City Island Yacht Club

Incorporated 1907

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ABOUT CIYC

CIYC members hail from Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Westchester County, Long Island and New Jersey. They are both expert and casual racers, long-distance, weekend cruisers and day sailors who enjoy both a breezy afternoon on the boat and socializing afterwards in our lively waterfront restaurant and pub, as they admire the dramatic sunset backdrop.

CIYC prides itself on offering many sailing and social events throughout the year, including organized cruises and fun Friday night and Sunday afternoon races. Parties with live music take place throughout the season for holidays, special events and following many club cruises and races. 

CIYC also has an award-winning Junior Sailing Program, an American Sailing Association (ASA) sailing school, active memberships for boat owners, shared-boat membership for non-boat owners and a social club-only member option.

As an active sailing club, CIYC facilities are both decorated in our deep history and well-maintained to offer comfort, cleanliness and a dynamic gathering space for our community.

Contact Us

Location and directions

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Sailing at CIYC

The City Island Yacht Club (CIYC) has a very active cruising program coordinated by the CIYC Cruising Committee. Members have reciprocity with over 700 clubs listed in the register of the Yachting Club of America directory. Our racing program welcomes all levels of sailing skill, from beginner to experienced. Wednesday evening and weekend races are a regular occurrence from May through August, in addition to regattas during the season. Fun, short-course non-spinnaker races take place on select Friday nights and Sunday afternoons for a casual racing experience. A members-only race, the Sayers Series, takes place in September. It is one of the season’s most popular events for both racers and cruisers.

American Sailing Association (ASA)-affiliated sailing school offers lessons from beginner to advanced with multiple ASA-certified instructors. CIYC members get a discount on all ASA programs. Small class size and flexible scheduling make it easy to gain certification over a three-day period for most levels. 

Award-winning Junior Sailing Program (certified by U.S. Sailing) offers children and teens (8 years and up) solid sailing instruction. Children enrolled attend a summer day camp and weekend and evening racing workshops. Participants learn the basics and fine points of sailing on a variety of boats (Opti, Laser, 420) with the goal of making them skilled sailors ready to race or crew during cruises.

Shared Club Boat Program members share the use of CIYC club-owned boat, including 3 Catalina 25s and a Merit 25. Program members not only sail the boats but also care for them, making membership cost-effective and accessible for most sailors who don’t want the full-time responsibility of maintaining their own boat. Work parties offer an opportunity to meet other members and learn the basics of boat maintenance and safety. Club boat members start as crew and are required to take courses and gain experience to qualify as skippers.

Membership at CIYC

We offer 3 types of memberhips:

Active MembershipActive members who own a boat at CIYC, have full restaurant and launch privileges, and vote at General Membership meetings.  Active members must pay assessments as they come due, and must attend two days of work parties during February (or pay a fee).

Shared Club Boat Membership Members share boats through the CIYC Club Boat Program. They have full facility and launch privileges. Requirement of membership is participation in Spring and Fall work parties to maintain club boats, (or pay a fee).

Social or Racing MembershipMembers who don’t own a boat or are boat-owning members of another yacht club. Includes full facility privileges.

For more information…

Hospitality

The Galley” restaurant is open to members and their guests for lunch and dinner Fridays through Sundays from April to November, and on Wednesday nights during the Big Tom racing season (May through August). Social events are scheduled throughout the sailing season. Members especially look forward to post-race dinners and parties. Check out out Spring 2022 Menu

Indoor and outdoor dining can be enjoyed throughout the season; members gather either in the formal dining room, pub, on the porch or on the lawn overlooking Eastchester Bay with spectacular sunsets and a view of the Manhattan skyline.

Dining room and meeting facilities are available for private parties, including weddings and business meetings. Catering arrangements can be made through the club steward.

On-site parking is available to members and their guests.

Club Amenities

Conveniently located at the western end of Long Island Sound, CIYC offers deep water anchorage (8 feet at mean low tide), two floating docks for members and one dedicated for the Jr. Sailing program.  We allow option to work on your own boat in our professionally managed boatyard which offers winter storage at competitive rates. The launch service is available from mid-April through early November. We have the longest launch hours of any club on the sound. During peak season we have 24-hour launch service on the weekends. Showers available for members and guests. Storage lockers and dinghy racks available for an additional fee.

For guest mooring inquiries and launch schedule…

Current Launch Service

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday: 8am-11pm

Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: 8am-midnight

Our History

The City Island Yacht Club (CIYC) was formed during the Winter of 1904-1905. At first, the Club was located at Herman Cordes’ boathouse on the west side of City Island Avenue, just north of Ditmar Street. Ike Tabor designed the Club’s burgee and it was first raised on May 30, 1905. CIYC incorporated on May 17, 1907 for the purpose of “Yachting; encouragement of yacht building and naval architecture; inter-club and other competitions and the cultivation of naval science.” Samuel Smith served as CIYC’s first Commodore. Read more…