long beach island yacht club

Yacht club gets ready for competitions

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Having a ball at the Beach Ball

A ferry ride to ho-hum to study marine life, a town press conference over ho-hum.

Blitzen’s Baddies aim for strong finish to 2024 Newport Yacht Club’s racing season

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Challenges confronted the crew of the Blitzen from day one in their inaugural year competing in the Newport Harbor Yacht Club’s racing season. Their halyard broke during the opening day race in May, sending the wind-catching kite propelling their boat from Long Beach Harbor to Newport Pier tumbling into the ocean.

“There was no hesitation between this team,” Blitzen’s owner Brett Scott said. “Everyone grabbed the kite and in 20 seconds it was up and flying again.”

She has been sailing since she was 5. But her first year at the head of a team has taught her a lot about managing schedules, the personalities aboard the boat and finances, she said.

“Whenever something breaks it adds up, so I’m definitely not doing this for the money,” Scott said with a laugh. “Don’t take investment advice from me. But we’ve really bonded as a team, and I think that’s our greatest achievement.”

There were plenty of smirks, side-eye and playful jabs as she and the crew rigged the Blitzen Friday in preparation of Long Point Race week. The three-day race is the last competitive event of the yacht club’s season.

The first leg starts in Newport Harbor and ends at Catalina Island. Boats then sail to the opposite end of the island and back on day two before returning to Newport Harbor on day three.

Blitzen’s Baddies, as the crew refers to themselves on Instagram, are all experienced sailors and were optimistic about finishing strong in their first season as a team. They’ve had some success this summer, including third-, second- and first-place finishes in their class during the three days of Long Beach Racing Week in June.

“We keep getting better,” Scott said.

Crew member Tyler Macdonald said the hardest part about the season has been “dealing with Adam and Spencer,” drawing laughs from Adam Bradley, Spencer Buchanan and the rest of the team aboard the Blitzen on Friday. Teammate Matt Whitfield said the real challenge of each race lies in “the hangover afterwards.” Coincidentally, he said his favorite activity while sailing is when they crack open some beer mid-journey.

There’s no shortage of banter aboard the Blitzen. And the irreverent sense of humor of her crew is half the reason Scoot chose to have them aboard.

She grew up in Reno and traveled to Newport Beach every summer as a child to sail with her family. She fell in love with both the ocean and the tavern-style warmth of the community that welcomed her into the sport.

Her father, Bart Scott, said he wasn’t surprised to see her move to Newport Beach. He’s proud to see her fulfill her lifelong dream of owning a boat and fielding a racing team. And although she has a sense of humor, she runs a tight ship and commands the respect of her crew.

“Once we all come together on what a problem is there’s not a lot of back and forth or arguing,” Scott said. “They all just recognize what we each need to do and get it done.”

After Long Point, Blitzen’s Baddies plan on participating in small casual races while preparing for next season. They hope to compete in the Transpacific Yacht Race from San Pedro to Honolulu next July.

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This Quaint Town in Long Island Is Incredibly Charming—and an SI Swimsuit Favorite

Martha zaytoun | 17 hours ago.

Bellport, New York is a small village located on Bellport Bay in Long Island. Officially incorporated as a village in 1910, the area now boasts a population of about 2,000 people. Despite it’s small size, it is a mighty addition to the charm and cultural pull of Long Island, drawing both long-term residents and visitors alike.

Though today it has garnered somewhat of a reputation for its sweet local shops, delicious restaurants, access to Fire Island and vibrant art scene, it yet maintains the low-key charm that has always made it unique. It remains, to some extent, the hidden gem that it has been since its incorporation.

Driving around the town, you’re sure to encounter kids sailing on the Great South Bay or locals having cocktails on the Bellport Bay Yacht Club porch, all of which is a testament to the town’s historic character and strong sense of community. 

To showcase all of that and more, the SI Swimsuit team has curated a 24-hour itinerary for a visit to Bellport. The following guide features some of our favorite spots, including restaurants, local shops, beaches and more.

If you find yourself in New York City (or elsewhere) and looking for an easy, quick retreat, Bellport (and all it has to offer) is at the top of our list of recommendations.

If you’re making your way to Bellport from New York City, you can catch a train at Penn Station. The ride will take about 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Places to stay

Drop your bags at The Bellport Inn , a relatively new addition to the scene. Founded by husband and wife John and Ivana Newman in 2021, the property boasts stunning grounds, a manicured garden and three distinct rentals: The Main House, The Garden Suite and The Cottage.

Though the inn is new, the property is steeped in history. Dating back to 1889, the property offers both relaxed charm and proximity to all the best of the town’s offerings. It is located in the heart of historic Bellport Village, steps from restaurants, boutiques and the Bellport Marina on the Great South Bay.

Coffee shops, restaurants and bars

Part of Bellport’s charm lies in its delicious fare. Though small, the town is far from lacking in the food department.

After dropping your bags at the inn, head to Bellport General for coffee and a pastry. While there, make sure to check out their wide selection of housewares, clothing and accessories, and books.

Before hitting the beach, stop by the Hog Farm to grab homegrown, fresh ingredients to make the perfect packed lunch. Located in Brookhaven Hamlet (right next to Bellport), the 20-acre farm has been providing the community with over 300 varieties of vegetables, herbs, flowers and fruits since opening in 1996. If you time it right, you might be able to stop into one of their family-friendly events or afternoons of live music.

Once you’ve had your fill of sightseeing—the beach stops and shopping—head to Porters on Lane , a cozy restaurant and bar located in the heart of Bellport, for a late afternoon or early evening drink. Its quaint and beloved porch serves as the perfect setting for cocktail hour.

End the night at Avinos Italian Table , a fine dining establishment with a knack for preparing the best “old-world dishes” from both Northern and Southern Italy. A family business with a friendly staff, Avinos is has a warm, welcoming atmosphere that is sure to impress.

You can’t leave Bellport without dedicating an hour or two to the sweet shops lining its streets. Ranging from floral businesses to clothiers and home good establishments, the stores are baked into the town’s charm.

Looking for a small token to take back home? Head to Good Morning Bellport , a Saturday pop-up flower shop located right outside of Bellport General. Owned and operated by artist Fabian Bernal, the company offers flowers for sale in addition to floral arrangement design for special events.

But if you’re looking to carry a piece of Bellport with you for the long term, TOLA . is a must-stop. Inspired by the beach, the decade-old boutique offers gifts, home decor, jewelry and apparel for adults and children. Operated by Bellport resident Alison Buck and situated right on Main Street, TOLA. is the perfect spot for a unique souvenir.

In the mood to do a little antiquing? Look no further than Copper Beech . In addition to curated home furnishings, art, antiques and collectibles, the storefront has quality pantry items (think spreads, sauces and canned goods) for sale.

After exploring the town, head to the beach for a relaxing afternoon and a refreshing dip in the water. You can take the ferry from the Bellport Marina to Ho Hum Beach , a quaint, pristine stretch of beach located between the Fire Island National Seashore’s Watch Hill and Suffolk County’s Smith Point Park. Accessible only by the ferry or a private boat, the beach is open to all residents in Bellport and their guests.

