A yacht club is a sports club specifically related to sailing and yachting. The term Yacht Club and Sailing Club tend to be synonymous. Historically a Yacht Club tended to focus on a membership composed of yacht owners and a Sailing Club tended to focus on a membership composed of owners of smaller boats such as dinghies. Some clubs also include owners of powerboats.
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Members Club
A club organized and run by the membership to promote the sport of sailboat racing and cruising, as well as provide a meeting place for this social community.
Sailing Club
Marina Sailing of Southern California A sailing club differs from a yacht club in that it is comprised of members looking to sail mostly other people's boats, at a much lower cost than owning a boat. Owning even a small sailboat will cost the boat owner 10-15% of the purchase price, per year if its newer (5-10 years old), and 20% of its value per year if its an older boat. This does not take using the boat into account. That costs even more. EG, if one were to purchase a new 30-foot sailing vessel for private use, he would most likely have a $75-100K mortage, he would need to keep it in a boat slip in the water ($300-500/month), insurance is required for the slip (about $100/month) and miscellaneous other maintenance to the tune of $100-300/month. One can easily see how a pay per use system with low monthly dues (lower than cable TV) can be an attractive alternative to $10-15K/year in mandatory fees. Marina Sailing of Southern California [[1]] is such a club, but unlike many clubs, anyone can join. Marina Sailing began as a yacht management company that maintained boats for private owners. With the high cost of maintenance, owners sought ways to allay that cost, and so Marina Sailing offered private charters on those vessels in the maintenance program with the owner receiving the lion's share of the revenue. Since the boats were out on charter with interested sailors, it was only natural to provide sailing instruction on these boats, as well. And so it goes. What began as a gentleman's agreement to hose off a few boats around the marina grew into over 100 sail and powerboats up and down the southern California coast, available to anyone who is so inclined.
Membership
The membership is a mixture members who sail as crew, and boat owners, for cruising or racing. Some clubs specifically exclude power boats and some do not. The members decide on the objectives of the club to satisfy the membership and to attract other like-minded individuals. Members Clubs often have paid staff for catering, bar duty, boat yard duty, accounts, office etc. Control and organization of the club is done for the membership via members elected by the membership into roles such as Sailing Secretary, Commodore, Cruising Captain, Racing Captain etc. Smaller clubs typically have a condition of membership which requires active participation of the membership in activities such as maintenance of club facilities and equipment.
Racing and Sailing Activities
Most clubs have a well defined racing program. Clubs may host regattas ranging from informal local events to national championships. Often clubs have a regular weekday evening racing schedule or a weekend racing schedule organized by the membership. Many yacht clubs field teams to compete against other clubs in team racing. With the growth of sailing at secondary schools and universities many yacht clubs host Interscholastic Sailing Association or Intercollegiate Sailing Association regattas. Additionally, some yacht clubs enter into agreements with schools to provide dock space and practice facilities for the school teams year-round. Clubs with active adult sailing programs most often feature junior sailing programs as well. Most often these programs enroll children from ages 8 to 16. Children most often learn to sail in the optimist (dinghy) and then progress to the laser dinghy or 420 (dinghy). These junior sailing programs often also teach children rowing, kayaking, general seamanship and navigation. Children are also taught how to race competitively from an early age and most clubs host junior sailing regattas each season.
Traditions
There is a long historical tradition behind yacht clubs; sailing originating as a sport for the wealthy. Most yacht clubs have a distinctive burgee (pennant or flag). At traditional clubs the burgee and national ensign is hoisted at 0800 hours each morning and lowered each evening at sunset. This ceremony is called colours. Names are often abbreviated (eg Royal Yacht Squadron is abbreviated to RYS, New York Yacht Club abbreviated to NYYC etc). Additionally, yacht clubs often have dress codes and many mandate a coat and tie while inside.
Unofficial Traditions
The traditions and prestige normally associated with "yacht clubs" have to some extent been subverted or appropriated by unofficial groups and businesses calling themselves yacht clubs. For example the Gowanus Yacht Club is a beer garden in Brooklyn, NY. These unofficial "yacht clubs" are more typically associated with blue collar festivities, but often maintain a nautical or water-oriented theme.
Commercial Club
Owned by individuals or a company to provide a service and generate a profit. Often associated with a particular marina or port. Objectives are usually very similar to members clubs but the social side maybe more dominant.
Organization
Yacht clubs are organized like any other club or organisation with committees, chairman, directors etc etc. Due to the connection with the sea and hence the navy, the various posts use naval terminology. For example the chairman/CEO is the Commodore. Usually, under the Commodore there are also the Vice Commodore (in charge of land-based activities) and the Rear Commodore (in charge of water-based activities). In a few yacht clubs the Admiral, which is one rank above the Commodore, is the senior officer. Each of these ranks has specific responsibilities to ensure the smooth running of the club.
Yacht club burgee
Members belonging to a yacht club or sailing organization may fly their club's unique triangular burgee both while under way and at anchor (however, not while racing). Traditionally, the burgee was flown from the main masthead, however it may also be flown from a small pole on the bow pulpit, or even the starboard rigging beneath the lowest starboard spreader on a flag halyard. Traditionally, the first time a member of one club visits another, there is an exchange of burgees. Exchanged burgees are often displayed on the premises of Clubs, such as at their clubhouse or bar.
