New York Yacht Club history

On July 15, 1845, the New York Yacht Club opened its first clubhouse – one year after its founding.

In 1851, a schooner painted black arrived there looking to win races.

On July 8, 1857, the coveted trophy was donated to the NYYC, to serve as a challenge cup for sportsmanlike competition between nations.

The year 1866 is remembered in club annals for the legendary "Transatlantic Race". In December, the NYYC schooners Henrietta, Fleetwing, and Vesta raced from Sandy Hook to The Needles, Isle of Wight for a $90,000 winner-take-all prize.

In 1868, the club bought a big mansion used as Station 2 at Rosebank, Staten Island.

On August 8, 1870, the schooner Magic represented the New York Yacht Club in the international 1870 America's Cup competition in the New York Harbor and was won by Franklin Osgood's American yacht Magic.

Bennett would be elected commodore in 1871.

In 1876, the Mohawk, a large centerboard schooner, capsized due to its sheets being "made fast" (fastened securely) when a freak squall struck.

Schuyler played a key role in the founding of the America's Cup regatta, and served as its unofficial consultant until his death in 1890.

By 1894, the New York Yacht Club had a number of Clubhouses: Station 1 in Bay Ridge; 2 in New York NY; 3 in Whitestone NY; 4 in New London, Connecticut; 5 in Shelter Island, New York; 6 in Newport RI; 7 in Vineyard Haven and at Rendezvous Glen Cove.

By Dan Nerney The legendary yacht designer Captain Nathanael Herreshoff, an honorary member of the NYYC -- see photo above -- designed a fleet of boats back in 1896 called the Newport 30 class.

In 1898, the NYYC was billeted on the second floor of a house on Madison Avenue.

The racing -- for yacht club teams from around the world and Corinthian (amateur) sailors -- is in NYYC Swan 42s – the eighth one-design class created by the New York Yacht Club since 1900.

The building, designed in the beaux-arts style by Whitney Warren and Charles D. Wetmore, opened in 1901.

Newspapers dubbed it, "the Great Ocean Race." The NYYC started another famous transatlantic race in 1905, from New York to the Lizard in England.

In 1983, the NYYC finished "second" in the America's Cup.

Then in 1987, it acquired Harbour Court in Newport, the former summer home of NYYC Commodore John Nicholas Brown.

When it opened in 1988, 1,500 members and guests attended.

Harbour Court created a new energy and focus at the NYYC. In 1994, it hosted its Sesquicentennial Celebration, for members and friends.

In 1997, the NYYC hosted at its Manhattan clubhouse the Atlantic Challenge Cup, a transatlantic race for the world's largest yachts.

In 1998, the NYYC hosted Race Week at Newport, presented by Rolex, the Disabled World Sailing Championship and the ILC Maxi World Championship.

In 2000, as part of Race Week, the NYYC hosted the Rolex IMS Offshore World Championship.

By John Rousmaniere In honor of the Centennial of the 44th Street Clubhouse on January 22-25, 2001, the NYYC published a book about the clubhouse written by member John Rousmaniere and designed by member B. Martin Pedersen.

In 2002, the NYYC hosted the UBS Challenge -- an international match-racing championship.

In 2003, the NYYC supported a new Transatlantic Race, the DaimlerChrysler North Atlantic Challenge -- organized by Norddeutscher Regatta Verein.

Her time of 12 days, four hours, one minute lasted for 100 years or until 2005 as the Transatlantic Race Record for monohull yachts.

In the first Invitational Cup in 2009, 19 yacht club teams from 14 countries, from four continents competed.

The second Invitational Cup in 2011 included 22 yacht club teams from 16 nations from six continents.

The eighth edition of Race Week at Newport, presented by Rolex, was in 2012.

It is known for its Model Room and Library. Thus, began the historical connection between the NYYC and Newport, RI. The 2013 Annual Cruise, to Maine, will be the Club's 159th.

2020 Race Week at Newport presented by Rolex