Sarnia Yacht Club

What Sarnia Yacht Club does

Sarnia Yacht Club is a member-owned private yacht club in continuous operation since 1930, located in Point Edward, Ontario on the southern shore of Lake Huron. The club serves approximately 580 members (380 full and 200 associate) and operates 350 wet wells/mooring slips as its core physical asset, supplemented by winter dry storage, launch and haul-out services, and a recognised CANSail-certified sail training program. Ancillary amenities include on-site food and beverage (operated by partner The Grind), competitive racing, and youth programming funded in part through a co-branded apparel arrangement with Team Outfitters.

The business model is a member-owned co-operative structure with two primary revenue streams: recurring annual dues (approximately $569 per member) and marina fee income (seasonal wet slip rentals at approximately $3.87 per square foot, winter dry storage at approximately $0.82 per square foot, plus launch and haul-out fees). Initiation fees for new members and ancillary amenity spend provide secondary income. The published rates and stated membership totals suggest annual revenue in the $1M-$5M band, though there is no audited disclosure.

Customer acquisition is community-driven: member referrals, structured open house events, and the learn-to-sail track open to non-members. Strategic partnerships with The Grind, Lake Huron Yachts, and Team Outfitters extend operational capacity and brand reach without proportional capital outlay. The club does not operate a technology platform, software product, or AI component; competitive position rests on its deepwater Lake Huron location, 95-year operating history, and the embedded community of the member-owned model.

Name

Sarnia Yacht Club

Legal name

Sarnia Yacht Club

Website

https://sarniayachtclub.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1930

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sarnia Yacht Club is a member-owned private yacht club in Point Edward, Ontario, operating since 1930, serving ~580 members with 350 wet slips, sail training, racing, and on-site dining on Lake Huron.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marina and Yacht Club Services

NAICS

Marinas (713930), Marinas (71393)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Yacht club membership
• Marina boat storage
• Sailing instruction
• Competitive yacht racing
• Boating social events

Headquarters

HQ city

Point Edward

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from Active, Associate, Family, and Racing membership tiers form the primary recurring revenue stream. Initiation fees for new Active members are charged as lump sum or spread over 3 years.
2. Boating Facility Fees: Revenue from summer mooring/dry berth fees (calculated per square foot based on LOA x Beam), winter storage fees, and launch/haul-out services for boats up to 30T capacity.
3. Food and Beverage Operations: The Galley restaurant ('The Grind' / 'Grind Galley + Anchor') operated by an external operator provides food and beverage sales to members and their guests, generating revenue through on-site dining during the boating season.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sarnia Yacht Club is a member-owned, member-run private yacht club founded in 1930 that operates 350 wet wells with fuel dock on Lake Huron, modern launch/haul-out equipment for vessels up to 30T, a full-service Galley restaurant, clubhouse facilities, CANSail-certified sail training programs, and competitive Shark 24 and MORC racing programs. The club sells annual memberships (Active, Associate, Family, Racing tiers) and usage-based boating services to its 580 members (380 full + 200 associate).

