If the words “yacht club” conjure up images of Thurston Howell III from Gilligan’s Island in a yachting cap and ascot, well, you’re not alone.
Yachting very well may be misconstrued as a stuffy pastime, but not at Austin Yacht Club. This laid-back Lake Travis gem has been serving up serious sailing since 1952.
Austin Yacht Club is just a few miles off of RR 620 and Hudson Bend Road. If you follow the bright green scenery past Infamous Brewing Company and the neighborhoods of Travis Landing and Lakeland Hills, you’ll discover AYC on your right at the end of Beacon Road sitting on 30 acres with wet and dry slip storage.
Obviously, the Austin Yacht Club is buzzing right now thanks to the return of Lake Travis, but the AYC, an accredited American Sailing Association (ASA) School, is actually a hub for sailing and racing all year long.
In April, AYC Commodore Barry Bowden commended AYC for hosting the J22 Circuit Regatta in March and the Easter Laser Regatta over Easter weekend, which were the first races they’d been able to host since the drought.
Prior to the daily storms, the weather was actually great for local AYC sailors who took advantage of the wind and cool temperatures. In fact, during the Spring Series, they saw some of the fastest sailboat rides ever thanks to sailing skills and extra gusts from Mother Nature.
The Austin Yacht Club is gearing up for a bunch of races this summer including the Independence Cup Regatta (and party) on July 4. And don’t forget, the AYC is not just fun for adults, they offer amazing Sailing Camps for kiddos all summer.
PBJ Summer Sailing Series (4-10)
This AYC sailing camp is designed for first-time sailors and serves as an intro to the sport. The goal of this program is to get young children comfortable on the water and spark an interest in boating and sailing.
The AYC’s US Sailing certified instructors make sure everything is simple, fun and safe. They focus on teaching the basics with games and hands-on learning activities.
Junior Sailing Camp (8-16)
Junior Sailing Camps are offered every week through the final week of July 20-24. During each week of camp junior sailors learn and practice fundamental skills on the Optimist fleet including four brand new ones.
AYC is dedicated to providing a fun and safe environment for young sailors. In addition to hands-on instruction, camps offer classroom discussion, land activities, water drills and special activities like racing, destination sailing and wind surfing.
Learn to Sail
AYC invites everyone, members and non-members, to learn how to sail at various workshops during the year, as well as private lessons.
In the spring, AYC held a weekly clinic for beginning sailors to teach them sailing terminology and concept — you don’t want your boom to swing violently during an accidental jibe — as well as on-the-water practice. They will be hosting a similar workshop in the fall, so keep an eye on their website for more details.
In addition to multiple access points and beautiful views of Lake Travis, this private club has all of the amenities you need to stay comfy when you’re not yachting like a 2-level clubhouse with a bar and roomy patio, a swimming pool, a playscape, cabins, outdoor event areas and more.
With the brilliant blue water lapping at the shore, if you’ve ever thought about sailing … this seems like a perfect time to give it a try.
