Back in 2006, the yachtsman Carlton “Bud” Scott started researching and writing a 272-page history book commemorating the 85th anniversary of the Catalina Island Yacht Club, from 1924 to 2009.
I was fortunate enough to be part of his seven-member team, three of whom, myself included, had also volunteered with Bud on Long Beach Yacht Club’s 75th anniversary book.
What set the Catalina Island YC history apart from other clubs is the large number of famous people who were members — including Edward L. “Ned” Doheny Jr., son of oil magnate Edward L. Doheny of Teapot Dome fame.
Greystone Mansion, in Beverly Hills, recently hosted a traveling floral exhibit, “Fleurs de Villes,” promoting the HBO original series, “The Gilded Age.” It included a collection of mannequins dressed in fresh flowers depicting characters of the series, each displayed in separate rooms on the property. (Photo by Jo Murray, Grunion Gazette/SCNG)
Greystone Mansion, in Beverly Hills, was where Catalina Island Yacht Club member Edward L. “Ned” Doheny Jr. was apparently slain by his secretary, Hugh Plunkett, in 1929. (Photo by Jo Murray, Grunion Gazette/SCNG)
Greystone Mansion, in Beverly Hills, recently hosted a traveling floral exhibit, “Fleurs de Villes,” promoting the HBO original series, “The Gilded Age.” It included a collection of mannequins dressed in fresh flowers depicting characters of the series, each displayed in separate rooms on the property. (Photo by Jo Murray, Grunion Gazette/SCNG)
Several yachts compete in the Commodores Cup Regatta last month. (Photo courtesy of the Long Beach Yacht Club)
Show Caption
1 of 4
Greystone Mansion, in Beverly Hills, recently hosted a traveling floral exhibit, “Fleurs de Villes,” promoting the HBO original series, “The Gilded Age.” It included a collection of mannequins dressed in fresh flowers depicting characters of the series, each displayed in separate rooms on the property. (Photo by Jo Murray, Grunion Gazette/SCNG)
Doheny Jr. was an active Catalina Island YC member when his secretary, Hugh Plunkett, reportedly murdered him at his Beverly Hills home. Plunkett then took his own life with the same gun. Scott’s history book omits details of the 1929 murder-suicide in Doheny’s game room/study, but the crime has long interested me.
Last week, on Friday, Oct. 30, I was able to visit that home — Greystone Mansion — and the room (repurposed as a gift shop) that he was murdered in.
The impressive mansion, built in 1928, was the venue for a traveling floral exhibit, “Fleurs de Villes,” promoting the HBO original series, “The Gilded Age.” It included a collection of mannequins dressed in fresh flowers depicting characters of the series, each displayed in separate rooms on the property.
Doheny Jr. died in February 1929 and later that same year, the Catalina Island YC hosted the first “Commodore’s Cruise” in collaboration with the Southern California Yachting Association. The cruise and associated regatta became a tradition that was hosted annually for several years and sporadically in more recent years.
Scott’s history book includes intriguing notes about the 1933 cruise, which preceded the end of Prohibition on Dec. 5 that year.
“Bootleggers reportedly landed several gallons of ethanol on the beach in Long Beach in response to a shortage of medical supplies needed by doctors treating the many people injured in the March 10, 1933 earthquake,” says an editor’s note in the Catalina Island history book. “Dr. Carl Bishop, who was Vice Commodore of Long Beach YC, provided 30 gallons of ‘alky’ for the 1933 Commodores cruise party.”
The 1933 commodores cruise to the isthmus over Labor Day weekend was hosted by four clubs, notes on the same page say: “California YC contributed $150 towards the event costs, Los Angeles YC contributed $50, Long Beach YC $25 and the remaining cost of $57.69 was paid by Catalina Island YC. The major expense was $132 for an item listed as ‘refreshments’ and the participants paid $0.25 for dinner.”
This year, the Commodores Cup regatta and cruise returned after a hiatus — and was so successful that plans are already in the works for next year.
SCYA Commodore Jodi Masters-Gonzales drove the effort to salute the association’s history by bringing back the event, she said in a phone interview. She credited CIYC’s Larry Gottlieb and LBYC Commodore Bob Piercy for leading the way. Masters-Gonzales also referred to Judge Advocate David Baker as a “bridge builder” between CIYC and SCYA — and gave kudos to Bill Larkin, who arranged the Tuna Club tour.
A special highlight of the weekend was a historical presentation tracing the Commodores Cruise from its founding in 1929 through its 97 years of existence.by Commodore Brian Randall of West Coast Yacht Club, which is celebrating its own 95th anniversary in 2026.
“From baseball games and mast-climbing contests to celebrity appearances and sailboat racing,” Randall wrote in an email, “the Commodore’s Cruise has always been about more than boats. It has been about bringing people together and creating memories that last long after the sails are lowered.”
This year’s cruise brought together representatives from more than 12 yacht clubs and boating organizations, including West Coast YC, Long Beach YC, Catalina Island YC, Newport Harbor Elks YC, Pierpont YC, Port Royal YC, American Legion YC, Horizon YC, Woman’s Sailing Association of Orange County, Navy YC of Long Beach, Buccaneer YC of San Pedro, Marina YC Del Rey, and Long Beach Singles Club.
Since the cruise began in 1929, racing has been an important part of the event’s history. In earlier years, the race ran from San Pedro, and finished between Bird Rock and Ship Rock at Two Harbors on Catalina Island.
On Oct. 23, LBYC and CIYC jointly hosted the Commodores Cup Regatta in conjunction with the annual SCYA Commodores Cruise to Avalon. The race started in Long Beach with the help from race officer Dave Weil and the LBYC race committee team, and finished in Catalina near the east end quarry by the CIYC race committee.
The racing proved to be exceptionally close. After corrected times were calculated, the top three finishers were separated by just 6 minutes, making for an exciting conclusion to the competition.
The final results were:
First place: Rosebud, LBYC-Cal 40, captained by intermediate member Dave Monk, with a crew that included Scotty Dickson, Spencer Flynn and Galey Potiker.
Second place: Trouble, LBYC Santa Cruz 50, captained by LBYC Rear Commodore Tom Camp, with Commodore Bob Piercy, Fleet Captain Shannon Gallagher, Port Captain Wendy Corzine, Junior Staff Commodore Lisa Meier and Staff Commodore Camille Daniels.
Third place: Bellissima, West Coast YC, 46.1 Beneteau, captained by Glen Ashworth.