Sailing yachts on the Connecticut River at sunset

★ Chester, Connecticut • 41.4028° N, 72.4432° W • Since 1934

Chester Yacht Squadron

A working river yacht club, not a marina. Wednesday-night racing, gunkhole cruising, junior sailing, and a cedar-shake clubhouse where everybody knows your boat name. Hoist the maroon burgee — the tide is fair.

Request Membership →Discover Our Story Squadron Log

Next Gun • Sat 11:00

Commodore’s Cup Regatta & Clambake

22 boats registered • PHRF + Shields + Ideal 18 • Open to guests with squadron sponsor.

View race circular →

Junior Squadron • Ages 8–17

Summer Sailing School Open

Opti, 420, and adventure sailing. No boat required. Scholarships on the river.

Enroll for summer →

91Seasons on the river

240+Member families

68Boats racing weekly

12Island cruises / year

01 — About the Squadron

A river club with salt in its veins.

Founded in 1934 by a handful of Chester oystermen, shopkeepers and summer sailors, the Chester Yacht Squadron has grown into one of New England’s most storied small-boat clubs — fiercely Corinthian, resolutely un-fancy, and devoted to the Connecticut River.

What makes us different

Not a yacht club. A squadron.

We call ourselves a squadron because we sail together. Members cruise in company, race boat-for-boat, teach each other’s kids to sail, and stand watch for each other in a blow. The burgee is maroon with a white Chester bell — flown with pride from Long Island Sound to Penobscot Bay.

1934 — The Founding
Seven boats rafted off the Chester ferry landing. Charter signed at the Old Chester Inn. Dues: $5 and a case of varnish.

1952 — The Clubhouse
Cedar-shake clubhouse built by members on pilings. Still our porch, still our sunset.

1978 — Junior Program
First fleet of Blue Jays. Today 140 juniors sail Optis, 420s and RS Quests each summer.

Today — River Stewards
Oyster restoration, river clean-ups, and free community sails every September.

100%
Volunteer race committee. No paid pros — just neighbors with flags and horns.

Launch 7am–9pm
Daily launch service in season, moorings to 45 ft, kayak racks & showers.

Open Porch
Friday chowder, Sunday colors, live folk on the deck. Guests welcome with members.

02 — River Heritage

The Connecticut River is our racetrack.

Seven miles from the Sound, Chester sits where the river narrows, the current quickens, and the evening sea breeze fills in like clockwork. Shifty, tidal, tactical — the perfect classroom for sailors.

Tide & Current

2.5 kt ebb, oyster bars, and a lee-bow effect off Selden Neck. Local knowledge wins. We teach it free every spring in our River Tactics nights.

Gaffers & Classics

Home to the largest fleet of Herreshoffs on the river. Wooden Boat Parade each August — varnish gleaming, topsails cracking.

Stewardship

10,000 oysters planted yearly, pump-out boat, and a leave-no-wake ethic. The river gives us everything; we give back.

03 — Fleet & Facilities

Moorings, launches & a porch for storms.

On the water

120 moorings • 3 launches • Sail loft

Deep-water moorings to 45 ft, inspected annually
Shields 30, Ideal 18, J/70 and PHRF fleets
Kayak, paddleboard & sailing dinghy racks
Fuel dock, ice, pump-out, and rigging bench
Winter storage & heated workshop co-op

Ashore

Clubhouse, galley & junior dock

Screened porch with river view, library & burgee wall
Galley open Thu–Sun, famous chowder & lobster rolls
Showers, laundry, chart room with free Wi-Fi
Junior dock with 24 Optis, 12 420s, safety RIBs
Guest moorings — first night free for visiting clubs

Plan a Visit →

04 — Racing

Wednesday nights. Saturday cups. Lifelong rivalries.

From white sails to spinnakers, everyone starts together and everyone eats together after. Pick your fleet — we’ll find you a crew or a boat.

Series	When	Fleet	Note
Wednesday Night Series	May–Sep, 18:00	PHRF / JAM / One-Design	68 boats, cookout after
Commodore’s Cup	July 18–19	All + Classics	Regatta + clambake
Selden Neck Race	August 9	Distance 14 nm	Around the island, picnic finish
Frostbite Sundays	Oct–Nov	Ideal 18	Drysuits, hot cider, bragging rights

New to racing?

Crew bank every Tuesday. Show up with deck shoes and gloves — we’ll put you on a boat. No experience needed, no dues to try.

JOIN CREW BANK →

One-Design

Shields Fleet #1 on the river. Tight racing, strict Corinthian rules, boats available for charter to members.

SEE FLEET →

Junior Race Team

Opti Green to 420 Gold. Travels to Larchmont, Newport and Fishers Island. Coaching by college All-Americans.

MEET COACHES →

05 — Membership

Come for the sailing. Stay for the people.

No gate, no blazer required. Just a love of the river and a willingness to lend a hand on work day. Three tiers, one porch.

Full Squadron — $1,450/yr

Mooring rights, launch service, racing, cruising, guest privileges, winter storage discount.

Voting + committee eligibility
2 guest cards + reciprocal clubs
Free junior sailing (1 child)

Apply Now →

Under 35

Young Mariner — $650/yr

Same water, lighter dues. Crew bank priority, Ideal 18 access, mentorship pairing.

All racing + social
Boat-share co-op
Free River Tactics course

Apply Now →

Social

Porch Member — $380/yr

For landlubbers who love sunsets. Galley, events, lectures, community sails.

Friday chowder + concerts
2 guest mooring nights
Kayak rack included

Apply Now →

07 — Gallery

Golden hour on the moorings.

08 — Visit

Find us at the end of the dock.

12 Marina Road, Chester, CT 06412 • Launch channel 68 • Low tide 4 ft at the breakwater. First guest mooring night free. Galley Thu–Sun 12–9. Colors Sunday 18:00 — all hands on the porch.

From I-95: Exit 69, follow Route 148 to the river
By water: 41°24.2′N 72°26.6′W, mind the ebb off the point
Call the dockhouse on arrival — we’ll catch your lines

Request Invitation →Our Story

Do I need a boat to join?

No. A third of our members crew, share boats, or sail club Ideal 18s and J/70s. The crew bank will have you racing in a week.

Can visiting yachts stop?

Yes — two guest moorings, first night free, launch service included. Hail us on 68 or just round the breakwater and look for the maroon burgee.

What about kids?

Junior sailing ages 8–17, no boat or experience needed. Scholarships available — no child turned away for dues.

Chester Yacht Squadron

A river club with salt in its veins.

Not a yacht club. A squadron.

The Connecticut River is our racetrack.

Tide & Current

Gaffers & Classics

Stewardship

Moorings, launches & a porch for storms.

120 moorings • 3 launches • Sail loft

Clubhouse, galley & junior dock

Wednesday nights. Saturday cups. Lifelong rivalries.

New to racing?

One-Design

Junior Race Team

Come for the sailing. Stay for the people.

Full Squadron — $1,450/yr

Young Mariner — $650/yr

Porch Member — $380/yr

News from the dock & the race course.

Iptv 4k Portugal

Golden hour on the moorings.

Find us at the end of the dock.