It was in September of 1988 when Victor Forsyth and Herb Frede became restless and kicked around the idea of forming a fishing or boating club for Burnt Store Isles residents.
On November 17, 1988, a meeting was held at 413 Macedonia Dr., with Victor Forsyth, Herb Frede and Edgar Smith in attendance. It was decided to have a flyer delivered to all those in Burnt Store Isles who had a boat at their dock or on a lift, to determine if anyone else might be interested in forming a boating club. The response was overwhelming.
On January 18, 1989 -The first General Meeting was held at the Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club. It was at this meeting that a vote was taken and approved to form a Founders Committee. The members elected to the Founders Committee were Victor Forsyth, Chairman; Herbert Frede; Rosanna Frede; Paul Gottwals; Edgar Smith; and Marion Case. That Founders Committee met at 413 Macedonia Drive. The meeting was to draft up the By-Laws and develop information about seeking a non-profit boating club status in the State of Florida.
The first Burnt Store Isles Boat Club cruise was to Burnt Store Marina for lunch on January 28, with 18 boats participating.

History of the First BSI Boat Club Commodore’s Flag
Beginning in 1990, a few months after the founding of the Burnt Store Isles Boat Club, the Commodore’s Flag was flown by Victor Forsyth, the Club’s first Commodore. It was passed down to succeeding Commodores:
Dean Myer 1991Dick Wagenbrenner 1992Jack Cockshott 1993Jack Collins 1994Gary Ray 1995/1996
On January 30, 1996, the flag was framed and presented to Victor Forsyth by the Board of Governors to express the Club’s appreciation to the “Founding Commodore” for his leadership during the early years.
Shortly after Victor’s passing in 2012, Loretta, Victor’s wife of 58 years, graciously returned the flag to the BSIBC requesting that it “be passed down to each succeeding Commodore as a sense of continuity. She said Victor was most proud of the Flag, and always felt the founding of the BSIBC was his greatest accomplishment.
At the Club’s annual meeting in 2012, the Flag was presented to Commodore Kathy Williamson. The now-named “Forsyth Flag” has been passed down to each subsequent Commodore at the Change of Watch Ceremony to remind them of past contributions made by many, and their responsibility in guiding the Club’s future.