MARTHA ZAYTOUN

Martha Zaytoun is a writer on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit. Before joining SI Swimsuit in 2023, she worked on the editorial board of the University of Notre Dame’s student magazine and on the editorial team at Chapel Hill, Durham and Chatham Magazines in North Carolina. When not working, Zaytoun loves to watercolor and oil paint, run and water ski. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and a huge Fighting Irish fan.

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• Where to Shop in the The Hamptons, Bellport, and Beyond, According to 6 Local Tastemakers

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Occupation: Senior Editorial Director of Neiman Marcus

Home base: “I have a little cottage in Bellport Village on the south short of Long Island. I’ve been here for about twenty years and was introduced to the community by a colleague of mine from the magazine world. I had been spending a lot of time on the Cape and was happy to discover a place that had a bit of that charm and aesthetic – shingled and clapboard homes, privet hedges, hydrangeas, white picket fences – along with a bay-side locale and ocean beach access. And all just an hour and a half from NYC.”

Favorite shops:

Bellport General

“Bellport has an incredibly special history and has been a long-time home to many creative visionaries, artists, designers, and gallerists who have taken a great interest in the community and our charming street of shop fronts. The renowned set and events designer Stefan Beckman owns and runs a beautifully curated shop, Bellport General, in the mood of a nostalgic sundries shop stocked with a beautiful selection of beach-y sportswear and beauty products, vibrant home goods, fantastic specialized pantry staples, and a great coffee bar that is the start of many locals’ days here.” 

The Storefront

Copper Beech

“Copper Beech is a wonderful emporium of décor and culinary specialties curated by interior designer partners Thomas O’Brien and Dan Fink housed in a historic Vaudeville theater that they unearthed during a renovation. There’s a great selection of prepared foods perfect for a beach picnic, a great array of imported fare for the kitchen, and lovely pieces to brighten the home.”

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Aerin Lauder

Occupation: Founder and Creative Director of AERIN; Style and Design Director of Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv

Home base: “I grew up visiting East Hampton with my family, which is why I chose to live in the area; it has always felt like home to me. However, I enjoy visiting the many towns throughout the east end of Long Island. Each town, whether it is Southampton, Sag Harbor, East Hampton, etc. each has its own unique sensibility and I love exploring the different shops, both old and new.”

AERIN Southampton

“This was the first AERIN store that we opened and continues to be one of my favorites. We offer the best edit that rotates seasonally, featuring home décor, beauty, accessories, and fashion that is curated especially for the destination.”

“I love Doen’s sensibility. They have the most feminine, effortless pieces for every season. Their new shop in Sag Harbor is so well done, from the interior design details to the clothing.”

Loaves and Fishes

“I love casually entertaining at home, and Loaves and Fishes always has the most delicious prepared foods that everyone can enjoy.”

Bridgehampton Florist

“I always have fresh flowers in my home, no matter the season. The Bridgehampton Florist has the most beautiful selection of flowers that are local and in-season.”

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Malcolm Carfrae

Occupation: Founder of Carfrae Consulting

Home base: “I live in the Napeague area of Amagansett – a narrow strip of land between the ocean and the bay. The name ‘Napeague’ comes from the Montaukett language and means “land overflowed by the sea.” We had been in the Springs before and knew the area well. The proximity to the ocean was top of our list for living there. Leaving is the hardest thing.”

Lazy Point Variety

“This is an eclectic concept store, offering clothing, accessories, art, jewelry and home store run by the brilliant Claudja. It is quintessential Amagansett – full of interesting, curated items and no big, mass brands.”

“If I could only ever shop in one interiors store, this would be it. Elizabeth’s eye is discerning and extraordinary. Half of our tabletop is from here, including plates, cutlery, napkins and vases. My go-to for a beautiful house gift.”

Wölffer Estate

“They have a store and a wine stand that sell my favorite product of all time (wine), but also gifts and product collaborations. And you can do a wine tasting while you shop!”

Todd Snyder

“This is my go-to store for menswear. I seem to find everything I need for my wardrobe here, always with Todd’s understated, chic, masculine aesthetic.”

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Sarah Wetenhall

Occupation: President and Owner of The Colony Hotel

Home base: “Escaping the bustle of New York City and retreating to Long Island is something my family and I look forward to every summer . We have been coming to the East End for decades now, and each time we make the trip we are reminded of why we love it out here.  Specifically, Sag Harbor is the slice of paradise that we call home.

“I love Henry Lehr’s smart casualwear for any season. Their cotton blouses are a summer staple and every September I stock up on cashmere sweaters to prepare for fall.”

“My kids love BROdenim. Their sweatshirts with fun location-specific patches and the option to customize your own are a can’t-miss when in Sag Harbor. You feel like you’re wearing something trendy but also one of a kind.”

Sylvester & Co. Modern General

“I adore Sylvester & Co. Modern General for hostess gifts and other eclectic home accessories. They have everything you never knew you needed and then some! (and their ‘Dreamy’ iced coffee is amazing as well).”

“This antique store is a feast for the eyes and provides great inspiration for anyone who loves design and decor. Many of the items in my Sag Harbor home were sourced here – and they also have a location in Palm Beach which is great for those of us who fly south for the winter!”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sarah Wetenhall (@sarahjwetenhall)

Brendan Fallis

Occupation: Founder of Fallis Studios, Content Creator, and DJ

Home base: “ Amagansett NY. We purchased a house here seven years ago. It’s the perfect little vibe for us. Still smaller and understated in comparison to the surrounding towns and has some high-quality offerings that fall more in the IYKYK category.”

“Although they’re known for their roti, the burger is off the charts. Grab one and sit in the square.”

Il Buco Vita

“Located next door to the Il Buco a La Mare restaurant, it’s often overshadowed by its big sister but has a great selection of home goods and the best coffee in town.”

Stuart’s

“Tucked down a hidden driveway, this is the best local fish provider you can find with most of its offerings being freshly caught.”

Balsam Farms

“A new edition to town, but if your wallet needs a cleansing, walk right through that door and get to work. You look good on your way out.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Brendan Fallis (@brendanfallis)

Joey Wölffer

Occupation: Entrepreneur, Chief Brand Officer and Co-Owner of Wölffer Estate Vineyard

Home base: “I’m a native New Yorker, but my family relocated to the Hamptons in 1992. It’s where my parents raised my brother and me, and where I chose to raise my own family and continue our father’s legacy with Wölffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack.

Today, my family and I call Sag Harbor home. I feel incredibly fortunate to live and work in such an amazing place. Summers are hectic and fun, filled with parties, events, long beach days, kids’ activities, and the like, while the rest of the year offers a more relaxed, slower-paced lifestyle. We enjoy the best of all worlds—surrounded by nature, yet immersed in a vibrant community of inspiring people, exceptional art institutions, fantastic restaurants supported by best-in-class farms, and great shopping. It really is a dream!”

Amber Waves Farm

“This farm-meets-market-meets-café in Amagansett is one of my favorite spots to grab a coffee. While there, I love to stock up on fresh produce, beautiful flowers, and a bottle of wine for the weekend. What makes Amber Waves Farm truly special, beyond being a woman-owned and women-run farm, is its inspiring mission to provide educational opportunities in agriculture and nurture the next generation of growers, thoughtful cooks, and conscious eaters of all ages.”

Joey Wölffer in Sag Harbor

“ Clic’s dedicated home décor outpost in East Hampton is my go-to for stylish home accessories. The store’s color-coded displays elevate the shopping experience and always bring me joy!”

