Boating with a Runabout Attitude

Recognizing the need for activities that suited the growing number of modest-sized powerboats and runabouts populating the Club grounds, a small group of HYC visionaries huddled in the Porthole in 1988 and the Mosquito Fleet was born.

The group's modus operandi was clear: Crash the destination-of-choice, spend the afternoon and/or evening socializing with Mosquito friends and guests, then dash back to the Club in time to make Last Call. Or make it an overnighter, grabbing a quick wink carefully folded into the cuddy-cabin or at a nearby motel. Soon there would be no restaurant, no drinking establishment, no shallow-water marina, no fishing hole, no anchorage, no member's waterfront property that would be safe from the onslaught of the Mosquito Fleet.

The rapid deployment and first strike capability of the Fleet soon became legendary, and the Fleet roster grew as Fleet coffers bulged with the $10 annual dues assessed each member (considered confiscatory by some). The Mosquito Fleet Flag, bearing the black HYC Mosquito rampant on a white field, became prominent across the HYC harbor and, not surprisingly, began showing up on increasingly larger vessels and even (gulp) sailboats.

Many of the Founding Mosquitoes have since moved on to much larger vessels, some to slower vessels, some to no vessel and some to greener pastures. But the Mosquito Fleet's Mission has remained an unwavering reminder of the proper way to cruise the Bay.

Fun for All

Cruise destinations are usually accessible by land or by sea and runabouts and cuddies are always welcome; sailboats may have some trouble ducking the occasional bridge or dragging a shallow entrance, but are also welcome. Most activities are one day or overnight optional. Social time is prime time, and keeping a reasonable bedtime may be difficult. Several purely social affairs are planned each year, including the Annual Carl Johnston Lobster Boil and the increasingly popular Mosquito Fleet Cook-Off Challenge. The Annual Summer Fishing Tournament & Shrimp Boil has opened an Offshore Division for the more adventurous.

HYC members and guests are invited to join us for any of the Mosquito Fleet activities - fleet membership is not required. If the Mosquito Fleet passes your scrutiny, annual dues are $15 and a Fleet Burgee costs $65. Contact Mosquitodore Joe Evans at j.evans.dig.in@gmail.com for more information.

For dates of this year's Mosquito Fleet events, please see the HYC Calendar