Racine Yacht Club

100% Local
1 Barker St.
Racine , WI 53402 (view map)

Phone: (262) 634-8585 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.racineyachtclub.org/ Hours:

Mon, Tues & Thur 4 pm – 9 pm
Wed & Fri 11 am – 9 pm
Sat 9 am – 9 pm
Sun 9 am – 8 pm

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Racine Yacht Club

Your Second Home on the Lake.....

Please check out our great video in the video tab below

A private club for those that love the water and good friends!

Do you love looking at the water, being near the water, or want to get out onto the water? Don’t let the word “Yacht” scare you from what could be the best personal recreation decision you have ever made. We have yet to see anyone at the club wear an ascot or captain's hat. No one talks like Thurston Howell III (wealthy millionaire from Gilligan's Island) or the voice from SiriusXM Yacht Rock Radio. Keep your suit and tie in the closet.

The Racine Yacht Club is for those who desire to be near or on the water. Did you know that more than 30% of our club members don’t even own a boat but get out onto the water regularly? Don’t they say, “it is all about who you know.” Join us and you will meet and get to know boat owners and enthusiasts. Did you know the RYC has a boaters program putting those who have boats and do fun things on the water with those who want to get onto the water and do fun things?

Imagine being at a place that makes you feel like you are on vacation year-round. Enjoy dinner or a drink with the best view in the area. Our view must be experienced to be appreciated!

Whether you are joining as a way to break the monotony or beat the stress. Maybe you are considering owning a boat but need mentoring before you make the jump. Maybe you just want an affordable place to slip and store your boat, the RYC is all of these and much more.

When considering how you will spend your time relaxing and recreating consider an affordable lifestyle with us, “ A private club for those that love the water and good friends! We are that second home you have been looking for.

Racine Yacht Club is a long lasting establishment since 1916, serving the community, social members and the yachting world.

Membership

We believe that for a very reasonable cost, Racine Yacht Club offers many ways to increase your boating pleasure, skills and knowledge --- along with building a lasting camaraderie with others who enjoy Lake Michigan.

For additional information, please call (262) 634-8587 during our office hours 9:30am - 2:00 pm Monday - Friday; or contact our membership committee.

We manage our own slip system and dry sail area (with a 2-ton hoist) and we have transient dockage for our guests.

Staying overnight on your boat? Freshen up in the morning with our clean showers and locker room facilities - maybe you want to take in a Sunday Brunch. It's all here at Racine Yacht Club.

Interested in a Slip as a member or a Slip for transient dockage?

Galley

There are many parties during the year, and our galley serves tasty, reasonably priced fare several days of the week.

Our regatta week is great fun, and our fully stocked bar facility is at the center for many a tale of the high seas. Stop in an watch the game on our flat panel televisions and enjoy drinks and fellowship.

Don't forget our special events that make our club unique. Our entertainment committee keeps thing hopping all year long.

Also, RYC members can reserve the Club for private parties, large or small.

The History of Racine Yacht Club

The city of Racine and Racine Yacht Club enter into a lease agreement on April 18, 1928. The city of Racine moved the club to the water's edge from east of Michigan Boulevard and South of Barker Street to the location where the present Richter Building is. The city provided the foundation and city water but no plumbing.

In 1929 after a spring storm where the water encroached on the building after only being in its new location one year.

In 1934, tragedy struck for three members on the 34 foot yacht "Spray" that set sail on a Saturday night, to enter a series of races at South Shore Yacht Club. The boat was owned by Oswald Aul and Harold Sustachek.

At midnight the boat was struck by a sharp gust of wind and the boat took on a large quantity of water where the deck was scarcely a foot out of the water. The waves washed the three sailors into the water several times.

Two of the three sailors died that night as the wind and seas took their toll on the yacht. Irving Uhlir and Tom Graham both drowned, leaving Herman Jansen as the only survivor. Jansen clung to the mast for 14 hours until the Racine Coast Guard could get to him. The other two crew members could not hold on.

The "Spray" was known by almost every sailor by sight. Sailors said there was something distinctive about her lines. She was built in 1901 for a Chicago sportsman.

Otto Wadewitz was commodore at the time starting in 1933 and would serve at the helm for five continuous terms through 1937. This achievement has not been surpassed.

Otto lead the Racine Yacht Club through the worst years of the Great Depression. He became the club's benefactor as well as commodore and helped it to survive financially during those troubled years.

Wadewitz found the cold winter breezes off of Lake Michigan a bit harsh and headed south to Mobile Bay where Fairhope Yacht Club was founded. Otto is seen in the picture to the left standing by the early Star fleet.

Otto was later memorialized by the club when their board of governors named a new 210-foot timber dock in his name during gala ceremonies in 1955. The Racine Yacht Club is still very much in existence and is known as one of the finest yachting organizations on Lake Michigan.

To read the an expanded history of Racine Yacht Club, Click Here!

Read RYC Roots that commemorates the rich Racine history! Volume 1, Volume 2 , Volume 3, Volume 4, Volume 5, Volume 6, Volume 7, Volume 8, Volume 9,Volume 10, Volume 11, Volume 12, Volume 13,