Ida Lewis Yacht Club is a family oriented club of members who actively participate in yachting activities. Our mission is to foster excellence in yachting and yacht racing with an emphasis on traditions, sportsmanship, education and camaraderie.
ILYC is hiring a Junior Sailing Program Director. This position is a full-time salaried position (approximately 40 hrs/wk) from mid-June to mid-August. The position is also salaried part-time from mid-August to mid-June with an average of 8 hours offsite per month to prepare for the season ahead. Sailing classes run for 8 consecutive weeks and the Program Director will be responsible for one week of setup prior to classes beginning and one week of breakdown after classes end. For more information, and to apply, CLICK HERE.
The Ida Lewis Yacht Club derives its name from the nationally famous daughter of the keeper of the Lime Rock Light on the southern side of Newport’s inner harbor.
The Lime Rocks are a series of limestone ledges located approximately 900 feet from shore. They were at one time noted for the quality of their lime used by Newport’s builders. In the 1850s the Lighthouse Service decided to place a light on the largest rock and in 1853 they completed a tower with a rough shed or “sentry box” which later did duty as a washroom. Here the keeper found shelter when forced by foul weather to stay on the rock. His family lived ashore. Three years later the Newport Mercury reported, “One would suppose that there was hardly room to swing a cat on the Lime Rocks and yet a spot large enough has been found for a commodious two story brick house with ample space in front…with a walk leading to the lighthouse and the little beach where the keeper hauls his boat.” This house, which has weathered several hurricanes, is now the Clubhouse of the Ida Lewis Yacht Club.
The first keeper was the half brother of Ida Lewis. A few months later he turned the position over to his father, Hosea Lewis, who kept it during his lifetime aided by his daughter. On his death, Ida became the keeper until her death in 1911. As early as 1869, she was famous as a one-woman life boat station. Up to and including that year, she had made so many daring rescues from the waters of Newport Harbor that she was written up extensively in Harpers Weekly, The New York Tribune, and many other publications including a book entitled Ida Lewis, Heroine of Lime Rock. She was constantly compared with the English lighthouse keeper’s daughter, Grace Darling, who made her reputation in one daring rescue.
Ida Lewis is officially credited with saving eighteen lives and unofficially several others. The burgee of the Yacht Club that bears her name has a blue lighthouse with eighteen white stars arranged in a cross representing the number of lives she saved. A beautiful clinker-built pulling boat was paid for by public subscription and presented to Ida Lewis in the summer of 1869. This boat with many other Ida Lewis items, including the lamp and lens tended by her, are on exhibition in the Marine Museum of the Newport Historical Society.
In the mid 1920s, all but a small piece of the Lime Rock, used by the Lighthouse Service for the light tower, was sold to the “Narragansett Bay Regatta Association.” This was made up of a group of yachtsmen interested in preserving the now historic house, as well as creating a yacht club and landing for the excellent anchorage in Brenton Cove. In 1928 they officially organized under the name Ida Lewis Yacht Club. (ANSWER TO ILYC TRIVIA QUESTION: $7,200 was paid for Ida Lewis Light House and all of Lime Rock, Per ‘Keeper of Lime Rock’ by Lenore Skomal) This is listed in 1929 for the first time among Newport’s clubs. The first Commodore was Arthur Curtiss James, owner of the auxiliary bark “Aloha.” The Vice Commodore was Marion Eppley.
A wooden walkway was built to the Lime Rocks and the lighthouse, which became the Clubhouse. Ida lewis is perhaps the smallest major yacht club, but at times one of the busiest. Floats and ramps were built to accommodate tenders and sailing dinghies. The Clubhouse is attractively furnished, which makes up for its size. Before the New York Yacht Club had its Newport station at Harbor Court, the Ida Lewis Yacht Club offered its facilities as a station and the burgee of the New York Yacht Club flew on an auxiliary flag pole.
C. P. B.Jefferys*
Newport Historical Society
*C. P. Beauchamp (“Cham”) Jefferys died on 18 February 1980 at the age of 82. He was during his lifetime an active, well-loved, and well-respected teacher, historian, and yachtsman who devotedly served the Ida Lewis Yacht Club for many years.
and their accessories, to have stock of hard to find items, and have a staff of active sailors who are able to help customers solve problems and make purchases with confidence. A team of up to 32 members in season calls APS home today and enjoys being able to walk out the door at the end of the day and be on the water sailing not too long thereafter. APS prides itself on its staff and their extensive sailing knowledge, this being the main reason it sets itself apart from other sailing stores. APS just celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2016.
The first collection of hardware, line and apparel here at APS was limited. With no employees, Kyle worked seven days a week, and sailed in the evenings building the business, and relationships within the sailing community. He was quick to realize that the only way his business would grow would be if he had a direct relationship with his key vendors. So he bought a plane ticket, jumped the pond, and rented a car in England. Driving around, getting lost on narrow back roads, he managed to locate and introduce himself to the primaries of companies who were making equipment and gear for dinghy racing. Visits to many chandleries provided much insight. It didn’t take long for him to realize, there’s a big difference between the US and England in terms of the geographical spread of sailing.
APS became known as the first-to-market sailing retailer by developing relationships with innovative vendors outside of the US and exclusively introduced new brands including: Zhik gear, Optimum Time Watches, Holmotro tools, Polilite rope, Rooster clothing and hardware, Sea Australia gear, and others. The company also has the most extensive offering of one design parts here in the United States. Another quality part of the store is its Rigging Shop staffed by top quality riggers who have the skills to help you with whatever technical needs and jobs you require.
Have you ever given kettlebells a try? Kettlebells are an excellent fitness tool to help to improve your sailing performance out on the water. Check out our article 
A strong core is essential to your sailing performance, with a stronger core you will be able to hike longer and stronger! Using a kettlebell will help to challenge your core to help build strength, balance, and stability for your daily life and sailing performance. Make sure you give our kettlebell beginner workout a try before trying this one. Check out the workout and video with the moves for the workout below. Enjoy and let’s get that strong core!
The Shelter Island Yacht Club is situated in Dering Harbor, a sheltered and beautiful harbor on the north side of the island. Designed with boating and racing in mind, the facilities are well suited for all boating activities as well as social gatherings of sailors and their families.
