Become a Member

Join the Charlevoix Yacht Club!

 

Benefits of Membership

Membership Levels and Fees

How to Apply

 

Benefits of Membership

 

As a member of the Charlevoix Yacht Club, you will have the chance to participate in many club activities while meeting other area boaters.  Established in 1970, the club is made up of over 450 local and non-local boating enthusiasts.  While boat ownership is not required, most of our members do own sailboats or powerboats.  As a member, you will enjoy the following benefits:

Powerboat and cruising sailboat members explore new destinations and rendezvous at the end of the day to share their experiences, providing an excellent opportunity to expand their knowledge of local and Great Lakes waters.  Events such as an on-the-water Scavenger Hunt add to the fun for our motorboat and dinghy members.

Racing sailors can participate in the Wednesday and Thursday evening race series on Lake Charlevoix from May to October and several weekend offshore races to nearby ports.  The traditional CYC NuCore Triangle and Red Fox Regatta on Labor Day weekend draw sailboats from all over the Great Lakes to compete.  From mid-October to the end of November, hardy sailors participate in Arena racing on Round Lake on Sunday afternoons.  These regattas provide an excellent opportunity for all members to get involved on the water and at social gatherings at the clubhouse at the end of the race days.

In July 2021, a beautiful new clubhouse with views of Lake Charlevoix opened at 220 Ferry Avenue, which is the center of social activity for the Charlevoix Yacht Club.  Located on the upper level of the building, and operated mostly by volunteers, our new clubhouse is open to members and their guests for informal social gatherings after race events and on most Wednesday and Friday evenings and some Saturday evenings.  Annual social events typically include a Vinyl Night, a Commodore’s Ball, and several holiday and sports parties.  The weekly calendar and special events are publicized on the club website, in emailed newsletter updates, and in a quarterly newsletter.

Rentals:  Members of the Charlevoix Yacht Club in good standing for two years may rent the new clubhouse for private events.  The Event Center, located on the lower level of the main clubhouse, and the old clubhouse at 209 Ferry Avenue, called the “Annex”, are available to rent by the public.  However, current full members also benefit from a discount on Event Center and the Annex rental costs.  (See the CYC Events section of this website for details.)

Reciprocity:  The CYC is a member of the Yachting Club of America, and as such, members in good standing may be granted access to many of the other yacht clubs around the USA and Virgin Islands that participate in this association.  Our reciprocity is also extended to allow members of other Yachting Club of America yacht clubs to visit the Charlevoix Yacht Club.

To learn more, we invite you to visit us at the Club on Wednesday or Thursday race evenings from 6 to 10 PM, or almost any Wednesday or Friday evening from 6 to 9 PM.  We are open many Saturday evenings in the summer and some Sunday afternoons in the fall.

 

Membership Levels and Fees

 

The Charlevoix Yacht Club offers a variety of membership levels and age brackets designed to make the club accessible and affordable to members of all ages.  Membership runs for a calendar year January-December.  Some memberships and brackets require a one-time initiation fee and all are based on an annual dues payment.

CREW LIMITED MEMBERSHIPS:

Those 18 years of age and older, who crew on a racing sailboat with an existing full member, may be sponsored for a Crew Limited membership.  It provides accessibility to the clubhouse on Wednesday and Thursday race evenings, Sunday afternoons, and other sailing events only.  Crew Limited members over the age of 21 may purchase beverages at the bar and all will receive most emails.  The membership covers one person only and there is no reciprocity with other yacht clubs.  There are two age brackets, 18-20 years old, and age 21+. 

Crew Limited:

Age:  18 – 20               Annual Dues:   $25                  (No Initiation Fee)

Age:  21 +                    Annual Dues:   $35                  (No Initiation Fee)

The Crew Limited application form may be downloaded from here:  APPLICATION

FULL MEMBERSHIPS:

A full membership is required for a skipper or captain and their spouse, or couples, and family members that would like to be able to attend all club functions, and for those who would like to engage in racing activities by sailing their own boat.  Full members may race their boats, can vote in the annual elections, and have reciprocity.  If in good standing for two years, they are entitled to run for a Director position on the Board, to reserve and rent our clubhouse for personal functions, and to sponsor new memberships.

There are three levels of full membership open to new members -- the Associate, Club, or Sustaining levels.

Associate memberships are for those ages 18-20 who want to join and will register to race their own sailboats. 

Associate:       Age:  18 – 20          Annual Dues:  $133            No Initiation Fee

                                                       Pay race fees w/ applic.

