Sodus Bay Yacht Club

What Sodus Bay Yacht Club does

Sodus Bay Yacht Club (SBYC) is a not-for-profit membership-based yacht club founded in 1893 and incorporated in New York State in 1895, located on the Sodus Point peninsula in Sodus Point, NY. The club serves recreational boaters and sailing enthusiasts from the Rochester, Syracuse, and Finger Lakes region, offering access to both protected Sodus Bay waters and open Lake Ontario. Its members include sail boaters, power boaters, families, non-boat owners, and junior sailors, with a tiered membership structure spanning Active ($1,280/yr), Senior Active ($1,025), Senior Plus ($945), Associate Active ($770 for ages 31-35), Intermediate ($255 for ages 26-30), Junior ($130 for ages 14-25), and Non-Resident ($255) categories.

The club operates physical infrastructure including 60+ dock slips, floating dock systems, moorings, dry sail storage, launch cranes (4,000 lb and 2,000 lb), a clubhouse with full bar and dining room, a club-owned fleet of four Ideal-18 keelboats and a Catalina 22 picnic boat, plus a pebble beach, pavilion, and event spaces. Its core products include membership tiers, organized racing series (Spring, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Fall, Long Distance), major regatta hosting (Challenge Cup, LYRA, Centrals on Sodus, J/24, Sail for Hospice), a cruising program around Lake Ontario, learn-to-sail education through partnership with the Sodus Bay Junior Sailing Association, and supplemental services such as transient dock fees ($35/night) and the Ideal-18 club boat subscription ($100/yr).

Revenue is generated through membership dues across multiple tiers, dock and mooring fees, food and beverage sales from the dining room and bar, transient slip fees, and the Ideal-18 program subscription. The club is governed by volunteer flag officers (Commodore, Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore, Fleet Captain, Secretary, Treasurer) and directors, with a professional club manager (Sheila Storms) overseeing day-to-day operations. New members are recruited through a sponsorship-based referral system requiring two existing members in good standing, supplemented by website, social media (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram), and community event outreach. The club is a member of LYRA (since 1907), LOCCA, and CNYYRA (since 1934), anchoring it within the broader Lake Ontario yachting community.

Name

Sodus Bay Yacht Club

Legal name

Sodus Bay Yacht Club

Website

https://sodusbayyc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1893

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sodus Bay Yacht Club is a not-for-profit membership-based yacht club founded in 1893 in Sodus Point, NY, serving recreational boaters and families from the Lake Ontario region with docks, clubhouse amenities, racing programs, and a club-owned sailboat fleet.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Yacht Club and Recreational Boating Services

NAICS

Marinas (713930)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAJAJAG

Sailing Experiences (Lessons, Regattas, Day Sails)

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Marine & Water Experiences (Boat Tours, Diving, Snorkeling, Fishing)

Keywords

• Yacht club membership
• Recreational boating services
• Sailing racing programs
• Marina docking facilities
• Waterfront social club

Headquarters

HQ city

Sodus Point

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues collected from members across multiple tiers including Active, Senior Active, Associate Active, Intermediate, Junior, and Non-Resident categories. Dues provide access to club facilities, docks, moorings, dining, bar, racing programs, and social events.
2. Food and Beverage Sales: Club generates revenue through its full-service bar and dining room. The dining room offers pub menu on select days and formal menu on Friday and Saturday nights. Reservations are recommended for dinner service.
3. Dock and Mooring Fees: Members pay additional fees for dock slips, moorings, and dry sail storage. The Vice Commodore coordinates all docks, moorings, and drysail assignments.
4. Ideal-18 Club Program: Members subscribe to the Ideal-18 program for $100 yearly dues, which provides access to four club-owned Ideal-18 sailboats. This program helps maintain the boats and provides non-boat-owning members opportunity to sail.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sodus Bay Yacht Club is a member-owned not-for-profit yacht club providing access to Lake Ontario waterfront facilities including docks for approximately 60 boats, a clubhouse with dining room and bar, club-owned sailboats (Ideal-18 fleet and Catalina 22), organized racing series, and regatta hosting. Its core activities are subscription-based membership, recreational boating access, competitive sailing programs, and a social dining and event calendar for individual members and families.

