Newport Harbor Yacht Club

About

The Newport Harbor Yacht Club is a private yacht club providing recreational and competitive yachting activities, including sailing and powerboating, yacht racing, junior sailing development, social and dining facilities, and member boating support. The club was founded in 1916 and has a long-standing presence on the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach, featuring a historic clubhouse and an ongoing program of facility maintenance and updates, as noted on the club's website.

Accommodation

On-water facilities include wet and dry slips for members, mooring cans, and several guest moorings. There are no permanent visitor slips, but a main dock is available for temporary use along with shoreboat service to and from guest moorings. The club also has leased access to Moonstone Cove on Catalina Island. Wet slips accommodate boats up to approximately 55 feet, while dry slips are for smaller boats, as detailed on the club's amenities page.

Facilities

The club features an on-site boatyard and maintenance area with a launching ramp, launching and crane facilities, work docks, a boat store, and hoisting and launching infrastructure. These facilities are outlined in the club's facility map.

The clubhouse includes a main dining room (Chart Room/Dining Room), a casual bar (Pirate’s Den), seasonal patio dining, outdoor decks, a private beach, and a pavilion with barbecue and snack facilities. Locker rooms and 24-hour showers are also available, with clubhouse rules governing use.

Training and Racing

The club has an active junior sailing program managed by a full-time program director and paid coaches. It offers year-round seasonal clinics and race teams, as well as hosting US Sailing-sanctioned offshore safety courses. Racing support staff, including a race office and fleet surgeon, ensure safety during events. More information can be found on the club's junior sailing page.

The racing program is extensive, featuring inshore and offshore series, one-design fleets, and signature regattas such as the Islands Race and the biannual Newport Beach to Cabo San Lucas offshore race. Additional details about racing can be found on the racing page.

Cruising and Social Activities

The club supports cruising and angling fleets and organizes offshore events, notably the Newport to Cabo San Lucas race. Participants must meet safety equipment requirements and certification guidance provided by the club.

Year-round social and dining programming is centered around clubhouse dining and bars, seasonal patio events, and junior program banquets. Reciprocal visiting members may use clubhouse amenities during their visits, as noted on the club's amenities page.

Dress Code

The clubhouse dress rules require shirts and footwear at all times, with no caps allowed after 5:30 PM and collared shirts required after that time. Additional house rules prohibit cell phones in the clubhouse, smoking on the premises, and tipping. More details can be found on the dress code page.

Seasonal Operation

The club operates seasonally and weekly, being open Wednesday through Sunday for dining. The boatyard gate opens at 7:00 AM, and shoreboat service generally runs from 7:30 AM until dusk, with earlier closing times on some weekdays, as posted by the club.