-Ivy lacrosse player at Brown.  His uncle was U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT).

Maureen McKenna Goldberg and Robert Goldberg, Supreme Court and Lobbyist (respectively)

(2013 Ranking: 13)

Meet the highest ranked power couple on the list. In a list dominated by millionaires and even billionaires, the Goldbergs are certainly wealthy, but the strength of their ranking comes from their combined influence.

Maureen McKenna Goldberg has served on the Rhode Island Supreme Court for more than 15 years.

Her husband, Robert Goldberg is the top lobbyist in Rhode Island -- his clients are a who's who of RI and US corporate America, including CVS, FedEx, Johnson and Wales, Bryant University and GTECH. It is reported that Goldberg earns an estimated $1 million plus per year in lobbying and associated legal work.

The chink in the political armor for Bob Goldberg came this year when what was thought to be a slam dunk project - the move of the PawSox - got stopped by a group of citizens, a lot of social media and investigative reporting.

Giovanni Feroce, CEO of BENRUS

(2013 Ranking: 6 with Carolyn Rafaelian)

Giovanni Feroce is trying to do it twice. His success at Alex and Ani has him recognized as one of today’s most successful American CEOs, and now he is in the midst of building BENRUS into a multi-billion dollar. The military-inspired lifestyle brand is growing from a WWII watch brand into a complete lifestyle brand.

Feroce currently serves as CEO and Chairman of BENRUS, LLC. and in just a year has rebranded and expanded the company, inked a major deal with Nordstrom, and opened retail locations on the East Coast.

As the New York Times wrote, "Mr. Feroce is in the midst of bringing it back to market. His goal is to transform Benrus into a lifestyle brand — selling things like backpacks, bomber jackets, even a men’s cologne called Benrus Black, a reference to “black ops” — with the watches taking center stage."

If he hits a homer with BENRUS, he will have done what few CEOs have ever done — taken two companies on upward rocket rides.

Tom Guerra and Tony Thomas, Foundry Complex

(2013 Ranking: 41)

The son and son-in-law of architect and developer Antonio Guerra now manage the amazing rehabbed industrial campus. The elder Guerra passed in 2014, but he had purchased the then-mothballed Brown and Sharpe complex from the company in the late 1960's. Over 40 years, the family painstakingly rehabbed each building and developed it into the premier work-live complex in the state.

The campus offers 26-acres and 13 buildings and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 2013, they acquired American Locomotive Complex for just under $20 million and just completed the redevelopment of the “Sharpe” Building into additional apartments. 

Now, thousands work in their buildings and hundreds live in the former mills.

Combined, these real estate holdings exceed an estimated $300 million.

Fred Carpionato, CEO Carpionato Properties

(2013 Ranking: 17)

The developer’s highest profile properties include the Chapel View in Cranston and the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick, but they are just the head of the needle.

He owns and operates many of southern New England's biggest developments - literally millions of square feet of retail and numerous hotels. Over the past two years, he has been looking to be a lead developer on the 195 development.

His teardown of the old Produce Market on the backside of Providence Place Mall has been widely criticized by preservationists. The land still remains vacant today.

He is major donor to Jack Reed's Narragansett Bay PAC and Reed rents office space at his development in Cranston.

Brad Dimeo, CEO Dimeo Construction

He is a third generation leader of Dimeo Construction. Walk around Brown University or just about any college, university or hospital campus is the region and you will see a team from Dimeo building. Their diversity includes the award winning Ocean House in Watch Hill - one of America’s most award winning hotels in America and owned and operated by billionaire Charles M. Royce of Royce Funds.  Royce is #30 on this year’s list, but only a part-time Rhode Islander.

Dimeo’s firm is building many of Johnson & Wales additions, but reaches to Massachusetts and Connecticut regularly. 

Dimeo is active with Crossroads, Board of Directors, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Advisory Council and is a RIPEC, Trustee.

Carolyn Rafaelian, Founder of Alex and Ani

(2013 Ranking: 6 with Giovanni Feroce)

It has been a tumultuous two years for Alex and Ani and Rafaelian. In the beginning of 2014, she and Feroce had a very public break up and Rafaelian took control of the company. During that period she shed hundreds of employees and revamped nearly the entire management team.  

The RI success story which has been among the fastest growing companies in America and was targeting an IPO has restructured and is looking to close out a rebound 2015.  That goal may have taken a hit when the company lost its Chief Marketing Officer Ryan Bonifacino going into fourth quarter.

The Alex and Ani involvement, donations and sponsorships in RI has been paired back and Rafaelian has closed two of her three coffee shops - Teas and Javas.

The company reported to have a value in the billions and she is still the largest shareholder.  A good holiday season and the karma will be good in Alex and Ani’s world, but a significant shortfall in annual sales and the company’s skyrocketing growth may look a little more mortal.

