nyc yacht club

Open Daily 10am - 5pm | 365 Thames Street, Newport RI, 02840 Plan Your Visit

Open Daily 10am - 5pm  Plan Your Visit

Yacht Clubs

New York Yacht Club

The mission of the New York Yacht Club is to attract and bring together a dedicated group of yachting and naval members to share and foster their interest in yachting and yacht racing; to sustain a leadership role in yachting, its history, its development, the preservation of its traditions, and the furtherance of good seamanship; to promote the highest form of Corinthian sportsmanship in national and international yachting forums and yacht racing competitions.

Stories from New York Yacht Club

On July 30, 1844, John Cox Stevens (1785-1857) and eight of his friends met aboard Stevens’ yacht Gimcrack, anchored off the Battery in New York Harbor. That afternoon, they established the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) and made three critical decisions that day: first, they elected Stevens as Commodore of the Club; second, they agreed to develop rules and regulations to govern the Club; and, third, they resolved to cruise to Newport, Rhode Island, initiating the enduring connection between the Club and New England. The Club’s young fleet of eight schooner yachts set sail from New York Harbor for Newport three days later, marking the Club’s first Annual Cruise. During the passage, they made stops at various ports on Long Island Sound and even held informal speed trials. Upon reaching Newport, the members met up with yachtsmen from Boston to socialize and engage in racing activities. On August 8, the Club hosted a fleet race around Conanicut Island, a popular racecourse today. The year that followed was a busy one for the Club. It adopted its Rules and Regulations, opened its first clubhouse and held its first Annual Regatta.

The New York Yacht Club held its first Annual Regatta–a fleet race for a prize cup–on July 17, 1845. Nine yachts started opposite the new clubhouse at 9 a.m. on the Hudson River. They sailed to a turning mark near Sandy Hook in the Lower Bay and returned—a 38-mile course. The yacht Cygnet won, earning fame as the first winner of North America’s longest-running sailing regatta. Today, the New York Yacht Club has its signature clubhouse, a National Historic Landmark, on West 44th Street in New York, and a waterfront clubhouse, Harbour Court, in Newport. The Club’s first clubhouse survives. It was installed on the grounds of Harbour Court in 1999, where it serves as a reminder of the Club’s origins.

The Club continues to run its Annual Regatta, presented by Rolex. The Club also hosts the biennial Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup, for international Corinthian sailors representing their yacht clubs and nations and the parallel event for U.S. yacht clubs, the Resolute Cup. The Club also hosts and participates in other national, North American and world championships.

rom 1884 to 1900, the clubhouse was a townhouse at 67 Madison Avenue. By 1898, it was chockablock with “models, members, and memorabilia,” according to the New York Daily Tribune. It was then that Commodore J. Pierpont Morgan stunned fellow members by announcing he would donate three lots on West 44th Street to build a new clubhouse. The building, brilliantly designed with nautical motifs by Whitney Warren, opened in 1901. It is famous for its Model Room and Library. The New York Times wrote of the clubhouse in 1906, “Except for the absence of motion, one might fancy oneself at sea.”

In 1987, the New York Yacht Club acquired Harbour Court, the former summer home of Commodore John Nicholas Brown, in Newport, creating a new energy and focus. The waterfront clubhouse opened in 1988 with 1,500 members and guests in attendance. In 2019, Harbour Court hosted the Club’s Dosquicentennial Celebration for members and friends to celebrate the Club’s 175 years of history.

The New York Yacht Club has hosted Race Week at Newport presented by Rolex since 1998 and many other regattas in recent years including world championships for the Etchells, J/70, Farr 40 and Melges 20 classes, the J Class Worlds, the Global Team Race Regatta, the Transatlantic Race, and the IC37 National Championships to name a few.

The Club is also highly active in team and match racing. In 2006, the Club purchased 14 Sonars in dedication of these activities. In 2014, the fleet was increased to 22 Sonars, and today, team racing at the New York Yacht Club offers some of the most intense competition in the country.

Since 2009 the New York Yacht Club has conducted the biennial Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup. After a successful decade of racing in the Swan 42, the eighth one-design class created by the New York Yacht Club since 1900, the Invitational Cup transitioned to using the Club’s fleet of 20 IC37 race boats in 2019. These purpose-built machines, combined with one-design sails from North Sails, identical gear and standardized rig tune, create a level platform for amateur big-boat racing. Yacht club teams worldwide and Corinthian (amateur) sailors flock to Newport to race in this competition. During the first Invitational Cup in 2009, 19 yacht club teams from 14 countries and four continents competed, and the New York Yacht Club emerged as the winner. Since 2009, more than 1,000 sailors, comprised of teams from more than 40 yacht clubs representing 21 countries and all six continents, have competed in at least one edition of the Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup.