Club-level memberships are for adult individuals or couples aged 21 or older.  A Club-level membership involves a commitment each year to volunteer the members’ time and personal efforts to support various club functions, operations and maintenance, committees, officers, club projects, regattas and extra programs, and/or food hosting for evening or party events.  New members should be guided by their Sponsors to find volunteer opportunities that are fulfilling and encourage their satisfaction, renewals, continuing participation, and longevity.  During the first full year and thereafter, volunteering is expected of all Club-level members.

Club:          Age:  21 – 29          Annual Dues:   $265           No Initiation Fee

                  Age:  30 – 39          Annual Dues:   $400           1X Initiation Fee:  $275 

                  Age:  40+                Annual Dues:   $400           1X Initiation Fee:  $550

Sustaining-level memb

erships are for adult individuals or couples aged 21 or older who are unable to volunteer consistently or who wish to make a greater financial commitment to the Charlevoix Yacht Club.  Sustaining-level memberships are greatly appreciated for the additional financial support they provide, which enables the Club to continue to offer many great services and programs.  Volunteering is optional at the Sustaining level. 

Sustaining:     Age:  21 – 29          Annual Dues:   $530           No Initiation Fee

Age:  30 – 39          Annual Dues:   $800           1X Initiation Fee:  $275

           Age:  40+                Annual Dues:   $800           1X Initiation Fee:  $550

How to Apply

If you have a definite interest in joining the Charlevoix Yacht Club, we welcome your inquiry. 

Charlevoix Yacht Club does not discriminate against any person’s application for membership, election to office within the Club, or any activity under the control of or sponsored by the Club on account of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, or physical limitations.

We are currently accepting a limited number of new full memberships each month.  Please let us know of your interest by sending your email to:  membership@charlevoixyachtclub.org and include your name(s) and your preferred phone number(s).

Once we receive your email, we will add your name(s) to our private “email contact list" and email them additional information and a PDF file for their individualized application package. 

Crew Limited upgrades to full, applications for any levels “Under Age 30”, and past members rejoining if now “Over Age 80” may be expedited for review.  Note that to join the club at the full membership levels you will need a Sponsor who is a current full member in good standing and has been a full member for at least the two prior years.  The same application documents and Sponsor letter are required for the Associate, Club, and Sustaining levels.

Once we receive your application documents, we review them for completeness and begin phone discussions via the Membership Committee.  The Committee typically discusses interests and Club opportunities with the applicants.  The Committee and Board typically process a few applications per month.  It may take two or three months to complete the application process from email inquiry to acceptance by the Board, and that will vary monthly depending on demand for memberships.  Prospective members who quickly return their completed individual application packages in hard copy (by US Mail only) with their application and questionnaire authentically signed by all applicants (ink or digital), and a genuine Sponsor letter, will expedite our review.  Sponsor letters endorse the applicants and commit to being their guide for a year or two.

Detailed full membership instructions for applicants and sponsors

It is requested that the New Membership Application form for Associate, Club, and Sustaining levels be submitted along with the Sponsor Interview Questionnaire form and a Sponsor Letter.  The proper dues payment, and a one-time Initiation Fee (if age 30 and over) will be collected later during the review process.  The Sponsor Interview Questionnaire is to be completed jointly (in person, or by phone, FaceTime, Zoom, etc.) during an interview between all the applicant(s) and the Sponsor.  The Application, Sponsor Interview Questionnaire, and Sponsor Letter must be signed and dated (ink or digitally) by the applicant(s) and the Sponsor and be submitted together in hard copy via US Mail to the CYC address.  The sponsoring member(s) should be in good standing for the past two years.  Co-sponsoring letters by any additional members may be beneficial.  By signing the Questionnaire, and explaining their relationship in a Sponsor Letter, the Sponsor affirms endorsement of the applicant(s) as becoming contributing members to the credit of the CYC to achieve its mission and commits to being their guide for the next year or two.  Moreover, the Questionnaire and Letter are intended to provide the Membership Committee and ultimately the Board with enough subjective qualitative information to determine if the applicant(s) have desirable attitudes to maintain the yacht club's boating culture and to achieve the CYC's objectives, goals, and mission.  Also, these will define the applicants' skills and eagerness to contribute to the Club's various activities, and that their Sponsor will be their guide.  The Sponsor Letter may elaborate on the duration and details of their boating relationships. 

If you have any questions, please email:  membership@CharlevoixYachtClub.org 

We appreciate your interest in the Charlevoix Yacht Club.