Habib Gorgi, Managing Partner, Nautic Partners

Quietly Nautic Partners has become a significant mid-sized private equity firm. According to the firm's most recent filling with the SEC in 2012, the firm was looking to raise an additional $800 million. This was the seventh round of fundraising by the firm.

Gorgi has been a behind the scenes player in Rhode Island business, but this year became far more public when it was disclosed he was a limited partner in the new ownership group of the Pawtucket Red Sox.

He is partners in Nautic with #28 on this year’s list Bernie Buonanno, III. 

Alan Hassenfeld, Former CEO and Chair of Hasbro

(2013 Ranking: 4)

Once the 800-pound business and political leader in Rhode Island, the former CEO and Chairman of Hasbro was a force in pushing for ethics reform in Rhode Island. For the past few years he has taken a lower profile in Rhode Island -- he did however endow the creation of the Hassenfeld Institute for Public Leadership at Bryant University.

The Rhode Island-based Hassenfeld Foundation gave out roughly $4.7 million in donation in the most recently reported year. (Interestingly, one of the Foundation’s holdings was in Mattel stock - Hasbro’s long-time rival). 

Recently, Hassenfeld helped the Capital Good Fund’s effort for micro loans with a $100,000 gift.

Buff Chace, Developer

(2013 Ranking: 30)

Chace has been a driving force in creating a new urban living experience in downtown Providence. He has become ever more controversial due to his ongoing demands for tax stabilizations on his projects.

One of his most recent projects is the 170,000 square foot Providence Journal Building in which he is requesting a two-third decrease in the tax assessment as well as a tax stabilization. He has eight buildings in the Westminster Street area. 

His official title is founder and managing partner of Cornish Associates.  In addition, he’s the managing general partner of Mashpee Commons.

Wildly active in the community, he is chairperson of the Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy and a member of the Executive Committee of the Providence Foundation, and is a director emeritus for GrowSmart RI and a trustee emeritus of Trinity Repertory Theatre.

Tom Ryan, former CEO and Chairman of CVS

(2013 Ranking: 27)

Ryan's retirement has been anything but dull. The URI pharmacy grad who helped to build CVS into one of America’s largest corporations has been involved with two of the biggest initiatives in Rhode Island in the past year.

He and his wife Anne donated $15 million to fund the George and Anne Ryan Center on Neuroscience at URI. This center is one of the cogs in bringing together major educational and health organizations in a broad-based neuroscience initiative in Rhode Island.

The second major initiative Ryan has been involved with has been the effort to move the Pawtucket Red Sox from their home to a Providence Stadium.  He and the other owners initially requested more than $120 million in taxpayer support.

Ryan’s neuroscience gift coupled with his fundraising leadership and donations to build the Ryan Center have made him the single biggest individual donor to URI. 

Glenn Creamer, Senior Managing Director Providence Equity 

Creamer is a Pawtucket “guy” who has helped to build a $40 billion private equity firm headquartered right here in Providence. 

With #2 ranked Jonathan Nelson and #3 ranked Paul Salem, the three along with a team of a few dozen have put Rhode Island on the map for the highest of high finance. 

Previous to Providence Equity, Creamer worked in investment banking at Merrill Lynch and J.P. Morgan and received a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts from Brown University.

While the past couple years have been a bit rough, there have been some solid hits with the sale of Ironman to Wanda Group for $650 million earlier this year which takes some of the sting off the Altegrity loss of nearly $800 million.

Paul Salem, Senior Managing Director Providence Equity

(2013 Ranking: 5)

Salem has been a leader on some of the biggest private equity deals in business such AT&T Canada, Wired magazine, and Hulu. 

He along with fellow Brown mates Jonathan Nelson (#2 on this years list) and Glenn Creamer (#11) were Wall Street’s golden boys for more than a decade. But, the past couple of years have taken a little luster of the firm’s momentum. 

The collapse of Altergrity and a tough New York Times article were two big hits this past year, but make no mistake about it - with $40 billion and a talented team, they are just one mega-deal away from regaining a position as one of the top firms in the United States. 

One of the family’s biggest successes may be by his wife Navyn, who is the founder of Edesia , a global nutrition solution - one of the most heralded efforts to combat hunger. Salem is the Chair of the Board of the education program Year Up.

Scott Donnelly, CEO Textron

(2013 Ranking: 8)

Donnelly heads one of only three Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Rhode Island, and it is Providence’s only one. Textron is ranked #219.

Prior to coming to Textron, he was president and CEO for General Electric (GE) Aviation, the world's leading producer of large and small jet engines. He took the helm of Textron in 2009.

As Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer at TEXTRON INC, he received $12,150,820 in total compensation. Of this total $1,080,000 was received as a salary, $1,690,000 was received as a bonus, $2,827,898 was received in stock options, $6,477,552 was awarded as stock and $75,370 came from other types of compensation, according to Salary.com.