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The Sailing Museum & National Sailing Hall of Fame

365 Thames St. Newport RI 02840 401.324.5761

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• Grant Funded Project

In Manhattan, Renewed Grandeur for the Model Room

Posted by Elaine Lembo

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After 120 years of foot traffic, Foundation-raised funds and fine craftsmanship result in a gleaming oak surface

The Model Room of the New York Yacht Club houses 1,340 scaled replicas , of which 150 are full-hulled and rigged models, with the balance half-models. The earliest model dates from 1819 — Hornet , a Maryland oyster sloop rebuilt in 1846 as a Hell’s Gate Pilot Boat with a schooner rig.

The contents of this world-renown space, which includes a magnificent stone hearth, account for serious foot traffic to the room, where members also hold meetings and events. In 2018, the Foundation paid homage to over a century of heavy use by members and their guests when it undertook an ambitious $677, 054 replacement of the original floor at the 44 th St. Clubhouse by Traditional Line , an architectural restoration firm in Manhattan. The collaboration between Traditional Line and the Club goes back to 2014, when the firm completed a restoration of the Clubhouse library, which also included a floor installation.

More than 500 events have taken place in the Model Room since the 2018 project.

“Restorations like the Model Room floor renew the floor but also restore the grandeur of the Model Room,” says Tim McCormick, Club general manager. “Interiors over time are eroded by activity.  Floors get worn and lose their luster. Intermediate repairs also take a toll and even sanding and refinishing never truly restore the original grandeur. A complete restoration with the right experts results in sharp corners, the glow of a fully replaced floor, a newly upholstered banquette, reapplied gold leaf and before you know, it the room looks and feels grand. We feel it, members feel it and guests are awed by it. It is the vital outcome we look for in all the restoration work the Foundation supports.”

Highlights of the Model Room capital project, accomplished under a tight schedule from June to September 2018 — on time and on budget — include:

• The restoration encompassed the entire 3,000 square-foot floor area.
•  It took 4,000 square feet of hand-selected, kiln-dried American white oak grown and harvested in Michigan and Virginia.
• A temporary Clubhouse shutdown allowed a team of 25 workers to safely haul out the Oriental carpet, which required a temporary closing of 44th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues.
• The Model Room walls, including half hull models, were protected by two layers of plastic, from the baseboard to the underside of the balcony.
• A temporary wall with a door to close off the Model Room was constructed at the top of the stone stairs.
• About 50% of the subfloor was also replaced.
• After removing and safely storing the contents, seven cases that house full models of every America’s Cup defender and challenger were moved five times to accommodate the work. The cases were also wrapped in two layers of plastic.
• A customized dolly was designed and built to lift the cases. The heaviest case was approximately 1,750 pounds, with glass on all sides.
• To move the cases, Traditional Line constructed temporary ramps and bridges, to ensure the subfloor didn’t collapse.
• The stone hearth — which is large enough that five adults can stand inside the firebox alone — in front of the mantel was cleaned and restored.
• The chandeliers were cleaned to remove decades of dust; undersides of the balcony were wiped down.

Project Completion Date: 2018

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For more information or assistance with making a contribution, please contact the Foundation by calling 401-608-1125 or [email protected] .

New York Yacht Club

Location & Hours

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37 W 44th St

New York, NY 10036

Avenue Of The Americas & 5th Ave

Midtown West

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I was fortunate to be invited as a guest to the New York Yacht Club for cocktails and I was just plan awe struck. As I approached the building I just couldn't believe my eyes. The architecture, as I later learned, was of a Beaux-Arts style, totally stunning with the windows vividly depicting the sterns of early day sailing ships overhanging a wavy sea. Then the interior, the most classic I've ever seen, can only be described as drop dead lavishly gorgeous. The fireplace has a mantel like piece bigger than life exuding the warmth of being in a classic club of the finest in tradition. The club is of course most famous for defending the America's Cup which it did successfully from 1870 to 1983; described as "being the longest winning streak in history." As I didn't eat here I can't comment upon the food but I can comment upon the Manhattan I had. It was done with a very good rye and garnished with real Maraschino wine soaked cherries; not those cheapo bright red faux done with a brine cherries you'll find in the typical grocery store. A darn good cocktail done in classic style and tradition. I can only say that if you are fortunate enough to have the chance of being invited, it's an invitation not to be overlooked.

