The Indian Harbor Yacht Club is a U.S. boating organization, based at 710 Steamboat Road in

Greenwich, CT Greenwich (, ) is a New England town, town in southwestern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. At the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the town had a total population of 63,518. The largest town on Connecticut's Gold Coast (Conne ...

, with access to Long Island Sound. The club, founded in 1889 in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

, is based mainly around personally owned yachts and pleasure boats, but also has a long history of competitive races. The New York Times noted that "Indian Harbor ranks among the most influential institutions of its kind in the country."

History

On July 1, 1889, under the leadership of Frank Bowne Jones, Richard Outwater, Henry S. Doremus, Charles J. Hart and others, the Indian Harbor Yacht Club came into being, rising from the ashes of the old Greenwich Yacht Club. The particular business was originally stated as, "Shall be to encourage and support the sport of yachting, the art of yacht designing and building, and the science of seamanship and navigation." Later, when incorporated, the following words were added: "and to provide for the amusement and recreation of its members." This was primarily a sailing club and Henry E. Doremus was the first Commodore, William Ross Proctor the Vice Commodore, and Charles J. Hart the Rear Commodore. The club's first headquarters were in New York, and in 1892 it leased Finch's Island in Greenwich as its sailing base. The present property was developed in 1895 by Commodore Charles T. Wills, and the clubhouse dates to 1921. It is an unusual example of Mediterranean Revival design, by architect Henry Pelton, then a member of the club's race committee. Indian Harbor Yacht Club has recorded more entries in the

Newport Bermuda Race The Newport Bermuda Race, commonly known as the ''Bermuda Race'', is a biennial, 635 nautical miles (1175 km) sailing yacht race from Newport, Rhode Island to the British island of Bermuda. According to its website, the Race is the oldest r ...

than any other yacht club in the world. Indian Harbor members were part of the crew of the Intrepid during its America's Cup victories in 1967 and 1970. In 1989, as part of the Club's centennial celebrations, Indian Harbor Yacht Club published 'A Century of sailing : the first one hundred years of the Indian Harbor Yacht Club, 1889-1989' 'A Century of sailing: the first one hundred years of the Indian Harbor Yacht Club, 1889-1989' (Greenwich, Conn. : Indian Harbor Yacht Club, 1989) The club's facilities on Steamboat Road were listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

in 2010. The designation was in recognition of the club's importance in the realm of racing and yachting, as well as for the architecture of its clubhouse. The club is a founding member of the

National Sailing Hall of Fame The National Sailing Hall of Fame is a nonprofit educational organization that promotes sailing and racing by recognizing individuals who have contributed to the sport, highlighting sailing's contribution to the American culture; and demonstrating i ...

Notable Members

Thomas Watson Jr. Thomas John Watson Jr. (January 14, 1914 – December 31, 1993) was an American businessman, political figure, Army Air Forces pilot, and philanthropist. The son of IBM Corporation founder Thomas J. Watson, he was the second IBM president (195 ...

* Dick Nye *

Elias Cornelius Benedict Elias Cornelius Benedict (January 24, 1834 – November 22, 1920) was a prominent New York City banker and yachtsman. He specialized in the gas and rubber industries. He was president of the Commercial Acetylene Gas Company and of the Marine Engi ...

George Lauder (Scottish industrialist) George Lauder Jr. (November 11, 1837 – August 24, 1924) was a Scottish industrialist. A trained mechanical engineer, Lauder was responsible for many of the technical advancements made in the steel industry during the Industrial Revolution includ ...

* Edward J. Noble * Clifford D. Mallory

References

External links

Indian Harbor Yacht Club

1890s Yacht Photography of J.S. Johnston
{{Authority control 1889 establishments in Connecticut Buildings and structures in Greenwich, Connecticut Clubhouses in Connecticut Clubhouses on the National Register of Historic Places in Connecticut National Register of Historic Places in Fairfield County, Connecticut Sports clubs and teams established in 1889 Sports venues in Fairfield County, Connecticut

History

Notable Members

See also

References

External links