Melbourne Yacht Club is a boating and social club made up of warm, friendly people. And, although our activities emphasize sailing, any boat owner or “yachtsman in spirit” who enjoys the camaraderie of the sailing community is welcome to apply.
In 1947, MYC was reborn with 73 charter members. It was founded with the following objectives: to stimulate interest in boating and yachting; to advance the science of navigation and the art of seamanship; and to promote a fraternal spirit among its members and with other yachtsmen and yacht clubs. In the 1960s the club evolved into a dinghy sailing club and has since grown to a membership of approximately 160 families who have varied interests in boating.
Facilities currently available for members’ use include 42 permanent dock slips, overnight dockage, a fleet of Optimist prams and Sunfish, a launch ramp, and the newly renovated 4,400-square-foot club house that includes a large meeting room, a kitchen and the club lounge.
Many club-sponsored activities are boating oriented, such as races, cruises and raft-ups. The club sponsors all-class (cruiser and one-design) sailing regattas annually in the spring and in the fall. An all-ladies “Mermaid” regatta for cruisers and one-design boats is held in September. Bi-monthly “Wet Sunday” racing for one-design boats is held on Sunday afternoons year round. Four “Rum Race” series of informal races are also held bi-monthly on Sunday afternoons but moves to Friday evenings during Daylight Saving Time. MYC also hosts several regional and national one-design regattas during the year such as the Sunfish International Masters Championships. Also, as a public service, the club sponsors courses in water safety and sailing for youth 9 to 14 years of age as well as for adults. Annually, an informal group of boats strikes out for a cruise to the Bahamas or the Keys, and any pleasant weekend will find a group of MYCers rafted at one of the local anchorages. A 30-boat, moonlight dinner raft-up is a popular annual event and currently a hot dog roast cruise to the Marker 21 spoil island is a monthly event.
In addition, social activities such as the annual 4th of July picnic, Thanksgiving sharing supper and Christmas party as well as other theme parties are held on a regular basis. TGIF is held every Friday night in the lounge and is often followed by a moonlight cruise, cookout or dine-in. Many of the club’s activities are family oriented, and young people are welcome to participate in all sailing events and in appropriate social activities. Monthly meetings are held on the first Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and visitors are welcome. A program of interest to yachtsmen often follows the business meeting.
The club is located on the south side of the Melbourne Harbor, a brackish-water “hurricane hole” at the mouth of Crane Creek. The creek empties into the Indian River Lagoon which offers approximately 100 square miles of the best sailing waters on the East coast. The protected, but at times challenging, lagoon is perfect year-round for all types of water activities, from sail boarding to water skiing, or just relaxing on the sandy shores of one of the small uninhabited spoil islands.
To join Melbourne Yacht Club you must be nominated by a sponsor who is already a member and be asked to attend a TGIF, a social function and/or a monthly meeting to get acquainted with other members. To inquire about membership, contact the current membership chairman for information.