The Most Luxurious And Exclusive Yacht Clubs Around The World
If you're ready to set sail on the seven seas, it may be time to consider joining a yacht club. Usually reserved for the rich and famous, yacht clubs come with high-class amenities, picturesque views, friendly staff, and tip-top service. It's important to remember that no two yacht clubs are the same, but all will make sure to keep their members satisfied. So, climb aboard your vessel and check out some of the world's most exclusive and luxurious yacht clubs in the world.
New York Yacht Club
New York Yacht Club was founded in 1844 and has two locations: New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. John Cox Stevens and eight of his friends hopped aboard his schooner called the Gimcrack and anchored it off Lower Manhattan to propose the start of the club.
This is one of the most exclusive clubs in the world because membership is invitation-only. At the turn of the century, the club added a "Beaux-Arts-style" mansion donated by Commodore J. Pierpont Morgan and designed by Whitney Warren and Charles D. Wetmore. Warren and Wetmore were also the designers behind Grand Central Station.
Yacht Haven Grande
Those looking to visit Yacht Haven Grande will find it along the Charlotte Amalie Harbor in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. It is one of the most luxurious yacht clubs in the world because of its many amenities including lighted tennis courts, a crew lounge, a lagoon-style pool, a beach volleyball court, shops, restaurants, and more.
Yacht Haven Grande is considered a premium Caribbean yacht club with some of the most spectacular views on earth. The crystal clear blue water next to the green hills make it a favored spot for boat enthusiasts from all over.
Yacht Club De Monaco
This yacht club was founded by royalty. Prince Rainier originated Yacht Club de Monaco in 1953. It's the only yacht club in Monaco and its new 2014 building was designed by some world-renowned architects such as Lord Norman Foster, Jacques Grange, and Nelson Wilmot.
The food at the yacht club is some of the best in the world. Chef Theirry Theircelin was the first chef to earn a Michelin star in the Saint Tropez peninsula and she is in charge of the kitchen at the club's 1909 Restaurant.
San Diego Yacht Club
One of the top spots in Southern California is the San Diego Yacht Club in Point Loma. It's home to many famous ships that race throughout the San Diego Bay and was founded in 1886 by a group of locals who loved boating.
Some of the amenities include a dining room, outdoor seating deck, a banquet hall, a sailing center, a library, a pool and hot tub, gym, tennis courts, and a pavilion. The San Diego Yacht Club also has one of the best and longest-running junior sailing programs in the country.
Royal Yacht Squadron
The United Kingdom is full of rich history and one of its most historic spots is the Royal Yacht Squadron. Located on the Isle of Wight, the club was founded on June 1, 1815, with a clubhouse that's also a castle. The Cowes Castle was originally built by King Henry VIII in 1539 to protect England from being invaded by France and the Holy Roman Empire.
Members are required to wear black tie attire and boat shoes at all times. All member yachts have a suffix of RYS and are allowed to wear the White Ensign of the Royal Navy.
Grand Bahama Yacht Club
If you're looking for panoramic island views, then Grand Bahama Yacht Club is the perfect spot for you. The club is located in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, and includes tropical landscapes paired against traditional European architecture. There are tons of activities on the island for people of all ages.
People can go hiking in three different national parks, visit an inland ocean cavern called "Owls Hole," go birdwatching, and swim with dolphins at Dolphin Cove. Most visitors travel by water taxi, which can take people to shops, restaurants, hotels, and more.
Dubai Marina Yacht Club
Dubai is one of the world's up-and-coming cities that is highly focused on modernization. The Dubai Marina Yacht Club is one of the city's most exclusive locales and it has won five prestigious Gold Anchor Awards. Visitors are sure to get views of the Arabian Gulf and Dubai's cityscape.
This is one of the coolest clubhouses, with top-notch architecture, fine dining, plenty of shopping, and more amenities than most would ever need. Members will have access to four different marinas, a sports lounge, golf course, a boat repair service, and much more.
Grosse Pointe Yacht Club
Grosse Pointe Yacht Club can be found on the shore of Lake St. Clair in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan. The club was founded over a century ago and is known for its Mediterranean Revival-style clubhouse, which can be seen from Detroit.
Some of the newer amenities include a state-of-the-art Marine Activity Center, bowling alley, family recreation center, and an Olympic-sized pool. Members can also enjoy their three restaurants, a ballroom, tennis courts, and a sailing center. Clint Eastwood fans might recognize Grosse Pointe Yacht Club from the credits in 2008's Gran Torino.
Yacht Club Costa Smeralda
Located on the Italian Peninsula in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, is the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. This beautiful club was established in 1967 and had some major remodeling done during the early 2000s to make it look even more glamorous.
While this place is meant for the rich and famous, they still care about the planet. Yacht Club Costa Smeralda has strict rules dictating that members are forbidden to use single-use plastics and must reduce their energy consumption.
Newport Harbor Yacht Club
One of the most beautiful places in Southern California is Newport Beach and joining the yacht club there isn't a small feat. Initiation fees alone cost upwards of about $20,000. Newport Harbor Yacht Club can be found on the Balboa peninsula and comes with a newly remodeled clubhouse.
