south shore harbor yacht club

A Brief History of the Club

There were several important years since then - milestones in the growth of the Club:

The past 100 years have seen good times and bad times, in fact, during the Depression, some of the members found it difficult to afford the $5.00 annual dues!

But the Club persevered and grew into one of the largest on Lake Michigan, through hard work and the dedication of it's members. The present Clubhouse was completely built by the members. That same dedication persists today.

So, from a very humble beginning in 1913, SOUTH SHORE YACHT CLUB has grown to a Club that is the envy of many other Clubs on the Great Lakes.

South Shore Yacht Club

2300 e nock street, milwaukee, wi 53207, (414) 481-2331.

[email protected]

Blue-Collar Beginnings

A Story of Ingenuity, Perseverence and Resilience

Avast, thy poor, wondering reader. 'Tis a yarn far, far from a gilded tale of fine gentlemen retiring to the salon before the fire over a Cognac and a cigar to constitute a proper social club for their own pleasure and their own profit.

Nay that wasn't us, then or now. The adventuresome men and women who built South Shore Yacht Club came mainly from trade backgrounds and the hard world of rolling mills, forges, factories and waterfronts. Almost all lived in Bay View, the urban neighborhood to which we have remained deeply connected ever since. All possessed hands-on skills and boundless volunteer spirit. Their character continues to mold the character of SSYC as you will experience it today, more than a century later.

The year was 1913, with Milwaukee expanding explosively. To encourage recreational development of the south-side shoreline, the city fathers built a small protected anchorage between Iron and Nock Streets. A group of local residents seized the opportunity to form a corporation to be known as the South Shore Yacht Club. Their leader was William Barr, SSYC's founding commodore.

For their first clubhouse they rented a house at 342 Beulah Avenue (now South Shore Drive). But after only two years the club was forced out on April 23, 1915. That night Barr summoned everyone to his home to unveil a proposal by member Daniel B. Starkey. In Sturgeon Bay Starkey had located a derelict lumber schooner – the LILY E – which he said could be converted to a floating clubhouse and was available free to anyone willing to take her away.

A crazy scheme? Impossible? Don't ever dare say that to SSYC people.

Using ships as yacht club clubhouses was fairly common back then. Chicago had one, and there were others in major port cities on both coasts. But the LILY E was so decrepit that she had been consigned to the boneyard for scrapping, having been wrecked and patched together again repeatedly. One of her wrecks in fact had happened just down the beach from the site of the new SSYC.

Nonetheless Starkey worked with another key member, tugboat operator Andrew E. Gillen, to have LILY E towed down to Milwaukee and moored inside the new south shore anchorage. There conversion commenced immediately and feverishly, with the men of SSYC doing most of the work. As for the women, they were barred from membership; the 19th Amendment giving them the vote lay five years in the future. These were times that trampled all over their basic human rights. Yet they simply refused to be left out of building the future South Shore Yacht Club.

And so In August 1915 the grandmothers, wives, sisters, daughters and granddaughters formed the SSYC Ladies' Auxiliary. They sold lunch and refreshments on holidays and catered the club's private parties with the proceeds dedicated to furnishing "the ship." Their donations included skylights, cups, saucers, plates, glasses and tablecloths. Today known simply as the SSYC Auxiliary, the organization continues to play a vital supporting part. What was unthinkable then is common now – for members in the auxiliary to also be full members of the club with equal rights.

The LILY E project, unfortunately, didn't have all members on board. An unhappy faction split off to form the separate Steel Mills Yacht Club. That adventure lasted only five years, with the two groups reuniting in 1921 as the reconstituted South Shore Yacht Club. 

A Short-Lived Rebirth

Refurbishment of the LILY E was substantially finished by the summer of 1916. But this was to be a short-lived rebirth. The call to arms as America entered World War I so badly strained the club's wallet that the LILY E began to fall into disrepair for lack of maintenance money. The leaky schooner's future became even more uncertain as the city announced plans to create lakeside parkland by landfilling the entire stretch of shoreline where she was moored – including her little anchorage. And then her fire insurance was cancelled.

In the end as always, nature had the last word. Throughout the fall of 1921, nor'east gale upon nor'east gale battered the floating clubhouse. Driven ashore, seams opened, she settled on the bottom and worked into the sand. It was the final, fatal wreck of the LILY E. Discussions over disposal of the remains consumed the winter and following spring. It became clear that entombment was the best option. On a still, cloudy day in midsummer 1922, a dozen mournful members wended their way to the site, doused the wrecked ship with oil and watched her burn down to embers. Her bones became part of the new parkland, buried beneath what is now the club parking lot. Our front gate stands immediately above the final resting spot of her bow.

