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Clubs · Top 10

The 10 Best Yacht Clubs in the United States in 2027

By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 4 min read
New York Yacht Club
Direct answer

The New York Yacht Club is the best yacht club in the United States, with the San Diego Yacht Club at #2 and the Ida Lewis Yacht Club at #3. The ranking weighs history, racing reputation and clubhouse setting.

At a glance

#PickFoundedBest for
1New York Yacht Club1844America's Cup history and two great clubhouses
2San Diego Yacht Club1886West Coast racing with America's Cup pedigree
3Ida Lewis Yacht Club1928A clubhouse in a lighthouse on Newport Harbor
4St. Francis Yacht Club1927Big-breeze sailing on San Francisco Bay
5Larchmont Yacht ClubJune 1880Long Island Sound racing near New York City
6St. Petersburg Yacht Club1909Florida sailing on Tampa Bay
7Chicago Yacht Club1875Great Lakes racing in downtown Chicago
8Annapolis Yacht Club1886Chesapeake Bay racing in America’s sailing capital
9Newport Harbor Yacht Club1916Southern California harbor racing and junior sailing
10Bayview Yacht Club1915Great Lakes racing out of Detroit

Pick by what you want

Best overall
New York Yacht Club
Best on the West Coast
San Diego Yacht Club
Best clubhouse setting
Ida Lewis Yacht Club
Best in Florida
St. Petersburg Yacht Club
Best on the Great Lakes
Chicago Yacht Club

The ranking

1

New York Yacht Club

New York Yacht Club
Photo: Don Ramey Logan / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictAmerica's most famous yacht club.
Founded: 1844Clubhouses: New York City and Newport, Rhode IslandAmerica's Cup: Held from 1851 until 1983Membership: By invitation only

The New York Yacht Club was founded in 1844 and has clubhouses in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. Its members held the America's Cup from 1851 until 1983. Membership is by invitation only.

Go ifAmerica's Cup history and two great clubhouses
Skip ifYou lack a member to invite you
Why #1 over #2: Its members held the America's Cup from 1851 until 1983.
2

San Diego Yacht Club

San Diego Yacht Club
Photo: WPPilot / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe West Coast's America's Cup club.
Founded: 1886America's Cup wins: 1987, 1988 and 1992Location: San Diego, California

The San Diego Yacht Club, founded in 1886, won the America's Cup in 1987, 1988 and 1992.

Go ifWest Coast racing with America's Cup pedigree
Skip ifYou want an East Coast club
Why #2 over #3: Its three America's Cup wins outrank Ida Lewis’ racing record.
3

Ida Lewis Yacht Club

Ida Lewis Yacht Club
Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel / CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictNewport’s lighthouse club.
Founded: 1928Clubhouse: Lime Rock Light, Newport, Rhode IslandMembership: By invitation only

The Ida Lewis Yacht Club, founded in 1928, uses the Lime Rock Light in Newport, Rhode Island, as its clubhouse. Membership is by invitation only.

Go ifA clubhouse in a lighthouse on Newport Harbor
Skip ifYou want big-club facilities
Why #3 over #4: Its lighthouse clubhouse beats St. Francis’ for setting.
4

St. Francis Yacht Club

St. Francis Yacht Club
Photo: Daderot / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictSan Francisco Bay’s signature club.
Founded: 1927Clubhouse architect: Willis PolkLocation: Marina District, San FranciscoMembership: By invitation only

The St. Francis Yacht Club was founded in 1927. Its clubhouse, designed by Willis Polk, sits in the Marina District of San Francisco. Membership is by invitation only.

Go ifBig-breeze sailing on San Francisco Bay
Skip ifYou want calm-water cruising
Why #4 over #5: Its San Francisco Bay setting edges Larchmont’s harbor.
5

Larchmont Yacht Club

Larchmont Yacht Club
Photo: Thunderbombman / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictLong Island Sound’s classic club.
Founded: June 1880Location: Larchmont Harbor, Westchester County, New YorkAt its current site since: 1887

The Larchmont Yacht Club was founded in June 1880 and has been at its site on Larchmont Harbor in Westchester County, New York, since 1887.