Textron is one of the world's best-known multi-industry companies. Textron businesses include Bell Helicopter, Cessna, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Jacobson, Kautex and Textron Systems and Textron Financial Corporation.

John Taylor, Chairman Twin River

(2013 Ranking: 9)

Taylor’s gaming holdings have grown significantly and his big bet has yet to payoff. In 2014, his company purchased the Hard Rock Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi for $250 million.  The same year they tried to get approval for another facility in Colorado, but the voters shot them down. This year, Taylor’s company got approval to build a hotel on the Twin River Lincoln campus.

The biggest bet is the company’s acquisition of Newport Grand and the proposal to build a new facility in Tiverton with an expansion of table games. Tiverton is one of Rhode Island’s most rural and beautiful towns — but Taylor has gone door-to-door himself, explaining the benefits and putting his name on the line with residents.

For Taylor who started as an intern from then-Governor Ed DiPrete in the 1980’s, he has come along way and 2016 is a big year.

Christina Paxson, President Brown University

(2013 Ranking: 37)

After a quiet start in her tenure as Brown’s 19th president, Paxson has begun to roll out a number of major initiatives including a $3 billion fundraising campaign. Yes, $3 billion!

Moreover, she has started to be a political force in Providence and Rhode Island wielding significant influence. She was a key player in resolving the nursing school dispute and her “pull the rug” letter ended the PawSox efforts in Providence on the 195 land.

She faces challenges as the Woodrow Wilson Center at Princeton that she ran before coming to Brown, which has become a lightning rod issue about the name-sakes racial legacy, and Brown students are beginning to stir on a number of race-related issues. She recently announced a $100 million effort to study racism.  

According tot he Chronicle of Higher Educations review, Paxson earns $739,000 (about one-sixth of her Ivy-League counterpart at Columbia).

Helena Foulkes, VP CVS

Foulkes, like Merlo, has had a good couple of years. She was in part the architect of the removal tobacco from the company’s 7,700 plus stores.

Fortune named her the #26 most powerful woman in business and she now is President of the Retail business.

Her father chairs the RI Convention Center Authority Board, her brother serves on the Commerce Corporation Board and her husband serves of the education board. There is no excuse for not being able to fix RI’s economy over Christmas dinner.

According to Salary.com, Foulkes made $6,064,082 in total compensation. Of this total $850,000 was received as a salary, $3,165,044 was received as a bonus, $624,992 was received in stock options, $1,249,927 was awarded as stock and $174,119 came from other types of compensation. 

Joe Paolino, Paolino Properties

(2013 Ranking: 12)

If you are standing downtown and look left, right or up, then you are bound to see multiple elements of the Paolino real estate holdings. Never before has one company owned so much of the highest value property in downtown at the same time.

Similarly, it is hard to attend a Democratic Fundraiser without Paolino playing a key role. He is a top fundraiser for Hillary Clinton, helped Buddy Cianci’s failed effort to recapture City Hall in 2014, but even when he loses he seems to win. He failed to get voters in Newport to approve his plan to add table games to Newport Grand and so he flipped the property to Twin River and took his winnings off the table. 

Paul Kazarian, Japonica Partners

RI based financier Paul Kazarian bet billions in the Greek debt crisis. The founder and CEO of Japonica Partners was a key player in the battle between Greece and the European Union. Kazarian’s company was one of the largest private bond holders in Greece. 

The former Goldman Sachs investment banker first made national headlines when he took control of Sunbean-Oster and made millions when he left as CEO of the company - it was not a happy break-up.

The family's Charles and Agnes Kazarian Eternal Foundation, named in honor of his grandparents, has assets in excess of $160 million (to put in perspective the Champlin Foundation has about $270 million in assets).

Gina Raimondo, Governor of Rhode Island

(2013 Ranking: 18)

Maybe the best resume ever to come out of Rhode Island. Raimondo was elected Rhode Island’s first female Governor and couple that accomplishment with her degrees from Harvard, Yale and a Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford, and she is right there with John Pastore, T.F. Green, and John Chafee.

As General Treasurer she was the darling of the Wall Street Journal and other business publications for pension reform legislation. For many it was perceived as having saved the pension system, but detractors like Forbes columnist and former SEC investigator Ted Siedle claim it just pushed more wealth to Hedge Fund managers who have made hundreds of millions in fees from Rhode Island’s pension funds under Raimondo’s reign.

As Governor, she has proposed a massive funding program to rebuild Rhode Island’s dilapidated infrastructure. The proposal has come under criticism in part for utilizing a revenue bond structure - another program that will generate tens of millions in Wall Street fees.

Her husband Andrew Moffit is a business consultant at McKinsey & Company.  Her wealth in part comes from the State of Rhode Island’s investment in Point Judith Capital - she is a shareholder.

