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Who We Are

Rich in history, Coronado Cays Yacht Club upholds the highest traditions of the yachting spirit and is most likely Coronado’s best kept secret, located just down the Strand.

Established in 1972, our Club has long held a reputation for warm hospitality, and we are known as “the friendliest yacht club in San Diego.”

A Mission of Integrity, a Community of Friends and Family

For nearly 50 years – and now several generations – the Coronado Cays Yacht Club has prided itself on maintaining and promoting an atmosphere of Corinthian sportsmanship and camaraderie amongst its members, many of varied backgrounds and different boating and social interests. Our mission is to continue promoting these values while offering an amazing array of activities for our members to enjoy and participate in and to set CCYC apart as one of the truly premier private clubs in San Diego.

Hidden Gem in San Diego’s South Bay

Approaching from the water, our clubhouse rises on the horizon to welcome seafaring travelers with its striking architectural lighthouse beacon. This symbolizes CCYC’s personality of promoting good fellowship, sportsmanship, and conviviality.

Offering one of the most breathtaking views in San Diego, our Club provides our members world class waterfront dining and hundreds of events annually. Both on and off the water, we bring a history of combining first-class facilities with unparalleled boating and non-boating activities for our members and their families. Just one visit is all it takes to see that at the Coronado Cays Yacht Club, living’ the dream is not just a saying, it’s our reality.

There’s always something going on around here…

CCYC sit on one of the most unique waterfront properties on the Bay, in a locale known for its uniqueness. Our restaurant offers an exceptional dining experience, with a gorgeous view of the South Bay, and our Certified Executive Chef Liliana Lopez is continuing to expand her menu of delectable food offerings. We have a fun and always lively Burgee Bar, with great drinks and friendly bar staff, featuring live music every Friday night and open-mic and Karaoke events monthly.

Our around-the-year heated swimming pool and jacuzzi with BBQ and poolside service is family friendly. We have a fantastic bocce ball court with regular tournaments, and our patio area is the perfect place to watch the sunset or enjoy one of the many sail races that commence in front of the Club.

You don’t have to own a boat to be a member…

…but if you do, we maintain a long list of activities for nearly every type of boater. We have year-round sail racing, raft-ups for both sailboats and power boat, fishing tournaments, whale watching, and a nice variety of electric boat events. Crewing opportunities exist for mariners of all ages and skill levels.

Other events include:

• Weekly Trivia with the Commodore, Bingo, Bridge and Texas Hold-em;
• Nautical themed Monthly Book Club.
• The C-Gulls, Southern California’s last remaining active ladies yacht club auxiliary group, supporting the club and local community;
• Year-round events including Bocce Ball tournaments, Easter Bunny & Egg Hunt, Summertime Clam Bakes, Luaus, and a hugely popular Halloween Party. We complete each year with the Commodore’s Ball and New Year’s Eve Party;
• We host and support several charity including Wild Coast, Make A Wish Foundation, FOCUS, and Big Brother/Big Sister;

Reciprocal Privileges with Other Yacht Clubs

Being part of our club means you are privileged to enjoy the amenities offered at some of the world’s finest yacht clubs with whom we have reciprocal agreements throughout the U.S. and elsewhere. Click here for a list of some of the participating yacht clubs.

Come for the fun, stay for the lifestyle!

Whether you are a visiting yachtsman (or yachtswoman) from a reciprocal club or a prospective member of our club, give us a ring or contact us by email, and we’ll gladly show you why extending hospitality goes hand-in-hand with the incredible lifestyle we enjoy here at CCYC. If you’re interested in transient dockage, please visit our Guest Info pages or contact our Dock Master to enquire about availability and other information.

History

CCYC’s journey began in the summer of 1972, when pioneers from the bayside Coronado Cays residential community decided to form a yacht club.

What’s a yacht club without a burgee?

Just two months later, on August 31, a “Formation Day” meeting was held to adopt the Club Bylaws and elect seven directors with Bud Holderness serving as the Club’s first Commodore. A burgee design contest for the Club was later won by Jeanne and Don Parkinson, with the design of a white seagull on a blue field.

The Club’s inaugural sail race took place shortly after, on September 10, and it blossomed into the annual Classic Series of sail races which still take place to this day and continue throughout the year. Initial memberships were solicited, resulting in 90 Charter members. Initiation fees were $50, and dues were $30 per year. Space for a clubhouse was donated by the real estate developer in a sales office where Montego Village now stands.

By September 1973, the Club moved into much larger rented space on Grand Caribe Isle and remained at this location for the next 21 years.

30 ladies started one of California’s longest-lived Women’s Auxiliaries

In December of 1973, a group of 30 ladies formed the C-Gulls auxiliary, which now numbers well over 100 members, and it quickly developed into a fun-loving and very active Club support group. To this day, C-Gulls sponsors numerous social activities for members and fund-raising activities for Club improvements.

Regattas, parties, and joining the big leagues.

In the Summer of 1974, the Club’s facilities were enlarged, and a patio and guest dock completed. Social activities expanded to include a wide range of events, including Monday Night Football parties, Wednesday night barbecues, holiday brunches, a Labor Day Outrageous Raft-Up, and a Black-Tie Commodore’s Ball and New Year’s Eve gala. Today, the Coronado Cays Yacht Club (CCYC) now features live entertainment nearly every Friday evening during the year. A sailing program was organized in 1975 for junior members aged 12 to 18, and a summer sailing instruction program was inaugurated.

Through the years, CCYC joined several major yachting associations including the Yacht Racing Union, Southern California Yachting Association (SCYA), and the San Diego Association of Yacht Clubs (SDAYC), which formally inducted the Club into membership at an October 1974 Commissioning Ceremony.

The Club’s sailing and cruising activities developed rapidly, with a number of Club sponsored races and raft-ups. On May 11, 1974, the Club hosted its first invitational regatta, a Ranger Roundup. Since then, CCYC has sponsored major invitational regattas, such as the South Bay Invitational, Multi-Class Regatta, and Ladies of the Waterfront. Today the Club sponsors the Fall South Bay Club Dillon Shipshape Series Invitational Regatta.

In 1985, the Club pioneered commercial sponsorship for area races with the Multi-Class Regatta. “Out and backs,” the so-called Beer Can sail races, are conducted in three series known as Ale, Lager, and Stout. These races are conducted each Wednesday evening during the spring and summer, with over 25 Beer Can races held each year. Special events such as whale watching, fishing tournaments, and overnight or weekend cruises are planned for the power fleet. The electric boat fleet participates in sponsored events such as “Poker Runs,” parades, rallies, treasure hunts, and fundraisers.