Adjusting Their Sails

The Bristol Yacht Club community rallies to rebuild after fall fire

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When the Bristol Yacht Club’s clubhouse building suffered severe damage after a mulch-turned-structural fire on the afternoon of October 21, club executive mem- bers never doubted their plans to rebuild.

Ruth Souto, Commodore of the BYC, arrived on-scene just as firefighters doused the exterior flames, joining Chief Steward Chris Healey and other staff and club members in shock at the sight unfolding before them. “It was hard to fathom that our Club was burning. It was surreal,” says Souto, thanking club members for their outpouring of support and offers of assistance.

The BYC, comprised of 325 members and their families, shares a mutual love and respect for all things water and boating. From sailors and power boaters, to kayakers and paddle boarders, club members are a strong community of volunteers, aged infant to 80s, with varying expertise in the areas of architecture, construction, law, insurance, and beyond, “[suiting] the club well in this particular situation,” adds Souto.

Since the night of the fire, the BYC family has rolled up their sleeves and gotten to work on their plans to rebuild. With an estimated timeframe of 18 months, Souto says that the group has continued, daily, to move forward. Though the BYC’s interior was severely compromised as a result of the fire, the structural integrity of the building was miraculously preserved with the exception of the south side of the building.

“We have already begun the process of removing the walls, floors, and ceilings,” shares Souto, “We are still running our Frostbite Sailing series as usual, [which] began in November and [will] continue to sail through the spring.” She adds that “sailors are generally adaptable people [and] as the old adage goes, ‘We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.’”

On behalf of the club, Souto extends her gratitude to the various first responders, U.S. Sailing, Herreshoff Marine Museum, Barrington Yacht Club, and Bristol County Elks for their assistance and contributions. In particular, she expresses thanks to Healey, whose “calm demeanor was exactly what was needed during the emergency and has continued to carry [the BYC] through this unfortunate time.”

Reflecting on 34 years of memories, Souto asserts that “the Bristol Yacht Club is more than a building; we are a community and will work together to overcome this unfortunate circumstance.” 

Caroline Boyle, The Bristol Yacht Club community rallies to rebuild after fall fire, Bristol Yacht Club, BYC, Adjusting Their Sails, Ruth Souto, Chief Steward Chris Healey, Bristol Yacht Club fire, rebuild, community of volunteers, BYC family, Frostbite Sailing, U.S. Sailing, Herreshoff Marine Museum, Barrington Yacht Club, Bristol County Elks, The Bay Magazine, The Bay, East Bay RI, Rhode Island, RI, East Bay Rhode Island, TheBayMag, The Bay Mag, East Bay

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