Manhattan Yacht Club

What Manhattan Yacht Club does

Manhattan Yacht Club is a private, member-owned community sailing organization founded in 1987 by Commodore Michael Fortenbaugh and headquartered at 140 Dudley Street, Jersey City, New Jersey, within sight of the Statue of Liberty on New York Harbor. The club operates as one of the largest community sailing organizations in the United States and runs the affiliated Manhattan Sailing School (sailmanhattan.com), described as the largest sailing school in the country. Core activities span adult sailing instruction (ASA 101 through ASA 114 on J/24s, Lasers, Sunfish, and Optimists), structured racing programs (J/24, Lucky Dog, Corporate Sailing League, Lady Liberty Regatta, 12 Meter Heritage Regatta, Monaco Challenge Cup), cruising and social events (Full Moon Flotilla, Freedom Fridays for Women, Blue Water Society Dinner), the all-electric Happy Hour charter boat, and blue-water experiences including the annual De Caribbean Regatta in the British Virgin Islands and the Newport to Bermuda Ocean Race aboard the flagship Arabella.

The club's underlying technology and asset base are physical rather than digital: a fleet of J/24s and other vessels, a fleet of historic 12 Meter America's Cup yachts (America II US 46 acquired 2007, US 42 acquired 2015, and Stars & Stripes acquired 2021 by the affiliated NY Harbor Sailing Foundation), the USCG-certified mega yacht Arabella equipped with Starlink satellite communications and operated by 100-Ton USCG Masters-licensed captains, and infrastructure including the Jersey City clubhouse, dock facilities, and the floating clubhouse Honorable William Wall in NY Harbor. Digital infrastructure is limited to a WordPress-based website (myc.org) and an online reservation platform (myc.clubkookie.com); no public APIs, SDKs, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining recurring membership dues and locker rentals ($240-$360/year), ASA certification courses ($490 each), transactional event fees (De Caribbean Regatta at $1,500-$2,200 per person, Newport to Bermuda Race at $9,500 per person, Blue Water Society Dinner at $75), and B2B corporate team-building via the Corporate Sailing League at $3,800 per racing series. Go-to-market is community-led, with the sailing school pipeline as the primary top-of-funnel acquisition channel and word-of-mouth, social media, and signature events (Lady Liberty Regatta, Monaco Challenge Cup, Caribbean Regatta) driving awareness. Customer segments span individual sailing enthusiasts (primary), corporate clients (secondary), and women sailors (targeted growth segment), with complementary GTM motions across direct-to-consumer membership, B2B enterprise sales for the corporate league, and community-led referrals.

Name

Manhattan Yacht Club

Legal name

Manhattan Yacht Club, Inc.

Website

https://myc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Manhattan Yacht Club is a private member-owned community sailing organization founded in 1987 in Jersey City, NJ, offering sailing instruction, racing, cruising, and blue-water events to individual members, corporate teams, and sailing school graduates in New York Harbor.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Yacht Club & Sailing Services

NAICS

Marinas (71393), Golf Courses and Country Clubs (71391), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Sailing & Water Sports Teams/Clubs (Sailing, Rowing, Surfing) (MPAKABAH), Luxury Sailing Cruises (Windjammers & Tall Ships) (THAEADAB), Private Yacht & Luxury Boat Charters (With Crew) (THAJALAE), Cabin Charters & Shared Yacht Trips (THAEADAH)

Keywords

• Yacht club membership
• Sailing education
• Yacht racing programas
• Community sailing
• Sailing instruction

Headquarters

HQ city

Jersey City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for access to club facilities, boats, racing programs, cruising events, and social activities. Locker rental also available at $240/year (standard) or $360/year (double).
2. De Caribbean Regatta: Annual week-long sailing vacation in British Virgin Islands. Entry fees range from $1,500 to $2,200 per person depending on boat type, plus $490 per ASA certification course. Includes boat charters from Moorings/Sunsail.
3. Corporate Sailing League: Weekly corporate team racing series. Entry fee $3,800 per series, or $9,120 for all three series (20% discount). Covers boat use, race management, and trophies.
4. Sailing Education: Manhattan Sailing School offers ASA certification courses (ASA 101 Basic Sailing through ASA 114 Cruising Catamarans). Courses taught on J/24s, Lasers, Sunfish, and Optimists.
5. Skipper Certification: $60 fee per Skipper Certification Test attempt. Test covers safe boat operation in NY Harbor, local conditions knowledge, and club operations understanding.
6. Locker Rental: Annual locker rental for members to store sailing gear. Standard lockers: $240/year. Double-sized lockers: $360/year. Plus NJ sales tax.
7. Newport to Bermuda Race: Participation fee expected to be $9,500 per person for the Newport to Bermuda Race aboard Arabella. Estimated race expenses $120,000 total. Trip insurance additional ($300-400).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Manhattan Yacht Club is a private membership-based sailing organization operating on New York Harbor that provides members access to a shared-use fleet of sailboats, organized racing programs, cruising events, and sailing education. Core offerings include J/24 racing series, the Corporate Sailing League for business clients, signature annual regattas (Lady Liberty, 12 Meter Heritage, Monaco Challenge Cup, De Caribbean Regatta, Newport to Bermuda Race), the all-electric Happy Hour charter boat, Fleet Captain and Mentor programs for skill development, and locker rental. The affiliated Manhattan Sailing School provides ASA-certified learn-to-sail courses serving as the primary pipeline to club membership.

