The Poughkeepsie Yacht Club is a small private yacht club based in the Hudson River Valley in upstate New York. The club is one of the earliest yachting institutions in America and founded in 1892. The club is located on the eastern shore in the heart of the Hudson Valley, on a part of the Hudson River about halfway between New York City and Albany. It shares a close proximity to the Hyde Park historic sites and the town of Rhinebeck. Its officers include a Commodore, Vice-Commodore, Rear-Commodore, Measurer, Secretary, and Treasurer.HistoryThe Poughkeepsie Yacht Club was founded on 1892 by a small group of working sailors and yachtsmen.It now has approximately one-hundred twenty "active" (boat owning) and "social" (non-boat owning) members.During the early years of the club's history, rowing played an important role fostering interest and membership. This led to the negotiations securing the first race of the "University Eights" (Intercollegiate Regatta) in June 1895. In addition to racing, yachting, and rowing, iceboating was popular with club members as well. The club field had as many as seven ice yachts, generally storing four in the boat house.Traditionally the Poughkeepsie Yacht Club has been a "working club," where members take part in maintaining the club facilities and grounds. Participation hours include activities such as the "all hands on deck" docks in and docks out as well as working on the annual events hosted at the club. Members may choose the committee with which they wish to be affiliated (i.e., docks, membership, house, grounds, moorings, entertainment, etc.)ClubhousesIn 1892, the club’s first clubhouse was established in a modest, building in Poughkeepsie, New York, on what is now the water front of lower Main Street in Poughkeepsie. The club leased a dock known as the "Sand Dock" from the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad company at a rate of $25 per year. The first clubhouse was built by May of the following year. The location was on the site of the old Revolutionary Ship Yard (or Continental Shipyard) at Ship Yard Point, now known as Fox's Point in Poughkeepsie. The first club house was a wooden structure twenty by twenty feet, and two stories high. With money in short supply, unusual fund raising methods were employed. For example, in 1897, the veranda in front of the house was added using the proceeds of the "Autumn Carnival". The Club has always been a "working man's club" and today aims to uphold the humble tradition.
"The PYC is a member-only boating club located on a quiet and beautiful part of the Hudson River."
