Dana Point Yacht Club

What Dana Point Yacht Club does

Dana Point Yacht Club (DPYC) is a private, member-owned yacht club founded in July 1952 in Dana Point Harbor, Orange County, California. The club is capped at 500 members and operates an oceanfront clubhouse at 24399 Dana Drive with views of the harbor and open ocean to Catalina Island. Its core offering centers on on-the-water programs including an extensive racing series (Thirsty Thursdays, Dana Point Series, Harbor Championships, Around Catalina Race, Offshore Championship), a structured junior sailing program for ages 6-16 with pathways from beginner to Olympic-level preparation, an organized cruising program with 11 planned voyages annually, and a fishing program featuring tournaments and angler meetings. Complementary offerings include member dining, a bar, private event hosting for weddings and corporate events accommodating 200+ guests, guest slip marina facilities, and reciprocal privileges with 50+ yacht clubs across Southern California.

The club generates revenue through four streams: recurring membership dues, one-time private event venue rentals, member dining and bar services, and the junior sailing program ($400 member / $450 non-member per session). Pricing for membership and events is not publicly disclosed; junior sailing is the only publicly priced offering. Go-to-market is community-led, driven primarily by member referrals, word-of-mouth within the yachting community, reciprocal club relationships, and event-driven visibility (most notably the Richard Henry Dana Charity Regatta, which has raised over $1,000,000 for local charities since 1999 and operates as a registered trademark). Marketing channels include the dpyc.org website, Instagram, WeddingWire for venue bookings, and co-sponsored regattas with the Southern California Yachting Association and Newport Ocean Sailing Association.

Customer segments include primary yacht-owning enthusiasts, youth sailing families, private event hosts (weddings, corporate, celebrations), and anglers. The club has won SCYA's 'Yacht Club of the Year' multiple times and has been voted 'Best Yacht Club' in Dana Point Harbor consistently from 2009 through 2025. Operations are governed by elected Staff Commodores and member committees (Membership, Race, Cruise, Junior Sailing, Fishing, Charity Regatta), and a new long-term lease with the County of Orange was signed in 2013 to secure the harbor location. No institutional investment, private equity, or venture capital ownership is present; ownership and control rest entirely with the membership.

Name

Dana Point Yacht Club

Legal name

Dana Point Yacht Club

Website

https://dpyc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dana Point Yacht Club is a private, member-owned yacht club founded in 1952 in Dana Point, California, capped at 500 members. It offers on-the-water programs (racing, cruising, fishing, junior sailing), member dining, private event hosting, and reciprocal privileges with 50+ yacht clubs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Yacht Club and Recreational Boating Services

NAICS

Marinas (713930)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Sailing Experiences (Lessons, Regattas, Day Sails) (THAJAJAG)

Keywords

• Private yacht club
• Yacht racing
• Junior sailing
• Private events venue
• Boating community

Headquarters

HQ city

Dana Point

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for yacht club members. Prospective members are encouraged to own a boat or have ongoing interest in boating. New members support on-the-water activities and participate on club committees.
2. Private Events: Venue rental and event services for weddings, rehearsal dinners, corporate events, celebrations of life, anniversary parties, holiday parties, retirement parties, birthday parties, and networking receptions. The clubhouse and deck accommodate over 200 guests.
3. Dining and Bar Services: Member dining room and bar with nightly specials, offering waterfront restaurant services to members.
4. Junior Sailing Program: Nine-week summer sailing program for youth ages 6-16. Priced at $450 per session for non-members and $400 for members. All sessions sold out indicates strong demand.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Dana Point Yacht Club is a private membership yacht club providing members and guests with organized on-the-water programs (racing, cruising, fishing, and junior sailing), waterfront dining and bar services, guest slip marina facilities, and oceanfront private event hosting for weddings and corporate functions. Membership is capped at 500 and revenues come primarily from annual dues, private event rentals, junior sailing fees ($400-$450 per weekly session), and member dining.