I too am not a member but was a guest of a member who entertained us at lunch, which was absolutely delicious, served by an expert, Keith, who makes all other servers I have look like amateurs. The forraged mushroom soup was excellent. I had little room for anything else. The exhibits in the Model Room must be seen to be believed, as well as the carpet which is, i think, the largest from a single weave anywhere in the world. You can just think of a 'magic' persian carpet. You have to be a member to dine here and you may run the risk of disquieting stares from 'real' members who do not 'cotton to women who don't meet their notion of'appropriate age dressing.' But this happens even at bus stops, so........ BTW the people at the entrance, not the checkroom but the front desk bent over backwards to helpfully provide subway information, which is really unique, as they are probably the only people in the place who use the subway! But thanks to them, a young man was especially helpful.

This place is first class. I just attended the National Historic Maritime Society dinner. The dining room is gorgeous and historical with thousands of model ships. The food was above and beyond what I expected. The 3 course dinner included a fancy salad with a cheese bread that was mouth watering, a perfectly cooked and seasoned steak with mushrooms, onions and broccoli rabe and a rum raisin dessert. I enjoyed every minute of being there and every bite!

Views of the model ships in the main dining room

We had a private dinner here for an organization I'm in. What a great choice of venue! The service was flawless, the food was amazing, the drinks were stiff but not overly so, and the decor/atmosphere was incredible. I had never been to a place like this before. It was pretty cool to be in a "high society" setting.

Very private club and we were happy to have been allowed to stay there as a guest of someone else. August is offseason because they are all out at Newport at their other location sailing and enjoying being out of the hot city. The restaurant and bar was closed But we did not mind. We took full advantage and were able to check out all the rooms in the place including the wonderful model room. No pics allowed but trust me the place is incredible. The architecture is so special and hard to describe but we just loved it. Our room was small but was really very nice and the bed was super comfortable. Just an elegant place and in a very well suited area of Manhatten near Times Square. The desk clerk was about the only one working and he was wonderful and answered any question we had and provided anything we needed in a very timely manner. We hope to come back again someday.

Came here for an FCS Luncheon and while the food wasn't very impressive, the room was absolutely gorgeous! We dined in the Model Room, which contains a magnificent collection of "full and half hull models including a scale model history of all New York Yacht Club America's Cup challenges. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987." The food and service was a solid four but I took off one star for the stuffy atmosphere. What can you expect from an invitation only Yacht Club?

Because I am not a member of the NYYC I feel a little naughty writing a review, but hey I have been there, twice now - so here goes. And out of interest, both visits were during weekday lunch in the Grill Room. It is very cool down there, probably one of the coolest restaurants I have been to in NY. It's beautiful and couldn't be any more properly nautical without actually being on a yacht! My favorite part of the room was for sure the chiming clock on the half hours. The service was impeccable and the food (in this case a med-well cheeseburger) was perfect. Upstairs the Model Room steals the show of course, but that is not where we ate. Four stars only, because well it is *slightly* stuffy, just a bit buttoned up for my comfort, I wouldn't want to have a few too many cocktails and let my hair down if you know what I mean - but perhaps that is not what it is meant to be about anyway. If you're ever lucky enough to be invited, definitely go!

I attended a formal catered event in the Model Room and had a great experience. They served quality food that had nice presentation. It is elegantly decorated throughout and has interesting artifacts that would please any Marine lover.

Love this place. What a gorgeous venue! Will upload photos of the Model Room soon! We had dinner upstairs and the waiters/servers were quite nice except the head waiter. The food was not very good for dinner but the hors d'oeuvres were great (mushroom pastries, tuna tartare w/ cucumber, pistacchio-encrusted lamb chops--delicious! but hard to eat standing up, crab cakes). The chocolate cake was too thick, the salad had too much dressing on it, and the fish was tasteless and tough. But still a lovely place to wine and dine!

Food was decent but the service was awful!!! My dining partner didn't get any dressing with his salad and when we were finally able to flag a waiter, the waiter responded with, "I'm not your waiter" and then proceeded not to help us. 10 minutes later we found our guy. Worst waitstaff on the island.

3 other reviews that are not currently recommended

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C lub Facilities

Our facilities are located at Liberty Harbor Marina in Jersey City. This location is easily reached by public transportation, ferries and car. Our land-based Clubhouse features a grass lawn and several decks where Members can relax on rocking chairs. If you live in an apartment, our Clubhouse will become your backyard and outdoor terrace.

Members love to relax at the Clubhouse and escape the bustle of city life. After races, teams gather around the BBQs and cook dinner. On weekends, Members enjoy the cushioned benches below the sun awning. The social connections and friends you make at the Manhattan Yacht Club will become an important part of your life.

