belle harbor yacht club rockaway

Local History

1600's: The name Rockaway is closely related to the language of the Delaware and Chippewa Native Americans. Linguistic experts recognize both Reckonwacky, meaning "the place of our own people," and Reckanawahaha, meaning "the place of laughing waters," as the area's indigenous names. Following the region's European colonization during the seventeenth century, the present name was derived from these meanings. Other interpretations include lekau, meaning sand, and lechauwaak, for fork or branch. All interpretations reflect the historic and geographic traits of the peninsula.

1609: Henry Hudson began his search for a northwest passage to China. Hudson travelled north up the [New Jersey] coastline and anchored off Sandy Hook. Because early charts show tremendous change along the coast, from Coney Island to Jamaica Bay, it's not possible to remove all doubts in determining where Henry Hudson began his explorations on Sept 3rd. But we can propose with some confidence that it was the Rockaway Inlet, on the south shore of Long Island based on land descriptions entered in his log book. (Half Moon, D. Hunter)

1685: The Canarsie Tribe sold the most barren land to Captain Palmer with a deed granted by then Governor Thomas Dongan (1634-1715).

1687: Palmer sold the land to prominent iron master from L.I., Richard Cornell, whose descendant, Ezra, founded Cornell University in 1865. The family owned the land until 1808.

1808: A partition suit divided the plot into 46 parcels, which were eventually sold to outside investors. The Rockaway Association, a group of wealthy New Yorkers, bought much of the property and began to build exclusive resorts in 1833. Within two years, James Remsen bought a large portion of the Peninsula. Remsen initiated a railroad project connecting the neighborhoods of Canarsie and East New York. The new railway was intended to greet steam ferries taking passengers to and from Rockaway. The Rockaway Peninsula remained a beachfront resort town, providing hotels, restaurants, and housing. During the 1890s, a variety of amusement parks were built. In 1897, the Village of Rockaway Park was incorporated into New York City.

1893: The resort island of Rockaway completely and temporarily disappeared as a result of a hurricane.

Membership Drive

Dear Community Residents and Friends,

The BHYC has seen some significant progress over the last 10 years due in part by the commitment of our members, both past and present. As a group, we’ve organized volunteers who have given their time and energy to “our club” which has thrived in recent years. We have focused our attention on preserving an important landmark in our community. We have built a home.

Our Belle Harbor home (est. 1905) has been host to countless meetings, events, family gatherings, fund-raisers, debates, social parties, lectures, family activities and sporting events. We have no other place in our community that has done so much so we may laugh, dance and enjoy the company of our family and friends.

Please join us as we start a new “yacht club” chapter. Help us grow so our family and friends will be able to enjoy the Belle Harbor Yacht Club for years to come. We are now accepting membership applications.

Goals for the BHYC Club & Property

Over the past 16 years and continuing ...

• To be a vital organization in the community.
• Continue to provide a variety of entertainment options for your family.
• Continue to maintain the exterior property of the club especially landscaping.
• Continue to maintain the tennis courts, playground and basketball court.
• Always be available to the community in their time of need.
• Research and exhibit historical club and community facts.
• To develop and design a plan for the upper floors of the building.
• Restore the entire building to resemble the building when it was first constructed.
• Provide Entertainment in the “Members Only” Lounge on the 2nd Floor including small bar, pool table, bumper pool, piano, chess, checkers and backgammon boards, shuffleboard, darts, cards, Strike 90 bowling, 6 HDTV’s, fooseball, live entertainment, sunset deck, relaxed and casual seating.
• Create and multi-purpose room on the 3rd floor to offer office space, yoga and/or excercise classes.
• Long Term plan: The possibility of constructing 12 “Bed & Breakfast Style” rooms with bathrooms on the 3rd floor for visiting member families and friends.
• Seek new volunteers to host activities, to entertain and enlist new members.
• Enhance the Beach Channel Park area in front on the club property with landscaping for our community to enjoy.
• One day, utilize our riptarin rights and re-apply for water access permits and provide access to Jamaica Bay for small water craft.

Benefits of Membership: When your family supports our community landmark, you will receive; 10% DISCOUNT on your BHYC bar pakage, event hosting opportunities, 25% discount on your beverage cost/account, tennis court seasonal access at minimal cost ($100/yr) - no hourly charge, “members only” summer parking permit, free pre-approved daily parking, expanded social event calendar, use of playground & basketball courts for kids, 25-50% discount on special event tickets and kid camps, 10% off on Ludwigs at the YC take-out catering cost, bond investment opportunities and reciprocal benefits to other U.S.A. yacht clubs.

The B.H.Y.C. offers several types of membership to prospective members:

Junior Membership: $50. per year For individuals under the age of 30, who would like to receive the benefits of membership. Use of the clubhouse, parking, tennis area and dining room apply. No voting rights on property issues or elections. This membership is only valid for single persons, under the age of 30.

Associate Membership: $398. per year For new members, past members and existing members who would like to receive or continue to receive the benefits of membership. Use of all club facilities, clubhouse design planning, voting privileges on elections and property issues apply.

Proprietary Membership (existing members only) Only for existing Associate Members who have been active members for 5 years or more. These members are owners of club assets including property with full voting privileges on all issues. 

All rates include NYS Sales tax. All membership renewals are due by Feb. 1st, each year.