Sage and Madison

“This charming shop in Sag Harbor offers a thoughtfully curated selection of gifts and locally-made goods for all the special people in your life.”

Blooming Shells

“I find the most unique pieces at Blooming Shells in Sag Harbor, a store celebrated for its one-of-a-kind shell and shell-inspired goods. From artwork and books to jewelry and clothing, every visit feels like a little treasure hunt. It’s a place the whole family will enjoy!”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joey Wolffer (@joeywolffer)

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Four seasons announces new residences at nassau’s ocean club.

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Ongoing investment in Paradise Island has transformed it into a deeply desirable destination. The ... [+] upcoming Ocean Club Four Seasons Residences aims to raise the bar even higher.

This is a story of Paradise not lost, but created. Created by a Swedish industrialist who sailed on his steam yacht towards a small island in the Bahamas in 1939 as one of the world’s wealthiest men—and also as a refugee of war. Axel Wenner-Gren was the majority owner of Electrolux, pioneers of domestic vacuum cleaners and refrigeration. Personal resources fed his imagination, and the construction on the island’s oceanfront of a paradisial seaside estate began. He named it Shangri-la.

A decade of pleasure (we presume) ensued, until Wenner-Gren sold Shangri-la to his island neighbor, heir to the A&P supermarket fortune, Huntington Hartford II. Pleasure was about to multiply. Known as a playboy and patron of the arts, Hartford II decided to create a top-tier resort to attract the world’s rich and famous. But one thing stood in his way—the island’s name. Hog Island. Hartford persuaded the Bahamian government to rename it Paradise Island, and a grand 52-room hotel opened as the beguiling Ocean Club.

Crystalline waters and white sand: it's clear why Hartford selected Paradise Island to house his ... [+] elite resort.

Construction on the 35-acre property was as much about flowers and sculptures as it was about nails and beams. Gardens were modeled on the palaces of Europe. Hartford imported statues and fountains by neoclassical Italian masters, copies of Petrilli’s “Cupid and Psyche” and Bartolini’s “Reclining Venus.” An arcade composed of 12th-century fragments from two Augustinian and Cistercian cloisters graced a hill overlooking the tiered terraces of the Versailles Gardens that descend to the hotel pool.

In 1962, Hartford’s vision of glamor came to life. The resort’s grand opening, the Bal du Paradis, was attended by a panoply of distinguished guests, including Zsa Zsa Gabor, William Randolph-Hearst, Burl Ives and Benny Goodman. The 18-hole golf course was inaugurated by Gary Player . Word got around, The Beatles came to stay, and The Ocean Club itself gained celebrity status as notable names made it their favorite haunt. Its shimmering coastal grounds have served as the setting for TV shows and films—a recognizable cast member in the 2006 version of the James Bond film Casino Royale.

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Native tropical fauna is artfully combined with the resort's European-inspired gardens.

Recent additions to The Ocean Club’s illustrious legacy include a new Tom Weiskopf-designed golf course and a restaurant from chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. And earlier this year, current operators, The Four Seasons, announced perhaps the most significant development to the resort since its opening—a development of turnkey residences.

Anticipated for 2027, The Ocean Club Four Seasons Residences will see the addition of 67 seaside homes spread across four low-rise buildings. Residences will sit adjacent to the resort and feature a dedicated team providing residents with the same white-glove service that has long defined any Four Seasons hospitality stay. Owners will also have access to the offerings at The Ocean Club. Planned amenities are plush, including spa treatments, a rum-tasting room and an owners-only pool with private cabanas.

Renderings of the upcoming Ocean Club Four Seasons Residences showcase the project's spectacular ... [+] seafront setting.

The Four Seasons announcement could not have come at a better time for the island. According to the Bahaman Ministry of Tourism, nearly 10 million visitors arrived in Nassau and Paradise Island last year, a record high. Arrivals for the first half of 2024 have already surpassed the same period from the year prior.

Steady popularity has spurred, or perhaps is the result of, a wave of development elsewhere on the island. The Atlantis Paradise Island, the area’s largest resort, just completed a $150 million renovation. Extensive upland and marina improvements were recently made to the Hurricane Hole Superyacht Marina for $200 million. Now, with the upcoming Ocean Club Four Seasons Residences, it seems paradise just keeps improving.

For more information on the Ocean Club Four Seasons Residences, contact MAISON Bahamas , a member of Forbes Global Properties , an invitation-only network of top-tier brokerages worldwide and the exclusive real estate partner of Forbes.

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The For-Profit City That Might Come Crashing Down

The dream of Próspera, founded by a U.S. corporation off the coast of Honduras, was to escape government control. The Honduran government wants it gone.

Ricardo González, legal consultant for Honduras Próspera Inc., looking out on the Honduran island of Roatán. Credit... Brian Finke for The New York Times

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By Rachel Corbett

• Aug. 28, 2024

Jorge Colindres, a freshly cologned and shaven lawyer, handed me a hard hat to take the elevator to the 14th floor of what is now the tallest building on the Honduran island of Roatán — nearly twice what the local building code allows. When construction is complete, Duna Residences will house 82 units overlooking a jungle of palm trees, the Caribbean Sea and several other new buildings that the Honduran government considers illegal.

Listen to this article, read by Frankie Corzo

If Próspera were a normal town, Colindres would be considered its mayor; his title here is “technical secretary.” As we looked out over a clearing in the trees in February, he pointed to the small office complex where he works collecting taxes and managing public finances for the city’s 2,000 or so physical residents and e-residents, many of whom have paid a fee for the option of living in Próspera or remotely incorporating a business there. Nearby is a manufacturing plant that is slated to build modular houses along the coast designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. About a mile in the other direction are some of the city’s businesses: a Bitcoin cafe and education center, a genetics clinic, a scuba shop. A delivery service for food and medical supplies will deploy its drones from this rooftop.

There’s not much else to see yet. But the Delaware-based company that founded this experimental town in 2017 has raised $120 million in investments — including from venture-capital funds backed by the Silicon Valley billionaires Peter Thiel, Sam Altman and Marc Andreessen — to transform the territory, about twice the size of Monaco, into the most developed start-up city in the world. Built in a semiautonomous jurisdiction known as a ZEDE (a Spanish acronym for Zone for Employment and Economic Development), Próspera is a private, for-profit city, with its own government that courts foreign investors through low taxes and light regulation. Businesses can choose a regulatory framework from a menu of 36 countries or customize their own.

A California company offers a Montessori education for approximately 60 students. Security is provided by a private firm of armed guards. An arbitration center staffed by three retired Arizona judges handles dispute resolution. (In order to enter the jurisdiction, I was told I needed to sign an “agreement of coexistence” binding myself to 4,202 pages of rules, violations of which would be subject to the jurisdictional authority of the arbitration center.)

Próspera has become particularly well known for the zone’s experimental medical facilities, which run clinical trials unburdened by F.D.A. standards. The week of my visit, Patri Friedman, grandson of the economist Milton Friedman and the founder of a start-up-cities fund that invested in Próspera, had a chip with his Tesla key implanted into his hand. On a previous trip he brushed his teeth with genetically modified bacteria purported to prevent cavities. Another time he was injected with a protein booster intended to make him “stronger and faster,” as he put it at a conference in Roatán that weekend.

