Membership Information

Membership Benefits

SCHEDULED CRUISES – WYC provides many cruises that members will look forward to attending and building their skills and confidence on the water. Members are encouraged to participate whenever they can because most cruises are also social events. A Cruise Leader(s) will be assigned to all WYC sponsored cruises. Galveston Bay can be tricky to navigate, especially to some of the more interesting destinations. The Cruise Leader is usually someone experienced with the destination that knows how to avoid trouble. In case of a breakdown or grounding, it’s reassuring to have others along to help, whether it is to tow you off, or standby until help arrives. Hey, it happens! We have annual cruises to Offats Bayou, Double Bayou, and to the Houston Yacht Club.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS – WYC frequently presents seminars to make members confident and comfortable with their own boating skills. SSB radio, Hazards of Galveston Bay, diesel engine troubleshooting, and boat upgrade and maintenance are a few examples of past and future seminars.

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES – WYC provides numerous social activities. Dock Parties, Shrimp or Crawfish Boils, Wine & Cheese Cruises, Fajita & Margarita Parties, and the elegant Annual Commodore’s Ball are some of the social functions planned. The social calendar alone makes the club worth joining!

MEMBERSHIP CARD – The membership card will allow you to receive reciprocal privileges at other yacht clubs that offer them to WYC members.

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY – WYC publishes the annual directory is to help you remember your new friends as well as their boat’s name. It includes the WYC Constitution and Bylaws and other useful information.

BURGEE – By flying the cool WYC burgee whenever aboard, other WYC members will know they have someone to say ‘HI’ to at the dock and someone to ‘WAVE’ to out on the water. And when on a WYC cruise, it is a great way to know you have arrived at the right place!

Membership Requirements

Membership in the club shall be by the consent of the Executive Committee and all members must be over 21 years of age. All members are entitled to attend all club events at the event fee, if any, established for members. All live-at-home children under the age of twenty-one of the members are entitled to attend all club events at the event fee, if any, established for children. All guests of the members are entitled to attend all club events at the event fee, if any, established for guests. Event fees are to be established on a case by case basis by the Executive Committee. All members shall enjoy all reciprocal privileges of membership.

Classes of Membership: Charter, Regular, Shore, Inactive and Honorary

Charter and Regular Membership:

Charter Members are Regular Members who were the first memberships accepted by the Club as of September 30, 1999. No additional Charter Memberships shall be created. Each Charter Membership shall be retired upon the resignation or termination of any Charter Membership’s regular membership.

Each Regular Membership may include the applicant and their spouse or significant other as Regular Members. The applicant for Regular Membership must be a boat owner and maintain a slip at Waterford Harbor Marina at the time of application. There shall be one vote per membership, which may be exercised by either member. Regular Members are eligible to hold an office in the Club.

Shore Membership:

Each Shore Membership may include the applicant and their spouse or significant other as Shore Members. The applicant for Shore Membership must own a home or home site in Waterford Harbor, and be a social member of the Waterford Harbor Marina at the time of application. There shall be one vote per membership, which may be exercised by either member. Shore Members are not eligible to hold the positions of Flag Officers in the Club.

Inactive Membership:

Regular Members and Shore Members who are transferred out of the greater Houston/Galveston area or who are engaged in extended cruising, may apply to the Executive Committee for Inactive Membership. While in Inactive status, these members are not eligible to vote or hold an office in the Club.

Honorary Membership:

Suitable persons may be elected to a one-year Honorary Membership by unanimous vote of the Executive Committee and shall hold that membership at the pleasure of the Committee. Each Honorary Membership may include the elected person and their spouse or significant other. Honorary Members shall be exempt from the payment of the initiation fee and dues. Honorary Members have no right, title or interest in the property of the Club. Honorary Members are not eligible to vote or to hold an office in the Club.