St Thomas Yacht Club

Primary Activity

The club is a private yacht club focused on sailing and yacht racing, including club and regatta organization, junior and adult sailing instruction, boat-access programs, and court sports. It also operates the St. Thomas Sailing Center and organizes major Caribbean regattas.

History

The club was organized in 1964 at Cowpet/Deck Point and has developed facilities such as a beach, moorings, and a concrete dock. It was an early sponsor of the Caribbean Midwinter Regatta and club members played a role in founding the Caribbean International Optimist Regatta. Over the years, the club has produced national champions and Olympic/Americas Cup competitors, expanding its racing activities notably with the IC-24 class.

For more details, visit the history page.

Accommodation

The club does not provide overnight lodging on site, as club rules prohibit overnight stays. The clubhouse features The Galley, a full-service restaurant and bar, along with event spaces available for private rental and member functions.

Boatyard Facilities

Facilities include a member boat ramp (restricted to members), a concrete dock with defined dock-use rules, dry storage with assigned spaces and fees, and a club-owned dinghy fleet with checkout and competency requirements. There is also a member launch service to and from moored boats, and a dock sign-up system for short-term access.

For more information, refer to the club rules.

Moorings and Anchorage

The club provides a mooring area and issues mooring permits and fees. Members may use the launch service to access their moored boats. Anchoring in the swim area is restricted to loading and unloading near the boat ramp, and mooring and dock use are governed by club rules and permits.

Details can be found on the launch services page.

Clubhouse Features

The clubhouse includes The Galley with lunch, dinner, and brunch menus, a bar with happy-hour offerings, dressing-room showers, beach and patio areas, and event rental spaces. It also features on-site tennis and squash courts with spectator seating. The clubhouse is open daily with posted hours.

Training Programs

The club offers comprehensive training programs for various age groups, including Pee Wee, Opti I/II, Opti Green Fleet, Adventure Sailing, Team 420, and summer sailing camp. There are also race training programs with structured clinic and coach-led sessions. Club dinghy usage requires competency checks and lifejackets, and there are adult sailing programs available.

For more details on training, visit the junior sailing program page.

Racing Events

The club hosts a full regatta calendar, including the St. Thomas International Regatta (STIR), the International Optimist Regatta (IOR), and the Round the Rocks Race. It features active club racing with an IC-24 one-design fleet and regular racing programs on Fridays and weekends. The club also regularly hosts regional and national junior and match-racing events.

For more information, see the racing summary.

Cruising Activities

The club's Boat Access fee structure allows members to use club boats for daysails and organized group sails. The club calendar includes cruising-related rallies and big-boat events, and it supports member-led day sails and island rallies.

Further details can be found on the club's main page.

Social Activities

The club maintains an active year-round social calendar, featuring regular themes at The Galley such as Taco Tuesday, trivia nights, and live music. Members also participate in social sails and regatta social events, as well as fundraising events like Sailabration. The clubhouse is available for private functions.

For more information on social events, visit the dining page.

Seasonal Operation

The club operates year-round, with launch service and dock operations available seven days a week. The clubhouse is open daily with posted hours. Membership dues are assessed annually, and facility and usage fees for mooring, dry storage, and boat access are billed according to a schedule outlined in membership materials.

For more details, refer to the launch services page.