Product overview

Sodus Bay Yacht Club is a membership-based yacht club founded in 1893 offering a portfolio of services including membership programs with multiple tiers (Active, Senior Active, Associate Active, Intermediate, Junior, Non-Resident), club racing series, regatta hosting (Challenge Cup, LYRA, Centrals, J/24, Sail for Hospice), club boat programs (Ideal-18 fleet and Catalina 22), dining room and bar services, clubhouse amenities, cruising programs, and learn-to-sail education. The club provides access to Sodus Bay and Lake Ontario with facilities for sailboats, powerboats, kayaks, and paddlecraft.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SBYC Membership Annual membership program for individuals and families providing access to club facilities, docks, moorings, dining, bar, racing programs, and social events. Available in seven tiers: Active ($1,280/year), Senior Active ($1,025/year), Senior Plus ($945/year), Associate Active ($770/year, ages 31-35), Intermediate ($255/year, ages 26-30), Junior ($130/year, ages 14-25), and Non-Resident ($255/year). Active tier includes spouse/partner and children under 20 and requires an annual capital fund fee.
• Club Racing Programs Organized in-season racing series for member sailboats including Spring Series, Memorial Day Series, Labor Day Series, Fall Series, and Long Distance Series, primarily for PHRF-LO fleet. Open to members and managed by the club's race committee.
• Regatta Hosting Hosting of major regional and interclub regattas including Challenge Cup, LYRA Regatta, Centrals on Sodus (with SBJSA), J/24 Regatta, and Sail for Hospice. Provides race management, mark laying, committee boats, and post-race social events for sailors from regional yacht clubs.
• Ideal-18 Fleet Program Subscription-based access to four club-owned Ideal-18 keelboats for $100/year membership fee. Boats feature full keel, roller furling jib, and built-in flotation, allowing members without personal boats to participate in sailing and day trips.
• Catalina 22 Day Sailboat Club-owned Catalina 22 sailboat available to members for day trips, picnics, and swimming excursions as part of the club boat program.
• Dining Room and Bar Full-service bar and formal dining room open to members during the season. Pub menu available on select days and formal menu on Friday and Saturday evenings; reservations recommended for dinner.
• Clubhouse Amenities Member facilities including parking, pebble beach, swimming off docks, bathroom facilities, showers, Wi-Fi, kayak/canoe racks, dry sail storage, BBQ grills, pavilion, launch cranes (4000lb and 2000lb), and boat ramp.
• Cruising Program Annual club cruise around Lake Ontario visiting ports with reciprocal club agreements (Fair Haven, Pultneyville, Rochester, Sackets Harbor, Cape Vincent, Kingston, Ontario), plus informal buddy boating opportunities throughout the season.
• Learn to Sail Sailing education and youth instruction delivered through partnership with the Sodus Bay Junior Sailing Association (SBJSA), including learn-to-sail programs and crewing opportunities on member boats.
• Transient Dock and Mooring Slip Rental Six transient slips available on first-come, first-served basis at $35/night for first, third, and subsequent nights (second night free), with a maximum 3-night stay. Mooring balls $15/night for first, third, and subsequent nights. Available to visiting boaters and reciprocating yacht club members.

Quantifiable outcome

• 82 new members signed in 2014 through New Member Program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lake Ontario Cruising Club Association (LOCCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBYC is a member of LOCCA, an association of cruising yacht clubs on Lake Ontario. This membership provides reciprocal benefits for members traveling to other member clubs and establishes SBYC as part of the broader Lake Ontario yachting community.
• Sodus Bay Junior Sailing Association (SBJSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBJSA is an independent 501(c)(3) educational organization founded in 1956 by SBYC members to teach children sailing, swimming, and seamanship. The two organizations co-host the Centrals on Sodus Regatta and collaborate on long-term planning for adjacent properties. SBJSA provides learn-to-sail programs that feed into SBYC membership.
• Reciprocating Yacht ClubsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSBYC welcomes members of reciprocating yacht clubs. Six transient slips available on first-come, first-served basis at standard rates. This arrangement allows SBYC members to visit other clubs and vice versa.
• Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Collegiate Sailing ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBYC began a program with RIT's Collegiate Sailing Program in 2014, enabling college sailors to participate and potentially join the club.
• Lake Yacht Racing Association (LYRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBYC has been a member of LYRA (founded 1893) since 1907, with brief hiatus 1922-1938. LYRA is the oldest association of racing yacht clubs on the continent. SBYC has hosted the LYRA Regatta 9 times (1893, 1905, 1924, 1976, 1993, 2000, 2015, 2022, and others). LYRA events serve as Tier 2 qualifying events for LYRA Boat of the Year.
• Central New York Yacht Racing Association (CNYYRA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBYC joined CNYYRA in 1934. The association holds annual regattas that SBYC has hosted multiple times.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• Wilson Yacht Club: Lake Ontario member yacht club offering reciprocal moorage and club racing. Comparable to SBYC in scale, programming, and member-subscription economics.
• Youngstown Yacht Club: Niagara-region Lake Ontario yacht club offering member docking, sailing, and social events. Comparable club-size and reciprocal cruising partner profile.
• Pultneyville Yacht Club: Nearby Lake Ontario yacht club listed as a SBYC cruising destination. Runs an analogous racing, social, and reciprocal-mooring program for sail and power boaters.
• Olcott Yacht Club: Lake Ontario small-craft yacht club on the same cruising circuit as SBYC. Operates a member marina with racing and social programs for sail and power boaters.
• Henderson Harbor Yacht Club: Lake Ontario member yacht club offering racing and transient docking. Comparable size and member-subscription model with similar seasonal operating pattern.
• Rochester Yacht Club: Membership-based yacht club on Lake Ontario serving Rochester-area boaters with racing, cruising, and social programs. Operates the same subscription, dock, and regatta-hosting model as SBYC on the same lake, making it the closest geographic and operational peer.
• Sackets Harbor Yacht Club: Lake Ontario yacht club along SBYC's cruising route. Comparable small membership club offering racing, transient slips, and reciprocal Lake Ontario cruising — explicitly mentioned as a SBYC cruising destination.
• Fair Haven Yacht Club: Lake Ontario yacht club near SBYC. Operates a similar member-only marina and racing format and is one of SBYC's reciprocal cruising destinations, indicating direct operational overlap.

Regional players

• Port Credit Yacht Club: Larger Lake Ontario yacht club on the Canadian side. Comparable membership-based racing and cruising model, but operates in a different jurisdiction (Ontario) and serves a larger metropolitan catchment (Mississauga/Toronto).

Broad incumbents

• Royal Canadian Yacht Club: Established, large Toronto-based yacht club offering racing, cruising, dining, and reciprocal privileges. Overlaps with SBYC in activities and reciprocal benefits but at materially larger scale and broader geographic reach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCpuHBJfctgUibBDQafOVW6Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/SodusBayYachtClub
• Instagraminstagram.com/sodusbayyachtclub

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Sodus Bay Yacht Club