Why join a yacht club?

[Vashon_Trawler]

Hoping to be a more "social" boater, I explored various yacht clubs in my area. The clubs generally had various activities and events--many would be of interest to my wife and daughter. Well, I checked the membership applications and they require a sponsor or are invitation only. No thanks. The whole concept seems snooty. How do I find someone to sponsor me if I don't know anyone in the club? Hang around the marina all day looking for someone to be my friend? I understand the need to keep bad apples away but no wonder yacht club memberships are dwindling.

 

[tiltrider1]

Instead of bad mouthing Yacht Clubs, you could ask here for help finding a sponsor, or call the Yacht Club and ask them to put you in touch with a potential sponsor. Yacht clubs are rarely snobbish, more often others think they are snobby because they are afraid to call and ask for help.

 

[DavidM]

Well, it isn't that difficult or snooty to join a yacht club. Many yacht clubs are actively looking for new members and encourage applying for membership. I stopped in East Greenwich Yacht club a few years ago, met the club secretary (the full time employee, not the recording secretary) and she introduced me to a few members. Within a few days I had two sponsors lined up and sent in my application.

The one time initiation fee was reasonable, something in the 1-2 thousand dollar range. The annual dues plus the cost of a mooring (slips had an impossible long waiting list) was cheaper than anything available nearby.

You have to get engaged socially to really enjoy yacht club membership. The club had weekly catered burger/pizza type dinners (for less than $10 ea), a nice bar open each night where drinks were 2/3 the price of nearby bars, an evening cocktail, band and dining event several times a year and an annual club cruise up LI Sound to BI and Shelter Island which always had an evening get together.

We really enjoyed going down, anchoring out the first night, coming back to the mooring and hanging out in the afternoon having a drink and chatting with like minded members.


Oh and winter haulout and storage on club property was 2/3 of nearby marina costs.

David

 

[Mikala]

Why join? This is the only reason I can come up with.

 

[Bacchus]

In many yacht clubs the "sponsor" simply is the person responsible to introduce the new members to old and is the person to "have a talk" to the new member if they are violating any rules whether explicit or unspoken. They are there to provide "guidance".
If you dont already know a member I would bet they might introduce you to someone... unless you have made a bad first impression and then all bets are off.

 

[dhays]

Instead of bad mouthing Yacht Clubs, you could ask here for help finding a sponsor, or call the Yacht Club and ask them to put you in touch with a potential sponsor. Yacht clubs are rarely snobbish, more often others think they are snobby because they are afraid to call and ask for help.

This is a good suggestion. Most clubs love to get new members, at least in the PNW. They may require a sponsor but for the most part that is a holdover from by-gone days. It does ensure that someone has had the chance to meet and chat with the prospective member.


I'm a member of one of the oldest Yacht Clubs in Puget Sound. When it was in 1890, it was seen as a socially upscale thing to have, important to image of a booming city ready to make its mark on the world. Seattle Yacht Club had been founded a few years before and heaven forbid Seattle have something that Tacoma didn't. Along came the depression in the 1890s and pretty much bankrupted the club until 1900.



In any case, our club, like most, is actively looking for new members. They may be going about it in the smartest way, but they are looking. I'm sure that any club that you would want to be a member of, would love to have you. Call them up and ask. They will have a membership committee and a membership chair that would likely love to chat.

 

[tiltrider1]

Every Yacht Club is different as are the reasons for joining. My Yacht Club has 10 outstations plus reciprocal privileges around the world. Club moorage is below market, our dinning room is first class, I get invited to participate in events around the world. I’ve been invited to have lunch with famous coaches, players, America Cup sailors, the list goes on. I don’t have time to participate in more than 10% of official Yacht Club functions. Then there are all the unofficial get togethers while cruising.

 

[dhays]

Every Yacht Club is different as are the reasons for joining. My Yacht Club has 10 outstations plus reciprocal privileges around the world. Club moorage is below market, our dinning room is first class, I get invited to participate in events around the world. I’ve been invited to have lunch with famous coaches, players, America Cup sailors, the list goes on. I don’t have time to participate in more than 10% of official Yacht Club functions. Then there are all the unofficial get togethers while cruising.

