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Visitor Information

We warmly welcome skippers and crews to the Shelter Island Yacht Club.

Visiting sailors of recognized yacht clubs are invited to enjoy the use of its facilities for a period of up to one week per season.  
 

ARRIVAL PROCEDURES

Upon arrival, visitors need to register at the front desk, where you will receive a guest card to be used in the bar and dining room facilities. Prior to check-out, you must pay your dining, bar and moorings bills by credit card. We accept VISA, MasterCard or American Express. Unfortunately, we are no longer able to bill through other clubs. 

 Moorings:

We encourage you to reserve a mooring. For reservations:

If you arrive without a reservation, you can hail us on VHF Channel 74 as you approach the harbor to learn about current mooring availability.

Launch:

Launch service is available by hailing VHF Channel 74. Launch hours for the season can be found on the website under Launch.
Please be patient with our staff when using the launch. For everyone's safety, we've instituted the following restrictions to our launch service due to COVID-19.

  • Masks must be worn while on the launch if you have not been vaccinated.
  • Please maintain a safe distance from the launch operator.
  • Be sure to bring life jackets for children under the age of 12. This is a NY State law and we are unable to loan them at this time.
  • Please use the sanitizer at the end of the main dock before boarding the launch.

As always, the launch operators have the final say on loading and operating the launches and the Yacht Club is not responsible in any way for persons using the Launch Service.

Dinghies:

If you have a dinghy, you may dock on the inland side of the southwest floating docks. Please refer to Docks, Floats & Pier Usage under Waterfront for more details.

BASIC RULES FOR VISITORS AND GUESTS  

  • Use of the Club and its facilities is a revocable privilege. 
  • All guests and visitors must register at the front desk to use Club facilities.
  • Visitors and guests must observe the Club dress code and cell phone rules.
  • The Club is not responsible for personal property
  • Outside food and liquor is not allowed on Club property.
  • Children must be supervised at all times.
  • Pets are not permitted at the Clubhouse and must be on leashes on the grounds. Pet owners must pick up after their animals.

DINING ROOM & BAR

Shelter Island Yacht Club offers full lunch, dinner and bar service in our warm and friendly dining rooms, decks and bar within the restrictions dictated by local, state and federal regulations. Please see the Clubhouse section of this website for more information about Menus, Dining Protocols and Hours.

To ensure you are able to dine with us, we encourage you to make a reservation by calling us at (631) 749-0888. Take-out service is also available for dining on your boat.

COLORS

Shelter Island Yacht Club honors the tradition of "colors." Each day at sunset while the Club is in Commission, a club employee will ring the colors bell near the flagpole. Members, guest and children should stand, remove their hats and remain silently facing the flag pole as a single cannon salute is fired and the Club burgee and the Ensign are lowered. The ceremony ends when the bell at the flagpole is rung.

SERVICES AND FACILITIES

  • WIFI is available in the Club and also in most sections of the harbor. The password is siycwifi.
  • Boxed Lunches may be provided with advance notice. Inquire at the desk.
  • Showers for guests are located on the north side of the Junior Yacht Club. 
  • Ice is available. Inquire at the desk.
  • Trash & Recycling Shelter Island has a mandatory recycling law. You will find containers marked for this purpose on the west side of the clubhouse.
  • Fuel & Pump Out Station are at Piccozzi's Marina located at the head of the harbor.

EMERGENCY

Dial 911 for police, fire and ambulance.
Emergency medical services are available 24 hours a day at Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport. 201 Manor Place, Greenport, NY 11944 (631) 477-1000
The Shelter Island Heights Pharmacy at 19 Grand Avenue is walkable from the Club. (631-749-0445)


  • Getting Around on the Island

    • Shelter Island has no public transportation, but hardware stores, a pharmacy, a small grocery, a post office and several restaurants are a short, pleasant walk away. The ferry to Greenport is a few minutes by foot from the clubhouse. The Shelter Island Chamber of Commerce  offers a complimentary map listing business and points of interest to make your stay more enjoyable. These are available at the clubhouse registration desk. Taxi number: (631) 749-4252 

  • Accommodations
  • Directions

    • By Sea:

      • Latitude 41 degrees 05’ 15” N
      • Longitude 72 degrees 21’ 15” W


      By Land

      Shelter Island is accessible from either the North or South Fork of Long Island via the North Ferry or the South Ferry. Both ferries take cars, bikes and walk-on passengers and run every 10 to 15 minutes during the summer. Each ferry takes approximately 5-10 minutes to cross and reservations are not required. Their hours and contact information are posted on their websites. Please note, both ferries are cash-only.

      Driving from the North Ferry:

      Once you get off the North Ferry, follow the sign for Route 114 up the hill and continue straight, keeping the tennis courts to your right. Follow Chequit Avenue a short distance until you reach the Club.

      From the South Ferry:

      Once you get off the South Ferry, follow signs for Route 114 North. In about 4 miles, you will pass a Mobil Gas Station on your left, and start to see signs of the North Ferry line. Stay to the left of the North Ferry line, then turn right on Chequit Avenue, just past the tennis courts. Follow Chequit Avenue to the end. 

      Public Transportation to the Island

      Taxi: Shelter Island Go'Fers Taxi service is available to take visitors anywhere on the island - call (631) 749-4252 with ample lead time - they are very busy on the weekends.
      Train:       You can take the Long Island Railroad from Penn Station to Greenport where you can board the North Ferry to Greenport. The ferry dock is an easy walk from the Greenport train station. For information and schedules, call (718) 217-5477 or check the Long Island Railroad website: http://new.mta.info/lirr

      Bus: Bus service on the Hampton Jitney to the North Fork is available from various points in Manhattan to Greenport, where you can board the North Ferry to Shelter Island. 

      Cross Sound Ferry: Visitors from New England can take the Cross Sound Ferry New London to Orient. From Orient, it is a 20-25 minute drive to the North Ferry. 

  • Weather Preparation for Visiting Yachts

    • All visitors should be aware of the potential threat of hurricanes and other weather disturbances and should take precautionary steps in connection with their yachts. Severe weather can occur at any time. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the owners/captains to perform checks for wear and tear on the Shelter Island Yacht Club mooring pennant attached to their yacht.

      In the event a hurricane watch is announced by the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration, all visitors with yachts moored in the SIYC grid must commence making their yachts hurricane-ready and perform the following:

      • Remove all roller furling headsails and properly stow them below deck or ashore. Lashing headsails is insufficient protection against severe weather.
      • Remove mainsails or double lash over mainsail cover. Treat mizzen sail in the same manner. Lower and securely lash dodgers and bimini tops.
      • Remove all anchors stowed on deck. This requirement applies particularly to plow anchors since they can and do cut mooring lines. The intent here is to avoid airborne anchors.
      • Install chafe material at all points of chafe.


      When and if the N.O.A.A. converts its hurricane watch to a hurricane warning, all preparations must be completed and all personnel must vacate their yachts. N.O.A.A. issues a hurricane watch for coastal areas when there is a threat of hurricane conditions within 24 hours.

      Launch Service Prior to Severe Weather

      Yacht owners should be aware that after a hurricane warning is issued by N.O.A.A. the point it time when the SIYC launch ceases operating is at the sole discretion of the club’s officer in charge. No exceptions will be made. Therefore, all preparations should be completed early.