Text Box: ABOUT THE CLUB The Blue Valley Yacht Club is an organization for sailboaters in the Manhattan area. The Club began 45 years ago and is incorporated as a non-profit organization to promote sailing and provide facilities for sailboats on Tuttle Creek Lake. The Club leases about 10 acres of land and water on the west side of Tuttle Cove from the Corps of Engineers. Actually, the Club's roots precede Tuttle Creek Lake. When the lake was still a controversial project, a group of ardent sailors from Manhattan and Clay Center faithfully met at Pottawatomie Lake for camaraderie and competition. A handful of those sailors - the Lieblers, Samelsons, Hostetters and Al Bailey - formed the nucleus for what would become the Blue Valley Yacht Club. In 1963, this group organized a regatta held in conjunction with the Tuttle Creek dedication ceremony and as Sonie Liebler recalls, "We were sailing through the milo fields as the lake was filling up." A short time later, the Blue Valley Yacht Club was formed. The first meeting of the Club was held on June 29, 1963 at the home of Helen and Phil Hostetter. The 26 people in attendance at the meeting elected Al Liebler as Commodore, Franz Samelson as Vice Commodore, Phil Hostetter as Secretary-Treasurer, and Al Bailey as Fleet Chairman. The Samelsons along with other charter members (the Lacys) are still active today. In the early years the Club leased space and procured a club house at the now defunct Spillway Marina. But, ownership of the marina changed hands several times and maintenance of the facility became a perpetual problem. As facilities deteriorated, the Club petitioned the Corps of Engineers for a new location. The request was denied in early 1973. This was a frustrating period in the Club's history as efforts to gain improvements or a new area were continually thwarted. Finally, in August 1974, the Club learned that the Corps of Engineers would lease property on Tuttle Cove. The lease was signed in January 1975 providing the Club with 3.98 acres of water and 6.35 acres of land. Then the monumental construction project in terms of work and finances began. A road and parking lot were cleared, a concrete ramp was laid, a dinghy park was constructed, moorings were set in place, and loading docks ordered before the sailing season began; picnic tables and a new tractor were acquired shortly thereafter. In subsequent years the Club continued to improve the facilities by extending the ramp in two directions, building a new shelter and fire pit, and purchasing a com

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