Is a Membership at the Bass River Yacht Club Worth Your While?

There are private clubs all over Cape Cod, each of which extends unique opportunities to its members.

Some clubs feature activities like golf, tennis, and swimming, while others focus on social events and parties.

The Cape's yacht clubs are some of the most popular in the region because they offer sailing lessons, access to regattas, and a social element that can make your transition to living on Cape Cod far easier.

The Bass River Yacht Club in South Yarmouth is one of the best-located private organizations on the Cape because of the access it provides to Nantucket Sound. The club’s location also makes it easy to participate in activities on the Bass River.

Here's some information on the Bass River Yacht Club, so you can decide if a membership is worth it for you and your family.

Adult Activities

First and foremost, the Bass River Yacht Club focuses on the sport of sailing through its Adult Social Sailing Program. Once you're a club member, this program provides you with sailing lessons while encouraging more seasoned sailors to share their experiences with you. You can learn on vessels like Lasers, Beetle Cats, Wianno Seniors, and others, depending on availability.

The Adult Social Sailing Program starts every Wednesday evening at 4:30 in the summer and runs well into the evening because many members stick around for dinner and drinks afterward. Keep in mind that you'll have to bring your own food and beverages because the event is picnic-style.

More experienced sailors who grab a membership at the Bass River Yacht Club can join the racing team. From there, you can participate in club events all summer long, enjoying the sense of camaraderie that goes along with it.

Kids’ Classes

Members can also enroll their kids in a learn to sail program through the club, which provides them with the fundamentals they’ll need to take a boat on the water safely.

These classes include both on-the-water and classroom components, ensuring your children have a solid base in the sport.

You'll need to register for the children's classes ahead of time and note that these classes are open to nonmembers if there's enough space.

Other Events

You don’t have to own a boat, or even be into sailing, to make use of your membership at the Bass River Yacht Club. That’s because social events throughout most of the year make the club the place to be for Cape Cod residents.

Every Monday, there are yoga classes, while Tuesday has a rotating list of activities organized by the Junior Yacht Club. Wednesday features the aforementioned Adult Sailing Program, along with a family sail that sometimes features Beetle Cat races.

There are social events every weekend in the summer, many of which are dinners or cocktail parties. You can expect at least a couple of clambakes, complete with lobster dinner, in the summer, too.

In fact, the club has dinners and socials every month except January and February, so you can take advantage of your membership throughout the year.

There's a small beach on the Bass River, too, where little ones can play in the calm waters and parents can relax in the on-site lawn chairs.

You'll find a snack bar at the club, so you can grab a meal while lounging near the water. There are specials every day of the week, as well, including lobster rolls every Thursday.

In short, the Bass River Yacht Club has a little bit of everything, which is perhaps why it is such a popular destination for Cape Cod locals.

Membership Information

Memberships at the Bass River Yacht Club include access for your entire family. So, if you sign up for a membership, your spouse and any children 25 and under will receive entrance, too.

Details on membership costs are available by contacting membership@bassriveryachtclub.org.

Location and Getting There

The Bass River Yacht Club is located off Pleasant Street in South Yarmouth. It's accessible via Pond Street from Main Street in the heart of the community's downtown.

Only you know for sure if a Bass River Yacht Club membership is a solid investment for your family. However, the abundance of on-water and off-water activities and social events make it worth considering for any new Cape Cod resident.