Jonathan Nelson, Founder Providence Equity Group

(2013 Ranking: 1)

The past two years have been a challenge for Jonathan Nelson and his Providence Equity Group. Once the golden boys of private equity and lauded for putting together “the biggest deal in the world,” he and the firm have had a series of set backs.

The highest profile bump was the firm’s loss of nearly $800 million in the firm, Altegrity, that was contracted to review federal contractors like Edward Snowden. As GoLocal reported last January, the domino effect of Snowden’s absconding with federal data bases exposed the deficiencies of Altegrity’s vetting process.

As the New York Times wrote in April, “Altegrity was the latest in a string of bad bets for the firm. Last summer, it lost its entire $460 million investment in a for-profit college company after that company faced multiple investigations. Hundreds of millions of dollars were erased when the film studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer went bankrupt in 2010. A $675 million stake in an Internet retailer has been written down to zero, as has the $400 million it spent on a Dutch child-care group. The spate of poor investments caused Providence to deliver dismal returns in back-to-back funds.”

Please don’t distress too much over Nelson’s plight, he is still considered Rhode Island’s richest man by Forbes and his Providence Equity Partners still manages a self-reported $40 billion under management.

Larry Merlo, President and CEO of CVS

(2013 Ranking: 7)

Its been a good couple of years for Larry Merlo. In 2014, under his leadership, CVS stopped selling tobacco products which made the company a poster child for being a progressive, pro-health company.

Then, the First Lady, Michelle Obama asked him to be her guest last January at the State of the Union. Also, he scored a compensation package of $32 million in 2014.  Not a bad year for the CEO of the 12th ranked company on Fortune 500’s list.

In 2013, Merlo ranked 7th in GoLocal’s 2013 ranking, but his accumulated wealth and his craftsman-like leadership of CVS elevates Merlo to the position of the Most Wealthy and Influential for 2015.

Related Articles

• New: Women Denied Membership at Westerly Yacht Club Yet Again in 2016
• Westerly Yacht Club to Vote Again on Allowing Women Full Membership
• Westerly Chamber Boss Asks Commerce’s Wall and Pryor to Put Westerly in RI’s Tourism Video

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Westerly Yacht Club

Location & hours.

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1 Watch Hill Rd

Westerly, RI 02891

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We recently attended a wedding at the Westerly Yacht Club and we both agreed that it was a very nice venue. While it's no Watch Hill dockyard, the Westerly Yacht Club holds it's own as one of the premier boating and sailing locations in the area. The marina is extremely clean and very well organized and the building's interior reflects just the same. While there are of course some ongoing issues with membership and other issues not needed to be addressed here, on its face, the Westerly Yacht Club is a beautiful part of the town.

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• Westerly Yacht Club, Rhode Island, United States

United States

Rhode Island

Sailing / Yacht Club

Westerly Yacht Club

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Contact Person

Frank Woycik

Founded Year

Our Jr. Sailing program continues to thrive with an enrollment of twenty four youngsters all eager to learn sailing skills. The program supported by volunteers from our member ranks. The Commodore's Cup race was sailed in early October in twenty-five to thirty knot winds on Fisher's Island Sound. Everyone had a good time with the committee providing a great feed at the clubhouse for the presentations. The fiscal year ended successfully.

1 Watch Hill Rd

401-596-7556

401-596-8794

[email protected]

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http://www.westerlyyc.org/

How Much Do Yacht Club Memberships Cost? (5 Helpful Examples)

Joining a yacht club is an important milestone in your life. It marks a certain degree of success and allows you to enjoy plenty of luxurious amenities. Setting sail on a yacht is the ultimate way to unwind from a hectic work week while you try to climb the corporate ladder.

Fortunately, there are yacht clubs all over the country that would love to welcome you as a brand-new member. You can enjoy an afternoon on the water with a beautiful yacht in exchange for a small sum of money.

But how much do Yacht Club memberships generally cost?

Prices for Yacht Clubs will vary based on your location, the fleet, and even the amenities that are offered at the marina. The average annual membership price is between $900-$4,000 depending on your level of luxury and needs.

To give you an idea of what you could expect to pay for your yacht club membership, here are some numbers gathered from across the country:

Table of Contents

What Does Each Yacht Club Offer?

Each yacht club is going to offer something that sets it apart from the others on this listing. To give you a better idea of where your money is going, here is a brief synopsis of what you can expect at each location.

Related Article: How Much Does Yacht Insurance Cost? (4 Examples)

Charleston Yacht Club

Charleston is a premier cruising destination with plenty of waterways for you to explore. They offer a launch hoist, dry slips, day dockage, free parking, and a long list of events scheduled throughout the year.

You also gain privileges at other yacht clubs around the world. If you don’t own your own yacht, they have plenty of members who often have room on their boats to accommodate a few extra passengers.

Florida Yacht Club

The Florida Yacht Club is a relatively exclusive club that features amazing amenities like fine dining and an array of aquatic activities.

