The Buffalo Yacht Club is celebrating 150 years of existence this summer.

     To mark the anniversary, the board of directors has scheduled a week of activities dedicated to the history of the club -- beginning today with a flag ceremony.

     The club began with about a dozen men who, on Aug. 10, 1860, adopted a constitution. The makeup and number of boats from the original club are not known but the current one now lists more than 300 boats in many classes.

     Among the anniversary activities planned are luncheons and dinners at which speakers, such as Melissa Brown of the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society and BYC historian Jerry Stange, will talk about the club's past, and the Mayor's Cup Race to Point Abino, Ont. on Saturday.

     The biggest event will be the Mercedes Benz J/22 North American Regatta on Aug. 20-21. It caps a summer of races that included the Great Lakes International Challenge Cup, the 53rd Lake Erie Interclub Cruise, in which more than 60 boats started in Buffalo and raced to Port Dover in Erie, Pa., and the BMW LYRA Leukemia and Lymphoma Charity Mini-Match Regatta on July 27-Aug. 1.

     In recognition of the BYC's 150th anniversary, the regatta was held entirely in Lake Erie instead of Lake Ontario for only the second time in the race's century old existence. More than 90 boats from Canada and the United States competed in eight sailing events, culminating in a yacht club match racing challenge that benefited the Leukemia Society.

     The BYC claims to be the third oldest yacht club in continuous operation in the United States. The Web site yachtclub.com lists it as the 11th such club in the U.S. but does not say which have been in continuous operation. The first two yacht clubs in the U.S. are the Detroit Boat Club (1839) and the New York Yacht Club (1844) of America's Cup fame.

     The BYC is one of the only clubs in the world to have boating stations in two countries; a base on Porter Avenue in Buffalo and another at Point Abino that was established in 1902.

"What we have at the Buffalo Yacht Club and what makes us so successful are the programs we have set up to help teach those that want to sail better and even learn the basics of sailing for the first time available," said Peter Stevens, the club's communications chairman.

     Among the options offered at the BYC are Junior Sailing at Point Abino, directed at young children with little to no experience, and learn-to-sail programs which are open to the public and offer all age ranges the chance to become involved in sailing at a low cost and without having to own a boat.

     BYC members say their club is more about sailing and socializing than it is about yachting -- which to them implies great wealth and exclusivity.

     "People can get into sailing by joining a crew or borrowing a boat. The cost is minimal, you can own a boat for $2,000 to $3,000," Commodore William Bredenberg said. "This is not a rich man's sport -- there are a lot of boats under $10,000. People have the option at the Buffalo Yacht Club to race or not. Two-thirds of our members are social members, so they don't own a boat at all. Club-owned boats can be borrowed by members that are qualified, which we determine by going out with them and seeing how they handle a boat. We even have our Tuesday and Wednesday night races where people come out and learn how to sail in a comfortable and fun atmosphere."

     In addition to its weekly races, the Buffalo Yacht Club hosts match races, one design races -- such as the J22s -- and handicap races for boats of various shapes and sizes that attract sailors from all over the world.

     One of the regulars is Charlie Obersheimer, 67. He jokingly said he had "spent his entire life sailing."

     After a recent race the eight crew members of the Borsaw, on which Obersheimer served, headed for the postrace gathering and a small party.

     "This is why we come out here," he said. "It's relaxing. It's fun, the people are great."

     "This is a place for everyone and anyone," said Bredenberg, who also crewed on the Borsaw. "What we really like to do is just sit back, enjoy the race and the company we're with. This is truly a social place, welcome for all types of people. We like to have fun and be as laid back as possible."

lseverins@buffnews.comnull