Norwalk Yacht Club
The Norwalk Yacht Club was founded in August 1894 in Norwalk, Connecticut. The original clubhouse, now a private residence, is a Victorian-style building located on the Western shore of Wilson Cove and still has the club ‘N’ adorned on the exterior wall. The club purchased its current site on Wilson Point (the Eastern side of Wilson Cove) in 1960. While the Club’s racing and cruising traditions date back to its foundation, the Club has added new programs to meet the evolving needs of its members. The Junior Program was started in 1934 and, with a break during the World War II years, has introduced in excess of one thousand children to the pleasures of sailing, including Peter Isler, the navigator for several of Dennis Connor’s America’s Cup campaigns. Frostbite sailing started in 1964 and, most recently, the Adult Sailing Program began in 1996 in a fleet of Club-owned Ideal 18’s.
Location
The Norwalk Yacht Club is located in Wilson Cove, what is arguably one of the best marine locations on the Long Island Sound. Wilson Cove is located off of Sheffield Island Sound, an easily accessible but well sheltered harbor and mooring field with approximately 325 degrees of the compass protected by Wilson Point, Bell Island, Tavern Island, and Sheffield Island itself. The harbor is conveniently located to nearby shore points in Stamford, Darien, Norwalk, Westport, and Southport on the Connecticut shoreline as well as Huntington, Eatons Neck, and Oyster Bay Long Island.
Membership and facilities
The Club has approximately 200 members and a mooring field servicing over 100 vessels. Sixty-five of the yachts in the fleet are sailing vessels, with the balance being cruising power yachts, fishing boats, and/or pleasure boats. The Club operates two 25 foot launches to transport members and guests to and from the Clubhouse and vessels in the mooring field. The Clubhouse has entertainment space, including covered deck, chairs, tables, and indoor space. In addition, kitchen, bathroom, and shower facilities are available. The dock facilities underwent a recent dredging and renovation and offer 6 – 10’ of MLW depth, multiple ramps, ice facilities, gas and diesel fuel pumps, and fresh water access.
Programs
- Adult Sailing - The club owns six Ideal 18s, with instruction for all levels and an active fleet racing program available to both members and non-members.
- Racing - A friendly, competitive racing program for big boats features a Wednesday Night Series and weekend racing.
- Cruising - Cruisers participate in organized club cruises throughout the summer, as well as joining fellow members on weekend outings to nearby harbors.
- Junior Sailing - An accomplished junior sailing program attracts enthusiastic member and non-member children for fun-filled instruction in Optis, Bluejays, Pixels, Lasers and 420s.
Guests
The Club allows visiting yachtsmen to rent moorings (subject to availability) during the normal operating season for limited overnight stays. The Club recommends making advance reservations by calling 203-866-0941. Alternatively, the Club can be raised on VHF channel 78.