History

The Juneau Yacht Club was mentioned in an 1895 San Francisco newspaper about a Juneau theatrical tour.  

The Juneau Yacht Club was also in the news in 1928 as a sponsor of the first Capital to Capital Cruiser Yacht Race.  

In the late 1940’s various options were explored for the Yacht Club to own their own clubhouse. In 1947 a small house was moved to Harris Harbor and became a small restaurant and meeting place for the Club.  In 1955, the JYC was formally incorporated with the Territory of Alaska.

The membership voted to sell the Harris Harbor building in 1973. In 1974 the meetings were moved to the rental hall at Switzer Village Mobile Home Park. Subsequently, construction was planned for a new clubhouse on the present site at the northern end of Aurora Harbor. Through the efforts of Leroy West, Ken Morgan and Don Statter a long-term land lease was negotiated, and near the end of 1975 a contract was signed for the construction of the first phase of the present facility, located at 1301 Harbor Way. The second phase of construction was designed in 1978 and begun in 1979. Much of the interior finish was performed by member volunteers under the careful supervision of Ralph Graham. The next goal was a complete renovation of the galley (kitchen) area to make it modern and “user friendly”.

The Juneau Yacht Club has continued its quarterly meetings and weekly socials throughout the year. For many years the Juneau Yacht Club, at the request of the Territorial Sportsmen, has provided boat patrols throughout the Golden North Salmon Derby held in August of each year. 

As mentioned above, the club has also hosted the Capital to Capital Race (Olympia, WA to Juneau, AK) in mid June or July annually and then on odd numbered years, organizing docking space with the Harbormaster and hosting the post race awards banquet. The 1989 race was an official function of the Washington State Centennial Celebration.  That race was discontinued in 2005.

The Juneau Yacht Club provides classroom space for Juneau Youth Sailing, a non-profit corporation established in 1997 to promote youth sailing activities in Juneau. In 2000, the Juneau Yacht Club and the Juneau Sailing Club merged to become the Juneau Yacht Club with both a Power Squadron and Sailing Squadron component. The Juneau Yacht Club throughout the years has provided a forum for discussion and member information. On its own initiative and at the request of government agencies and other groups, such as the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Juneau Harbor Department, it offers comments, advice and suggestions on boating, marine parks, harbor, and sport fishing issues.Currently JYC has a membership of approximately 200 members.