By Katelyn Montero
If there was ever any doubt about San Diego’s ability to produce world-class sailors, skeptics should look no further than the San Diego Yacht Club. Founded in 1886, SDYC sailors are able to continually refine their skills on the water with the year-round sailing conditions found in America’s Finest City.
SDYC came from very humble beginnings, with a small group of dedicated sailors operating out of an old ferryboat. As they gained members, the young club moved around many locations in San Diego until finally setting at its present location in Point Loma in 1924. Since then, the facilities have grown immensely to accommodate a growing number of members, a world-class junior program and a large number of annual regattas. This year, the San Diego Yacht Club will host almost 50 regattas, ranging from member-only races to National and International competitions. The club is conveniently situated in Point Loma, giving racers access to both the open-water ocean racing of the Pacific and the calmer waters found inside the shelter of San Diego Bay.
In 2014, SDYC is now known across the world as the home to some of the world’s most accomplished sailors. Four-time America’s Cup winner Dennis Conner and J.J. Isler, the first woman ever to be inducted into the Sailing Hall of Fame, are just two of the esteemed sailors who sail out of SDYC.
The club is also a founding member of the National Sailing Hall of Fame. They are often named as a Platinum Club, a special title reserved for the top 5 private yacht clubs in the United States. In 2014, SDYC was ranked as the No. 2 yacht club in the United States. With their club motto “to encourage and foster interest in all aspects of yachting,” the San Diego Yacht Club has established a long history of involvement with racing and junior sailing.
The club is also ranked second in the best all-time final record for clubs who have won the America’s Cup, falling behind only the New York Yacht Club. SDYC is also the original home of the Lipton Cup, which will celebrate it’s centennial race this year from October 31to November 2, where the club will defend its current title as champions.
The Junior Sailing Program is one of the largest in the nation, and often produces competitive college sailors, world champions and Olympic hopefuls. During the summer of 2014, the junior program was home to 308 young sailors, many of whom continued on to participate in the year-round after school sailing program. Nearly exclusive to California sailing is the Sabot, a favorite for the SDYC junior program because beginners and adults can use the dinghy with its small, but accommodating size. Juniors at SDYC also sail 420s, CFJs and Lasers.
With many junior sailors training to compete at the high school level, it’s no surprise that SDYC also hosts practices for four of the local teams. The teams from Francis Parker, Bishop’s, Cathedral Catholic and Point Loma all sail out of SDYC. Many years, these teams go on to compete at a national level. The Point Loma High School Sailing Team recently won the Baker Trophy, making them ISA’s national team-racing champions.
The top-notch amenities and well-established reputation as a hub for world-class sailing is the reason why many members from the area have found their home at the San Diego Yacht Club. Over 2,000 members call SDYC home and enjoy the club’s expansive amenities. The facilities currently boast 578 boat slips, 161 dry storage slips for boats, tennis courts and a swimming pool. There are a total of 150 employees who work around the year to provide top amenities to members and guests.
http://www.sdyc.org/
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