“I wish to be a member for the sailing first and foremost. I intend to continue learning through sailing and eventually skipper boats recreationally. In addition to the on-water experience, I wish to join Manhattan Yacht Club for the social aspects off-water. I’ve recently moved to NYC and would love to engage with others who have shared interests.”    – Conner

We are an active Club and Members love sailing. From our Club’s beginning in 1987, we have maintained a fleet of J/24s which is available for all Members to use. You can sail at our Club without owning a boat. The Club currently keeps 13 white J/24s on floating docks in front of the Clubhouse. These boats are all professionally maintained to high standards. There are also an additional 10 red J/24s which are used for our sailing school.

“I have been to Manhattan Yacht Club on several occasions. All of my dealings with staff have been tremendous, courteous and extremely professional. The Manhattan Yacht Club has a prestigious reputation with a community/family feel with many activities and social connections. I want to expand my network of sailing enthusiasts whilst continuing my education through the school. I believe my membership with MYC would incredibly enrich my passion for sailing and it would be an honor to be a member.”    – Bonnie

In addition to the original shared-use fleet, Members are now adding private boats to the Club. These include cruising boats as well as the new fleet of International One Designs plus Sunfish dinghies.

Racing Programs

MYC is renowned for our racing programs. There are Member J/24 races on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and a corporate sailing league on Thursdays. The IOD fleet races on Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons.

“MYC has a great reputation and I experienced some of it’s fantastic sailing community vibes. I would like to bring in my dedication and knowledge to this very special community.  I always try to keep the team together and am of course also keen to help setting up social events for the sailing community.”   – Anja

The Sunfish dinghies race on Saturday afternoons.

There is even an affiliated program which races historic America’s Cup 12 Meters. In winter, the Club organizes a Frostbite Series for Sunfish dinghies. Every few years, we organize the Lady Liberty Regatta and the International Yacht Club Challenge.

Cruising Programs

Each year, many new sailors join our Club with some of them coming from Manhattan Sailing School. After discovering the sport of sailing, people want to gain more experience. Our Club J/24s sail seven days a week from May until October. We have a very popular “Fleet Captain Program” where Skippers volunteer to take fellow Members sailing. This is a great way for new sailors to get involved in the Club, improve their skills and begin making sailing connections. There is also an active Day Sailing League.

“My experience at the sailing school reflected very positively on the club. The instructors themselves, the other MYC members and leadership who spoke on calls, and the members we ran into at the club over the weekend were all welcoming, encouraging, and friendly. This club feels like a great place to get back into sailing. I was also impressed by the club’s fleet of boats and the structured programs in place to grow sailing skills (my experience with the sailing school makes me excited to get sailing again in the fleet captain program).”    – Marc

Mentor Program

Our Club also has a strong educational philosophy. In addition to the Fleet Captain Program which turns novices into seasoned crew, we have a Mentor Program. This is where Club Skippers work with aspiring sailors to improve their skills with the goal of passing our Skipper Certification Test.

“I wish to be a member because I thoroughly enjoyed my time doing the weekend Basic Sailing course and learned a lot. I would like to continue to learn and improve my skills and I think the Manhattan Yacht Club is the best place to do that. I appreciate that you have a mentoring program where experienced sailors can impart their wisdom on newer sailors, and like that the club does multiple social events.”   – Nina

Honorable William Wall

Manhattan Yacht Club’s first major clubhouse is called the “Honorable William Wall” and it is anchored in the harbor near Ellis Island. This clubhouse serves as a spectator platform for the sailboat races and is open from Tuesday through Saturday. This clubhouse is affectionately known as the “Willy Wall” and features an open air bar on the upper deck. MYC Members receive 50% off all drinks at the Willie Wall, just show your membership card! This Clubhouse is also open to the public and used for corporate events. There is a $20 launch fee to reach the clubhouse and Members receive first option for signature events like the Full Moon Party. The Willy Wall is a super impressive place to entertain friends, family and co-workers, plus visitors from out of town.

“I wish to be a member of the Manhattan Yacht Club primarily to improve my sailing skills, and secondly to expand my social network of like-minded people. I was incredibly impressed by the welcoming nature of the members of the club and I’d like to get to know more members of the club.”    – Ian

Arabella is the Flagship of Manhattan Yacht Club. She is a 157-foot mega yacht which offers a luxurious atmosphere and a great place for high-end entertaining. Arabella is primarily used for private events and charters but she is also opened occasionally on an evening for Members. During the summer, Arabella also serves as the Club’s floating hotel. She will accompany the 12 Meter sailors to Newport for the World Championships. Next winter, Arabella will also travel to the Caribbean and Members can book a cabin onboard for a week of mega yachting.

