Commodore’s Welcome

I would like to personally welcome you to the Clear Lake Yacht Club. For those who do not know me, my name is Michael Starbeck, and it is my privilege to be serving as your Commodore for the upcoming season.

Clear Lake Yacht club has been a pinnacle part of our community since 1935.  The members of our club have found success in sailing competitively on our beautiful lake every weekend and around the country for 87 years now.  Along the way we have been able to create a supportive community fostering countless friendships through many generations.  Along with hosting weekend racing, the Club hosts multiple social opportunities on and off the water.  Members are encouraged to join and watch the races with others.  Later, mingling with friends at our social events held at both the club and members’ homes.

My family and I have been members of our Club since the turn of the century (at least 2000).  It started with my father-in-law first purchasing a MC and attempting to participate in races in the mid 80’s.  Even though he didn’t win any races he passed his love for the sport onto my wife and I.  Ed, myself and Lexa with the help of two great sailors, Dan Allen and John Toepfler, sailed a E boat in the late 90’s and early 2000’s.  Today, my four children have also found their passion for sailing; all getting the privilege to race in the Optimist, X scow, and now, lucky for me, the E scow.  They also have all participated in Clear Lake sailing school.  The amount of support I have found in the sailing community is incomparable to that I have experienced before in any other organization.  I feel honored to be a part of this long standing organization.

This year the Clear Lake Yacht Club is honored to be hosting both the ILYA Optimist and X Boat Championship regattas this coming summer.  Youth sailors (and their families; over 500 people) from across our ILYA community will travel to compete and make countless memories on our lake.  Members will have the opportunity to spectate, get their children involved, and help out by volunteering.  These events will give us a great chance to showcase how amazing the community we have built in Clear Lake really is.  It will be extra special for Team Starbeck because it will be my youngest child’s, Danny, final year in X Boat racing.  Not only will I have the privilege to see him race on his home lake , but in addition his older siblings ( my children) Billy and Ana, will be  team coaches.

I am looking forward to serving as your Commodore and what our upcoming season has in store for us.  If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to call me.

Michael Starbeck, 2022 CLYC Commodore
Team Starbeck