Product overview

Manhattan Yacht Club operates as a membership-based sailing organization offering a diverse portfolio of programs and events centered around sailing education, racing, and cruising. The club's core offerings include J/24 racing on Tuesday/Wednesday evenings, the informal Lucky Dog Race series on Fridays, and signature regattas including the Lady Liberty Regatta (women's international sailing), 12 Meter Heritage Regatta (historic yachts), and Monaco Challenge Cup. The club runs De Caribbean Regatta, an annual week-long sailing vacation in the British Virgin Islands with chartered boats, and participates in the Newport to Bermuda Ocean Race aboard the flagship Arabella. Membership programs include the Fleet Captain Program (skipper-crew matching), Mentor Program (skipper training), Big Boat Program (shared-use larger vessels), and Freedom Fridays for Women. Additional offerings include the all-electric Happy Hour charter boat, monthly Full Moon Flotilla events, Blue Water Society recognition for ocean passages, and access to club facilities including docks and lockers. Learn to Sail services are provided through affiliated Manhattan Sailing School.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• J/24 Racing Tuesday and Wednesday evening racing series held from May through October using J/24 sailboats, where team captains build crews from club members with a focus on camaraderie ahead of competition.
• Lucky Dog Races Informal Friday afternoon races held for 10 weeks from late June until Labor Day, starting at 3:30 PM from the Honorable William Wall with approximately 1-hour courses around government marks.
• Lady Liberty Regatta International women's sailing regatta bringing together top women teams from around the world to race on identical J/24 sailboats in New York Harbor.
• 12 Meter Heritage Regatta Regatta featuring historic 12 Meter yachts including America II US 42 and US 46, the iconic yachts that represented the epitome of American yachting tradition and were used in America's Cup until 1987.
• Monaco Challenge Cup International yacht racing event featuring classic yachts from Yacht Club de Monaco including 'Tuiga' and 'Viola' competing against American yacht clubs in New York Harbor.
• Corporate Sailing League Weekly corporate team-building sailing series in New York Harbor where companies field teams to compete, connect, and build camaraderie through racing with professionally maintained boats and race management. Entry fee is $3,800 per series or $9,120 for all three series (20% discount).
• De Caribbean Regatta Week-long sailing vacation in the British Virgin Islands organized annually with charter boats from Moorings and Sunsail, featuring daily sailing, social events, and ASA sailing certifications. Entry fees range from $1,500 to $2,200 per person depending on boat type.
• Newport to Bermuda Race Ocean racing adventure on the 635-mile Newport to Bermuda Race aboard the flagship 'Arabella', a 12-person sailing experience for both experienced and novice sailors with USCG and ABS load line certification.
• Mentor Program Volunteer skipper mentorship program preparing members for Skipper Certification Test through guided training sails and skill development with experienced MYC mentors.
• Fleet Captain Program Skipper-crew matching program connecting members for sailing together in the harbor, with volunteer Fleet Captain skippers hosting crew members on scheduled sails. Recorded 450 sails in 2024 across 39+ volunteer fleet captains.
• Freedom Fridays for Women Monthly all-women sailing event held on the 3rd Friday of each month, designed to support and empower women members to take active roles on boats.
• Full Moon Flotilla Monthly illuminated evening sail event where boats light up and parade past the Statue of Liberty under the full moon, followed by social gatherings. Free for members.
• Big Boat Program Shared-use program enabling members to sail larger vessels like 'No Moe' (36-ft Doubloon 36) in NY Harbor at a fraction of ownership cost, with limited skipper spots available.
• Happy Hour Electric Boat All-electric 24-foot cruiser available exclusively to MYC members for charter, operating between MYC docks and the Statue of Liberty with no skipper privileges required (just a driver's license and $20 training session).
• Blue Water Society Dinner Annual dinner recognizing members who have completed significant ocean voyages with at least one overnight sail out of sight of land, inducting new members into the Society. $75 per member includes food, tax, and gratuity.
• Manhattan Sailing School (ASA Certification Courses) Public teaching arm of the club offering ASA certification courses (ASA 101 Basic Sailing through ASA 114 Cruising Catamarans) taught on J/24s, Lasers, Sunfish, and Optimists. Largest sailing school in the country.
• Locker Rental Annual locker rental for members to store sailing gear. Standard lockers: $240/year (12 x 18 x 36 inches). Double-sized lockers: $360/year. Plus NJ sales tax.