The demise of the LILY E began a period of itinerant, uncertain existance for SSYC. For awhile it used the old Steel Mills Yacht Club clubhouse. When that was razed by the owner for redevelopment, a welded steel barge moored at the foot of Nock Street became the club's home. The Depression years took their terrible toll, with some members unable to pay the annual $5 dues. And yet it was during those dark days that the foundation for the modern club was built.

The pivotal year 1938 saw construction of the first true clubhouse on land reclaimed from waters which had years earlier floated the LILY E. This structure would go on to be updated many times, but look closely today and you still will see its ghostly outlines. Also in 1938, the famous Queen's Cup® trophy was deeded to South Shore Yacht Club. The club was led during this formative period by legendary commodores like Dr. Jim Blackwood, George Hanson, George Walker and Art Skelding.

More Milestones

1935:   The SSYC Juniors are formed with the goal of opening up sailing to all young people in greater Milwaukee.

1963: The first bank of slips is built. Boating is on the cusp of a revolution thanks to the advent of molded fiberglass production. Cheap to produce and maintain, fiberglass pleasurecraft are now affordable for the masses, and it seems like everybody wants in. Suddenly, everybody also wants in as a member of SSYC. Membership numbers boom.

1988: SSYC celebrates 75 years of service. It also marks the end of the all-male club. Women can now join and are accorded full, equal rights.

1996: Helen "Cookie" Mueller becomes the first woman elected commodore.

2006: The clubhouse undergoes a major expansion and renovation. It's part of the resolution of a longstanding dispute over who owns the property. SSYC concedes ownership to Milwaukee County and signs a long-term lease agreement. This same year, the SSYC Juniors Organization dedicates its first permanent-structure clubhouse.

2012: The Queen's Cup® marks its 75th sailing.

2013: South Shore Yacht Club celebrates 100 years. Starting from the slippery decks of a derelict schooner, the organization has weathered gales, world wars and economic calamity to stand fast as the Great Lakes' harbor of hospitality. 

South Shore Yacht Club

2300 e nock street, milwaukee, wi 53207, (414) 481-2331.

[email protected]

Harbor of Hospitality

Welcome to the biggest, friendliest and most inclusive yacht club on Lake Michigan, bringing together folks from all walks of life. While we have our blue-blazer traditions, no one ever called us stuffy. What you'll find is a more laid-back vibe that invites people to just be themselves, away from the pressures of life in general. We're a busy gathering place year round, unlike typical yacht clubs that go into winter hibernation.

Dues and slip fees are surprisingly affordable, in part because our passionate members help maintain the place. Being a major Great Lakes yacht club, we host an exciting sailing and power boating scene. Yet, a growing segment of members don't even own boats. For them, SSYC is all about fellowship, in the most romantic spot on Milwaukee's lakefront. Smack in the heart of the city's most happening neighborhood.

The Best Experience at a Reasonable Price

What's it like to be a member? It's different for everyone. You can carve out your own experience and pick your context. But we believe one thing is true across the board. Among private clubs in metropolitan Milwaukee, South Shore Yacht Club gives you one of the best experiences for the money.

for Potential Members

By appointment, click here for details, social activities.

The Entertainment Committee hosts various parties, including:

• Kentucky Derby
• Review of the Fleet
• Oktoberfest
• New Year's Eve

and many other, less formal, events throughout the year.

Sailing and Racing

You can learn more about the various racing fleets by clicking here.   And the racing schedule (for all fleets) is available here.

Powerboating

In addition, our power boaters host a number of events, usually on Thursdays as well as many weekends.

Click here for additional information.

Click here to learn more about the Junior program, and here to find out more about the Kaszube Cup regatta.

South Shore Yacht Club

2300 e nock street, milwaukee, wi 53207, (414) 481-2331.

[email protected]

2024 Harbor Closing Notice Read more »

Chicago Harbors

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August 27, 2013, southern shore yacht club.

Harbor of Hospitality

Welcome to the biggest, friendliest and most inclusive yacht club on Lake Michigan, bringing together folks from all walks of life. While we have our blue-blazer traditions, no one ever called us stuffy. What you'll find is a more laid-back vibe that invites people to just be themselves, away from the pressures of life in general. We're a busy gathering place year round, unlike typical yacht clubs that go into winter hibernation.

Dues and slip fees are surprisingly affordable, in part because our passionate members help maintain the place. Being a major Great Lakes yacht club, we host an exciting sailing and power boating scene. Yet, a growing segment of members don't even own boats. For them, SSYC is all about fellowship, in the most romantic spot on Milwaukee's lakefront. Smack in the heart of the city's most happening neighborhood.

