New York Yacht Club

The New York Yacht Club is a private yacht club based in New York City. The New York Yacht Club is one of the world's most distinguished and influential yachting institutions.

History

The Club was founded on July 30, 1844 by nine gentlemen. John Cox Stevens, the leader of this group and an important citizen of New York with a passion for sport, was elected Commodore. In addition to his sailing activities, Stevens once served as president of the Jockey Club and owned the great racing horse, Eclipse; he was also a founding member of New York?s oldest gentlemen?s club, the Union Club. Two other founders deserve mention: George L. Schuyler and Hamilton Wilkes. Schuyler and Wilkes, along with Stevens and two others, were the members of the syndicate that built and raced the great schooner-yacht, America: the America won the Cup that now bears her name in the famous race around the Isle of Wight in 1851 against a fleet of British yachts. Wilkes served as the club?s first Vice-Commodore. Among other things, Schuyler played a key role in the founding of the America?s Cup regatta and served as an unofficial consultant to the regatta until he passed away in 1890.

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In 1845, the Club?s famous burgee was designed and its first clubhouse, a modest, Gothic-revival building in Hoboken, New Jersey on land donated by Commodore Stevens; after the club outgrew the little clubhouse, it was moved to various locations including Glen Cove, New York and Mystic Seaport, Connecticut before reaching its current location on the grounds of Harbour Court in Newport.

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During the first several decades of the Club's history, racing for prize money was the primary objective among most of the club's members.

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In 1851, a syndicate of NYYC members built and raced the schooner-yacht America, winning 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 challenge cup for friendly competition between nations. The America's Cup regatta played a central role in the history of the Club. See Wikipedia article on the America's Cup for more information.

Related Topics:
Royal Yacht Squadron - America's Cup

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In 1865, the Club was incorporated and adopted its motto. During this time, the membership was being transformed from the old guard into a new generation of yachtsmen who built large schooner yachts captained by professionals. Marking this transition was the resignation of Commodore Edwin A. Stevens in 1866. Stevens was a brother of founder John Cox Stevens and one of the members of the America syndicate.

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The year 1866 is long-remembered in the annals of the Club for it was the year of 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 by completing the run in 13 days, 21 hours, 55 minutes. The young Bennett was later elected Commodore in 1871.

Related Topics:
Sandy Hook - James Gordon Bennett, Jr.

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In 1876, the Mohawk, a large centre-board schooner capsized due to its sheets being made fast when a freak squall struck her. Vice-Commodore William T. Garner, his wife and crew died in the accident. It is generally regarded that this tragic event led to the extinction of the great centerboard schooner yachts.

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In 1889, the NYYC adopted the Seawanhaka rule which remained in force for the nearly twenty years. The Seawanhaka rule was the result of a colloboration between the NYYC and the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club.

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In 1902, the NYYC changed their rating system to the Herreshoff Rule, later re-named the Universal Rule. The Universal rule was adopted by the majority of leading American yacht clubs. The rule governed yacht design for almost forty years.

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