Setting Sail with The Miami Yacht Club: “Home of Sailing Champions!”

Founded in 1927 as the Southern Florida Boat Racing Association, the Miami Yacht Club (MYC) has served as a staple in the Miami Beach community. “MYC is truly Miami’s hidden gem. We promote inclusivity, rather than exclusivity, and we relish the chance to share our view of Biscayne Bay and mission with our community,” shares Mark Ingraham, MYC Commodore 2021-2024 and current Staff Commodore.

The Southern Florida Boat Racing Association became the Miami Yacht Club several years after its founding and moved to its current location on Watson Island between the City of Miami and Miami Beach.

Initially, the focus of the Miami Yacht Club was on sailing and racing – and to an extent, it still is. Sailors have represented Miami Yacht Club all over the world, from youth events to the Olympics. Ingraham shares, “We were honored to be selected by the US Olympic Committee [this year] over several other world class sailing venues. It was also really special considering that MYC had several sailors who grew up sailing with us as kids, who went on to qualify and compete for Team USA at the Olympics in Paris this summer.”

For over 80 years now, the Miami Yacht Club has actively worked with the local community to foster an appreciation for the surrounding waters in Miami. Through their 501(c)(3) non-profit, the Miami Yacht Club Youth Sailing Foundation, the Yacht Club teaches children, teenagers and adults to sail with classes open to everyone – not just members of the Club. “MYC has had a vast, diverse impact on the community over the years. We estimate tens of thousands of children have participated in our Youth Sailing Foundation programming,” shares Ingraham.

Constance Collins & Mark Ingraham, Esq.

Currently, the Yacht Club provides meeting spaces for many local, national and international organizations including the Overtown Youth Center, Veterans Oceans Adventures, Lotus House, Amigos for Kids, Rotary Club and others. Additionally, the club hosts the City of Miami Marine Patrol and Underwater Recovery Unit. Ingraham adds, “We have a tenured commitment for programming with some of the best non-profit organizations in our city, spanning all of the Miami districts and serving: disadvantaged and marginalized youth, veterans, environmental causes, and world-class sailing, among others.”

Christina Sakellaris, Erika Reinike, & Charlotte Rose

Ford McCann, Leo Boucher, & Chapman Petersen

As the Miami Yacht Club approaches their centennial celebration, the organization plans to stick around for many years to come and continue to carry out their mission of service in the community. Long term, MYC envisions an upgraded “MYC Biscayne Bay Campus” that further strengthens their existing partnerships in the realm of environmental sustainability, blue tech initiatives and promotion of adult and youth sailing.

“We are excited to carry on our traditions and service to the community for another 100 years – There are not too many institutions in Miami that can lay claim to this rich history.”

Mayor Francis Suarez