About

The Shelter Island Yacht Club

Situated on a short peninsula perched on beautiful Dering Harbor, the Shelter Island Yacht Club has been dedicated to building a community of boaters and sailors for more than 125 years. Members come from as near as Shelter Island and as far as California, England, and Hong Kong, to race, cruise, and enjoy the waters and winds of Dering Harbor and Long Island Sound.

Since its founding in 1886, the Club has been home to a wide variety of boats, from the elegant steam and sailing yachts of the turn-of-the-century, to a succession of one-design fleets, starting after World War I. These included Nationals, Wee Scots, Stars, Wood Pussys, Comets, Lightnings, Blue Jays, Stuart Knockabouts, Puffers, Sunfish, and Sailfish. 

Today, we have three one-design fleets - the Etchells Fleet 15 and Herreshoff 12 1/2s fleets, which have been racing at the Club since the 1970’s, and the newly added Sonar fleet. We’re also home to a competitive PHRF Fleet, which includes NYYC 42’s, J88”s, J100’s, J111’s, J105’s, J122’s, Alerions and classic yachts racing and cruising locally and internationally. 

Committed to developing the next generation of sailors, the Shelter Island Yacht Club is proud to have a robust Junior Sailing Program, which teaches more than 100 kids each year everything from how to tie a bowline to how to maneuver a race course. Sailors start in JY Trainers and work their way up to 420s and Lasers, with the help of our talented coaches and instructors. Many junior sailors have gone on to race competitively in collegiate teams and one, Amanda Clark, represented the US in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics!

If you are a member of a reciprocal Club and you would like to learn more about the Club, or plan your visit, you can call the front desk at (631) 749-0888