“Growing up sailing was a great escape from the city and was an activity I really enjoyed. Once I started University, sailing became less of a priority and joining a club was difficult in my university. Now that I’ve moved to NYC and started a new job, having the opportunity to be out on the water and take a break from traditional city life, while meeting people who share an appreciation for sailing, would be wonderful.”   – Alexander

Member Community

Our community is an active, engaged and diverse group composed from all backgrounds. Our Members share a common passion for sailing. Almost all Members experience a significant increase in their recreational and social lives after joining Manhattan Yacht Club.

“I took my basic course with Parker, whose enthusiasm for sailing, and the club was so contagious! This seems exactly like the next step I need in order to learn, have fun, and make new friends.”   – Karen

Traveling With the Club

Sailing will take you around the world! Our Club usually organizes one or more international trips every year. In the winter, we organize “Caribbean Week” when Members fly to the Caribbean to sail in the sun for a week as part of a fun flotilla on chartered boats. In November, we head to Bermuda for a vacation and sailing on IODs. We send a team every two years to participate in Monaco Classic Week in September. We also send sailors to the 12 Meter Worlds in Newport RI.

“I really enjoyed my experience with the sailing course. I liked the people I met, the atmosphere of the club, and I’m excited about the events the club puts on. It seems like an excellent place to continue building my experience sailing. I am also excited about the global partnerships as I do like to travel.”   – Kristen

Other Social Events

Closer to home, our big annual social events are the Sailors Ball every April and the Annual Dinner every December. In between there are many gatherings at the Clubhouse, Full Moon Parties in the harbor plus BBQs almost every night during the sailing season.

“I live in Manhattan, and this seems like a great way for me to get more involved in sailing. I sailed my senior year of college, and I sailed J22s quite a bit last summer when I was living in Charleston. This club would be a great way for me to not only learn to race sailboats, but also to meet other individuals in the community who also enjoy sailing. After enrolling in the Manhattan sailing school, I think this would be a great segway into getting more active in the sailing community and growing my sailing knowledge and skillset.”    – Daniel

Dues & Initiation Fee

All Members begin by joining the Club as a Regular Member. This provides you with access to the Club community, facilities as well as the shared-use fleet of J/24s if you wish.

The initiation fee is $250. Regular dues are $1,700 per year and billed in quarterly installments. All dues and initiation fees are non-refundable once charged by the club.

Dues for your first year are pro-rated based on the sailing season. If you join from January through May, you pay normal dues. If you join in June, you pay 5/6 the annual dues. In July, you pay 4/6, August is 3/6, September is 2/6 and October is 1/6.

When viewing the graph below, please note that dues for 2024 remain the same as for 2023.

Juniors (25 and under) & Seniors (65 and older) also qualify for 50% off dues.

Members who wish to have Skipper Privileges on the Club fleet of J/24s pay an additional $800 per year. This allows you to reserve a boat and choose the friends you wish to take sailing.

Family Add-On

If you are married or have children under the age of 25, they are automatically granted non-sailing privileges under your membership. This means they can visit the Honorable William for Member Nights and take part in all club social events.  If your spouse and/or children under 25 also wish to be active sailing members and use the club boats and sailing programs like racing, fleet captain and mentoring, then there is a “Family Add-On” with dues of $425 per person per year (1/4 of the full regular dues).

“It’s a fantastic club at an amazing location, and everyone I’ve met so far has been so friendly and welcoming. With the opportunity to continue learning, and to hone my skills upon the most iconic waterway in the world, why wouldn’t I want to be a member?!”     – Edward

How To Join

It’s easy to join the Club. Just complete this on-line Membership Application & Agreement and specify the date you want your membership to begin and what Orientation Meeting you will attend.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the basic sailing course and I felt there is a great community and social side to MYC too as well as the opportunity to learn to sail. I was impressed by the number of programs and opportunities for new members to continue learning e.g. fleet captain program.”    – Lauren

If you have any questions about the club and how it works, or wish to see the facilities, please email  [email protected] before applying for membership. Once you are ready to join, complete the Membership Application & Agreement. Upon receipt, you will be charged the $250 initiation fee. This initiation fee is non-refundable in case you do not follow through with membership. Then once your membership begins, you can start sailing and hanging out at the club!

“I want to continue building on the basic sailing skills I learned with the Manhattan Sailing School, build my network and socialize with other members as I moved to New York last year. The events look like fun, and the Club is also easy to get to from Manhattan which is an added perk.”    – Stephanie

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