The New York Yacht Club is a private yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. Founded in 1844, it is one of the world's most distinguished and influential yachting institutions. Its members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. The organization currently has over 3,000 members, a significant increase from 20 yrs ago. This is primarily due to the need to fund its expanded Rhode Island based activities which are summer season oriented. Membership in the club is by invitation only. Its officers include a Commodore, vice-commodore, rear-commodore, secretary and treasurer.
Clubhouses
In 1845, the club’s first clubhouse was established—a modest, Gothic-revival building in Hoboken, New Jersey, on land donated by Commodore Stevens. After the club outgrew the little building, it moved to various locations, including Staten Island, Glen Cove, New York and Mystic, Connecticut, before reaching its current Newport location on the grounds of "Harbour Court."
Its current primary clubhouse is a six-storied Beaux-Arts landmark with a nautical-themed limestone facade, located at 37 West 44th Street in midtown Manhattan. Opened in 1901, it was designed by Warren and Wetmore, architects of the exterior of Grand Central Terminal. The centerpiece of the clubhouse is the "Model Room," which contains the world's largest collection of full and half hull models. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987.
In addition to its landlocked Manhattan headquarters, the club maintains "Harbour Court," a clubhouse opened in 1988 on the water in Newport.
History
The New York Yacht Club was founded on July 30 , 1844 by nine gentlemen. John Cox Stevens, the leader of this group, and a prominent citizen of New York with a passion for sport, was elected commodore. George L. Schuyler and Hamilton Wilkes were also NYYC founders that, together with Stevens and two others, created the syndicate that built and raced the great schooner-yacht, America . Wilkes served as the club’s first vice-commodore. 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.
In 1845, the club’s famous burgee was designed. The waters off Newport have been a key sailing venue for the NYYC since the beginning of its history. Indeed, the day the club was founded in 1844, its members resolved to sail from the Battery to Newport. Two days later they did, with several stops on the way, and trials of speed.
During the first decades of the club's history, racing for prize money was the primary objective among most members. In 1851, a syndicate of NYYC enthusiasts built and raced America , capturing the "One Hundred Sovereign Cup" at the annual regatta of the Royal Yacht Squadron. On July 8 , 1857 , the coveted trophy was donated to the NYYC, to serve as a challenge cup for sportsmanlike competition between nations. The "America's Cup Race," named for its first winner, played a central role in the history of the club.
In 1865, the Club was incorporated, adopting the motto: "Nos agimur tumidis velis" -- "We go with swelling sails." During this time, membership transformed from the "old guard" to a new generation of yachtsmen, who built large schooner yachts captained by professionals. Marking this transition was the 1866 resignation of Commodore Edwin Augustus Stevens, brother of founder John Cox Stevens and member of the America syndicate.
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. The Henrietta , owned by twenty-one-year old James Gordon Bennett, Jr., and skippered by Captain Samuel S. Samuels, a professional, won the race in 13 days, 21 hours and 55 minutes. Bennett would be elected commodore in 1871.
In 1876, the Mohawk , a large centre-board schooner, capsized due to its sheets being "made fast" (fastened securely) when a freak squall struck. Vice-Commodore William T. Garner, his wife and crew died in the accident. It is believed that this tragedy led to the extinction of the great centerboard schooner yachts. The Mohawk was later sold to the U.S. Navy and recommissioned as the U.S. Eagre.
Racing Rules
Following the disastrous Bay of Quinte America's Cup challenge in 1881, the Club's committee voted a new rule to govern its races:
The America's Cup challenges of 1885, 1886 and 1887 used this rule with a 85 ft (25.91 m) waterline length limit. In 1887, the NYYC adopted the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club's rating rule, which handicaped length comparatively less. Then, in 1903, the NYYC changed its rating system to the "Herreshoff Rule," devised by the yacht designer, Nathanael Herreshoff. Later re-named the "Universal Rule," it would be adopted by the majority of leading American yacht clubs. The rule governed yacht design for almost forty years.The America's Cup was held for 132 years, until Australia II defeated Dennis Conner's Liberty off Newport, Rhode Island in 1983. This record remains the longest continuous winning streak in sports history.
Since the loss of the Cup the NYYC has been forced to reinvent itself and the Club has become involved in team racing, dinghy racing, youth sailing, and numerous international regattas. In 2002 the Club hosted the Intercollegiate Sailing Association Sloop North American Championships. In 2006 the Club hosted the Blind Sailing World Championships.
Regattas
- 2005 Rolex Transatlantic Challenge
- "New York Yacht Club Cruise," an annual series of races held in July or August
- "Annual Regatta," started in 1846
- "Queen's Cup Trophy"
- "12-metre Worlds"
- "Una Cup"
- "Corsair Cup"
- "Astor Cups"
- "Solution Trophy"
Noted Members
- John Cox Stevens
- JP Morgan
- James Gordon Bennett, Jr.
- Ted Turner
- Gary Jobson
- Bernard Madoff
- Harold Stirling Vanderbilt
- Thomas Watson, Jr.
- Olin Stephens
- Sen Chris Dodd
- Gov Pete DuPont
- Sec John Lehman
- Ted Kennedy Jr
- Mayor Mike Bloomberg
See also
- List of American gentlemen's clubs
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. 2007-01-23 . http://www.nr.nps.gov/ .
- ^ a b "New York Yacht Club". National Historic Landmark summary listing . National Park Service. 2007-09-17 . http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1843&ResourceType=Building .
- ^ "". National Park Service. 1985-10 . "New York Yacht Club", October 1985, by James H. Charleston PDF (763 KiB) .
- ^ "". National Park Service. 1985-10 . New York Yacht Club--Accompanying photo, exterior, undated. PDF (178 KiB) . ...
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