Chichester Yacht Club

What Chichester Yacht Club does

Chichester Yacht Club (CYC) is a private, member-owned sailing and watersports club located at Chichester Marina in Birdham, West Sussex, on the edge of Chichester Harbour. The modern club was formally established on 26 March 1967, with roots dating to an original 1936 incarnation that was suspended during WWII; the current entity operates under a 70-year lease and is governed by elected Flag Officers and a volunteer General Committee. CYC organises activity across four sections—Dinghies (racing and training), Yachts (cruising and passage racing), Motors (powerboat cruising in company), and Rowing (Celtic Longboat and coastal rowing added in 2022)—supported by an RYA-recognised training centre, an Upper Deck venue for weddings/corporate events/funerals, an on-site bar and restaurant, a club shop, and a Sailing Club Manager-based member portal.

Name

Chichester Yacht Club

Legal name

Chichester Yacht Club

Website

https://cyc.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chichester Yacht Club is a member-owned sailing and watersports club at Chichester Marina, UK, offering dinghy racing, yacht cruising, motor boating, rowing, RYA training, and a waterfront events venue to individual members and event clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Watersports and Yacht Club Membership Services

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721), Marinas (713930)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Sailing & Water Sports Teams/Clubs (Sailing, Rowing, Surfing) (MPAKABAH)

Keywords

• Yacht club membership
• Watersports sailing club
• RYA training courses
• Dinghy racing programme
• Marina events venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Birdham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: The club generates revenue through annual membership fees from individuals and families. Membership provides access to club facilities, racing programmes, training, and social events.
2. Training Courses: RYA-approved training courses for sailing, powerboating, and youth development. Courses include Start to Race (£30 for members), Powerboat Level 2 (£280-350), RYA Junior Stages, and youth development programmes.
3. Events Venue Hire: The Upper Deck and function rooms are hired out for weddings, civil partnerships, corporate events, parties, wakes, and celebrations. Party packages from £1850, corporate events from 8 people. The club is licensed for ceremonies up to 100 guests.
4. Bar and Restaurant: On-site bar and restaurant serving members and event guests. Menu includes pub classics and specials with member and non-member pricing.
5. Retail Shop: Sale of CYC branded merchandise including burgees, clothing, and Chichester Harbour Dues concessionary rate products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Chichester Yacht Club is a private membership watersports club providing organized dinghy sailing and racing, yacht cruising and racing, motor boat cruising in company, and coastal rowing across four sections. It supplements these activities with RYA-certified training courses (junior and adult sailing, powerboating, Start to Race), an on-site Upper Deck events venue hosting weddings, civil partnerships, corporate meetings, conferences, and funeral receptions, plus a restaurant, bar, and a small club shop selling branded merchandise.

Product overview

Chichester Yacht Club operates as a unified club management platform offering multiple water sports and hospitality services. The core offering combines a digital member portal (built on the Sailing Club Manager platform) with on-water activities organized across four main sections: Dinghies (racing and training), Yachts (cruising and racing), Motors (powerboat rallies), and Rowing (coastal and competitive). Supporting services include RYA-certified training programs, an events venue for weddings and corporate functions, a restaurant and bar, and a club shop selling branded merchandise. Members access services through the website including event registration, booking systems, race results, and member communications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sailing Club Membership Subscription Annual subscription providing individuals and families with access to the clubhouse at Chichester Marina, the four watersports sections (Dinghies, Yachts, Motors, Rowing), the bar and restaurant, the events programme, and member-only services such as crew finder, bookings and logbook, and club directory.
• Dinghy Section Racing and Sailing Programme Year-round racing and training programme for dinghy sailors at Chichester Harbour, comprising winter Snowflake Series, Summer Series, Friday Afternoon Series, Weekend Evening Series, and open meetings such as the CYC 2000 Open, Optimist Open, Graduate Nationals, and RNLI Pursuit Race. Dinghy hire and a managed dinghy park with two pontoons support participants.
• Yacht Section Cruising and Racing Programme Organised cruising in company for sailing yacht owners, with rallies to destinations including the Solent, Channel Islands, and the South Coast; passage and club racing; a Crew Exchange for matching owners with crew; and training events such as the Man Overboard Workshop held in March 2026.
• Motor Boat Cruising in Company Programme Organised cruising for motor boat owners with weekend and midweek cruises from April to October to destinations across the Solent and South Coast. Each cruise has a cruising secretary coordinating itineraries, pontoon bookings, and shared dining experiences.
• Rowing Section Coastal Programme Coastal and competitive rowing offering social rows, improvement coaching, endurance and adventure rowing, and competitive regatta racing. The section works in partnership with the Coastal Rowing Academy and the 3 Harbours Rowing League (Dell Quay SC, Itchenor SC, Emsworth SC, and Northney CRAC).
• RYA-Approved Training Courses Royal Yachting Association certified training in sailing, powerboating, and youth development for members and non-members, taught at the RYA-recognised CYC training centre. Courses include Start to Race, Powerboat Level 2, RYA Stage 3, and RYA Youth Stages 1 & 2, with member and non-member pricing.
• Upper Deck and Clubhouse Events Venue Hire Hire of the Upper Deck, Quarter Deck, Canal Room, and waterfront gardens for weddings, civil partnerships (licensed for ceremonies up to 100 guests), business meetings, conferences (up to 100 delegates theatre style), corporate parties (from 8 people), wakes and memorial receptions, and private parties. Includes in-house catering and bar service.
• Restaurant and Bar Service Full bar and restaurant service in the clubhouse, with a Head Chef and Deputy Head Chef preparing pub classics and specials; offering tiered member and non-member pricing and serving members, event clients, and casual visitors. Also supports club social events such as the CYC Club Lotto and themed dinners.
• Club Shop and Branded Merchandise Retail shop selling CYC branded items (burgees, clothing) and Chichester Harbour Dues at the concessionary rate for open meeting participants.
• Social Paddle and Open Water Sessions Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP) and canoeing sessions offered to members and visitors, with equipment hire and instruction available for all skill levels. Paddleboarding sessions serve as an accessible entry point to on-water activity beyond the club's core sailing, motor, and rowing disciplines.