You can play tennis, enjoy a spa treatment or massage, or get in a rousing game of croquet from the shore. They also host events and permit you to extend your privileges to other locations scattered around the Florida coast.

Atlanta Yacht Club

The Atlanta Yacht Club is primarily geared toward sailors who are interested in racing. They have a fleet of more than thirty different boats that are designed to help you further your knowledge of sailing.

If you still have a lot to learn, you can even take classes at this location. Prospective members must be sponsored and co-sponsored by two club members for entrance.

Related Article: 7 Boat Clubs in Florida You Should Know (Before Choosing)

Chicago Yacht Club

Members of the Chicago Yacht Club will find plenty of opportunities to get involved. With more than forty different committees, you can find a circle of friends that have common interests beyond just sailing and racing.

You also receive transient docking at both the Belmont and Monroe harbors, exclusive invites to private events, and reciprocity at more than 900 clubs across the country.

Related Article: Boat Clubs in Boston: 5 Clubs You Should Know

California Yacht Club

The California Yacht Club is home to both national and world championship regattas.

They host plenty of events from scuba club to book club to wine tastings. If you want to find a true community of like-minded sailors, this could be the place for you.

One of the best features is the reciprocity at locations not just across the United States but across the world. You can feel free to travel the world with your yacht and experience some of the same fellowship globally.

Related Article: Boat Clubs In Los Angeles: 7 Clubs You Should Know

What are the Cheapest Yacht Clubs?

The cheapest yacht clubs charge just under $1,000 per year for membership. While this does give you access to different types of experiences, you may be disappointed by the overall amenities.

Some yacht clubs are known for their extravagant country club styles that help you to embrace a particular lifestyle. They include Olympic-sized swimming pools, state-of-the-art tennis courts, and fine dining.

Everything has a beautiful waterfront view. It can feel like you are in the middle of an idyllic paradise without ever even having to leave the shore. If this is what you can gain from the most expensive yacht clubs, you should set your expectations much lower for the cheaper yacht clubs.

The cheaper yacht clubs lack the community aspect of these exclusive options. They feature dry slips and the occasional party, but not much more.

Some of them may have the feel of a county park with some picnic benches, outdoor grills, and a moderately sized swimming pool. Expect a much more casual atmosphere when you choose to go with a cheaper yacht club.

It is even possible that they are simply “paper yacht clubs” that do not even maintain a physical building of their own.

How Much Do the Most Expensive Yacht Clubs Cost to Join?

The most expensive yacht clubs can vary a great deal in price. Most of them will cost between $3,000 and $4,000 per year. However, you can certainly find more exclusive clubs that will cost above and beyond this.

Keep in mind that these more expensive clubs generally are not open to the public. They are offered by invitation only and you must have a member sponsor you to be considered for entrance.

When you are paying for a more expensive yacht club, you should make sure that you are really going to get your money’s worth. These expensive clubs promote a certain type of elegant lifestyle.

Make sure that you are planning to take advantage of all the amenities available from one of these clubs before you sink too much money into the membership fees. The social aspect of these expensive yacht clubs is extremely important.

If you plan to simply rent a boat from time to time, you might be able to go with a cheaper yacht club.

Related Article: How Long Do Sailboats Last?

What Is Generally Included in the Membership Fee for Yacht Clubs?

Have you been wondering why you should join a yacht club? Many potential members want to know what they can expect from their membership fees before they commit to a year-long contract. There are many advantages to signing up for a membership with a well-known yacht club.

Amenities and Activities

First and foremost, you get access to activities and cruises planned by board members. These might be various sailing activities, dinners, get-togethers, tennis matches, or other events that take up a lazy Sunday afternoon.

You also gain access to any amenities that surround the yacht club’s marina. For many programs, this means a fitness center, pool, and tennis courts. Several locations also offer fine dining, meeting rooms, and more.

It is like a private oasis where you can get away from the hustle and bustle of the regular world. Time moves slowly when you’re enjoying the amenities here.

Many yacht clubs have programs that introduce children (and adults!) to sailing. Take classes to learn more about improving your technique, sailing safety, and other important aspects of life on the open water.

Access to the Fleet

The main reason why most people join yacht clubs is to be able to rent out boats instead of purchasing their own. Joining a yacht club may give you access to an entire fleet of yachts that can be reserved for a day or weeks at a time. Some yacht clubs allow you to rent boats for up to ten days at a time.

Others do not allow you to rent out ships. They are primarily geared toward individuals who already own a yacht or will own a yacht in the future. Make sure you know the difference in advance.

Are There any Additional Costs Besides the Membership Fees?

Unfortunately, the membership fees are not the only cost associated with joining a yacht club. Most of the clubs in the United States also have a one-time initial fee that tends to cost thousands of dollars. Many will range from $1,500 to $5,000 depending on the location and the exclusivity of the yacht club.