“I can tell you when Próspera became most real for me,” Friedman told the audience. “When I sat down to fill out my informed-consent forms that said, like, ‘This agreement is adjudicated under the laws of the Próspera ZEDE; any disputes are arbitrated by the Próspera Arbitration Center.’ Like, you are under a different set of laws.”

There are more than 5,400 of these special economic zones in the world, ranging on a spectrum from free ports for duty-free trading all the way to the special administrative region of Hong Kong. About 1,000 zones have cropped up in just the past decade, including dozens of start-up cities — sometimes called charter cities — most of them in developing nations like Zambia and the Philippines. Some have actually grown into major urban centers, like Shenzhen, which went from a fishing village to one of China’s largest cities, with a G.D.P. of $482 billion, after it was designated a special economic zone in 1980.

Each zone offers a degree of escape from government oversight and taxation, a prospect that has excited libertarian and anarcho-capitalist thinkers at least since Ayn Rand imagined a free-market utopia called Galt’s Gulch in “Atlas Shrugged.” Today, escalating clashes between the government and Big Tech — like the S.E.C.’s regulatory war on crypto, or the Federal Aviation Administration’s repeated investigations into SpaceX — have spurred some Silicon Valley entrepreneurs to seek increasingly splintered-off hubs of sovereignty. And with government dysfunction preventing reforms even in wealthy cities like San Francisco, locked in a decades-long affordable-housing crisis, and New York City, which just lost out on as much as $1 billion when Albany scrapped a 17-years-in-the-making congestion pricing plan that would have funded public transit, it’s not hard to see the appeal of starting from scratch.

In promotional materials, Próspera markets itself to “21st-century pioneers” craving not just laissez-faire policies but also “good times and Caribbean vibes.” Direct flights from Miami and Houston can transport these digital nomads to Roatán in less than three hours. Then, from a chaise longue on the beach, they can register a business with the tap of a button. Although only one residential building has been built so far, a forthcoming eco-condo was during my visit courting buyers seeking “more personal freedom” and less “political drama.” Próspera’s original investment plan projected that by 2030 the city would be home to 38,000 residents, and that foreign direct investment in the country would top $500 million by next year.

But plenty of other people find Próspera’s goal — “building the future of human governance: privately run and for-profit” — unsettling. Critics have described it as a neocolonial state within a state, or an example of corporate monarchy, where yacht-owning C.E.O.s exploit land and labor in a poor country. Keller Easterling, the urbanist and architectural theorist, considers Próspera a city in name only, akin to “say, Mattress City.” Really, she says, the zones are low-tax, deregulated marketplaces.

As we peered over the edge of the tower’s rooftop, I considered the story of a subcontractor who was working at the apartment tower at night two months earlier. The power had gone out, and he walked to the edge of the floor to yell down to his crew to turn on a generator, but took a step too far and fell to his death. If companies choose their own regulatory frameworks, as they do in Próspera, who holds them accountable if they endanger or harm one of their employees?

“Próspera ZEDE has its own set of labor systems,” Colindres said when I asked him about it later. He told me the worker’s family was compensated appropriately — receiving at least as much as was required under Honduran law — but he declined to disclose details. If an independent investigation took place, its findings have not been released to the public. After all, the point of a place like Próspera is that there isn’t really a “public” to speak of.

This lack of transparency is one common criticism of Próspera, and today, it’s unclear whether this experiment can continue. In recent years, vehement opposition from the Honduran government and neighboring communities has imperiled Próspera’s future. Now its fate — and that of the private-cities movement writ large — hangs in the balance of a high-stakes case before an international tribunal.

There are about three dozen charter cities currently operating in the world, according to an estimate from the Adrianople Group, an advisory firm that concentrates on special economic zones. Several others are under development, including the East Solano Plan, run by a real estate corporation that has spent the last seven years buying up $900 million of ranch land in the Bay Area to build a privatized alternative to San Francisco; Praxis, a forthcoming “cryptostate” on the Mediterranean; and the Free Republic of Liberland , a three-square-mile stretch of unclaimed floodplain between Serbia and Croatia. Many of the same ideologically aligned names — Balaji Srinivasan, Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen, Friedman — recur as financial backers; Patrik Schumacher, principal of Zaha Hadid Architects and a critic of public housing, is behind several of their urban (or metaversal) designs.

Srinivasan, the former Coinbase chief technology officer and now an adviser to Pronomos Capital, Friedman’s fund to build start-up cities, argued in his 2022 book “The Network State” that these new business-friendly hubs would soon compete with nation-states and, one day, replace them. “The Network State” was inspired, he said, by the state of Israel. “That country was started by a book,” he tweeted in 2022, referring to Theodor Herzl’s 1896 manifesto, “The Jewish State.” “You can found a tribe,” Srinivasan said on a podcast. “What I’m really calling for is something like tech Zionism — when a community forms online and then gathers in physical space to form a ‘reverse diaspora.’”

The concept might have stayed on the fringes of libertarian and neoreactionary forums had Paul Romer, who would go on to be the chief economist of the World Bank and win the Nobel Prize, not made charter cities the subject of an influential 2009 TED Talk. He projected a photo of students in an African country doing their homework under streetlights, explaining that their government required the electric company to provide power at such low prices that the company decided not to service the homes in their area at all. When the president tried to reform the system, he went on, consumers and business leaders pushed back, and ultimately, nothing changed. Romer argued that charter cities would give developing countries a chance to prosper by ceding uninhabited territory to wealthier nations to develop.

This ruling country would act as a “guarantor” to the host country and write its own laws and regulations, which would attract private companies to invest and build the cities. In turn, jobs, technology and educational opportunities would pour into the host country, which would share in the revenue, too. Locals would stop leaving for richer countries, migrants would come to the zone, a virtuous cycle would take hold and students wouldn’t need to do their homework in the streets. “The city can be built,” Romer said in his talk. “And we can scale this model. We can go do it over and over again.”

Around the same time that Romer was delivering his TED Talk, Honduran soldiers stormed the home of the country’s left-wing president, Manuel Zelaya. They led him outside at gunpoint, still in his pajamas, and put him on a plane to Costa Rica. Zelaya had been planning to hold a public referendum on reforming the Constitution, which his critics saw as an attempt to illegally extend term limits. Shortly after the coup, the military held another election; it put into office the conservative candidate Porfirio Lobo, who lost the previous contest to Zelaya. Several nations, including the United States, questioned the legitimacy of an election staged by leaders of the coup.

President Lobo’s chief of staff, the Harvard-educated lawyer Octavio Sánchez, saw Romer’s TED Talk and thought it was just what Honduras needed to achieve economic prosperity. Sánchez arranged a meeting in Miami among Romer, Lobo and the president of Congress, Juan Orlando Hernández. Lobo told Romer that to do something as significant as he proposed — to create a zone that would replace Honduran laws with those of a wealthier nation — they’d need to amend the Constitution.

Romer visited Tegucigalpa soon after. Honduras, a country where over half the population lived in poverty and 75,000 people left each year for better opportunities in the United States, was an ideal testing ground for his vision. When Romer returned home, he recorded a follow-up TED Talk titled “The World’s First Charter City?”

