Milwaukee Yacht Club

About

Milwaukee Yacht Club is a year-round lakefront yacht club providing sailing and boating activities, dining, events, and hosting private parties, weddings, and business meetings as a year-round destination for club activities.

Season and operations

The club operates year-round, offering sailing, boating, dining, and events throughout the year.

History and site

Founded in 1871, the original clubhouse was built in 1896 and destroyed by fire in 1943.

A current 9,500 sq ft brick clubhouse was completed in 1967, and a long-term lease with Milwaukee County (50-year term beginning 2020) preserves the club site at McKinley Marina per the club’s history.

Junior sailing program

Milwaukee Yacht Club’s Junior Sailing Program offers 2026 courses and weekly sessions (one session = one week) for ages 6–17 with weekly training.

Program divisions include Beginner (Ages 6–14) using Ideal 18 keelboats, Optimist Dinghy (Ages 6–12) for youth racing, and 420 Sailboat Racer (Ages 12–17) for two-person racing course and session details.

Sessions run Monday–Friday with options for Half-Day Mornings (8:30 am–Noon), Half-Day Afternoons (Noon–4:00 pm), and Full-Day (8:30 am–4:00 pm). Full-Day sessions (Sessions 1–7) meet 8:30 am–4:00 pm, and a swim test is required the first day.

2026 session dates are: Session 1 June 22–26; Session 2 July 6–10; Session 3 July 13–17; Session 4 July 20–24; Session 5 July 27–31; Session 6 August 3–7; Session 7 August 10–14.

Program fees are: Full-Day Members $340, Non-Members $370; Half-Day Morning Members $215, Non-Members $235; Lunch Program $58 per week; late pickup fee $25 after 4:15 pm.

Mandatory items include a life jacket, change of clothes, water bottle, sunscreen, snacks, close-toed shoes, and a towel. Cancellation includes a full refund if written notice is given prior to 7 days before each session per the 2026 program policy.

Racing on Lake Michigan

Milwaukee Yacht Club offers yacht racing on Lake Michigan for dinghies, One Design, and Handicap boats, including PHRF (24'–42') Wednesday Night Offshore Series (WNOS) and Milwaukee Bay Offshore Series (MBOS) on select weekends offshore series events.

The club also runs a Laser fleet that participates in the Milwaukee Bay Laser Fleet Tuesday Night Championship (late May–late August), with Full Rig, Radial, and 4.7 divisions, plus various one-design and regatta events Laser fleet championship.

MYC states it fields US Sailing–certified race officials, stages races from casual buoy races to major offshore events, and provides post-race social activities and opportunities to charter Lasers to support the sailing school racing program overview.

Cruising and member sailing activities

The club supports on-the-water social cruising and offshore sailing activities through member keelboat access, pontoon rentals, and organized rendezvous/yacht-ride events club member amenities.

It also supports competitive offshore racing opportunities as part of the racing program.

Social activities and private events

The club offers a year-round social calendar with member events, live music, wine tastings, happy hours, lakeside patios, and post-race food/beverage socials social offerings.

The clubhouse is available for private events including weddings, banquets, and business meetings club event hosting.

Accommodations nearby

Accommodation options within five or 10 minutes of the club include Astor Hotel, Knickerbocker, Residence Inn by Marriott, Hotel Metro, Pfister Hotel, Hyatt Regency Milwaukee, and Hilton Milwaukee City Center visitor accommodation guidance.

Docking, moorings, and pier

Transient dockage is available at $2.25 per foot per night for reciprocal visitors and $1.25 per foot per night for MYC members dockage information.

Reservations require contacting the Dockmaster (414-403-6921), verification of yacht club membership, a credit card in advance, and a 24-hour cancellation notice. Dockage is granted when available at nonmember rates; guests must register with the Dockmaster upon arrival and departure transient dockage process.

MYC has a single fixed pier with 64 slips located in the center of McKinley Marina between D dock and E dock. The radio working channel is 71 (also monitor 16 or 9) pier and radio channel details.

Pool reciprocity is granted only to overnight transient guests.

Boatyard, cranes, and storage

The yard and dock include multiple cranes, full-time staff, storage abilities, pump-out, tender service, and year-round storage boatyard facilities background.

Equipment includes a 20-ton crane (historically) and four small hoists for launching and hauling boats launching and hauling equipment.

Clubhouse and on-site amenities

Clubhouse features include a heated pool and spa; an outdoor Skylark Bar with lakeside patio; complimentary kayaks and paddleboards; and gourmet dining in the main clubhouse overlooking the North anchorage clubhouse amenities.

Additional spaces include a main dining room overlooking the harbor; a private east-facing banquet room (the Cove); a conference room (the Library); an expansive Main Bar with seating and private wine lockers; and a lounge with a fireplace.

Outdoor and event areas include an outdoor patio with seating overlooking the harbor and a wrap-around deck with bistro seating.

Other facilities listed include Boatique; restrooms; administrative offices; restrooms with showers; Dockmaster’s office; and a classroom for the sailing school club facilities.

The club also has event space and restrooms with showers and lockers adjacent to the Club pool and hot tub.