LEGACY

In 1924, San Diego had no yacht clubs on its side of the bay, so local yachtsmen Dr. Ernest Percy Chartres-Martin, Stanley Hobson and Graham Shand organized a meeting in March 1925 to establish a new yacht club. They named it Southwestern Yacht Club. The group selected a site at the foot of Grape Street, and with local support, a pier was quickly constructed. By late 1926, the Club's first clubhouse was completed, and the club’s grounds were landscaped by F.A. Bode, marking San Diego’s first landscaped waterfront.

Southwestern Yacht Club joined the Southern California Yachting Association (SCYA) and, in 1934, a merger proposal from the San Diego Yacht Club was narrowly rejected. With the start of World War II, the club faced relocation challenges and their request for a new site at Qualtrough Street was denied.

In 1937 Harbor Master Joe Brennan alerted the Club they would need to move due to redevelopment planned for the Grape Street location.

In 1941, the Club was granted space near what would become known as the Harbor Boat and Yacht Yard. However, due to the rationing of material brought on by World War II, the construction faced delays and to accommodate future relocations, the new building was constructed on skids with flexible utilities.

In 1947, the Club reapplied for membership in the Southern California Yachting Association and was also granted fleet charters for the Lightning and Thistle Class. This restarted Fleet racing at Southwestern Yacht Club and various perpetual trophies were obtained for the events.

Graham Shand, a Charter Member, Staff Commodore, and past Club Historian wrote a brief history of the Club saying: "SWYC was born from a desire of several yachtsmen to organize a yacht club where they could meet, exchange good fellowship and promote the sport of yachting on San Diego Bay. May we say that we have lived up to our ideals of many years ago; a Corinthian Yacht Club, where regardless of station in life, we meet on a common ground--our favorite pastime--yachting. May it ever be so!"

On March 27, 1951, the clubhouse was relocated by barge to its present site at the foot of Qualtrough Street. By 1954, the Club signed a 5-year lease with renewal options and committed to developing a Penguin Fleet for Junior Members. The Club grew to 250 members by 1955, the construction of a fifth dock began, and an electric hoist was installed. In 1958, the Clubhouse was remodeled, adding much needed space.

In 1964, SWYC hosted the inaugural San Diego to Ensenada Race with 55 boats, a race that continues today.

In 1966, a new fleet of yachts was formed called the "Coronado 25 Class" and quickly became the largest one design fleet in SWYC. The Club also hosted the 1970 Coronado 25 World Championship with 35 entries from all yachting areas as well as an entry from France.

A new 40-year lease with the Port District was secured in 1969. The new Clubhouse and the "L" shaped building housing lockers, maintenance, the heads and showers were completed in 1972 along with a new seawall. With a membership of 400, Southwestern Yacht Club prepared for events to commemorate their Golden Anniversary in 1975.

To commemorate SWYC's 50th Anniversary, a special emblem was selected. The celebration was attended by Mayor Wilson, who was honored with a key to the Yacht Club. This event boosted membership and garnered significant publicity, and, in November 1975, the club upgraded A and B docks, adding 92 slips and starting a slip waiting list that remains active today.

SWYC began sponsoring the Muscular Dystrophy Charity Bay Race in 1983, and thus started an annual series of events to raise money for charities. SWYC has raised nearly $2,000,000 for local charities. During the 1992 America's Cup, SWYC hosted the Louis Vuitton CSS, with Team New Zealand’s Black Magic winning in 1995.

A Dock Replacement Committee was formed in 1990, and all docks were replaced by 1993. 

SWYC won the prestigious Sir Thomas Lipton Cup in 2003, and again in 2008. US Sailing awarded its prestigious trophy for Race Management, the St. Petersburg Yacht Club Trophy, to Southwestern Yacht Club "for its outstanding organization and execution of the 49er Olympic Trials from October 3-14, 2007."

Southwestern Yacht Club’s new clubhouse opened in 2010, with 784 members and active programs in Sailing, Angling, Cruiser Navigation, Cruising, Juniors, and Social Functions. Southwestern Yacht Club looks forward to its Centennial Celebration in 2025.