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| Military humor: Badge of the Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club -aka US 7th Fleet- |
The traditions and prestige normally associated with yacht clubs have
to some extent been subverted or appropriated unofficially by groups
and businesses calling themselves "yacht clubs". For example the "Gowanus Yacht Club" is a beer garden in Brooklyn, NY, the "Crystal Bay Yacht Club" is a beach resort in Ko Samui, Thailand and "The Eagle Rock Yacht Club" is a non-profit dodgeball league in Glassell Park, Los Angeles.These so-called "yacht clubs" don't necessarily involve sailing on the
private yachts of their members as their main purpose or activity, but
often outwardly maintain a nautical or water-oriented theme.
Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club was the unofficial name for the United States Seventh Fleet during the Vietnam War. In this case the term "yacht club" was appropriated with humorous intentions. The Seventh Fleet's nickname became very popular among its members at the time.
