Founded in 1945, Brigantine Yacht Club is an organization dedicated to the sport of sailing—instruction for children and adults, racing, cruising, and/or enjoyment of the accompanying social scene.  We are located on the bayside of the barrier island of Brigantine in South Jersey.  We provide excellent sailing waters immediately behind our facilities.  The facilities include a Club House featuring a social hall/recreation room, galley and bar.  We have on-shore storage for Optimists, Sunfish, Lasers, Club 420’s, and larger boats with a ramp, hoist, floating and permanent docks.   Additionally we have limited in-water boat slips. We also have an active weekend summer social schedule organized and run by many of our participating members.

The Club maintains an active teaching program for youth and adult sailing.  We traditionally employ a Sailing Director and several sailing instructors.  The instructors are strongly encouraged to become US Sailing certified in basic sailing instruction.  The instructional program includes training in Optimist, Sunfish, Lasers, and 420’s.  The youth instruction program is on weekdays and extends through the summer and teaches basic and racing skills.  The adult program consists of  “no-stress” educational sessions on Saturday mornings. As a member of both the Mid Atlantic Yacht Racing Association (MAYRA) and the Long Beach Island Yacht Racing Association (LBIYRA), the Club supports its sailors’ participation in weekend invitational MAYRA regattas and Wednesday LBIYRA regattas.  In addition to hosting its MAYRA and LBI regatta, the Club also hosts an annual Moth regatta and the annual South Jersey Optimist Championship.  Races are generally conducted immediately behind the Club which allows for easy access for sailors and exciting observation by spectators.

Despite the employment of sailing instructional personnel, the Club is truly a “participatory” experience.  Members are expected to share in the operation of the club.  There are ample opportunities for members to fulfill this responsibility by hosting social events, by assistance in managing regattas, in maintenance of the Clubhouse, grounds, and docks.

For novice youth or adult sailor, for veteran dinghy racers, and for those just looking for camaraderie and an enjoyable, lively social scene, BYC offers these facilities for its members and guests.