David makes an excellent point. His yacht club (Seattle Yacht Club) has an unrivaled selection of club outstations. That alone would be worth membership. My wife is NOT a yacht club type person. She love spending time with close friends and family, but as an introvert, spending time with distant acquaintances or someone just because they fly the same burgee is very draining for her. As such, we just don't participate in most yacht club functions or cruises. Having said that, I almost always enjoy the members when I run into them when we are boating. I also fly my yacht club burgee whenever we leave the dock.



Membership for us has been primarily about use of the facilities. For a long time we took advantage of favorable moorage rates in the yacht club basin. We also take advantage of the yacht club outstations around the Sound and San Juans as well as the reciprocal privileges. Yacht Club membership has been worth it to us despite us being rather anti-social as a couple.

 

[Comodave]

Our yacht club is a small club that had been struggling to stay afloat. It is fairly cheap and we support it by being a member but rarely use any of the facilities. We are in a small community and we like to support local organizations.

 

[Airstream345]

Lot's of reasons to join. Friends, fun, cruising, outstations, reciprocity, education, sharing, etc.

We didn't think of ourselves as "Yacht Club people" but joined one here in Seattle and love it. Posted something about it here:

https://mvfortitude.com/2018/10/05/in-praise-of-the-yacht-club/ .

Turned out to be a great decision for all the reasons above and more.

Find the one that is right for you. Most clubs are struggling as member age and their children become too busy to join or own boats.

 

[GFC]

Our yacht club is a small club that had been struggling to stay afloat. .

My wife and I both proudly wear our shirts from your club!

Before joining any club you should investigate it. Some clubs are made up of mostly older members. They often don't do much cruising but rather spend their time badmouthing the members who are not present to defend themselves. We used to be long to one like that. (Key phrase "used to")

We now belong to a club that has a LOT of younger members and it seems like tons of youngsters running around at the meetings. It's much more fun, much more active, and there isn't the badmouthing that was the common theme at the last club.

Our club is widely known up and down the Columbia River as the friendliest club in the PNW. We work hard to keep up that reputation.

 

[JLD]

As that great philosopher Groucho Marx once said,"I don't care to belong to any club that will have me as a member."

Seriously though, clubs run the whole gamut from very snooty to very friendly. The trick, of course, is to find one that you feel comfortable with. Some invitation only clubs, are not that hard to get invite into, while others really are much more difficult.

Personally, the prestige thing means nothing to me. It would be the offering of the club that attracted me.

Jim

 

[koliver]

David makes an excellent point. His yacht club (Seattle Yacht Club) has an unrivaled selection of club outstations. That alone would be worth membership. My wife is NOT a yacht club type person. She love spending time with close friends and family, but as an introvert, spending time with distant acquaintances or someone just because they fly the same burgee is very draining for her. As such, we just don't participate in most yacht club functions or cruises. Having said that, I almost always enjoy the members when I run into them when we are boating. I also fly my yacht club burgee whenever we leave the dock.

Membership for us has been primarily about use of the facilities. For a long time we took advantage of favorable moorage rates in the yacht club basin. We also take advantage of the yacht club outstations around the Sound and San Juans as well as the reciprocal privileges. Yacht Club membership has been worth it to us despite us being rather anti-social as a couple.

I am a member of BTTBDYCITWDW. The Royal (SNOOTY) Vancouver YC which I joined in 1987. The outstations and the people are the whole reason for belonging. We have 7 fabulous outstations, including the one nearby on Saltspring. They are world class. The social life this gives us is the best.
If you are considering a YC, you have to be committed to taking advantage of its amenities. We joined when our kids were small, not to get more boating, but to get better boating. It delivered. Our kids made life long friends once we went on a few of the kid friendly cruises. We adults made life long friends as well. At a recent party my guest list of 40 was 3/4 from the YC. The other 1/4 were family and neighbours.
We also enjoy two of the best marinas in Vancouver and a clubhouse that is also world class. The cost of all of this is far below that of other Vancouver area marinas.
Our initiation and annual fees are far below those of similar but not Yacht clubs and provides much more for every member of our family. My 2 sons each have boats in the YC and enjoy their memberships to the max.

Now, talk about snooty: Last December we did a Med Cruise that stopped in at Monte Carlo. We went to the Monaco Yacht Club to exercise our reciprocal priviledges. They wouldn't let us in. 1 we didn't measure up to their dress code and 2 Our Club executive hadn't sent them a letter telling MYC we were coming and asking permission to enter the premises. None of that BS happens at RVYC.

