Welcome to

Bay Head Yacht Club

The Bay Head Yacht Club was established in Bay Head, New Jersey on September 8, 1888. Bay Head was then emerging as a popular seaside resort that attracted prominent families from Philadelphia and New York.

BHYC members were active participants in early sneakbox and catboat racing on the shallow waters of Barnegat Bay. In 1914 the club was a founding member of the Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association. Commodore John V.A. Cattus of Bay Head was elected the BBYRA's first commodore. That summer O.G. Dale of BHYC won the first BBYRA championship in his 20' Sneakbox Arran. Since then BHYC sailors have won 190 championships in classes ranging from E Scows to Barnegat Bay's splendid wooden A Cats.

BHYC has had many accomplished sailors in its history including Slade Dale, winner of the Cruising Club of America's Blue Water Medal for 1929 for a voyage to Cuba and back in Postscript, a 23' cutter designed by Dale himself. Also champion E Scow sailor Sam Merrick, who managed the U.S. Olympic Sailing Team to its best showing ever: an extraordinary three gold and four silver medals in 1984. Merrick was honored later that year with US Sailing's most prestigious award, The Nathanael Herreshoff Trophy.

Today the Bay Head Yacht Club has a vibrant membership of 800 families that enjoy active sailing and tennis programs. The Club is proud to continue its leadership in the sport of sailing and to provide a welcome location for generations of families to relax in the friendly town of Bay Head.