Detroit Yacht Club facts for kids
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| Short name | DYC |
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| Founded | 1868 |
| Location | 1 Riverbank Rd., Belle Isle, Detroit, Michigan  United States |
The Detroit Yacht Club (DYC) is a special private club in Detroit, Michigan. It's located on its very own island near Belle Isle in the Detroit River. The DYC clubhouse is a beautiful building from the 1920s, designed like a Mediterranean villa. It's actually the biggest yacht club clubhouse in the entire United States! The DYC is also part of the Detroit Regional Yacht-racing Association (DRYA), which means they're involved in lots of boat races.
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The DYC's Story: How It Started
The Detroit Yacht Club was started by people in Detroit who loved sailing way back in 1868. Their first buildings, a small clubhouse and a place for boats, were built in the late 1870s.
In the early 1880s, some members disagreed about how much the club was focusing on social events. So, in 1882, a group left to start the Michigan Yacht Club. The remaining members chose James Skiffington as their "Commodore" in 1884. A Commodore is like the president of the club.
The first clubhouse on Belle Isle was built in 1891. It cost about $10,000, which was a lot of money back then! Sadly, it burned down in 1904. But don't worry, a new building was quickly put up in the same spot.
Building the Big Clubhouse
The amazing clubhouse you see today was finished in 1923. It cost over a million dollars to build! The famous architect George D. Mason designed it. He also designed the huge Detroit Masonic Temple and the beautiful Gem Theatre. By the end of 1924, the club had 3,000 members.
A very important member and Commodore named Gar Wood became famous for setting world speed records in special racing boats called hydroplanes. His wins brought the club national and even worldwide attention. The DYC even started sponsoring hydroplane races in 1921.
During the Great Depression (a tough economic time in the 1930s), fewer people could afford to be members. Some club services had to be stopped.
Changes and Growth Over Time
By 1946, the club was doing much better and had paid off all its debts. The women of the club formed the first women's sailing group in the country! They even raced the club's special catboats.
In the next ten years, the club added more dining areas. They also put in movie equipment in the ballroom, so members could watch movies on Sunday evenings. There's even been an effort to bring back these Sunday night movies recently!
In the 1960s, a large Olympic-size swimming pool was added outside. More boat docks were built too, so the club could hold over 350 boats.
For a long time, the DYC was known for being very exclusive. But in the 1970s, Dr. Leonard Ellison became the first Black member after a lawsuit. This was a big step forward for the club.
More recently, the club has added a fitness center. They also opened up the "Bitter End" lounge area so women could enter it. Before, you could only get to the Bitter End through the men's locker room. Now, the restored Bitter End is also used for small parties.
In 2018, the Detroit Yacht Club celebrated its 150th anniversary! Raymond W. Batt Jr. was the Commodore during this special year.
The Amazing Clubhouse Building
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Detroit Yacht Club
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Clubhouse and docks
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| Built | 1924 |
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| Architect | George D. Mason |
| Architectural style | Mediterranean Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 11000309 |
| Added to NRHP | May 25, 2011 |
The Detroit Yacht Club clubhouse was designed by architect George D. Mason. It's built in a Mediterranean Revival style, which means it looks like old buildings from countries around the Mediterranean Sea. The building sits on an island that was made by people using dirt from other construction projects. The first stone of the building was placed in 1922 by Gar Wood, and the whole building was finished in 1923. The clubhouse is a large, welcoming building. Two grand staircases and a beautiful wood-paneled ballroom on the second floor are especially notable.
What Can You Do at the DYC?
The Detroit Yacht Club has lots of cool things for members to do:
- Racquetball Courts
- Indoor and Outdoor Pools
- Outdoor Hot Tub
- Outdoor Tennis courts
- Bocce Ball Court
- Volleyball Court
- Indoor and outdoor restaurants
- A Marina for over 300 boats
Fun Events Each Year
The DYC hosts several exciting events every year:
- Officer's Ball (also called Commodore's Ball)
- Vice Commodore's Ball (sometimes called Clean-up Day)
- Memorial Day Celebration
- Hydroplane Racing Weekend
- Venetian Weekend
Groups and Clubs Within the DYC
Many smaller groups meet at the DYC, based on different interests:
- The Outriggers
- The Pelicans
- Metro Club
- The Flying Scots
- Ski Club
- Garden Club
- Sea Serpents
- Kayak Club
- Rod and Gun club
- The Voyagers
- The Seagulls
- DYC Business Networking group
- DYC Swim Team (part of the MICSA League)
Famous People Who Were Members
Some well-known people have been members of the Detroit Yacht Club:
- Gar Wood (who was also a Commodore)
- Edsel Ford
- Horace Dodge
- Charles Kettering
- Gus Schantz
- Fred Fisher
- Robert Oakman
Images for kids
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Detroit Yacht Club House, around 1894
