Youngstown Yacht Club

Located at the mouth of the lower Niagara River in Youngstown, New York, and not far from the Welland Canal, the Youngstown Yacht Club is a popular destination for cruising yachtsmen. Though primarily a sailing club, a growing number of power boaters have joined of late. Since its founding in 1931, the club has had an active membership of cruisers and racers.

The most notable of the annual sailing events is the Level Regatta, which will celebrate its 35th year in 2008. Participants come primarily from Lake Ontario ports, but the Level also draws heavily from Lake Erie. Some boats and crews come from as far away as Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and the Finger Lakes to participate. As one of the largest freshwater regattas in the country, the Level consistently draws more than 300 boats and has drawn a record of more than 400. With so many boats, crew and support, the population of the village of Youngstown more than doubles for this event.

Believing that tomorrow’s sailors come from today’s young people, the Youngstown Yacht Club supports an outstanding junior sailing program. Graduates have gone on to race on numerous college sailing teams, and some have made All American status. Many have continued sailing as adults and have sailed in a number of prestigious events, including the Transpac, PacifiCup (Sp) and Key West and America Cups.

Bringing together its racing and junior sailing traditions, the club hosts the Youngstown Open Laser Regatta, an annual event for alumni of the club’s junior sailing program. The alumni event has a history of excellent turnout, and the young and young at heart compete in the club’s Nutshells and 420s. This year, it will be run on July 5.

Visiting yachtsmen will find a friendly casual club. YYC’s clubhouse, with its view of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario, features a casual grill, social lounge and a patio that faces ample dock frontage. A second-level restaurant features fine full-service dining with a magnificent view of the sunsets over Niagara-on-the-Lake and the mouth of the river.

There are berths available on the visitors’ dock, as well as on moorings. Bathrooms with showers, gas grills and tent coverage are also open to boaters passing through. Visitors should contact the club to coordinate their visit with previously scheduled regattas and cruises.

yyc.org // (716) 745 7230