Quantifiable outcome

• Membership at all-time high before 2020 pandemic
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cornish Pilot Gig AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2022The club borrowed a Gig on trial from the Cornish Pilot Gig Association before acquiring their Celtic Long Boat Cygnet in May 2022. This partnership enabled the launch of the rowing section and participation in coastal rowing competitions.
• Coastal Rowing AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCYC rowers participated in the Coastal Rowing Academy's Celtic Longboat Captain Tim crew, winning the fastest Celtic trophy in the Cockleshell Race 2026.
• 3 Harbours Rowing League (Dell Quay SC, Itchenor SC, Emsworth SC, Northney CRAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCYC participates in a local harbour rowing league for Celtic Long Boats organized by three local sailing clubs, consisting of five races held over autumn, winter, and spring at the member clubs.
• Royal Yachting Association (RYA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChichester Yacht Club is an RYA-recognized training centre offering approved sailing and powerboating courses. The club's training programmes follow RYA syllabus and issue recognized certificates.
• Caroline James Celebrant ServicesminorOthersCaroline James is a recommended celebrant for funeral receptions and celebrations of life at the club, creating and delivering personalized farewell ceremonies.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Emsworth Sailing Club: Chichester Harbour sailing club participating in the 3 Harbours Rowing League and offering racing and training to a directly overlapping south coast boating membership.
• Brading Haven Yacht Club: Isle of Wight yacht club that hosted CYC's Bembridge cruise and operates comparable cruising, dining, and racing programmes for a similar UK yacht owner demographic.
• Royal Southern Yacht Club: Hamble-based yacht club offering racing, cruising, training, and event venue services to a comparable UK south coast yacht owner membership.
• Bosham Sailing Club: Chichester Harbour sailing club operating dinghy racing, cruiser sailing, and training in the same harbour as CYC, competing for the same local boating households.
• Dell Quay Sailing Club: Chichester Harbour-based club that co-hosts the 3 Harbours Rowing League with CYC, offering racing and rowing to a directly overlapping member pool in the same harbour.
• Island Sailing Club: Cowes-based yacht club running dinghy and yacht racing, RYA training, cruising rallies, and social events for a similar member base on the Solent.
• Itchenor Sailing Club: Chichester Harbour sailing club and member of the 3 Harbours Rowing League, with overlapping dinghy, yacht, and rowing programmes competing for the same harbour-based membership.
• Hayling Yacht Club: Chichester Harbour-adjacent sailing club with overlapping dinghy and yacht racing, RYA training, and member services for watersports enthusiasts in the same geography as CYC.
• Royal Lymington Yacht Club: A Solent-area yacht club offering comparable sailing, racing, cruising, and training programmes to a similar membership demographic of yacht and dinghy owners in southern England.

Broad incumbents

• Royal Yachting Association (RYA): The UK national governing body for sailing and boating that accredits CYC's training programmes and sets the syllabi, certifications, and standards the club's training revenue depends on.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/officecyc
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChichesterYC
• Instagraminstagram.com/chichesteryachtclub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chichester-yacht-club-limited

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 Chichester Yacht Club