A tumultuous three years followed: Romer and the oversight board he helped set up were sidelined, and the Honduran Supreme Court initially rejected the constitutional amendment. But Congress, led by Hernández, dismissed the four opposing judges in what some critics called a “technical coup.” (Hernández, who succeeded Lobo as president of Honduras, continued to have a career marred by corruption and was recently sentenced to 45 years in a United States federal prison for drug trafficking.) In 2013, Honduras amended its constitution to allow for the creation of autonomous zones, following China and the United Arab Emirates.

I met Colindres outside his office on a “Wellness Wednesday.” Catering staff had set out fruit and granola bars on the counter of an open-air cafeteria at the city’s headquarters, a small complex of three interconnected buildings on a manicured tropical lawn. A guard in black combat fatigues with a double-barreled rifle paced near a porch swing. Colindres, who is 31, peeled an orange as he began to tell me about his family’s history in Honduras. One of his grandfathers fought in the Honduran armed forces against communism during the Cold War. Later, his uncle, the president of the chamber of commerce, was taken hostage by Communist guerrillas. Colindres’s hero is the family’s capitalist success story: his great-grandfather Constantino Marinakys, who immigrated from Greece after World War I and built a fortune, in part by opening grocery stores during the country’s banana boom in the early 20th century.

In the late 1800s, Honduras owed immense debt to Britain, and began offering land and financial incentives to attract foreign investment. Eventually, U.S. banana companies, like Cuyamel and United Fruit (now Chiquita), built railroads, port infrastructure and other projects in exchange for land. By the beginning of World War I, O. Henry had named the country the original “banana republic.” The six largest banana companies owned more than a million acres of fertile land on Honduras’s northern coast, and in 1911, one orchestrated a coup to install a puppet government.

Where many see a story about exploitation, Colindres describes one of private-sector productivity. As workers migrated to the coasts to work, the plantations grew into small cities with their own housing, schools, hospitals and stores. “Back then there was very poor infrastructure, and so when the banana companies came everything had to be done,” Colindres said. “No roads, no electricity — all of what we consider public infrastructure in Honduras, it was put in by the private sector.”

Colindres’s political views started hardening as a teenager living through the coup of 2009. He went to law school and came to the conclusion that he’d have to leave Honduras for the United States if he wanted to have a fulfilling career. But then came news that the ZEDE constitutional amendment had passed. Honduran law preserved national authority over a few fields, like criminal law, but granted the zones broad freedom to establish their own courts, fiscal policies and labor and environmental protections.

In 2014, as required by the amendment, Juan Orlando Hernández appointed a group to oversee the ZEDEs. Early members included a granddaughter of the final Austrian emperor and a band of Republicans from the U.S. that included the former Reagan speechwriter Mark Klugmann, the anti-tax activist Grover Norquist, the former Reagan aide Faith Whittlesey, the libertarian economist Mark Skousen and Ronald Reagan’s son Michael Reagan. A couple of years later, Honduran lawmakers heard about an Arizona entrepreneur named Erick Brimen who was lobbying Washington to make creative use of the U.S. Constitution’s Compact Clause to pass a bill establishing low-regulation “prosperity zones.” Brimen was having a hard time implementing his vision in the States, so took the Hondurans up on their offer to develop a zone like the one Romer imagined, but run by a private company rather than by another nation.

Brimen, who grew up in a wealthy family in Venezuela until he moved to the United States at 12, met Gabriel Delgado, a Guatemalan entrepreneur who had already identified a couple of plots of land in Roatán as potential sites. In 2017, they decided to work together, with Brimen acting as chief executive and Delgado heading up fund-raising and real estate development. They secured early investments from Friedman’s Pronomos Capital and an unnamed investor “behind” SpaceX. But their success in establishing the first ZEDE, they said, is due in part to keeping their ideological beliefs quiet. “Instead of saying we are trying to create a libertopia,” Brimen told the libertarian magazine Reason in 2021, “we shifted the conversation away from advancing a political ideology toward, yes, liberty, but as a tool to development.” After a brainstorming session, Brimen came up with a name that might accomplish that: Honduras Próspera, Inc.

When Colindres heard the news that the project had broken ground, he reached out to Brimen, who expressed interest in his 2019 paper “Make Honduras Great: Charter Cities as a Development Program.”

“He said, ‘I also want to make Honduras great,’” Colindres recalled. He promised Brimen his support. “Let me bring all my contacts and all my clients and everybody to join,” he told him. “And then that’s what I did.”

Próspera has now incorporated 222 businesses into the ZEDE, including an outsource staffing agency and scores of experimental medical centers. Minicircle, founded by two young biohackers, offers a product that they say might cure Alzheimer’s and suppress all tumors; Symbiont Labs manufactures implants that turn people into “self-sovereign cyborgs”; the Bay Islands Fitness and Transformation Center offers affordable semaglutide injections; and the Global Alliance for Regenerative Medicine provides stem-cell treatments. (A man sitting next to me on my flight from Roatán showed me severe burns on his arms that he’d come to treat at the clinic.) While I was visiting, a “pop-up city” called Vitalia used a dome it had erected on Próspera’s grounds to host events for biotech innovators who want to “make death optional.”

Much of the activity at Próspera takes place not in the area where the Duna tower stands and Colindres works but a 15-minute drive away at Pristine Bay, a green, gated golf community and beach club. Starting in 2021, Próspera began incorporating parts of the resort into the zone. Down by the tennis courts, I saw Vitalia’s white-tented dome, though organizers did not allow me to attend any of its events. Reason wouldn’t grant me access to a conference it was hosting at the hotel either. So I hung out by the pool, and down the street at AmityAge Academy, an old restaurant that a Slovakian math tutor had turned into a Bitcoin education center and cafe.

That’s where I met Zussel Ramos, at the time AmityAge’s 25-year-old lead educator, next to a bookshelf stocked with Ludwig von Mises’s “Bureaucracy,” Ayn Rand’s “Capitalism” and Jordan Peterson’s “12 Rules for Life .” I bought a coffee — the barista let me pay with “fiat” paper money on a one-time basis — and then Ramos took me on a tour. On the walls downstairs hung a Bitcoin mining machine, a portrait of Guy Fawkes astride a bucking green stallion and a map of Roatán with colored squares of paper marking the dozens of businesses that now accept Bitcoin, largely thanks to Ramos’s door-to-door persistence.

Ramos told me she couldn’t wait to move to Próspera — probably to the Duna tower. Then she’d apply for physical residency, giving her the right to vote for ZEDE leadership — one vote for every square meter of land she owned, under the current rules. For now, very few people actually live full time in the ZEDE, which is a checkerboard of territory across both the island and the mainland. It started out with 58 acres in Roatán, but since a ZEDE’s territory doesn’t need to be contiguous, it has added 385 acres in La Ceiba on the mainland, followed by another 239 acres of Roatán’s Port Royal and then 322 acres of Pristine Bay.

Just how much land the Próspera ZEDE plans to absorb is the source of much of the conflict that now vexes the project. Early promotional images sparked outrage for depicting the north coast of the island dotted with skyscrapers, futuristic houses and yacht-filled ports, rather than the wooden shacks and jungle that exist there now. One image that forecast the growth of Próspera from a village to a town to a city made it look as if the project had “started engulfing the areas around it,” says Ricardo González, a legal consultant for Honduras Próspera Inc. “It was taken literally” by the people who lived in those areas, he says, but it shouldn’t have been. “Everything is voluntary, we cannot just pick up your land and say now it’s part of us.”