Quantifiable outcome

• One of the largest community sailing organizations in the country with largest sailing school in the country
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Yacht Club de MonacocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Sending flagship 'Tuiga' and classic yacht 'Viola' to participate in Monaco Challenge Cup June 27-29, 2026. Gesture of international friendship for America's 250th birthday.
• Atlantic Highlands Yacht ClubminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Participating in Monaco Challenge Cup with J/112e 'Honey Badger' skippered by Brian Nelson.
• Devon Yacht ClubminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Represented by Mike Duran & Ed Shegrue on 12 Meter 'America II' US 42 in Monaco Challenge Cup.
• Larchmont Yacht ClubminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Commodore Chris Schoen representing Larchmont Yacht Club in Monaco Challenge Cup 2026.
• Monmouth Boat ClubminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026George Harrington competing on J-112 '#bigsandwich' in Monaco Challenge Cup.
• Raritan Yacht ClubminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Represented by Nate Beachum on J99 'Gup E' in Monaco Challenge Cup.
• Shrewsbury River Yacht ClubminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Sam Oncea competing on Tartan 33 'Confiscated' in Monaco Challenge Cup.
• Shrewsbury Sailing & Yacht ClubminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Stuart VanWinkle sailing J-105 ARETE in Monaco Challenge Cup.
• Akademischer Segler-Verein (Berlin)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Riccardo Petschke competing on WALROSS 4 in Monaco Challenge Cup.
• International Women Sailing TeamscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Lady Liberty Regatta 2023 hosted 15 international teams including Canada, Monaco, Sweden, Korea, Australia, Iceland, Japan, France, and USA. Event promotes and supports women's sailing.
• New York Harbor Sailing FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNY Harbor Sailing Foundation runs the 12 Meter Heritage Regatta and acquired Stars & Stripes in June. The Foundation fosters and promotes amateur sailing of national and international importance in NY Harbor. Also organizes Lady Liberty Regatta as sponsor.
• Mount Gay RumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Stars & Stripes restoration project and provides rum products for club events and Happy Hour boat.
• American Sailing AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Stars & Stripes restoration project. ASA certifications offered through Manhattan Sailing School.
• Gowrie GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Stars & Stripes restoration project.
• MooringscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary boat charter provider for De Caribbean Regatta. Their base in Roadtown, Tortola provides fleet of catamarans and monohulls for the annual BVI sailing vacation.
• SunsailcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBoat charter provider for De Caribbean Regatta alongside Moorings.
• Royal BVI Yacht ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts Final Night Discotheque and trophy race during De Caribbean Regatta. Partner in annual trophy race competition.
• West End Yacht ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in annual trophy race competition with Royal BVI Yacht Club and MYC during De Caribbean Regatta.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club: New Jersey-based yacht club with similar member-led racing and cruising programming. Participating with MYC in the Monaco Challenge Cup, comparable in scale and regional orientation.
• Sail Newport: Rhode Island-based community sailing organization offering public sailing education, racing programs, and member access. Operates the closest analog to MYC's community-sailing-school-plus-club model, though in Newport rather than NY Harbor.
• Storm Trysail Club: Organizes the Newport to Bermuda Race in which MYC's Arabella competes. Highly comparable as a sailing organization focused on offshore racing, member-led training, and event management in the same Northeast sailing ecosystem.
• Raritan Yacht Club: New Jersey yacht club participating in MYC's Monaco Challenge Cup and similar regional sailing events. Comparable in scale, NJ location, and member-driven racing/cruising programming.
• Larchmont Yacht Club: Established New York-area yacht club with active racing, sailing education, and member programming. Partnered with MYC on the 2026 Monaco Challenge Cup, making it one of the most directly comparable regional yacht clubs in the tri-state area.

Regional players

• Yacht Club de Monaco: Sending flagship Tuiga and Viola to MYC's 2026 Monaco Challenge Cup. A prestigious international counterpart in classic/heritage yacht sailing, comparable in event-hosting and racing-program ambition but operating at higher international scale.
• Royal BVI Yacht Club: Hosts the Final Night Discotheque and trophy race during MYC's annual De Caribbean Regatta. Comparable as a partner yacht club that supports Caribbean sailing experiences, though operating in a different geography (BVI vs. NY Harbor).

Broad incumbents

• Annapolis Yacht Club: Major East Coast yacht club with extensive sailing education, racing, and cruising programs. Comparable in sailing-school-plus-club model but at significantly larger scale and located on Chesapeake Bay rather than NY Harbor.
• New York Yacht Club: Historic and significantly larger New York yacht club founded in 1844 with broader membership and racing programs. Comparable as a NY-area yacht club but operates at much greater scale and exclusivity rather than community-sailing focus.
• Freedom Boat Club: National membership-based recreational boating franchise with shared-access model. Comparable business model (recurring membership dues for shared fleet access) but focused on powerboats rather than sailing and operates as a franchise network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Manhattan-Yacht-Club-210468042307077
• Instagraminstagram.com/manhattan_yacht_club
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/manhattan-yacht-club

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Manhattan Yacht Club