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Home / About LNYC
Home / About LNYC

About LNYC

Lake Norman Yacht Club was incorporated in 1961, even before the lake filled, with 25 charter members. Our 25.5-acre site surrounds a sheltered cove adjacent to a large expanse of Lake Norman. This specific spot, convenient to many Carolina cities, was chosen because, "we knew there would never be 100 sailors in Charlotte." In 1986 we purchased our grounds from Duke Power Company to insure the Club's longevity at a reasonable cost to the membership. From the beginning, LNYC has promoted sailboat racing in a family atmosphere. Active fleets include: Optimist Dinghy, Sunfish, O'Pen Skiff, Club 420, Laser, Thistle, Highlander, Flying Scot, San Juan 21, Ultimate 20, Vanguard 15, VX/One, Multi-Hull, and cruisers. From April into November there are around 25 weekend days of scheduled, organize club racing with up to three races per day. Multiple fleets participate in winter sailing, including on New Year's Day. In 2008 there were 42 weekends of scheduled activities, including the club series and various invitational regattas.

LNYC enjoys a national reputation for organizing and conducting well-managed races. We are a national leader in our number of US Sailing certified Judges and Race Officers. They share their expertise by conducting seminars throughout our region, including training race management personnel for the '96 Olympics. In 1999, the club received the St. Petersburg Award from US Sailing for Excellence in Race Management, one of US Sailing's highest awards.

The Club regularly hosts several regattas open to all sailors. Our grounds boast two ramps, several floating docks, 68 wet slips, and a 2-ton boat hoist giving most of our fleets the ability to host invitational regattas. Many national competitions have and continue to be conducted by the Club. Our spacious grounds make it easy to accommodate many extra boats and tents. The club has hosted the prestigious Championship of Champions Regatta, as well as the Mallory and Adams championships. Most fleets host well-attended one-design regattas every year. Several members have won national championships. Our safety record is excellent and to that end we own several radio-equipped powerboats specifically for race management.

But it's more than racing. You can always find someone stirring about at our clubhouse, which was renovated and modified in 2020 and 2021 to help the club usher in a new era of membership and amenities! Just about any day you'll see boats leaving our cove. What better way to end a summer's day than with a cool sail under a full moon.

Doing things together is the heart of the Club. We enjoy dinner with each other after Saturday races. Many of our approximately 200 families camp regularly at the Club. Virtually everything on the grounds except for the pavilion was designed and built by members. For example, after Hurricane Hugo all the docks plus new breakwaters were constructed by members, and in time for the sailing season. Everyone serves on race committee at a job commensurate to his or her ability. We all join in one or two annual work days.

The Junior Program, which serves as a model in the Southeast, involves approximately 50 youth, aged 8-18, in shore-side sessions during the winter, regattas in the summer, participation in club races both as competitors and race committee, and a year-end gala. LNYC encourages junior participation in SAYRA and US Sailing events as well as participation in the ISSA high school sailing program. We also organize an intensive sailing experience during a week of Sailing Camp in June. Some of the Club's top sailors got their start in the Junior Program. No one knows whether the juniors or instructors have more fun. Many of our members donate a week of their vacation year after year. We are starting to see our third generation begin to enjoy our great sport. Sailing camp is also for adults who want the basics or wish to hone their existing skills.

Last updated 7:02pm on 8 May 2023

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