The New York Yacht Club (NYYC) was established in 1844 aboard the yacht of John Cox Stevens, who became the first commodore. The original club membership consisted of 8 of Stevens’ friends. The first clubhouse was built in 1845 on land which was once part of the Stevens family estate, at Elysian Fields in Hoboken, New Jersey. The opening of that first clubhouse, which overlooked the Hudson River, was celebrated by a regatta which has since become the Annual Regatta. With only a few interruptions, the Annual Regatta has been held each year since that first event. In 2009, the NYYC help the 155th Annual Regatta.

In 1987, the NYYC acquired Harbour Court, the former summer home of Commodore John Brown, in Newport, Rhode Island. Since then, Harbour Court has been the site of many prestigious NYYC yachting races and events. NYYC was the owner of the America’s Cup for 132 years, until 1983. The victories of NYYC boat’s in the America’s Cup from 1870 to 1980 is often called the longest winning streak in sports history.