CLUB HISTORY

Founded by a group of young sailors in the early 1930’s, the Southold Yacht Club was formally organized in 1938 to serve the North Fork’s growing community of professional and amateur boaters.  The first formal meeting of charter members was held on March 26, 1938 at the Old Firehouse for the purpose of establishing the club.

On Memorial Day that year, the Southold Yacht Club and Southold Park Commission sponsored festivities to inaugurate the club at Founders Landing. A flagpole erected on the park property was dedicated and the SYC burgee raised. Events of the day included sailing and motor boat races, speeches by town officials, followed by a public supper and dance in the evening.

View the Charter Members List from The Long Island Traveler, 1938

The club used the town wharf at Founder's Landing as well as other locations to host events, fund raisers and races until the decision was made to build a permanent location at Paradise Point. The new clubhouse was dedicated and opened on July 4th, 1948, with over 400 people in attendance. For twenty years Paradise Point served as a place for fledgling sailors to learn, regattas, dinners, and dances, however increasingly dangerous rip currents which passed the peninsula end eventually made the site too dangerous for sailing.

In 1969 SYC moved to the current location on an undeveloped parcel of land adjacent to Goose Creek Bridge. The old building was sold to be converted into a private home and was eventually destroyed by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The present serene beachfront clubhouse is on an inlet ideal for boat launching and has a large yard to store boats, protected from the weather.

Southold Yacht Club members have sailed competitively in college, Olympic trials, and world championships including the America’s Cup. As a yearly tradition, SYC hosts the World’s Longest Sunfish Race.

Albert Einstein is famously known to spend his summers sailing in the Southold Bay and to commemorate this, Einstein Square has recently been constructed in the center of town. 

Today Southold Yacht Club remains dedicated to its founding principles and traditions, open to all who have a love of sailing and enjoyment of our beautiful waterways.

Please contribute information or photos to the SYC Club History page