But it is also true that the ZEDE law allows the Honduran government to compel landowners to sell to a zone, so long as they are paid fair market value for the property. Brimen insists that Próspera would never take advantage of that provision, because it violates the sanctity of private-property rights, and that the company has self-imposed “the highest possible limitations on this in its charter.” Nevertheless, the provision’s existence set in motion a spectacular series of events as Próspera began incorporating land.

The Duna tower stands next to a fork in the road, with one path leading to the Próspera gate, manned by guards carrying guns and contracts, and the other winding down a dirt path to a small fishing village called Crawfish Rock. Roatán, thanks to its thriving tourism industry, generates more money than many parts of Honduras, but Crawfish Rock — home to a Black, English-speaking community (Roatán is a former British colony) — is an exception. Turquoise and peach houses sag and lean on stilts, their roofs patchworks of corrugated-metal scraps.

According to Vanessa Cárdenas, vice president of Crawfish Rock’s patronato , or community board, it was 2019 when the first Próspera representatives came to the community, informing them of plans to develop a nearby resort. “It’s quite normal for us to have this kind of restricted, gated community popping up,” Cárdenas said. The island is full of them. They also wanted to do community development, they told her, and offered small-business loans to Crawfish Rock residents. But then odd things started to happen, Cárdenas said.

Próspera stationed armed guards on the road. Then Brimen tried to form a new patronato that Cárdenas said was stacked with Próspera employees. (A Próspera representative disputed this.) In 2020, Cárdenas received a voice message from someone in the community that said, “This project is not a normal project.” So she and Luisa Connor, the president of the patronato, began to research Próspera. They learned about the ZEDE law and about the involuntary sale of land. “By no means did they explain to us” what a ZEDE was, Connor says. “They came as a normal resort they were going to build next to the community.” (A Próspera representative disputed this, saying the company held multiple town halls describing the project to residents.)

Distrust spread among members of the community, who felt they had been lied to about Próspera’s intentions. In September 2020, Brimen tried to address the conflict by organizing a meeting in Crawfish Rock. Connor wrote a letter asking him to postpone it, because Covid was spreading rapidly on the island and the hospitals there were full. Brimen, who says he was invited by village elders, held the meeting that evening anyway, accompanied by guards. He stood on a second-story porch reading into a microphone the parts of the ZEDE law pertaining to land expropriation. “That’s when all hell broke loose,” Cárdenas said. People rushed up the steps, some shouting that he should leave, others to let him speak; shoves were exchanged, and Brimen’s MacBook tumbled off the railing. He yelled at people to back up and stop violating his right to social distance. Trucks of police officers arrived.

Brimen later said that, before he was interrupted, he was trying to point out the ways the law restricts, rather than promotes, the forced sale of land. But a video of the encounter circulated throughout Honduran media, and the fear of expropriation became a galvanizing message used by anti-ZEDE groups on the mainland and the other Bay Islands. From that point on, the narrative changed from “ZEDEs are bad because they are violating constitutional rights,” González says, to the more forceful “ZEDEs are bad because they’re going to take your land.”

A national protest movement was born, and prominent politicians turned against the project. In 2021, Xiomara Castro, the wife of the ousted President Zelaya, made repealing the ZEDEs a central promise of her election campaign. The zones became associated with the corruption of Juan Orlando Hernández, the president at the time, whom many Hondurans now revile. Castro won with a clear majority. In 2022, Honduras’s Congress unanimously repealed the law and passed a constitutional reform that would abolish the three existing ZEDEs. “Never again will we carry the stereotype of the banana republic,” Castro declared to the U.N. General Assembly a few months later.

There was one problem, however: Congress, mired in competing legislative priorities, failed to ratify the reform. Furthermore, the original ZEDE law guaranteed the companies 50 years of legal stability — no matter what changes were made after a zone was founded. The net result is that Próspera is in a state of legal limbo.

Delgado seemed bewildered by the staunch opposition to Próspera. How had his dream to enrich Central America become a political piñata? “We’re not crooks,” he told me. “We’re just guys trying to get something good done.” He said he was inspired to help found Próspera after reading Machiavelli’s writings on the impossibility of reforming a system from within. “The idea is that if you go to a place where nothing, nobody has a stake, there’s no entrenched interests, you can make really deep reforms that won’t affect any of the players,” he said. Years of dysfunction and corruption would be replaced by radically simple governance. A free market and political stability would attract top innovators and investors from the West while empowering Latin America’s legions of microentrepreneurs — the guys on the side of the road selling oranges or “a chicken leg in a bag,” Delgado said — to grow real businesses.

Crawfish Rock, home to a Black, English-speaking community. Conflict with Próspera over the ZEDE law sparked a nationwide protest movement.

But in seeking to sidestep politics, Próspera instead ran straight into them. The endemic corruption in Honduras, the sort of thing Próspera was supposed to combat, was also what enabled its creation and has plagued its pursuit of legitimacy. For Hondurans, the prospect of American capitalists promising prosperity may instead resurrect fears of exploitation and dispossession. Despite Próspera’s fantasy of exit, it uses roads, hospitals and ports built by the municipal government, and it shares an economy and ecosystem with its neighbors in Crawfish Rock. The national government that granted its right to exist, meanwhile, may still take it away.

In 2022, the government began stripping Próspera of some of the special privileges it was granted under its predecessors. It halted the company’s tax-exempt customs service, allowing the zone to continue to import goods only if it paid the same duties as the rest of Honduras. Colindres said that the National Banking and Insurance Commission also pressured Honduran banks to shut down accounts of Próspera businesses and bar lenders from financing its projects. Duna Residences, for example, “was going to be financed by one of the biggest banks of Honduras,” Colindres said. But once President Castro came to power, the financing evaporated and the building was delayed. “The third tower would already be under construction if they hadn’t done that.”

At the end of 2022, Honduras Próspera Inc. and its affiliates filed an astronomical $10.775 billion lawsuit against the state in a World Bank tribunal called the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). Próspera is thought to have a good chance of prevailing in part, critics say, because the court is biased toward corporations, which can bring suit against nation-states but cannot be sued by them.

A win for Próspera could demonstrate sufficient legal stability to attract investors and set the precedent for new cities around the world. If it loses, start-up city founders will need to look for new legal strategies. Colindres said that his mission now is to try to persuade the government, “whether this government or the next government,” to stop “harassing” the banks and let them finance Próspera projects. That could be the government of Juan Orlando Hernández’s wife, Ana García de Hernández, who would soon announce her candidacy for the 2025 presidential election.

With building delayed, the view from the Duna tower’s rooftop looked like little more than a construction zone — a patch of dirt littered with piles of two-by-fours and wooden pallets. There were as many sheds as finished buildings. Still, some think Próspera may already be too far along to fail: There is simply too much capital already invested, too many commitments made, to have them torn apart in Tegucigalpa. The government is making “emotional arguments more than anything else,” González told me. “If they had the legal right to do what they’re trying to accomplish, they’d have already done it.”