Members can enjoy their main dining room, outdoor seating area, a private beach, and a pavilion. Newport Yacht Club was founded in 1916 and is full of a lot of history. Its mission is to provide a physical and social environment for its members.
Royal Langkawi Yacht Club
Royal Langkawi Yacht Club is located off the southeast coast of Malaysia and is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The employees and members take pride in their yacht club because it's the only award-winning one in the entire country.
It gets the "royal" name because the Sultan of Kedah is the royal patron of the club. Royal Langkawi Yacht Club opened to encourage boating culture around Malaysia and they have hosted several regattas over the years. According to Departures, the design of the club is an homage to the "natural beauty of the island."
Port de Saint-Tropez
Europe is one of the finest and most luxurious places to set sail. The Port de Saint-Tropez in France is considered to be a major Mediterranean hub and is one of the most famous ports in the world. People come there for a multitude of reasons such as networking, socializing, and entertainment.
Port de Saint-Tropez is also one of the most culturally diverse yacht clubs in history and it has a staff full of people eager to please their members. Both members and employees believe that environmentalism is crucial, so they strive to keep the harbor clean.
Lyford Cay Club
The island of Lyford Cay in The Bahamas is considered to be one of the world's wealthiest and most exclusive neighborhoods. Lyford Cay Club has some very famous members including global leaders, royal families, and more. The members get to enjoy the club's five-star amenities such as a tennis court, fitness center, 18-hole golf course, and many social events.
Lyford Cay Club has some of the best views in the world including white sand beaches and beautiful palm trees. If you ever get to visit the clubhouse, make sure to take a peek at the award-winning drawing room.
Larchmont Yacht Club
There's a lot of history behind the Larchmont Yacht Club in Westchester County, New York. Benjamin A. Carver, a railroad magnate, purchased the club in 1880 and it was originally used to house cows and horses. Beginning in 1885, Larchmont would host a Race Week.
Race Week has occurred every year since. Over the course of nine days, hundreds of boats compete in a race in Long Island Sound. Members of Larchmont can enjoy their state-of-the-art facilities such as their clubhouse, pool, beach grill, six tennis courts, and four paddle tennis courts.
San Francisco Yacht Club
Members of other yacht clubs around the world will want to take the time to visit San Francisco Yacht Club. They have a rule that any "visiting Yachtsmen who are members in good standing of any Club in the world" can stay there and use their facilities.
Some may not know that the San Francisco Yacht Club is the oldest on the Pacific Coast, but remains one of the most elegant and private. The scenery is one of the best parts because the club is right next to the famous Golden Gate Bridge.
Ibiza Magna
One of the most expensive marinas in the world is the Ibiza Magna in Spain. The yacht club is super exclusive because they limit the number of berths for the superyachts. Its location is in the heart of Spain, so it's close to many great shops, restaurants, clubs, and more.
In June 2020, Ibiza Magna changed ownership and is now known as Marina Port Ibiza. The new management has been working tirelessly to make sure that the club maintains the same standard of service.
Republic Of Singapore Yacht Club
The oldest yacht club in Asia is actually one of the most exclusive. Republic of Singapore Yacht Club is one of the most uniquely designed clubs in the world and it won the Singapore Institute of Architects Architectural Design Award for its buildings.
For example, the "soaring and serrated" roofline is an homage to the traditional buildings of their culture. The history of the Republic of Singapore Yacht Club dates back to Singapore's days as a British colony and has housed many famous members such as King Edward VIII and Prince Charles.
Royal Cork Yacht Club
During the early 1600s, sailing became one of the most popular pastimes, especially in Europe. The great-grandson of King Charles II became interested in the sport in 1720 and decided to make a group for it with his friends. William O'Brien, the 9th Lord Inchiquin, ended up being a founding member of the world's first yacht club.
Initially, it was titled "The Water Club of the Harbour of Cork," but that was changed to the Royal Cork Yacht Club. The club still exists today in its third location of Crosshaven, Ireland.
Detroit Yacht Club
Those who get the chance to join Detroit Yacht Club in Detroit, Michigan will be able to stay on their own private island. The yacht club sits on its own island off the Belle Isle in the Detroit River. One of the coolest features is the clubhouse, which is a restored 1920s Mediterranean-style villa. It happens to be the largest clubhouse in the United States.
Members get to enjoy the club's many facilities including racquetball courts, indoor and outdoor pools, a hot tub, tennis courts, a bocce ball court, volleyball court, an indoor and outdoor restaurant, and a marina that can fit up to 300 boats.
Royal Vancouver Yacht Club
Royal Vancouver Yacht Club in Vancouver, British Columbia was founded plainly as the Vancouver Yacht Club in 1903. It earned its royal title a few years later. The club currently has two locations in Jericho Bay and Coal Harbour. Jericho Bay's site includes a clubhouse, two restaurants, a dinghy dock, and 350 berths.
Coal Harbour's site has many of the same features, but it is also the location of the Mermaid Inn and a floating restaurant. According to the official website, the vistas over the bay give the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club the distinction of having the best views in Vancouver.
