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We Are California Yacht Club

For more than a century, California Yacht Club has been a gathering place for those who find meaning in time spent with fellow members. Our community comes together throughout the Club, whether on the docks preparing to launch, on the pool deck with family, at the courts for a friendly match, or over a memorable dinner with a marina view. Our members are sailors, cruisers, athletes, families, executives, and friends who value connection, achievement, and a life well lived.

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Our Club

At CYC, we honor our history while creating new memories each day. Members unite through sport, dining, tradition, celebration, and service. Whether you are heading out for an afternoon on the water, challenging friends to pickleball, or raising a toast at the clubhouse, CYC offers a place to belong and a community that endures.

Club History

Club History

California Yacht Club was founded in 1922 in Los Angeles harbor by a group of dedicated yachtsmen - most from Los Angeles Athletic Club and the rest, active in other early yacht clubs of the day. They built a magnificent clubhouse with an anchorage of several hundred sail and power boats.
 
Offshore speed boat contests and long-distance cruising were active pursuits as well as sailing around the buoys. The Club contributed to many of the leaders of Southern California's early yachting organizations. The Clubhouse was the scene of many Los Angeles area social activities and drew visitors from around the world.
 
CYC hosted and helped inaugurate the first Midwinter Regatta. Owen Churchill and his fellow racing skippers encouraged eastern sailors to bring their boats to the West Coast for this new series of races which featured Six Meter, Eight Meter, "R" and Star boats. Free shipping was arranged with cooperative freight lines. During the Depression, the Club ran the Midwinters without charging an entry fee, assuming all expenses involved.
 
Several CYC and Los Angeles Athletic Club members were most influential in bringing the 1932 Olympics to Los Angeles. At the Games themselves, Paul Hiller was General Chairman for Olympic yacht racing events, CYC Commodore A. N. Kemp organized the financing, and Owen Churchill won America's first Olympic gold medal in his eight-meter ANGELITA.
 
On September 22, 1963, the Club moved into new quarters at the Sheraton Marina del Rey Hotel. A full schedule of events was established including a Junior program, the popular Sunset Series (or "Wet Wednesdays"), the Overton Series for ocean racers, Matt Walsh Series for Midget Ocean Racers, Women's Auxiliary races, and many others. These were all part of an active program of competitive Corinthian events for the Club's many famous trophies.
 
October 1, 1966 saw the great move to the exciting and beautiful new clubhouse. An armada of the Club's fleet moved into the 230 slips at the present site at the head of Marina del Rey's main channel. The completed new facilities were formally dedicated on June 10, 1967.
 
As we moved into the past few years, the accomplishments of our Club have exploded. Our Power Fleet garners more than its fair share of Cruiser Navigational Contests. The Rowing Club is paced by Olympic medal winners. The committees have grown to eighty in number, making our overall club life varied and most enjoyable. And the racing sailors roll on and on.
 
California Yacht Club has members sailing in literally every major regatta in the world. We enjoy a rich history of providing leadership for local, national, and international yachting and sporting organizations ranging from the Association of Santa Monica Bay Yacht Clubs and the Southern California Yachting Association to the National Boating Federation and the United States Olympic Committee.
 
Having passed three-quarters of a century since our founding, CYC's volunteers continue to work diligently to provide our members and the sport of yachting with the leadership and competition that emanates from one of the world's finest yacht clubs. CYC is a modern organization steeped in tradition.

Club FAQ’s

Club FAQ’s

Club FAQ’s

You may fill out the membership inquiry form or contact our Membership Office at 310-823-4567 x2777 or via email at [email protected]. You can expect a prompt response from our team.

Yes! The Club welcomes a wide variety of members with different interests. In addition to all of CYC's boating activities, we have a swimming pool and Pool Patio lounge, four lighted paddle tennis & pickleball courts, numerous social events, and classes to learn to sail and row to name a few. The Club recently purchased a new Duffy boat for member rental. Members also have access to our three Martin 242 sailboats through our Keelboat Program.

Slip assignments are made according to the size of the vessel, date of membership initiation, and availability. Members can also request a slip in a particular location within the CYC anchorage. Contact our Dockmaster, Chase Young, at [email protected] for more information.

Guests are welcome at the Club provided that they are escorted by a current CYC member or a member of a reciprocal Club. There is a daily fee of $10 per guest for use of the racquet sports courts or for fitness classes. Members must accompany their guests at all times.

The Club has a robust club roster that lists all of the chairs for the Club’s over 100 committees. They are a great source of information or you can always reach out to our membership department with questions. Additionally, our Activities Directory can be found here.

The Club is staffed 7 days a week and is protected by gates and controlled access. The Club also has overnight security 7 days a week.