Celebrating 150 years of sailing history from 1870-2020
ABOUT
Eastern Yacht Club is a historic club located on Marblehead Neck with great views of the harbor and the Marblehead skyline. Over the years, the Eastern has established itself as one of the most distinguished yacht clubs in America. The EYC offers its members and guests a wealth of opportunities to enjoy activities on sea and land.
HISTORY
Throughout its history the Eastern has consistently pursued its mission of “encouraging yacht building and naval architecture and the cultivation of nautical science”. Eastern yachts Puritan, Mayflower and Volunteer won the right to defend the America’s Cup in 1885, 1886, and 1887 and soundly defeated their British challengers. An Eastern syndicate built the J-boat Yankee which lost by a split second the right to challenge for the 1934 America’s Cup to Rainbow. Chandler Hovey and his family owned and raced J-boats in the 1930s and built the 12-meter Easterner in an effort to defend the America’s Cup in the late 50s and early 60s. Eastern member Ted Hood participated in various 12-meter campaigns both as a sail maker and yacht designer. In addition, he skippered Courageous in its successful defense of the America’s Cup in 1974. Just out in time for the sesquicentennial is maritime author Stan Grayson’s The Eastern Yacht Club: 1870-2020.
TODAY
Eastern’s campus includes an Olympic sized swimming pool, six tennis courts, three paddle tennis courts, a pier with two cranes and pier house, gangway, and dock. The Club offers a junior sailing program, children’s summer camp, and non-smoking rooms for guests and visiting sailors. Eastern’s clubhouse includes paintings, models, and trophies that mark the history of American yachting from the glorious days of the huge racing yachts to the present day streamline one-designs. The clubhouse has a formal dining room, porch dining and a cocktail area, all overlooking the harbor. Eastern members currently own Etchells, IODs, Sonars, Stars, J-24s, J-100s, J-105s, Rhodes-19s, Lasers and Vipers, among other one design classes, and have won world and national championships in a number of those classes.
CHECK IT OUT
To learn more about the Eastern, or to inquire about membership, visit the EYC’s website.
