Every Thursday evening from May through October, corporate sailors head out into the harbor for some fun, sun and relaxation.
The Corporate Sailing League is a healthy way to unwind after a good day at work. It will pump up your team and make them happy to be back in the office with opportunities like this.
Sailing lifts up the human spirit. It is the ultimate “green” sport which uses the power of the Mother Nature’s wind to propel the boat forward. Getting outside in the harbor brings you closer to nature and teaches you how to work as a team to achieve a goal. Seeing the skyline of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty is inspiring and helps get you motivated.
Being outdoors on a sailboat is also very relaxing and calming. Some people consider sailing the best therapy for a busy lifestyle.
Manhattan Yacht Club created the nation’s first corporate sailing league back in 1987. Now more than ever, you should enroll your company. This will reward your employees who have come back to the office. It will make them happy and feel appreciated. They will practice good skills, work together, and connect with their fellow team members.
It’s easy to join this program. Just fill out the entry form at the bottom of this page. Racing is every Thursday evening and the season is split into 3 series, spring, summer and fall. Manhattan Yacht Club provides you with a professionally maintained J/24 sailboat. You bring your crew of co-workers and/or clients (usually 5 people) and a corporate spinnaker. Teams normally show up at the docks around 6 pm and head out into the harbor by 6:20 pm. Up to 3 races are held each evening.
And here is something unique and special – the Corporate Sailing League is not just for sailors! You can involve all sorts of people from your company. There is a vibrant and lively spectator scene! All races start and finish from our floating clubhouse in the harbor called the “Honorable William Wall.” You can invite co-workers out and watch the races from this spectator platform. It’s one of the New York Harbor’s secret treasures. You can find out more at https://willywall.com/ (see picture below).
Teams will also receive 5 free tickets for the Honorable William Wall each race night. You can share these around the office or invite special clients and friends. Being on a racing sailboat is not for everyone. But everyone wants to enjoy a summer evening in New York Harbor. Some of your employees may prefer to watch the races. We’ve got you covered and this doubles the capacity of your program from 5 to 10 people each week!
Special Bonus for 2024 – the first 7 teams which enroll in 2024 can throw a summer office party on the Honorable William Wall on one of the Thursday race nights. We will provide you with 50 free launch tickets ($1,000 value) on your event evening and there is a cash bar which can be paid by corporate credit card.
Each team races with a corporate spinnaker emblazoned with your company logo. Starting in 2024, corporate flags (2’x3′) will also be permitted from the backstay. This way, your spectators can see where you are at any point during the race. And when you sail by the clubhouse upwind or downwind, your spectators will get a thrill and cheer for you.
The launch which brings spectators out to the Honorable William Wall also departs from the Manhattan Yacht Club. The launch runs back and forth every 30 minutes. Your co-workers can ride out, watch the races and cheer for your team. And after racing, spectators can ride back to dock and meet up the race team back at the awards ceremony.
If you need help getting a team started, Manhattan Yacht Club can also provide a sailing instructor or a volunteer skipper to help you navigate around the race course.
Also, if you want to come down and see the race program in action, or you want to bring some people from your company out to show them how this works, just send a request to Commodore Michael Fortenbaugh mike@myc.org. He will set you up with some spectator tickets.
The Manhattan Yacht Club is located at 140 Dudley St, Jersey City. This location is easy to reach by PATH (exit at Grove St or Exchange Pl) as well as ferries from Brookfield Place, Pier 11 and Midtown (West 39 St). You can use Google maps to find the best transportation options from your location. https://maps.app.goo.gl/WJ2uszCw2AwvAyfK9
The club moved to Jersey City in 2015 where it has larger facilities, a new clubhouse, BBQs, grass and a great hang-out atmosphere where sailors enjoy relaxing after sailing. If you are heading to Manhattan at the end of the night, it’s easy and quick to get an Uber/Lyft back to anywhere in the city.
Entry Fees:
The Entry Fee for the Corporate Sailing League is $3,800 per series. Teams receive a 20% discount for entering all 3 series. The entry fee covers the use of the boat and sails, as well as race management and trophies. Additional costs for each team could be their corporate spinnaker as well as launch fees for their spectators to travel to and from the floating clubhouse in the harbor.
2024 Schedule:
Spring Series – May 16, 23, 30, June 6, 13, 20, 27
Summer Series – July 11, 18, 25, Au-gust 1, 8, 15, 22
Fall Series – Aug 29, September 5, 12, 19, 26, October 3, 10
Corporate Sailing League Entry Form
One Day Corporate Regattas
In addition to our weekly Corporate Sailing League, some companies book a fleet of boats for a one-day sailing event. One Day Corporate Regattas usually begin with sailing instruction and then end with a fun and informal race. Corporate Regattas can be organized anytime during the day. On evenings, they can be organized on Mondays, Thursdays or Fridays. The minimum number of boats for a corporate event is 3 and the maximum is 15, depending on the day. To receive the PDF brochure, please send an email to office@myc.org.