As with all truly great organizations the Rio Vista Yacht club has modest origins, In fact very, very modest origins.  The humble beginnings started several years ago (most likely 1994 but they can’t remember and it took several years to decide exactly what to do?) and demonstrates much obscurity.  So much obscurity some would say the Rio Vista Yacht Club didn’t even exist!!!  But exist they did, they gathered often in group meetings usually late a night, often on weekends.  Many who claimed to have caught glances of the meetings said they heard loud voices and laughter bounding across the river.  That was a tell-tale sign of development in action for the Rio Vista Yacht Club.  Many nights and many weekends the core team of the Cotee River Crew envisioned their dream of becoming a top notched Yacht Club with the same distinction as was recognized by their counterparts the “Gulf Harbors Yacht Club.  Many times the Cotee River Crew asked (again at the late night meetings on the weekends) “What do they have we don’t?  The answer was obvious to all that observed but “the Crew” wouldn’t let a little thing like not having any yachts discourage them from their vision.  They plodded forward, they held to their vision and finally they decided on a single plan.  (Some say plans were made at other times but...this one they all remembered the next day)  They planned on entering the annual event of known to all for it’s prestige and honor, the Annual Chasco Fiesta Holiday Boat Parade.  Many folks scorned, others laughed (maybe that was just Phil?), all felt certain this “pipedream’ would end in humiliation, but not the Cotee River Crew, they knew it was their time, they were going for it all, they were going to win!  They worked many nights planning and organizing and building the decorations, fixing lights, even “Buckie” the famous drinking reindeer was to be part of the activity. Decisions had to made, how would they do it?  Well, anyway they could, was always the answer Julio exclaimed as the determined crew pushed forward, What size generator?  The largest of course, spare no expense was Charlie's reply,  Whose Boat shall we use?  Well, Phil's boat was the obvious answer as he had the only boat who could hold “Buckie”, the reindeer they all loved, they all knew a canoe wouldn’t work.  Over several weeks they worked and planned and decorated the boat, the ordinal neighbors and friends of Rio Vista Drive,  Julio, Sharon, Donna, Jim, Bunny, John, Charlie, Ginny, Phil and Caroline they all knew now was the time for the Rio Vista Yacht Club to go play with the big boys, undaunted they were, they knew they could do it.  As the day approached the club members felt good (In fact the night before many of them felt VERY GOOD), then tragedy struck...   They knew now was when they really had to struggle, the boat didn’t run.  What were they to do?  Julio, feared not, he knew the vision was within grasp, finally the Rio Vista Yacht Club would be and he wouldn’t let a much needed boat repair stand in their way.  He called for help and friends and supporters assisted (as long as he promised to pay the bill), the boat was running again!!! When the time came to leave port for the parade all were proud of there creation and all hoped tonight would be the night!!

Well, as the legend goes, when they announced that boat, the crowd roared in appreciation, some where heard to say “What the hell is the Rio Vista Yacht Club” but most knew a winner when they saw it.  The lights were blinding, the music exhilarating, the coordinating outfits of the crew. well that was kind of weird... but overall it was a wonderful.  Many say they saw “Buckie” wink in the knowledge they had a winner.  And so it was……….In the new millennium the Rio Vista Yacht Club as lead by the Cotee River Crew won the “most festive theme award” of the Annual Chasco boat parade, the press was there even FOX 13 featured the boat as the display was phenomenal.  Today, all know of the Rio Vista Yacht Club and all know of the Cotee River Crew and how hard they worked for their moment, all was recognized originally in the Chasco Holiday Boat Parade in 2000.  Today the Cotee River Crew has lead every single year since 2000 by winning an award and placing no lower than 2^nd in overall winnings in every single parade.  Most notable, the Crew won the grand prize of $2,500 in the Chasco Fiesta celebration in 2006 with the “We be Jammin Inn”themed boat. 

Today, just as before you will find the club, late nights and weekends, holding the planning meetings, listen and you’ll find them as they plan for next year and bask in the glory of respect...  For now they are and forever will be the RIO VISTA YACHT CLUB, a Florida Award winning yacht club and the famous Cotee River Crew.   Today the members are lead by Mike & Tammy (only because no one else can keep up with them) , while the original creators of the frivolity Charlie, Ginny, Sharon and Julio hold their esteem positions of respect as board of directors.