Take a look at the websites of whatever YC you are interested in.

 

[rsn48]

Different yacht clubs offer different things. For me, the club with the most reciprocal agreements at the cheapest cost is the one for me.

 

[Moonfish]

I understand the need to keep bad apples away but no wonder yacht club memberships are dwindling.

Our Port Townsend Yacht Club just had 18 new members join last month! We've been members for 5 years and the club has grown every year.

 

[BruceK]

In my sailing days I was competing in sailboat class races for my boat with Royal Sydney Yacht Club which is as good a Club as any in Sydney, not limited to Yacht Clubs either, and was approached by other member competitors to join.
My present Club is RMYC on Pittwater in Sydney, TF member AndyG and a relative gave me references to join. We hardly use the Club, not sure why I just renewed, but I did.
I think the idea Clubs are snooty is mostly wrong, most Clubs would help you join. The Halvorsen Club here had such alarming restrictions for Island Gypsy owners I decided to avoid it. Look around, choose carefully, something will suit you.

 

[MurrayM]

TF is kinda club-ish and even has a burgee

 

[Donna]

I would sponsor you. Where are you?

 

[Kaz]

Don't knock it till you have tried it. While the words "Yacht Club" sound snooty, most are the complete opposite, at least in our area.

Joining will find you socially with a whole new group of people who you might actually like. The reciprocal privileges of being able to use the facilities, dockage, mooring, bars, and restaurants at other clubs can be reason alone for some to join.

Call the club, ask if you can attend a meeting or if someone might be interested in sponsoring someone. Worst thing, you go to a meeting or 2 and don't hit it off. Quit or don't join or try out another club. Boaters in general tend to be very nice people and the bond of boating crosses the socioeconomic differences.

 

[dhays]

Now, talk about snooty: Last December we did a Med Cruise that stopped in at Monte Carlo. We went to the Monaco Yacht Club to exercise our reciprocal priviledges. They wouldn't let us in. 1 we didn't measure up to their dress code and 2 Our Club executive hadn't sent them a letter telling MYC we were coming and asking permission to enter the premises. None of that BS happens at RVYC.

I had similar experiences at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club in Toronto. It is located on an island off Toronto and can only be accessed by the RCYC launch or by boat. At that time, to get on the launch a gentleman had to be wearing a coat and tie. Visiting boaters from reciprocal clubs (we were coming from the Youngstown Yacht Club with my uncle on his sailboat) could use the yacht club facilities but still couldn't enter the club house without coat and tie (they did have a few blazers and ties available for the US riff-Raff to borrow in extremes). We could use the tennis court, but of course proper tennis attire was required and that meant all white.


Their current dress codes are a bit more lax, but still not a setting that I'm comfortable with. We are pretty casual out here on the West coast.

 

[C lectric]

I agree, they are all snooty. HAH.

I was reluctant as I tend to be a loner. But I joined, Burrard Yacht Club in Van., B.C. because it suited us for other reasons. We really did not use it socially much but I made some friends on the docks who I still see periodially even though we left the club and the big city.

I found there were many who were extremely knowledgeable about where to get this or that done. Often would pitch in with advice.

I was sorry to leave but it was not practical to keep it up .

Advantages:
--Social events at both the clubhouse and the outstations even though we seldom partook at the clubhouse.
--moorage rates well under the going rates for commercial moorage. They run the marina for the good of the members.
--Outstations which we did use
--dock friends and that surprised me
--workshop at the marina. Available for use to all. Excellent even though I have lots of tools it meant I did not have to run home every time I needed something. Usually at least an hour round trip.
--dockbuilding and facility mtce. days which usually turned into a friendly day. We did do a bunch of work too.

Too finish up my wife and I still belong to two other clubs and have done for many years. THe advantages are different for each.


But you also must be willing to approach them and not write them off. Ask how to get in if you really don't know anyone. I'll venture you will be pleasantly surprised.

 

[BandB]

Wifey B: I've been known to have a slight problem with dress code compliance myself. Shocking, isn't it.

