Our Roots

The seven founding members of the Sausalito Yacht Club were already junior members of other yacht clubs, but with teenage hubris thought they could do better themselves. The founders conceived and established the new club on New Year’s Eve of 1942. The time was right. World War II had called many of the older, local boat owners to Europe or the Pacific. Before heading off to war, they trusted their boats to the care of the club’s young founders, the oldest, just sixteen years old.

A mood of teenage rebellion was reflected in a provision of the first bylaws: no one could join the club who was older than the oldest founding member. Later, the maximum age limit was raised, although this rule was not abandoned until 1953.

Originally club meetings were held in members’ homes, but they soon adopted the Officer’s saloon of the steam schooner, Santa Barbara, later rented the former clubhouse of the San Francisco Yacht Club, and after World War II, used a wood frame building at the south end of the yacht harbor as home base. In 1958, the Club members decided they needed a permanent clubhouse, and signed a lease with J. H. Madden Sr. of Madden and Lewis Corp. for a site at the former Northwestern Pacific passenger train railhead for the Sausalito to San Francisco ferry.
 
The club called on the talents of members to design and build the clubhouse on the site. With the help of a pile driver and operator supplied by Madden and Lewis, members drove all of the piles for the clubhouse over the weekend of December 6-7, 1958. Member Ted Boutmy designed the clubhouse and a contractor was hired to build it. The clubhouse was completed and dedicated on September 24, 1960.

Our Mission

• Actively promote the sport of boating
• Provide sail training
• Develop and sponsor yacht racing events
• Educate members about marine-oriented skills
• Be actively involved in our community
• Provide and manage a convivial bar and galley operation for the benefit of the membership

The Sausalito Yacht Club was founded on the principles of belonging. Our membership always has been and will continue to be inclusive and diverse, and we welcome all boating enthusiasts. All applicants are considered for membership without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, or age.