President’s Report: May 2026
Dear Members,
I hope that all of our members, lessees, and their guests had a wonderful boating season in the tropical paradise of Southwest Florida. Our club is located in a perfect location and a great starting point for any boating activity. Summer is still a fun time to boat. See you there!
On our end, we’re beginning our summer project list. As always, the project list is extensive and remains a top priority in keeping our clubhouse, common areas, grounds, and equipment in top condition. We’ve already completed all palm trimming and steam cleaning of the clubhouse floors. We also had a tremendous first quarter, surpassing all sales goals. Our staff did an outstanding job ensuring every member and guest had a five-star experience this season. Our labor shortage remains a challenge, but we are doing well with the staff we have.
Socially, we had eight “all-you-can-eat” super buffets that were extremely successful; a Sanibel-Sing-Along Karaoke night, and a fun run to the Naples Yacht and Sailing Club for their fabulous Sunday Brunch. With member support, we will continue to increase our social agenda again next season.
Our Hot Dog giveaway will be on Saturday, May 23. Delicious hot dogs, snacks, and water are free to all boaters that day.
As we enter the summer and rainy season, we want to remind everyone of our safety protocols and weather policies. Please take a moment to review these important guidelines by visiting the following link:
Club Protocols & Weather Policies
Please visit our website Sanibel Harbour Yacht Club | Dockominiums in Fort Myers, FL to view the summer operating schedule and other information. We will return to our extended-season hours in October 2026.
Our Punta Rassa friends, club members, and social members are starting to move back into their homes. We estimate that only 20 percent of them have returned, but we have seen an increase in business in the last month. We appreciate their long-standing support of our bar and restaurant business and look forward to all of them being back for next season.
Since Hurricanes Ian and Milton, we’ve made several major improvements designed to better protect the Club and strengthen our preparedness for future storm events. We recently purchased a flood barrier system that helps protect the Ship Store, walk-in cooler room, and elevator shaft from storm surge and flooding. In addition, all electrical outlets and key electrical components in vulnerable areas were relocated above flood elevation to better safeguard critical systems. We also completed the installation of brand-new roofs on both the Clubhouse and Boat Barn, providing stronger protection against future wind and weather events. These upgrades reflect our continued commitment to protecting the Club’s assets and improving resiliency for future hurricane seasons.
Hurricane Ian Recovery Update – Environmental Remediation Nearing Completion
As many of you may recall, during Hurricane Ian, one of our fuel tanks was impacted, resulting in a fuel leak that required environmental remediation under the oversight of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). Over the past three-plus years, extensive soil remediation work has been conducted to remove hydrocarbon contamination and ensure the affected area meets all required environmental standards.
We are pleased to share that we have received approval to enter the Post Remediation phase, the final stage of this project before permanent closure. This marks the last remaining item on our Hurricane Ian recovery checklist.
Once this final phase is completed, Sanibel Harbour Yacht Club will officially close the chapter on all Hurricane Ian recovery efforts—a milestone that reflects years of hard work, patience, and perseverance from everyone involved. Thank you to our membership for your continued support throughout this long recovery process.
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank
As many of you know, SHYC has had a long and successful business relationship with Sanibel Captiva Community Bank. We have accepted their request for us to join them in a new marketing campaign. Along with the incredible support of our members, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank was a major factor in the recovery from Hurricane Ian. Under the leadership of President and CEO Kyle DeCicco and Senior Vice President and Commercial Relationship Manager Rudi Hamer, SanCap Bank acted immediately. It approved several loans that enabled us to begin the massive repairs and rebuild our club. Their assistance enabled SHYC to reopen just 6 months after the hurricane, making it the first marina in SW Florida to do so. They also assisted many local businesses and individuals in recovery. Owned and operated locally, they are a fast-growing bank that is truly here to serve both the business community and SWF individuals.
The first publication it will appear in is the Sanibel Captiva Real Estate Guide’s May issue. I’m not sure of the exact timing, but it will also appear in The Islander, Gulfshore Business, Southwest Florida Business Today, and Suite Life.
We’re proud to recognize our May Employee of the Month, Yunier Coroas.
Yunier has faced significant personal challenges recently, yet he has continued to show up with professionalism, determination, and a strong work ethic. His resilience and loyalty during a difficult time have not gone unnoticed.
We’re incredibly fortunate to have Yunier on our team and appreciate the dedication he brings each day. Congratulations, Yunier!
Thank you all for your continued support and encouragement to the Board, management, and our staff. Please let me know if your club experience meets or exceeds your expectations.
As always, GOD BLESS AMERICA
Sincerely,
Peter Mazzagatti, President
Sanibel Harbour Yacht Club
239-470-9577 cell
pmazzagatti@comcast.net