A prestigious yacht club in California has been engulfed in controversy after a female member was rejected for the top leadership position, sparking accusations of retaliation and a bitter feud among members.
Background of the Dispute
Marisa McArthur, 50, had been a member of the Sausalito Yacht Club since 2018 and steadily climbed the ranks, serving as membership chair and later rear commodore. She appeared poised to eventually become commodore, the club's equivalent of CEO. However, in March 2025, the club's nominating committee informed her that she would not be selected for the role, citing that "people don't like you," as she told the Wall Street Journal.
The St. Patrick's Day Incident
The trouble began when the club canceled its traditional St. Patrick's Day party in favor of a fundraiser for veterans. McArthur objected to the decision and emailed commodore Russell Croce. Croce reportedly sent a sharp reply warning her to stop questioning him, later telling the nominating committee that she was insubordinate, according to the WSJ. McArthur claims her rejection was an act of retaliation.
Undeterred, McArthur ran as a write-in candidate, creating campaign pins and wristbands. The situation escalated further on the Fourth of July when club member and broadcasting legend Jim Gabbert, 90, approached McArthur's mother, Tina Frank, unaware of her identity, and made disparaging remarks about McArthur, calling her "Tammy Two"—a reference to her friend Tammy Blanchard, whom Gabbert described as the "worst commodore we ever had." Gabbert also claimed McArthur had "ruined" a club picnic.
Escalation and Disciplinary Actions
McArthur lamented to the WSJ, "They just don't like me. No matter what I touch or what I do, I've ruined it." Weeks later, Gabbert and McArthur argued during happy hour, with Croce physically intervening. At another happy hour, McArthur told rear commodore Bob Lalanne, "You're either with me or you're against me," prompting Lalanne to file an incident report.
The club's inboxes were flooded with emails from both sides outlining grievances. The toxicity eventually led to a formal disciplinary meeting where McArthur, Blanchard, Gabbert, Frank, and 20 other members were sanctioned. McArthur, Blanchard, and Blanchard's husband received lifetime bans.
Legal Action
A group formed by McArthur filed a lawsuit against the club demanding the trio's reinstatement, with the case set for trial. Blanchard said, "It's been horrible. It was our entire social network. We don't have anywhere to go." Club chef Justin Bruckert noted the saga has "torn the club apart." Member Mark Jensen likened the dispute to "high school" but with "a lot of retired attorneys with time on their hands."
The Daily Mail has contacted McArthur, Blanchard, and the club for comment.
