Grosse Pointe Yacht Club

What Grosse Pointe Yacht Club does

Grosse Pointe Yacht Club (GPYC) is a private, sponsor-only membership club founded in 1914 and headquartered at 788 Lake Shore Road, Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan, on the shore of Lake St. Clair. The Club operates a 252-slip certified Clean Marina, four dining venues (Binnacle, Main Dining Room, Spinnaker, and the seasonal Gazebo Bar), and an extensive recreational amenity portfolio including an Olympic-sized swimming pool, fitness center, six-lane bowling center, trap shooting range, four clay tennis courts, four pickleball courts, two platform tennis courts, and a Junior Sailing Program with associated youth programs (Sailfish Swim Team, Day Camp, and Tennis Affiliate Program). Membership is by sponsorship from three existing members and Board election, with categories including Active, Social, Legacy, and Non-Resident, and provides reciprocal privileges at yacht clubs worldwide. The Club also runs full-service catering and event operations capable of hosting weddings, corporate events, and private occasions for up to 300 guests, and operates the Grog Shop retail store at the Harbor.

The business generates revenue through four primary streams: recurring annual membership dues, food and beverage across multiple dining venues, harbor services (slip rentals, gas dock, and 24/7 concierge services during summer months), and fees from recreational programs including sailing, swim team, day camp, and racquet sports. Pricing for membership is not publicly disclosed and operates on a quote-based sponsorship model, while recreational program pricing is published with member and non-member tiers. Distribution is direct through the single Grosse Pointe Shores location, with marketing conducted via the gpyc.org website, Instagram (@Officialgpyc), email communications, and the member referral/sponsorship process.

The Club's underlying technology is non-proprietary and tied to operations rather than product differentiation: MembersFirst powers the website, membership management, and secure data management. GPYC is governed by a Board of Directors led by Commodore David M. Schaden with senior management including General Manager Aaron Wagner (CCM) and CFO Nathan Steinwascher. The entity is privately held with no public listings, no disclosed external investors, and no parent company. The Club recently completed a renovated world-class Harbor in 2024 and continues executing a long-horizon Centennial Improvement Plan investing in facilities, programming, and waterfront amenities.

Name

Grosse Pointe Yacht Club

Legal name

Grosse Pointe Yacht Club

Website

https://gpyc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1914

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Grosse Pointe Yacht Club is a private, sponsorship-only membership club founded in 1914 on Lake St. Clair in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan. It serves individual members and families with a 252-slip marina, four dining venues, recreational facilities (pool, bowling, racquet sports, fitness), youth sailing and swim programs, and event hosting up to 300 guests.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Membership Club

NAICS

Marinas (71393), Marinas (713930)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Charters & Yacht Experiences (Crewed, Bareboat, Day Charters) (THAJAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sailing & Water Sports Teams/Clubs (Sailing, Rowing, Surfing) (MPAKABAH), Private Yacht & Luxury Boat Charters (With Crew) (THAJALAE)

Keywords

• Private yacht club
• Marina services
• Waterfront dining
• Recreational facilities
• Private event hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from Active, Social, Legacy, and Non-Resident members providing access to club facilities, dining, waterfront amenities, and recreational programs
2. Food and Beverage: Revenue from three dining venues: Binnacle, Main Dining Room, and Spinnaker, plus the Gazebo Bar serving cocktails and refreshments to members and guests
3. Harbor Services: Revenue from 252 boat slips, gas dock operations, and concierge services for members. Summer harbor staffed 24/7 with comprehensive concierge services including pump-outs, carryout delivery, and equipment assistance
4. Recreation Programs: Fees from sailing programs, swim team, day camp, tennis/pickleball, bowling, and other recreational activities offered to members

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Grosse Pointe Yacht Club operates as a private, sponsorship-only membership yacht club on Lake St. Clair offering a 252-slip certified Clean Marina, four distinct dining venues, extensive recreational facilities (bowling, fitness, Olympic-sized pool, racquet sports, trap shooting), youth athletic and sailing programs, and full-service event hosting for weddings and private gatherings up to 300 guests. Members gain access to all facilities plus reciprocal privileges at yacht clubs worldwide.

Product overview

Grosse Pointe Yacht Club operates as a private membership-based yacht club offering a portfolio of dining venues, recreational facilities, waterfront services, and youth programs. The Club's dining operations span four distinct venues: the Binnacle (an intimate room with lake views), the Main Dining Room (upscale-casual family dining), the Spinnaker, and the Gazebo Bar (summer poolside bar). Recreational amenities include a six-lane Bowling Recreation Center, a Fitness Center, an Olympic-sized swimming pool with splash pad, a trap shooting range, and racquet sports facilities (four clay tennis courts, four pickleball courts, and two platform tennis courts). The GPYC Harbor provides 252 slips in a certified Clean Marina on Lake St. Clair, complemented by the Grog Shop retail store. The Club also runs youth programming including the Sailfish Swim Team, Junior Sailing Program (with Kinder Sailing, Learn to Sail, Adventure Sailing, and Race Team), Day Camp, and a Tennis Affiliate Program. Event services cover weddings, corporate events, and private gatherings for up to 300 guests. Membership is sponsorship-only, with Active, Social, Legacy, and Non-Resident categories, and includes reciprocal access to yacht clubs worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GPYC Membership
• Binnacle Dining Room
• Main Dining Room
• Spinnaker Dining Venue
• Gazebo Bar
• Bowling Recreation Center
• Fitness Center
• Olympic-Sized Swimming Pool & Splash Pad
• Trap Shooting Range
• Racquet Sports Facilities
• GPYC Harbor
• Grog Shop
• Sailfish Swim Team
• Junior Sailing Program
• Day Camp
• Tennis Affiliate Program
• Wedding & Event Services
• Harbor Concierge Service