95% of the yacht clubs are easy to get in. Just dock there once and pay and go in and talk and you'll have a bunch of people wanting you to join. We go to a club far away from home and get invited and just stare and say we appreciate it but as we live 1000 miles away, probably not.

Right now at a club formed in 1844. Might expect them to be a bit snobby but they're not. They did require the letter from our home club. They invited us to join but since they're across nearly 1000 nm of water from our home, don't think so, but really enjoy their hospitality and I am conforming to their dress code as are the other girls with us.

We joined a club in FLL for two primary reasons. First, the reciprocal agreements. It's not saving money on dockage as much as just having available dockage and being invited in a club. It really can come in handy and even if your club A doesn't have an agreement with club B, you'll normally be welcomed, just have to pay full dockage rates.

The other reason was the tennis courts. So nice to jump in a boat, go to the club, play tennis, back in the boat, across the ICW for lunch, then back home.

We only eat the meals there to meet our minimum, don't know many people, don't participate in their social gatherings. Feel like we're such a new club now, only formed in 1938. :lol:

I've heard people say the club we belong to was snobby, but you find out it's not through any knowledge, just "they've heard it." They don't know from whom or why they felt it or when. I'm proud of their youth sailing programs, love pulling up and seeing all the kids heading out. If it was a little closer there's another local club here that would really tempt us as they're so active and vibrant and have an interesting schedule of events. They also have great kids programs and good food.

I've heard Coral Reef called snobby. That's because they limit was unaccompanied guests can do. If we wanted to do something else, we've never had a problem getting a member sponsor there to sponsor us.

Some others are nice boating clubs, always doing things together. Sometimes too it's just a nice place to go sort of like "Cheers."

 

[SteveK]

TF is kinda club-ish and even has a burgee

who is the commodore, how many outstations?

Many moons ago I moved up from a trailered boat to one moored. Met people, got invited to the club and a few years later they made me commodore.
I was part of a group of great people with like minds and interests.
Then I moved away, inland in fact and have never joined another YC. Maybe when I settle down now that I am back to boating.

To the OP. If they don't want you without a sponsor, then you don't want to belong, move on. There is no good reason to belong unless you are part of the club, not just a dues paying member.

 

[Drake]

I understand the need to keep bad apples away but no wonder yacht club memberships are dwindling.

Are memberships dwindling? We’re members of two clubs (never had a problem getting a sponsor) and are closely familiar with several others. They are all doing fine and some have waiting lists for memberships.

Why do they want you to have a sponsor? Well, it’s a club, isn’t it?

 

[localboy]

"I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member".



Groucho Marx

 

[GFC]

Our club is growing every month. The other club we used to belong to, not so much.

 

[markpierce]

My sail-boater father joined a yacht club since membership was required if one wanted to race.

I can think of two yacht clubs in the San Francisco area that are "haughty," requiring one to be "upper-class."

It's common that clubs have open social events where one can meet members and obtain a sponsor, if needed. Most clubs seem to be in need of new "blood."

Many clubs organize "cruise-outs" to various destinations, most frequently to other clubs. Most clubs offer reciprocity so one can enjoy each other's facilities.

I'm not a "club-member" kind of guy, but have enjoyed joint boating outings with TF members. (Tomorrow, destination Napa!)

 

[rsn48]

But I joined, Burrard Yacht Club in Van., B.C.

Say hello to Roger and kathleen of Deep Cove, also the Deep Cove Yacht Club, Burrard Yacht Club and Royal Vancouver Yacht club.

 

[drb1025]

I’m a member of Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club in Bellevue, WA, and 30% of the members don’t even own a boat. They may be looking for a boat, but many join for the social aspect of the club-dinners, happy hours, etc. MBYC has only one employee and the rest of the operations are performed by volunteers, from the gardening to bartending. It keeps the costs and members’ dues down. And we have 10 outstations and moorage. We joined for the outstations but we also enjoy the social functions. And I have a bartender license now.

 

[psneeld]

Definitely all over the map as far as snooty and even the members within.

Had clubs offer associate memberships to USCG officers no questions asked which was nice had others offer associate member ships to locals ( through a mailing) that was reasonable but then prohibited your presence on the property from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Their intent was to get "winter" memberships to keep the kitchen)bar staff on through the winter so they didn't lose the good ones every year. I don't understand why they just didn't ask for contributions after all they were only stupid rich instead of uber rich.