Read by Frankie Corzo

Narration produced by Tanya Pérez and Krish Seenivasan

Engineered by Anj Vancura

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Established in 1929, Long Beach Yacht Club is recognized as a leading club in the International yachting community for its commitment to excellence in yacht racing and welcoming the world to Long Beach. Now in its 59th year, the Club's signature event, Congressional Cup, the premier and longest running event of its kind in North America is recognized worldwide and brings in sailors and guest from around the world. in addition to hosting numerous local, national, and international yachting events, the Club's member families enjoy year-round calendar of social, yachting and junior activities at its beautiful clubhouse on the shore of Alamitos Bay. We welcome our local community and visitors to take advantage of our banquet and sailing facilities.

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Long Beach Yacht Club

Long Beach Yacht Club, founded in 1929, gained international recognition through the Congressional Cup sailboat regatta. It originated with plans for a powerboat race between Long Beach and San Francisco. The race was to coincide with the San Francisco Motor Boat Show, promoting both the show and Northern California’s boating industry. Daniel M. Callis, Sr., an active Long Beach architect, played a pivotal role in establishing the club. The inaugural race covered 460 miles, from Long Beach to San Francisco, using a handicapping system. The winner received a trophy donated by Sir Thomas Lipton. Despite initial challenges, the success of this race led to the formation of the Long Beach Yacht Club.

Stories from Long Beach Yacht Club

In 1929, a group met at St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, in an effort to secure support for a real Long Beach Yacht Club. Jonah Jones, Jr. convened a subsequent meeting with Long Beach businessmen interested in yachting, ultimately agreeing to form a real Long Beach Yacht Club. Richard Loynes, a renowned speedboat racer, became the first commodore. Despite the stock market crash, the new LBYC swiftly attracted 100 members, each paying $5 per year (kids paid $2.50). Within weeks, they organized a speedboat race from Long Beach to Avalon, and by February 1930, membership had grown to around 150.

In 1929, D. M. Callis became commodore at the Pacific Coast Club, attended by 125 people. Notable guests included commodores from the Catalina Island Yacht Club, California Yacht Club, and Los Angeles Yacht Club. The focus was on creating a yacht harbor in Long Beach and constructing a clubhouse. Discussions with Long Beach and Los Angeles County officials led to plans for the clubhouse once a harbor location was confirmed.

Using the Pacific Coast Club as its headquarters, discussions began with the City of Long Beach and County of Los Angeles regarding development in Alamitos Bay and plans were formulated to begin construction. Despite their efforts, Long Beach and Seal Beach agreed to construct a bridge over the San Gabriel River mouth in 1931, connecting Seal Beach to Ocean Boulevard in Long Beach. Unfortunately, this bridge restricted access for any vessels 14 feet or more in overhead clearance, hindering Alamitos Bay’s development as a significant yacht harbor for two decades.

In 1936, the first LBYC clubhouse was approved, sparking fundraising efforts and member contributions. By the start of the 1937 regatta season, the facilities were fully paid for. Located west of downtown Long Beach, the clubhouse stood a 2,000-foot stroll along a boardwalk from the shore. It featured moorings, a Star Boat dock and an anchorage area. While no boardwalk extended beyond the clubhouse, local lore suggests that young ladies enjoyed refreshing skinny dips in the secluded L-shaped end of the mooring field.

As the war years approached, LBYC faced changes. Records differ on whether the club sold or donated its first clubhouse to the Sea Scouts in 1939. However, newspaper articles indicate that the facility remained with the club until at least 1941. Despite losing the clubhouse, yachting and social activities persisted amidst the global events unfolding. World War II significantly impacted club members’ lives and boating activities. During this time, Alamitos Bay emerged as a marina and eventually became home to the Long Beach Yacht Club’s second clubhouse.

Prominent individuals associated with LBYC had been involved in Alamitos Bay’s development since the 1920s. However, the second clubhouse could only be built after protecting the bay from floods and constructing the marina. Members’ determined efforts secured an initial lease for the clubhouse site in March 1959. The lease expanded in January 1960, encompassing the clubhouse building and access to Basin 4 slips. By September 1969, the lease extended to 2020. On June 1, 1960, groundbreaking for the current clubhouse on Appian Way took place, with dedication ceremonies held on December 16, 1960. LBYC was now poised for rapid expansion and global recognition within the yachting community.

LBYC thrives on the constant activities provided for the members that include racing, yachting, fishing, diving, swimming, social programs and youth activities. The club actively participates in community outreach using Catalina 37s. Notable activities include the Marcedes Lewis Regatta, where six Boys and Girls Club teams compete. High school students from Jordan High Schools sail in The Panthers at Sea, and Boys and Girls Club kids race in the Wet Wednesday events. The Patriot Regatta draws participation from all five branches of the armed forces—Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy. Youth programming is a highlight, offering sailing and swimming lessons for little ones, swim team meets, and competitive regattas. As LBYC looks ahead, its leaders balance tradition and innovation to serve members.

David Stotler

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Long Beach Yacht Club’s Catalina Island Series nears completion

Back half of 2019 series will play out in late September and early October.

LONG BEACH—Sailors are invited to participate in the latest iteration of Long Beach Yacht Club’s Catalina Island Series, as the Isthmus Cove race takes place Sept. 20-22.

The three-day race is included to anyone who registered at the beginning of the series or during any of the six regattas between May 18 and July 14. The Isthmus Cove race will start in Long Beach, head to the Isthmus, continue to Catalina Island’s West End and return to Long Beach. Warning signals are at 11 a.m. on Sept. 20 (Long Beach to Isthmus), 1 p.m. on Sept. 21 (Isthmus to West End) and noon on Sept. 22 (West End to Long Beach).

Sailing Instructions for the Isthmus Cove race will be available one week prior to the regatta. Included in the Sailing Instructions: the course for Isthmus Cove.

Those competing in individual races will compete for take home trophies. There will also be a Catalina Island Series perpetual trophy, where winners of individual classes and overall categories will have their names engraved.

Docking is available for this race at Long Beach YC Long Dock; call 562-598-9401, ext. 113, or email [email protected].

Race Director Jess Gerry can also be contacted at 562-598-9401 or [email protected]. David Weil serves as the series chair; he can be contacted at 562-233-7146 or [email protected].

Long Beach YC’s Catalina Island Series concludes in October, with sailors navigating to Long Point and back on Oct. 5 and 6. The series is open to any boat with a valid 2019 PHRF (Southern California) rating. Also eligible to race in the series are ORCA and XS Racing rated boats (with valid certificates).

Those who have not yet registered for the series but still want to participate must register for the Isthmus Cove or Long Point race by 4 p.m. on the Friday before the scheduled regatta.

The yacht club is located at 5201 Appian Way in Long Beach. Visit www.lbyc.org for club and event information.

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Sailing Club, Sailboat Rentals & Sailing Lessons

Closure of long beach facility.

The marina we operate out of in Long Beach has not been able to negotiate a lease extension with the Hotel Maya and the hotel has decided to close the marina. We are therefore forced to close our Long Beach club and are in the process of moving the fleet back to San Diego. There are unfortunately no other marinas in the Long Beach/Los Angeles harbor that can accommodate the fleet along with an office to run the operation. We regret having to close the Long Beach club but at this point we have no other viable options. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to call us at 619-291-7245 or email at [email protected]

Harbor Yacht Clubs offers sailboat rentals, US SAILING instruction, learn to sail packages, private and group sailing lessons, skippered and bareboat sailing charters, catamaran rentals, and catamaran instruction in our Southern California location:

Harbor Island Yacht Club in San Diego

For over 35 years, we have catered to sailors of all levels of experience with our award-winning sailing school and the largest, newest fleet of sailboats available in the area. We carry over 60 of the most popular sailboat models from Hunter, Beneteau, Catalina, and Lagoon. We teach the highest standard of sailing instruction at our sailing school through the internationally recognized US SAILING Keelboat Certification System. Whatever your sailing needs and goals may be, you can be sure that you will enjoy the best sailing experience possible at Harbor Yacht Clubs.

