&
Town Country CLUBS
DAVID/FLIKR
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH
CAROLINA YACHT CLUB Histor y and Tradition
THE CAROLINA YACHT CLUB, founded in 1853 on Wrightsville Beach,
is among the three oldest yacht clubs in the nation. The club fosters an appre-ciation
for the history and tradition of yachting, while also providing a fun
family beach and soundfront destination, complete with a deli and full bar.
The club’s historically designated facilities are bare-bones compared with those of
other local beach clubs. Except for limited locker room and staff areas, there is no cli-mate
control. The building comprises primarily porch, deck, and open ballrooms. There
are two adjacent beach cottages that can be reserved by members.
The Yacht Club’s season runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, but members
enjoy its facilities for beach and sound access year-round.
At only a few hundred dollars annually, dues are surprisingly low; many members cite
the guaranteed parking as more than worth what they pay in dues and assessments.
Full membership is closed, but the club accepts legacies and offers limited member-ship
classes for local clergy and those interested only in sailing. For a nominal fee, the
club offers sailing instruction to the public. It even offers a S.T.E.M. educational pro-gram
for children and youth that uses sailing as a practical learning platform in physics
and mathematics. More information on these programs can be found at www.carolina
yachtclub.org.
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WBM september 2018
ALLISON POTTER