This one-time fee should be the only additional money you pay except for fuel. Most yacht clubs do not cover the cost of the fuel used in the ship during your rental if renting is an option. Be prepared for what this could cost you.

If you cause damage to the ship, you can also expect some out-of-pocket costs. Insurance should cover the damage, but you will likely be asked to cover the cost of the deductible.

Be sure to inquire about how much you may be on the hook for before you sign up for any particular yacht club. Accidents can happen, even to the most experienced sailors. Make sure that you can afford the mishap in advance.

Is a Yacht Club Membership Right for You?

Understanding what the real cost of a yacht club membership is can be the first step toward determining if this is right for you. Many people love the luxuries available through the more expensive yacht clubs, but they may not be able to afford it. Consider what is most important in a club to you before deciding to sign on the dotted line for an annual membership.

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Westerly woman 'thrilled' to join yacht club after controversial rule is changed

Westerly — For more than four decades, the Westerly Yacht Club has been a part of Carol Coburn’s life.

Until last month, however, the 52-year-old was not an official member of the club.

That’s because until July, women could only join the club as associate members — and they could only get that distinction if they were married to a full member.

Coburn, a Westerly resident, didn’t fall into that category. But she has been going to events and gatherings at the 1 Watch Hill Road establishment for almost as long as she can remember. Her late father, Charles, was a heavily involved life member of the club, as were her grandparents before him. Her sister and brother-in-law are members, too.

“It’s a legacy in my family,” Coburn said. “You can’t even imagine. I’m so excited, so thrilled (to be a member). This was a huge part of my dad’s life. I’m just so happy they finally overturned that vote.”

The question of whether to admit women as full members is one that had been mulled for years, Coburn said. Her father had been a proponent of changing the “antiquated” rule, which barred lesbians, single women and divorced women from any type of membership.

As associate members, women could participate in events and didn’t have to pay dues, but they couldn’t vote.

Nearly yearly, Coburn would wait with her breath held as the male members of the 89-year-old club voted on the rule.

“And every year I would be so disappointed,” she said.

After last year’s June 15 vote totaled 207 for and 171 against admitting women — not enough to meet the two-thirds majority requirement — associate member Jane Barstow wrote a letter to the Westerly Sun . It set off a firestorm of local and national media coverage and garnered from the ACLU the threat of a lawsuit .

On July 16, the club’s full members reversed their course , voting 310 to 82 to allow women to become full members.

Shaun Tine, commodore of the club, didn’t know off the top of his head how many women have become full members so far. But he said the club has brought on “quite a few” women and is giving all women who apply the same consideration as men.

“We’re very delighted to be moving on to the next chapter of our lives here,” he said.

Upon learning she could join, Coburn excitedly filled out an application in July and gathered up the money she would need : $800 for an initiation fee, $75 for assessments and $580 in dues, the latter to be paid yearly.

During her interview on March 10, Coburn outlined to the Board of Directors and committee members why she wanted to join, telling of her desire to meet new people and carry on the work her dad did. She estimated about 10 other women showed up to the interview night, but she doesn't know how many of them ended up as members. Coburn became a member a week or so after her interview.

Although she plans to take some time to test the waters, Coburn is looking forward to her first voting night. She also wants to take on a larger role in organizing various events, including a fishing tournament hosted in her father’s honor.

“Women are a huge part of that club,” Coburn said. “They might not be voting members, but they’re on committees with their husbands, they’re doing everything the members are doing. The rule just needed to be updated. I’m glad someone finally made a big deal about it.”

So far, Coburn said, the club’s members have been nothing but welcoming toward her.

At dock day Saturday, she said, “everyone was just congratulating me: ‘Welcome to the club, can’t wait to work with you on different things.’ There has not been any animosity that I’ve found.”

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What WOA can do for you

You can join WOA through our shop (see Join WOA) . 

Members are occasionally asked what benefits the Westerly Owners’ Association offers – here’s a brief summary, should you need a reminder, of 10 ways the Association delivers unbeatable value to its membership (and why WOA has become the biggest yacht owner group in the world!).

