Breakwater Yacht Club
Breakwater
Yacht Club
In May of 1987, a group of local business people/sailors met at Bruce Tait Yacht Sales and decided to get together on Wednesday evenings, after work, to race their sailboats. Approximately 75 people on 15 different boats participated that summer in what has now become Breakwater Yacht Club's Wednesday Night Races.
Breakwater Yacht Club, Inc. (BYC) was subsequently founded the next year (1988) with those 75 original members.
BYC's Racing Program has expanded beyond its weekly Wednesday Night Racing Series,
which runs from May through September, to include the annual Sag Harbor Cup
Regatta, proceeds of which go to BYC's Youth Sailing School Scholarship Program.
A JY15 One-Design racing fleet races on Sundays. Last year, BYC was proud to
have once again hosted the JY15 Atlantic Coast Championships.
Unlike traditional yacht clubs, Breakwater Yacht Club, Inc. has since its inception, dedicated itself to community based charitable and educational "good works". In fact, BYC is a community sailing organization. This is evidenced by its past sponsorship of the "Race Against Drug Abuse" and the creation of its Youth Sailing School and Scholarship Program, which will again this year award sixty scholarships to local children. New for 2000, BYC sponsored an "Adventure Sail" Regatta which gives "at risk" young women the chance to participate in an activity that may help change their futures for the better.
These programs are the basis for Breakwater Yacht Club, Inc. qualifying as a 501 (C)(3) tax-exempt corporation.
Of course, the process of learning to sail teaches many things in addition to the handling of a sailboat. Self-reliance, teamwork, resourcefulness and community awareness are among the most important. These are meaningful skills for children as well as adults. Students participating in our Youth Sailing Program in the past have gone on to sail, race and teach at the college level and some have even returned to BYC as instructors for our school.
Along with the continuing growth of our Youth Sailing School, we foresee the possibility of adding an adult program. Over the years we have received many inquiries from parents of our Youth Sailing students as well as year-round and summer residents who also have a desire to learn to sail.
In 1995 with Club membership having grown to approximately 190, BYC signed a lease with the Village of Sag Harbor for a vacant waterfront lot located on Bay Street, between the Sag Harbor Yacht Yard and the Sag Harbor Yacht Club.
Since that time, this property has been Breakwater's Club Grounds. We have already built docks for the JY15's used by our Youth Sailing School and have been utilizing a trailer and tent as our clubhouse.
In 1998 our membership increased to an all time high of approximately 250, creating a need to move on to a legitimate year-round structure. BYC is moving full steam ahead on construction of its new facility. With building plans finalized and all permits in place, the time is near that Breakwater Yacht Club's Community Sailing Center will be a reality.