SAILING CLUB

Membership at Harbor Yacht Clubs entitles you to discounted rates on all of our sailboat rentals as well as our US Sailing classes.

LEARN TO SAIL

HYC provides the national standard for quality sailing instruction through the US SAILING Keelboat Certification System. Learn to sail anything  up to 45′. Private & Group Classes are available.

BAREBOAT  CHARTERS

Already have sailing experience? Bareboat charters are available to the public as well as to our club members.  Upon completion of our  qualification process, you are ready to set sail.

CRUISING CATAMARAN

Our Lagoon 380 catamaran “In the Shelter” is perfect for day sailing in the San Diego area with a large group or a weekend excursion to Catalina Island.

San Diego Location

Harbor island yacht club.

1880 Harbor Island Drive San Diego, CA 92101 Local Phone: (619) 291-7245

• Sailing Club
• Membership Fees
• Referral Program

INSTRUCTION

• Basic Keelboat (Beginner)
• Basic Cruising (Intermediate)
• Bareboat Cruising (Advanced)
• 3 Day Liveaboard – Intermediate
• 3 Day Liveaboard – Advanced
• 5 Day Liveaboard (Beginner & Intermediate)
• 5 Day Liveaboard (Intermediate / Advanced)
• San Diego Fleet Rates
• San Diego Fleet Specs
• Multi-Day Pricing
• Submit Sailing Resume

LONG ISLAND YACHT CLUB

WELCOME ABOARD

Family, fun and tradition.

The Long Island Yacht Club, located in the heart of Babylon Village, is the perfect place for families to gather and enjoy the great outdoors. Our club offers various amenities, including a swimming pool, a 74-boat slip marina, a private beach, a sports court, and a day camp. You can also enjoy breathtaking views of the Great South Bay. Our commitment is to provide the best experience for our members and their families, and our staff is always available to assist in making your time with us as enjoyable as possible.

Long Island Yacht Club has hosted exclusive events and provided beautiful facilities for members and non-members. Over the years, this Yacht Club has become a home away from home for many, offering peace and serenity away from the busy hustle and bustle of everyday life. Come and experience everything the Long Island Yacht Club has to offer. 

Anchor Camp and Youth Activities

At the Long Island Yacht Club, there is something for everyone. Whether you’re looking to learn the fundamentals of sailing, tennis, or swimming, our experienced instructors have you covered.

Our popular Anchor Day Camp provides a traditional camp experience while offering a one-of-a-kind sailing program onsite.  In addition, with our wide array of summer camp activities such as sports, arts and crafts, swimming & STEAM fueled activities, our day camp is the perfect summer home for pre-schoolers up to 7th graders.  We are open to both members and non-members alike, allowing our entire community to make lasting memories with new friends.  We invite you to explore our site and learn more about our many activities.  Join us and make this summer one to remember!

Anchor Camp

Our Anchor camp will provide children ages 5-15 with a unique camp experience.  In addition to traditional camp activities, our location allows us to offer amazing adventures in sailing, paddleboarding, and fishing. 

Youth Lessons

Learn the fundamentals of sailing, tennis, and swimming.  Children aged 5 through 15 have the opportunity to develop their skills in each area from our experienced instructors.

For swimmers who want to take their skills to the next level, our competitive swim team meets twice weekly for practice and meets throughout the summer. 

Catering & Special Events

"let the long island yacht club cater your next event".

Long Island Yacht Club offers options for many outdoor and indoor events, large or small. Our historic clubhouse, picturesque South Bay views, delicious food, with caring and attentive staff contribute to making your event memorable. We can host your life celebrations, including weddings, showers, engagements, birthdays, and corporate functions.

Whether a 125-person wedding or a small intimate gathering, our formal dining room, second-level event space, private beach, or any other outdoor/indoor options will be the perfect setting for your event. Our experienced culinary team will work with you to create a unique menu and bring your vision to life. 

Brant Beach Yacht Club

Brant Beach Yacht Club was founded in 1947 and is located across seven bay-front blocks on Long Beach Island, Brant Beach, New Jersey.

The mission of the club is threefold:

to promote yachting and foster athletic sports on the water

to promote social functions and camaraderie among the membership

to advance the general prosperity of Long Beach Island

At Brant Beach Yacht Club, we enjoy an active summer and year-round calendar of sailing events, programs, and social activities.

Some highlights of what you’ll find at BBYC are:

Sailing programs and events at an award-winning club

Regattas include local, regional, national, North American, and World Championships.

Programs for youth and adults that make for a memorable summer and lifelong friends.

Social events on a packed summer calendar and throughout the year – with something for everyone to enjoy.

Outstanding facilities that host small casual events and large formal affairs.

Membership applications are available.

We hope that you enjoy exploring all we have to offer and that you may soon also want to visit our beautiful club.

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Weddings of Distinction

Mallard Island Yacht Club Rates

Overnight and 5 hour rental packages, plan your perfect wedding, two rental options to suit your needs.

Mallard Island Yacht Club has a site fee to reserve the estate and a separate fee from the exclusive caterer for all food and beverage.  For the site fee you have two options to reserve the estate, renting the entire estate or renting the estate for a five-hour event plus the onsite ceremony in the Boathouse Chapel. The site fee includes use of the estate, the tables and chairs that are in the Ballroom for your reception, and the chapel if you wish to have your ceremony on property.

Catering not included in rental price.

Full Estate Rental

Includes accommodations for 24 guests, may-october.

• Friday: $24,000
• Saturday: $30,000
• Sunday: $24,000

November-April

• Friday: $18,000
• Saturday: $22,000
• Sunday: $18,000

5 Hour Venue + On-Site Ceremony

Not available for saturday rental.

• Friday: $20,000
• Sunday: $20,000
• Friday: $15,000
• Sunday: $15,000

Reserve Your Date Today

Contact us for venue availability and reservation information, learn more about mallard island yacht club, tour mallard island yacht club.

Take a tour of our elegant yacht club and immerse yourself in the beauty of the waterfront mansion.

Catering From Merri Makers

Guests will savor each bite from the delectable hors d’oeuvres to the fine desserts. Our culinary artisans will create a presentation that is sure to impress.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to commonly asked questions about our wedding venues, accommodations, and event policies.

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BARNEGAT LIGHT

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Barnegat Light Yacht Club is a private club located in Harvey Cedars, New Jersey. We offer a variety of sailing and social activities for members of the club and surrounding community.​

We are a member run club. Members volunteer to participate in various social and sailing committees throughout the summer.​

YOUTH PROGRAM

Our Youth Program offers summer activities for children between the ages of 5 ad 18 including swimming, sailing and many fun social events.​

UPCOMING EVENTS

Here's a list of all upcoming events at BLYC. For the full-sized calendar, click an option:​

Complete Calendar

Youth Calendar Only

Social Calendar Only

CLUB CALENDAR