Go ifLong Island Sound racing near New York City
Skip ifYou want a West Coast club
Why #5 over #6: It is older than the St. Petersburg Yacht Club.
6

St. Petersburg Yacht Club

St. Petersburg Yacht Club
Answrs VerdictFlorida’s historic racing club.
Founded: 1909Clubhouse opened on current site: 1917Offshore racing began: Havana Race, 1930

The St. Petersburg Yacht Club was founded in 1909, and its clubhouse opened on its current site in 1917. Its offshore racing began with the Havana Race in 1930.

Go ifFlorida sailing on Tampa Bay
Skip ifYou want a Northeast club
Why #6 over #7: Its Havana Race heritage edges Chicago’s Great Lakes racing.
7

Chicago Yacht Club

Chicago Yacht Club
Answrs VerdictHome of the Race to Mackinac.
Founded: 1875Famous race: Race to Mackinac, first held 1898Clubhouses: Monroe Station (400 E. Monroe St.) and Belmont Station (300 W. Belmont Ave.)

The Chicago Yacht Club was founded in 1875 and runs the Race to Mackinac, first held in 1898. It has two clubhouses: Monroe Station at 400 E. Monroe St. and Belmont Station at 300 W. Belmont Ave.

Go ifGreat Lakes racing in downtown Chicago
Skip ifYou want a warm-weather club
Why #7 over #8: The Race to Mackinac gives it more fame than Annapolis.
8

Annapolis Yacht Club

Annapolis Yacht Club
Answrs VerdictAnnapolis’ downtown waterfront club.
Founded: 1886Address: 2 Compromise St., Annapolis, MarylandSignature race: Annapolis to Newport Race

The Annapolis Yacht Club dates to 1886 and sits at 2 Compromise St. in Annapolis, Maryland. It runs the Annapolis to Newport Race.

Go ifChesapeake Bay racing in America’s sailing capital
Skip ifYou want a West Coast club
Why #8 over #9: It is older than the Newport Harbor Yacht Club.
9

Newport Harbor Yacht Club

Newport Harbor Yacht Club
Answrs VerdictNewport Beach’s harbor club.
Founded: 1916Location: Balboa Peninsula, Newport Beach, California

The Newport Harbor Yacht Club was established in 1916 and sits on the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach, California.

Go ifSouthern California harbor racing and junior sailing
Skip ifYou want an East Coast club
Why #9 over #10: Its Southern California harbor edges Detroit’s Great Lakes setting.
10

Bayview Yacht Club

Bayview Yacht Club
Answrs VerdictDetroit’s racing club.
Founded: 1915Famous race: Port Huron to Mackinac, sailed annually since 1925Location: Detroit, MichiganNew clubhouse opened: 2021

The Bayview Yacht Club in Detroit, Michigan, was founded in 1915. Its Port Huron to Mackinac race has been sailed annually since 1925, and its new clubhouse opened in 2021.

Go ifGreat Lakes racing out of Detroit
Skip ifYou want warm-water sailing

How we ranked these

We ranked each club on history, racing reputation and clubhouse setting. Membership fees were not used. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.

Questions people ask

What is the most famous yacht club in America?

The New York Yacht Club, founded in 1844. Its members held the America's Cup from 1851 until 1983.

How do you join the New York Yacht Club?

Membership is by invitation only.

Which yacht club won the America's Cup in 1987?

The San Diego Yacht Club, which won the America's Cup in 1987, 1988 and 1992.

Which yacht club runs the Race to Mackinac?

The Chicago Yacht Club, founded in 1875; the first Race to Mackinac was held in 1898.

Year founded at a glance

New York Yacht Club1,844 year
Chicago Yacht Club1,875 year
San Diego Yacht Club1,886 year
Annapolis Yacht Club1,886 year
St. Petersburg Yacht Club1,909 year
Bayview Yacht Club1,915 year
Newport Harbor Yacht Club1,916 year
St. Francis Yacht Club1,927 year
Ida Lewis Yacht Club1,928 year
Year founded, as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.

Official sites

Sources

Prices, specs and availability change; confirm on the official site before you buy.