Riverside Yacht Club

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Stories from the Riverside Yacht Club

Riverside Yacht Club

102 Club Road
Riverside, CT 06878

(203) 637.1706

Website: www.riversideyc.org


Located on Cos Cob Harbor in Riverside, Connecticut, RYC is one of the oldest yacht clubs in America, founded in 1888. Their racing heritage includes the Annual Stratford Shoal Race, which celebrated its 80th race in 2011.


RIVERSIDE YACHT CLUB BECOMES NSHOF FOUNDING MEMBER

From the Commodore:

"Members of Riverside Yacht Club take pride in our sailing tradition dating to 1888 and are happy to be part of the National Sailing Hall of Fame's effort to bring recognition to those who have excelled at the sport and set markers that bring out the best in sailors today," said RYC Commodore.

Walton W. Alder, Commodore


History

george_tyson

On the evening of May 25, 1888 George I. Tyson, a prominent summer resident of Riverside and an enthusiastic yachtsman, invited 10 of his friends to meet with him at his home to consider and act upon his plan to establish a yacht club in the community. George Tyson provided an acre or so of waterfront land, and he offered to finance the construction and equipping of a clubhouse. In return for this, a token rental was charged. According to the Lloyd's Registry of American Yachts, Riverside Yacht Club (RYC) became the second yacht club to be established in the state of Connecticut and the eighth on Long Island Sound in order of seniority among those that have survived to the present day.

George Tyson served as Commodore for eight consecutive years. With his yacht, Nirvana , he led the cruising fleet on its annual runs to the eastern end of Long Island Sound.

Commodore Tyson was a self-made man, and a captain in New York's famed Seventh Regiment during the Civil War. It is Commodore Tyson's history with the Civil War and his regiment's flag, that led to the design of the RYC burgee.

Old Riverside Yacht Clubhouuse The original clubhouse was built in 1889. By 1893 additional room was needed and an adjacent structure, called the "spar loft" was built on the property. The spar house contained bowling alleys, rooms for shuffleboard and billiards.  When the furniture was cleared, it also served a ball room for summer dances.

During the winter of 1892-93, some of the members conceived the idea of establishing winter quarters in New York City. William Bagg, became an enthusiastic supporter of the idea and generously offered the use of his rooms at 39 West 31st Street for this purpose. The RYC annual meetings were held here up until 1895 after which they were then held back in Riverside.

Around 1927, the RYC membership bought the property from the Tyson estate. The Club's membership had grown and the harbor was filling with yachts. Inter-club racing on Long Island Sound was well underway. In 1 RYC_new_clubhouse 929 a new clubhouse was completed, being improved and expanded over the years.

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