Product overview

Sarnia Yacht Club is a member-owned, member-run private yacht club established in 1930, located at the southern end of Lake Huron in Point Edward, Ontario. The club operates a single, unified facility offering maritime services and social programs rather than a technology product portfolio. Core offerings include 350 wet and dry boat storage with fuel dock, launch/haul-out equipment up to 30T, CANSail-certified sail training programs using Optimist/Topaz/Club 420 dinghies, competitive Shark 24 and MORC racing programs, and full-service Clubhouse with The Grind Galley + Anchor restaurant. The club also provides membership tiers (Active, Associate, Family, Racing), entertainment/social events, classifieds marketplace, and webcam/weather monitoring. The club has 380 full members and 200 associate members, with a planned Shark Worlds 2027 hosting.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wet and Dry Well Storage Boat storage facilities including 350 wet wells with fuel dock (gas and diesel) and pump-out, plus additional dry berth storage, with modern launch and haul-out equipment for both sail and power boats up to 30T. For SYC members.
• Membership Tiers (Active, Associate, Family, Racing) Four membership categories — Active (boating with well/dock access and voting rights), Associate (social/contact list), Family (use of parents' boat), and Racing (individual race-day access) — providing gated access to the member-owned club.
• CANSail Sail Training Program CANSail-certified sailing instruction for youth and adults, taking beginners from first-time sailors to competitive dinghy racing. Open to the community without membership requirement.
• Racing Programs (Shark 24 and MORC) Organized competitive sailing series including Shark 24 One Design Racing, MORC racing, the Hal Ebert Memorial Shark Regatta, and seasonal race series, with club hosting of Shark Worlds 2027. For racing members and competitors.
• Clubhouse & Galley Restaurant Clubhouse with licensed wet bar and full kitchen for catering and events, paired with the Galley restaurant (operated by The Grind Galley + Anchor) offering all-day breakfast, lunches, and full meal deals during the boating season. For members and their guests.
• Entertainment & Social Events Social events program including weekly TGIF gatherings with live music, Saturday lunches, and annual events such as First Launch, Commodore's Party, Canada Day, SailFest, Labour Day Party on the Hill, Halloween Party, Christmas Levee, and New Year's Party. For members and guests.
• Classifieds Marketplace Member marketplace for boats and gear with categories for Boats for Sale, Gear Wanted, Gear for Sale, and Other items, enabling members to list vessels and equipment.
• Webcam & Weather Station Live webcam feed and Weather Underground-integrated weather station providing real-time conditions for the Race Shack and SYC grounds. Free public resource available to members and visitors.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CANSailcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCANSail-certified sailing programs are operated by the club's Sail Training department, providing standardized youth and adult sailing instruction. Sail Training Director Matt Lane oversees these programs.
• Ontario SailingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a resource and partner organization for sailing education and standards in Ontario.
• Sail CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational sailing organization providing program standards and resources for Canadian sailing clubs.
• Canadian Power and Sail SquadronsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoating safety and education organization. Listed as a local resource for SYC members.
• Lake Huron YachtsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNeighboring yacht club that co-hosts events including the annual Pig Roast, fostering cross-club community engagement.
• Team Outfitters SarniaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSells SYC branded apparel with 15% of every sale donated to the Sail Training Program.
• The Grind (Grind Galley + Anchor)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExternal operator that runs the on-site Galley restaurant, providing food service to members and hosting themed dining events.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• National Yacht Club: Toronto-based private yacht club offering marina services, sailing school, racing programs, and social events. Directly comparable to Sarnia Yacht Club as a member-owned Canadian yacht club with multi-tier membership.
• Bayview Yacht Club: Detroit-based private yacht club on Lake St. Clair with marina, racing, and social programming. Comparable as a Great Lakes member-owned private yacht club with racing focus and family-oriented membership.
• Algonquin Yacht Club: Nearby Sarnia-area private yacht club with marina facilities and racing programs. Directly comparable as a local member-owned sailing club in the same Southwestern Ontario market.
• Crescent Sail Yacht Club: Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan-based private yacht club with marina, racing, and learn-to-sail programs. Comparable as a member-owned Great Lakes club with active sailing and racing community.
• Port Credit Yacht Club: Mississauga-based yacht club on Lake Ontario with marina facilities, sailing instruction, and racing. Comparable as a Great Lakes member-owned sailing club with similar service offerings.
• Grosse Pointe Yacht Club: Private member-owned yacht club on Lake St. Clair with full marina, dining, sailing, and racing programs. Comparable as a member-owned Great Lakes yacht club with similar social and competitive offerings.
• Royal Canadian Yacht Club: Historic Toronto-based private yacht club with multiple membership tiers, marina facilities, sailing programs, and racing. Comparable as a member-owned Canadian yacht club with boating facilities, social amenities, and competitive sailing programming.
• Toronto Yacht Club: Private member-owned yacht club on Lake Ontario offering mooring, racing, learn-to-sail programs, and social events. Directly comparable member-owned structure and service mix.

Others

• Ontario Sailing Association: Provincial governing body for sailing in Ontario with which SYC partners. Included as an ecosystem peer due to its role in setting Sail Training standards and connecting SYC with the broader Ontario sailing community.

Regional players

• Little Traverse Yacht Club: Northern Michigan-based member-owned yacht club on Lake Michigan with marina services, racing, and sailing programs. Comparable as a member-owned Great Lakes private club with similar service offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sarnia-yacht-club

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Sarnia Yacht Club