At the heart of everything we do is spending time together. The cruises, BBQs, and special events are all excuses to gather with friends who share a love of being on the water.

Every gathering includes at least one group meal—usually a potluck. Our season revolves around a full schedule of planned club cruises plus informal trips members organize on their own.

Throughout the year, we also enjoy game nights, bowling outings, and guest speakers who share knowledge on topics from navigation to local marine history.

Beyond the social side, we help each other out - whether it's painting the clubhouse, troubleshooting a boat issue, or finding extra crew for a trip.

And we give back to the community through our annual pancake breakfast fundraiser and volunteer work at Sucia Island State Park. Our club runs deep with experience from diverse backgrounds and rich with a culture of pitching in.

Our club runs deep with experience from diverse backgrounds - sailors and powerboaters, newbies and old salts, from all walks of life.

What you'll find is a casual, unpretentious atmosphere where people genuinely enjoy each other's company. Our gatherings feel more like old-friend reunions than formal club meetings.

Nobody cares what kind of boat you have, what you do for a living, how much you've cruised, or whether you're still learning the ropes. What matters is that you enjoy being on the water and want to be part of a friendly community.

Members eagerly share knowledge, help with boat projects, and warmly welcome newcomers.

Our cruises are laid back and loosely organized - think opportunities for fun, not mandatory fun.

Most are 3-day trips to destinations within a day or two from Bellingham, though some venture farther depending on your boat's cruising speed. There are also shorter day cruises and occasional longer trips for those who want more time on the water.

Every cruise includes at least one potluck meal, and beyond that, each cruise captain puts their own spin on things. Some cruises are quiet gatherings where everyone explores at their own pace or just relaxes. Others feature elaborate activities like scavenger hunts, puzzles, or themed events.

Either way, you'll find a good mix of socializing and downtime to explore, nap, read, or do whatever sounds good. It's your cruise - we just provide the company.

Does it float … most of the time? If so, you’ll be fine. Some members don’t have boats and just like the people.

We understand that yacht clubs have a reputation for being exclusive and snooty. No one here cares about what kind of boat you have or don’t have, what kind of car you drive, what school you did or didn’t go to.

If you’re a friendly person who enjoys the water, we want you in our club.

We get it. Boating is expensive and money is not unlimited. You want the bottom line.

This is the easy part. Our membership is just $100/yr per family. That’s it. No tiered membership, no event fees. There is a $30 initiation fee that covers things like your club burgee.

And, that’s anyone 14 yrs or older who live at home who wants to be an active club member.

We are an all-volunteer organization. So, nothing gets done if we don’t do it.

If you’re looking for opportunities to help out, there is no shortage. But, if you have limited time and energy, there is very little you “have” to do.

We just ask members to pitch in where they can. Meetings are monthly and encouraged, but not mandatory. In the summer, we offer several cruising opportunities, so there's usually something that fits everyone's schedule and interests.

Joining is pretty simple.

If you know a member, talk to them and they’ll get you sorted. If not, just reach out to our Membership Chairperson at syc@squalicumyc.org.

Usually, the next step is to come to a meeting. This isn’t so we can screen applicants - it is so you can get a feel for what we’re about, ask questions, and make sure it is going to be a good fit for you.

If we don’t scare you off, and you decide you want to join, just fill out a form and that’s about it. We’ll walk you through the process, but it is painless, we promise.