The Best Experience at a Reasonable Price

What's it like to be a member? It's different for everyone. You can carve out your own experience and pick your context. But we believe one thing is true across the board. Among private clubs in metropolitan Milwaukee, South Shore Yacht Club gives you one of the best experiences for the money.

for Potential Members

By appointment, click here for details, social activities.

The Entertainment Committee hosts various parties, including:

• Kentucky Derby
• Review of the Fleet
• Oktoberfest
• New Year's Eve

and many other, less formal, events throughout the year.

Sailing and Racing

You can learn more about the various racing fleets by clicking here.   And the racing schedule (for all fleets) is available here.

Powerboating

In addition, our power boaters host a number of events, usually on Thursdays as well as many weekends.

Click here for additional information.

Click here to learn more about the Junior program, and here to find out more about the Kaszube Cup regatta.

South Shore Yacht Club

2300 e nock street, milwaukee, wi 53207, (414) 481-2331.

[email protected]

• Weekly Newsletter

California's Boating & Fishing News

South Shore Championship at Sayville Yacht Club

Club 420, 2022 Season, has Concluded with Two Local Southern California Teams on the Podium

BLUE POINT, NY— After six months, two countries, and 44 individual races at four major events, the Club 420 Association’s

Harbor of Hospitality

Welcome to the biggest, friendliest and most inclusive yacht club on Lake Michigan, bringing together folks from all walks of life. While we have our blue-blazer traditions, no one ever called us stuffy. What you'll find is a more laid-back vibe that invites people to just be themselves, away from the pressures of life in general. We're a busy gathering place year round, unlike typical yacht clubs that go into winter hibernation.

Dues and slip fees are surprisingly affordable, in part because our passionate members help maintain the place. Being a major Great Lakes yacht club, we host an exciting sailing and power boating scene. Yet, a growing segment of members don't even own boats. For them, SSYC is all about fellowship, in the most romantic spot on Milwaukee's lakefront. Smack in the heart of the city's most happening neighborhood.

The Best Experience at a Reasonable Price

What's it like to be a member? It's different for everyone. You can carve out your own experience and pick your context. But we believe one thing is true across the board. Among private clubs in metropolitan Milwaukee, South Shore Yacht Club gives you one of the best experiences for the money.

for Potential Members

By appointment, click here for details, social activities.

The Entertainment Committee hosts various parties, including:

• Kentucky Derby
• Review of the Fleet
• Oktoberfest
• New Year's Eve

and many other, less formal, events throughout the year.

Sailing and Racing

You can learn more about the various racing fleets by clicking here.   And the racing schedule (for all fleets) is available here.

Powerboating

In addition, our power boaters host a number of events, usually on Thursdays as well as many weekends.

Click here for additional information.

Click here to learn more about the Junior program, and here to find out more about the Kaszube Cup regatta.

South Shore Yacht Club

2300 e nock street, milwaukee, wi 53207, (414) 481-2331.

[email protected]

• Members Only
• How to Join

About South Shore Yacht Club

We are known to be the “friendliest” Yacht Club in town! SSYC is one of the oldest yacht clubs in Newport Harbor, founded in 1957 and is a full accredited organization with membership in US Sailing, Association of the Orange Coast Yacht Clubs and Southern California Yachting Association, where it is a senior member with special voting rights. With thousands of former members, SSYC members have held and currently hold, key position in Southern California yachting organizations. Historically and today, yacht clubs oversee sailboat races, cruises and boating related education programs. Any organization whose members are associate members of SSYC enjoy the benefits of being a part of a great historical yacht club, a yacht club which maintains senior status among yacht clubs, and a club that enjoys a stellar reputation as one of the State’s premier yacht clubs.

SSYC offers a fantastic children’s Sailing and Boating program through the Newport Sea Base which is located at 1931 West Coast Hwy, just down the street from the club. Since 1937 this non-profit organization relies on the generosity of charitable donations to its ongoing operations. Newport Sea Base has provided fun and valuable education maritime-based programs to all youth. Year-round, girls and boys learn oceanography, marine biology, environmental science, boating safety, dinghy and keelboat sailing, canoeing, kayaking, motor boating and other aquatic-related subjects.

South Shore Yacht Club

Our Yacht Club offers a full list of benefits that can be seen in the 'How to Join' section. Our calendar is full of social, racing and cruising activities...

Upcoming Events

If you have any questions about South Shore Yacht Club please email us and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

  Call Us: (949) 646-3102

   [email protected]

   1099 Bayside Dr          Newport Beach, CA 92660

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