Balboa Island Yacht Club: No Adults Allowed

NEWPORT BEACH — Rarely does a yacht club exude antiquity and youth at the same time.  Balboa Island Yacht Club, however, is an organization operating in rarefied air. Balboa Island YC was founded 93 years ago by Joseph Allan Beek, well before Newport Beach was transformed into a large suburban city with a major harbor. Much has changed in Newport Beach and Balboa Island since 1922. The 93-year-old yacht club, however, is still comprised entirely of non-adult members. Members might be young but Balboa Island YC is organized and operated just like any other yacht club. The club is led by a commodore and is supported by a vice commodore, rear commodore, treasurer and secretary. Elections are held annually to determine how the club’s leadership will play out. Officers are generally in their mid-teens. Some commodores eventually assume the same position at adult-run yacht clubs. Each member pays a $100 fee upon joining Balboa Island YC. “It is a Southern California Yachting Association (SCYA) affiliated yacht club, so it’s the real deal. It started in 1922,” said David Lamontagne, whose daughter Lauren served as commodore earlier this year. “It’s been intertwined in our community for a very long time.” Maintaining a leadership post within...