• It costs just £17.50 a year to be a member – or rather less than 35p a week! Overseas rate is £22.50.
• With membership comes a complimentary copy of ‘ The Westerly Story,’ the definitive history of Westerly with an illustrated outline of every type of the 12,000+ boats they built. Normal price of the book is £12.50.
• Members also receive two issues per year of a thriving, informative magazine all about Westerly boats and their owners, plus logs, reviews and technical articles.
• In addition, there’s a 300 page yearbook packed with a register of members, mooring locations, boat-class memberships, and much more.
• There are local area groups organising rallies, races, visits, cruises, winter meetings and other social events. The Association also runs national cruises and events each year. It takes stands at boat shows and jumbles too, providing a meeting place for owners and new members.
• The Westerly Owners’ Association is a not-for-profit organisation run by fellow-owners for other owners. Each year it holds an AGM with special guest speakers. If you need general information, advice or opinions on your Westerly boat, WOA is invariably a good source.
• A first-class website containing news, advertising and a wealth of Westerly data also gives members privileged access to special categories of on-line information: there are discussion groups and technical advice too. Members can place advertising on the site free of charge.
• WOA offers a ‘Boatline’ service through which expert insight into particular types of Westerly can be accessed from existing owners; similarly there’s a network of Westerly harbour representatives able to offer well-informed local advice should you need it.
• The Association helps ensure that the Westerly brand continues to have a strong presence in sailing press and in the market, so your Westerly can best retain its value.
• Discounts on boat products and services are available to WOA members as is special marine insurance: often the savings on just one item will more than cover the subscription cost.

Join / Renew WOA Membership

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After outcry on no-women policy, yacht club reverses course

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WESTERLY, R.I. (AP) — A yacht club in the Rhode Island town where Taylor Swift owns a beach house has put a men-only policy to rest.

Members of the Westerly Yacht Club voted 310 to 82 on Wednesday to admit women as full members after coming under scrutiny and losing business from groups who said they would not patronize the club until the policy was changed. The American Civil Liberties Union also had raised the possibility of a lawsuit.

The club’s male members voted in June to uphold the no-women policy and keep women only as associate members.

“We are just delighted. We were ready to resign if it didn’t pass,” said Jane Barstow, an associate member, whose letter to the editor of the Westerly Sun last month brought the policy to the attention of the media. “For the club, I think it’s brought it into the 21st century. Truly, I don’t think it will be a huge change.”

As associate members, women were allowed to serve on committees, plan parties and attend the club without men, but they could not vote. Only wives of members could join as associates. The policy had the effect of excluding single women and lesbians.

After the outcry, the club’s leadership called another vote, saying they would allow more time for a discussion among members.

Board member Louis Misto, who pushed for the change, said members “did the right thing” after hearing all the facts.

Steven Brown, executive director of the state chapter of the ACLU said he was pleased “that the yacht club has avoided the need for any further legal or other battles over this issue.”

Julie Cardinal, who was no longer allowed to be an associate member after she got divorced, and said she took a lot of heat for publicly criticizing the policy. She said she was happy by the outcome, although she was disappointed that 82 men still voted against the change.

“There’s some gentlemen down there that simply don’t get it,” she said. “This is another step towards changing the thinking around here. I think it’s a good step.”

The club said it received two member applications from women within hours of the vote, although there is a wait list to join.

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Westerly, RI | N 41° 20.890' / W 071° 49.670'

1 Watch Hill Road

Westerly, RI 02891

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JSP General Information

Wyc jsp general information, introduction.

The goal of the Westerly Yacht Club (WYC) Junior Sailing Program (JSP) is to introduce youngsters to sailing and water safety. Our volunteers share a passion to teach sailing, by emphasizing fundamentals such as small boat handling skills, and proper technique.

Our goal is to help each student develop:

• Their sailing skills while emphasizing the importance of safety
• A sense of pride and accomplishment
• Teamwork between classmates
• A responsibility for the boats and equipment.

The program is open to young sailors between the ages of 8 and 16 (both members and non-members of the WYC). Students of non-members must be sponsored by a WYC member.

General Information

Included below is an overview of the material covered during the program:

• General sailing terms, including parts of the boat, sail, and rigging.
• Introduction to the “Principles of Sailing” and the “Points of Sail”.
• How to rig and de-rig the boat.
• Basic knots and line handling techniques.
• Proper technique to steer the boat and trim the sails.
• Proper technique to tack and gybe the boat.
• Upwind and downwind sailing.
• How to recover a capsized boat.

Level of Instruction

The WYC JSP has 4 fleets or levels of instruction. There are different boats for each fleet: O’Day Daysailers, Optimist Dinghies, Laser Picos, and Club 420s.

Students that are new to the program are assigned to a given fleet by age and weight. Students that are returning to the program, are encouraged to advance to the next fleet, upon completion of the items on the qualification card for their assigned fleet.

A brief outline of each fleet is provided below.

Yellow Fleet

Boats: (4) O’Day Daysailers Students: 8 Intended for entry level students (approx. age 8 – 12) Focus: basic boat handling, wind direction, etc.

Boats: (5) Picos Students: 10 Intended for students who have completed Green Fleet (approx. age 10 – 14) Focus: Develop boat handling skills, sail trim, points of sail, etc. Introduce double-handed sailing and jibs, improve upwind sailing, tacking, gybing, etc.

Green Fleet

Boats: (6) Optis Students: 6 Intended for entry level students (approx. age 8 – 12) Focus: single handed sailing, basic boat handling, sail trim, points of sail, etc.

