Whether you’re a rag bagger (sailor) or a stinkpotter (powerboater), a yachty (big boats) or a dinghy skipper (small), there’s a yacht club for you in the Tampa Bay area. As you’d expect, the nautical delights of Tampa Bay are many, and to fully plumb these offerings, yacht clubs have sprung up. However, some with the name “yacht club” are simply marinas or waterfront condos with elegant monikers. The following list is drawn from the Florida Council of Yacht Clubs, which promotes the sport of safe yachting, boating legislation and club activities. A benefit to belonging to an FCYC member club is reciprocal privileges at all other FCYC clubs, including dining and transient moorings.
Here’s a look at some of the yacht clubs in Tampa Bay.
Clearwater Yacht Club
Calling itself “Your Kind of Place,” Clearwater Yacht Club is known for its warm, friendly atmosphere (I can attest from racing in numerous regattas there) and the offerings start with its clubhouse on Clearwater Beach Point with a main dining room, casual Grille Room, and Tiki Bar—try the Cadillac Margarita—overlooking the marina. That marina has brand-new docks (with room for transients) and is just minutes from the Gulf of Mexico. The club stages a long list of events, from sailboat regattas to the Bow Chasers women’s sailing and community involvement (Toys for Tots) to club cruises.
Davis Island Yacht Club
A member-owned club located at the southern tip of Davis Islands in Tampa, the club grounds are on a natural harbor and seaplane basin with a breakwater. Slanted toward sailing, the club sponsors a solid schedule of sailing races, a strong youth sailing organization and an active women’s sailing group amusingly named “The Dinghy Dames.” On-water storage for small boats is augmented by a marine railway, swimming pool and full clubhouse with a dining room (the bacon-wrapped filet—oh my!) and bar.
Tampa Yacht & Country Club
Dating to 1904, Tampa Yacht & Country Club occupies the expansive property on Ballast Point and is on its third clubhouse, now ranked among the top 30 private yacht clubs in the U.S. by Platinum Clubs. The dock facilities were updated in 2015 to contain 31 covered slips, 50 open slips and transient moorage. Onshore, the tennis complex includes nine Har-Tru courts, two pickleball courts, a pro shop, lockers and a fitness center with a sauna. The 35-by-75-foot pool supports a youth swim team and adult enjoyment of the 82-degree waters. The Pilot House is the formal dining room, the Commodore’s Cove is casual and the Crow’s Nest Lounge is for cocktails and drinks.
If you want to enjoy the civility and camaraderie of like-minded skippers (or you’re looking for a way to justify your boat!), joining a yacht club not only provides a waterfront destination but numerous shoreside amenities as well.
Chris Caswell is an award-winning boating editor/writer and a “serial” yacht club member, having memberships from Palm Beach YC and Lauderdale YC to St. Francis YC, San Diego YC to New York YC, as well as Alamitos Bay YC (California) and Lahaina YC (Hawaii).