Quantifiable outcome

• 252 slips in certified Clean Marina facility with 24/7 summer staffing
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Reciprocal Yacht Clubs WorldwidecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGrosse Pointe Yacht Club maintains reciprocal privileges with other yacht clubs worldwide, allowing members to access facilities at partner clubs when traveling. The club also hosts visiting yacht club members through this reciprocal arrangement.
• Michigan Interclub Swimming Association (MICSA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGPYC Sailfish Swim Team participates in MICSA, an 84-year tradition of swimming excellence in Metro Detroit. MICSA organizes competitive swimming events and regattas for member clubs.
• Eastside Tennis & FitnessminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThrough the Tennis Affiliate Program, GPYC provides discounted one-year membership at Eastside Tennis & Fitness for first-time associate members, creating cross-club access for racquet sports enthusiasts.
• Bayview Yacht ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGPYC Race Team participates in Bayview to Mackinac Race and Bayview Yacht Club Regatta as part of competitive sailing circuit.
• Community Sailing School (PYC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGPYC Race Team participates in Community Sailing School Regatta as part of local competitive sailing schedule.
• Crescent Sail Yacht ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGPYC participates in Crescent Sail Yacht Club Regatta as part of regional yacht club sailing competition.
• Detroit Yacht ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGPYC Race Team participates in Detroit Yacht Club Regatta as part of regional competitive sailing circuit.
• MembersFirstcoreTechnology or IntegrationWebsite powered by MembersFirst, a trusted service provider for club and membership-based organizations. Provides website functionality, membership management, secure data management, and technical support services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Detroit Athletic Club: Historic Detroit private city club offering dining, athletic, fitness, and event facilities to a curated membership. Comparable as a Detroit-based, sponsorship-driven private club competing for the same affluent local members' dues and discretionary spend, though without a marina.
• New York Yacht Club: Iconic private yacht club with landmark Manhattan and Newport clubhouses and a national racing and cruising calendar. Comparable as a long-established, prestigious private yacht club with dining, library, and reciprocal network, but at a significantly larger scale and broader geographic footprint than GPYC.
• Country Club of Detroit: Grosse Pointe–adjacent private country club with golf, dining, racquet sports, and event hosting for an elite Detroit membership. Comparable as a long-established private members-only club targeting the same Grosse Pointe demographic with dining, recreation, and event services, though centered on golf rather than yachting.
• Eastern Yacht Club: Marblehead, Massachusetts private yacht club with marina, sailing, dining, and youth programs on the Atlantic coast. Comparable as a multi-generational private yacht club with similar sponsorship-based membership, dining, and reciprocal-club network mechanics, but serving a New England boating community.

Direct peers

• Chicago Yacht Club: Large private yacht club with two clubhouses and significant marina operations on Lake Michigan. Comparable as a multi-venue, full-amenity yacht club combining dining, racing, youth sailing, and reciprocal privileges for affluent members in a Great Lakes market.
• Crescent Sail Yacht Club: Grosse Pointe-area private sailing club that hosts the Crescent Sail Yacht Club Regatta on the GPYC racing calendar. Directly comparable as a membership-based club focused on sailing instruction, racing, and waterfront amenities for the same local demographic.
• Detroit Yacht Club: Detroit-based private yacht club with dining, marina, sailing, and youth programs on the Detroit River. Direct regional competitor and partner in the GPYC Race Team's competitive sailing circuit, operating a similar membership model with reciprocal sailing traditions.
• Bayview Yacht Club: Detroit-based private yacht club that hosts the Bayview to Mackinac Race, in which GPYC competes. Operates the same combination of marina, dining, sailing instruction, and member-only amenities for affluent Detroit-area boating families.
• St. Clair Yacht Club: Private yacht club operating on the St. Clair River in Michigan, with similar marina, dining, and sailing programs targeting Michigan boating families. Direct peer for member acquisition, reciprocal privileges, and regional sailing competition.

Regional players

• Royal Canadian Yacht Club: Historic Toronto-based private yacht club with extensive marina and reciprocal privileges across North America. Comparable as a premier Great Lakes private yacht club with full dining, sailing, and youth programs, but serving the Canadian side of the Lake St. Clair / Lake Ontario boating community.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/officialgpyc
• Facebookfacebook.com/GrossePointeYachtClub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gpyachtclub

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles26 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 Grosse Pointe Yacht Club