Black Fleet

Boats: (4) Club 420s Students: 8 Intended for students who have completed Blue Fleet (approx. age 13 – 16) Focus: competitive sailing, introduce racing, rules, strategy, tactics, and spinnakers and trapeze techniques

Schedule 2022

2022 Dates to include on your calendar.

CLASS SCHEDULE There are eight classes, Saturday mornings from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, during May and June. Students should arrive 10 to 15 minutes early so that we can start on time. Parents or guardians are not required to stay during the class. Students will be ready for pickup at 12:30 pm.

Daily Schedule

Registration

Registration for the WYC JSP begins on 1 April this year. All forms and required paperwork will be available from this site only at that time. Registration forms will be available on the Home Page .

The cost of the program is $75 for members and $100 for non-members.

Contact Information

Megan Tunila

[email protected]

All JSP participants (students, volunteers, instructors, parents, etc.) must wear a type III (3) PFD. This rule is strictly enforced.

Sneakers are required (no bare feet, open toe shoes or flop-flops).

Each fleet has dedicated chase boat while students are on the water. All instructors carry hand-held VHFs for communication.

During each session, safety and the applicable rules are reviewed with the students.

WHAT TO WEAR AND NOT WEAR

Students must come to class with a Type III (3) Personal Flotation Device (PFD). All students must wear their PFD at all time while on the water. The instructors strictly enforce this policy.

New clothing is not required. Old sneakers are fine. Hats are OK, but often get in the way while new sailors are learning their way around the boat.

CLOTHES TO WEAR

• Jacket / fleece / polypropylene for first couple weeks
• Old sneakers or water shoes

DO NOT WEAR

• Cotton material for the first couple weeks
• Sandals, flip flops or open-toe shoes
• Ear rings / jewelry

Be sure to label your sailor’s gear (i.e. Gear bag, clothes, hat, water bottle, etc.)

What to Bring and Not Bring

Included below is a list of items students will need for the class. Be sure all of your personal gear is labeled with the student’s name.

GEAR TO BRING

• Type III PFD
• Change of clothes
• Water bottle
• Ball cap and / or sun glasses

DO NOT BRING

• Expensive eye glasses or sun glasses
• Cell Phones
• Wallet, money, etc.

How Parents Can Help

During the May and June classes, please ensure students are ready for class and ready to sail.

Parents are welcome to stay during the class (i.e. listen to the lectures, chalk talks, etc.) however they may not help the students rig and de-rig the boats, or fold or stow the sails or equipment. The students are expected to complete these activities.

Parent can help the students practice knots and line handling, and surf the web for sailing related information.

This site has a series of links parent are encouraged to view with the students.

Please note; many of the links are You Tube postings. Parents are encouraged to monitor student activity while viewing the links.

Canceling Class

The program sails in cloudy weather and / or light rain.

We do not sail in heavy rain, high winds, and / or lightning.

When class is cancelled, parents will be notified via text at 08:00 am Saturday mornings.

Qualification Cards

There is a Qualification (Qual) Card for each fleet, that includes a list of topics and/or skills each student is expected to learn. The Qual Cards are intended to record a student’s progress through the program. As a student demonstrates the ability to perform a given skill it will be recorded on the Qual Card. When a student completes all of the items on their Qual Card (for a given fleet), they are eligible to move to the next fleet.

The Westerly

Celebrate in style at the waterfront venue of cottage park yacht club.

We are delighted to showcase our members-only rental hall, The Westerly, as a perfect venue for all your special events. Whether you’re planning a wedding reception, a corporate event, a family reunion or a child’s birthday, our rental hall is the ideal location with its waterfront location and stunning views of Boston Harbor and the sunset. The Westerly accommodates up to 150 guests and can be customized to meet your seating arrangements. Although we do not cater, we work with several catering professionals. Our modern audio-visual equipment ensures that your event’s entertainment runs smoothly.

Our members have had nothing but praise for our rental hall. They have commended our excellent services, our friendly and professional staff, and our ability to create a memorable experience for them and their guests. Here’s what one satisfied customer had to say:

“We hosted our wedding reception at Cottage Park Yacht Club, and it was a wonderful experience. The venue was breathtakingly beautiful, and the services were top-notch. The staff went above and beyond to make our day special, and we couldn’t have asked for more.”

Our member-only rates are affordable and include everything you need to create a memorable event for your guests. Contact us now to schedule a tour or to make a reservation. We look forward to working with you!

CPYC Member Hall Rental Fees 100 guests or less — $475.00 100 to 150 guests — $575.00 150 or more guests — $675.00 Wedding reception — $1,200.00 Kitchen use and cleaning fee — $350.00 ($100 refundable deposit) Additional staff — $100.00

Complete the form below if you are interested in renting the CPYC function hall or contact the Club Manager Janine Stanton by phone at 617-846-2792 or email [email protected] .

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