Product overview

Dana Point Yacht Club is a private membership-based yacht club offering a comprehensive suite of recreational boating and social programs. The club operates as a unified offering centered on on-the-water activities (racing, cruising, fishing, and junior sailing instruction), complemented by private event venues, member dining, and marina facilities. Key programs include the Racing Program with multiple event series and championships, the Junior Sailing Program providing structured youth instruction, the Cruising Program with organized voyages, the Fishing Program with tournaments and angling activities, the Richard Henry Dana Charity Regatta as an annual fundraising event, Private Events and Weddings utilizing oceanfront venues, Member Dining services, Guest Slip marina facilities, and Reciprocal Yacht Club Privileges for inter-club access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Private Yacht Club Membership Annual membership in a private 500-member yacht club providing access to all on-the-water programs, member dining, reciprocal yacht club privileges, and committee participation opportunities for boat owners and boating enthusiasts.
• Racing Program Organized yacht racing program featuring PHRF and One-Design racing, Dana Point Series, Thirsty Thursday races, Harbor Championships, Around Catalina Race, Dorcas Britt Trophy, Steve Dutton Memorial Offshore Championship, Howard Trueba Memorial Trophy, and the SCYA Midwinter Regatta, scored under PHRF SoCal ratings.
• Junior Sailing Program Nine-week summer youth sailing instruction program for ages 6-16, spanning Harbor Explorers, Local Sailors, and DPYC Race Team levels, with beginner to Olympic-level preparation. Priced at $450/session for non-members and $400/session for members and their children/grandchildren. All sessions historically sold out.
• Cruising Program Organized cruising activities ranging from informal rendezvous to club cruises and member expeditions, including 11 planned cruises annually to Catalina Island, Oceanside, San Diego, Newport Beach, Los Angeles, and the Southern California Channel Islands.
• Fishing Program Club fishing activities including tournaments, the Vince Talley Memorial Trophy for Angler of the Year, eight 'First of the Year' species categories, monthly Wahoo Wednesday meetings, and annual fishing trips to Baja Mexico destinations.
• Private Events and Weddings Oceanfront event venue hosting weddings, receptions, corporate events, celebrations of life, and special occasions. The Oceanfront Ballroom and additional venue options accommodate up to 200 guests combined, with combined indoor and deck seating.
• Member Dining and Bar Waterfront member restaurant and bar with nightly specials, themed parties, and social events, offering harbor and ocean views.
• Guest Slips and Marina Facilities Guest dock facilities in Dana Point Harbor with wireless internet access, heads and showers, and slip reservation options for reciprocal yacht club members visiting by boat.
• Richard Henry Dana Charity Regatta

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano ValleyflagshipOthersAnnual beneficiary of the Richard Henry Dana Charity Regatta. The 2026 regatta specifically benefits this organization which serves over 1,200 youth annually with 99% high school graduation rate. The partnership creates transformational impact for underprivileged youth in South Orange County.
• Southern California Yachting Association (SCYA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDPYC is a member of SCYA and holds senior membership status. SCYA grants the highest senior membership status to clubs with consistently high level of yachting activities. DPYC has been named Yacht Club of the Year multiple times by SCYA.
• Association of Orange Coast Yacht ClubscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDPYC became a member of the Association of Orange Coast Yacht Clubs in 1973, expanding the club's network and racing collaboration within the region.
• Over 50 Reciprocal Yacht ClubscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReciprocal privileges with 50+ yacht clubs including: Alamitos Bay YC, Balboa YC, California YC, Channel Islands YC, Coronado YC, Corsair YC, Dana West YC, Del Rey YC, Golden Gate YC, Huntington Harbor YC, King Harbor YC, Long Beach YC, Los Angeles YC, Newport Harbor YC, San Diego YC, Santa Barbara YC, and many more. Members can visit and receive guest docking and club privileges.
• Cabrillo Beach Yacht ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of the annual Around Catalina Race since its inception in 1981. Originally called the 'Historic Mariners Race'. The 46th annual race is scheduled for May 23-24, 2026.
• The Ocean InstituteminorOthersSelected as charitable beneficiary for the Richard Henry Dana Charity Regatta in 2007. The choice aligned with DPYC's desire to inspire youth participation in on-water activities.
• Newport Ocean Sailing Association (NOSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of the Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race, one of the largest sailing races on the Pacific Coast. DPYC members participate in NOSA seminars and events.
• PHRF SoCalcoreTechnology or IntegrationPerformance Handicap Racing Fleet of Southern California. DPYC races are scored using PHRF SoCal ratings. The organization provides rating certificates and class rules for competitive racing.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• California Yacht Club: Marina del Rey-based yacht club with racing, cruising, and junior sailing programs. Comparable in membership model, event programming, and reciprocal network participation.
• Balboa Yacht Club: Historic Newport Beach yacht club with comparable racing, junior sailing, and social programs. Direct competitor for SoCal yachting members and reciprocal-club partnerships.
• Alamitos Bay Yacht Club: Long Beach/Alamitos Bay yacht club with racing, junior sailing, and reciprocal privileges. Comparable in SCYA membership, programming mix, and regional yachting community footprint.
• Coronado Yacht Club: Coronado-based yacht club with racing, cruising, and social programming. Directly comparable in Southern California yachting community, junior sailing, and reciprocal club network.
• Long Beach Yacht Club: Long Beach-based yacht club active in SCYA racing, cruising, and junior sailing. Comparable membership structure, regional racing partnerships, and member-program offerings.
• Huntington Harbor Yacht Club: Huntington Beach-area yacht club with reciprocal privileges. Comparable in Orange County yachting community presence and member-event programming.
• King Harbor Yacht Club: Redondo Beach yacht club with PHRF racing, cruising, and junior sailing programs. Comparable in Southern California regional racing circuit and member-owned governance.
• San Diego Yacht Club: Iconic Southern California yacht club with an extensive racing calendar (including the America's Cup legacy) and reciprocal privileges. Comparable in scale, programming depth, and brand prestige.
• Newport Harbor Yacht Club: Premier private yacht club in Newport Beach, Orange County, offering racing, cruising, junior sailing, and reciprocal privileges. Highly comparable in membership structure, programming, and Southern California yachting community positioning.
• Santa Barbara Yacht Club: Santa Barbara yacht club offering racing, cruising, and junior sailing. Comparable in member-owned structure, regional regatta participation, and on-the-water programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/dpycevents
• Facebookfacebook.com/danapointyachtclub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dana-point-yacht-club

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dana Point Yacht Club