New Member Reference Guide
The booklet given to new members: welcome letter, launch rules, this reference guide, clubhouse rules, Board policies, facilities, the social season, the sailing school, and 2026 club contacts.
Welcome to the Kittery Point Yacht Club. We want everyone to enjoy their association with the Club, so this guide will help you navigate your way around. Please also read the Clubhouse Rules, the Board of Directors' Established Policies, and the Constitution and By-Laws. If you have a question these do not answer, contact any member of the Board of Directors.
Welcome aboard
On behalf of the members, officers, directors and staff, we are thrilled you have chosen to join our family. As a new member you will receive this reference guide, the Launch Rules and Etiquette, the Board of Directors' Policies, the Clubhouse Rules, the Constitution and By-Laws, a burgee, a clubhouse key, the season's social calendar, club contacts, and your Member Share Certificate.
Please let us know how we can best match your skills to the volunteer tasks and projects. Volunteerism is at the root of our success, so come join in the fun! The Board of Directors meets monthly; the date is posted on the clubhouse bulletin board. Feel free to stop by, and contact the Membership Chair, Chris Snow, with any questions.
How the club is organized
The Club has a nine-member Board of Directors that meets monthly; members are welcome to attend and observe Board meetings, and the dates are posted on the clubhouse bulletin board. Three Directors are elected each year by the membership, for three-year terms, at the annual meeting in October, and a Director may serve no more than two consecutive three-year terms. The Board elects the Commodore, Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore, Fleet Captain, Secretary and Treasurer as Club Officers, and appoints a Quartermaster. Members volunteer to chair and serve on the standing committees: House, Race, Social, Junior Activities (Sailing School), Education, Membership, Auditing and Election, along with the Launch Services Committee. There is plenty of need for volunteers and we would welcome your involvement. Current officers and chairs are listed on the contacts page.
Using the clubhouse
The clubhouse and deck are for everyone's use, so please clean up after yourself. You are welcome to use the clubhouse, deck, grill and kitchen for yourselves and your guests. As a member you may host an indoor gathering with guests without renting the club, but other members may be coming and going. To decorate the club or send out invitations for an event, you must reserve it as a rental (off-season only; see Clubhouse Rentals).
Front door
To keep the front door unlocked during your stay: from the inside, find the pin hanging on the panic bar (older instructions refer to an Allen wrench stowed on the right-hand door casing). With the panic bar held down, insert the pin in the hole on top of the bar; the bar is now locked down. To undo this, pull the pin.
Cleaning
The club has a cleaning person for the larger tasks, but keeping the clubhouse neat is every member's responsibility. Brooms, dustpans and the vacuum are behind the kitchen door; the central vacuum outlet is low on the dart board wall; the wet mop and bucket are in the shower opposite the bathroom; trash bags and paper towels are under the kitchen sink; the dumpster is at the right rear of the property. Bag recyclable cans and leave them beside the dumpster.
Parking
Parking is at a premium in summer. On Tuesday and Thursday race nights, please carpool when possible and pack in to the right of the clubhouse. In summer the parking along the left-hand property line is reserved for sailing school students. See the parking plan posted in the clubhouse, and please respect the spaces for our upstairs tenants.
Noise
Out of respect for our apartment tenants upstairs and our residential neighbors to the right of the clubhouse, no activities are conducted outdoors on that side of the building and noise is kept to a minimum. Noise is restricted to conversational tones after 10:00 PM and there is to be no noise after 11:00 PM.
Chairs and tables
Chairs and tables are behind the roll-out cabinet in the kitchen. Note the labeled stacking order so everything fits back where it belongs. One long table stays out permanently in the rear right-hand corner.
Ice and rubbish
Bags of ice are in the freezer in the wooden box on the fixed pier, on the honor system. Rubbish from your boat goes in the dumpster in the parking lot.
Lighting the parking lot
In the evening, please light the parking lot after dark. On the kitchen wall to the right of the telephone are four switches labeled North, South, East and West floodlight zones: South lights the front parking area, East the right-hand side of the clubhouse, and North and West the exterior deck. If you are the last to leave, shut off all lights.
Fireplace
The fireplace has been converted to gas. Follow the lighting and shut-off instructions posted at the fireplace, and make sure it is fully off before you leave. Do not bring in or burn wood.
Last to leave
If you are the last member to leave, check that all doors and windows are locked, all stove burners and oven elements are off, all interior and exterior lights (including floodlights) are off, and the heat is turned down to 55 °F.
The club year
Work days. In spring and fall we hold "Docks In" and "Docks Out" work days from 8:00 AM to noon, with coffee and lunch provided. All members are asked to help; it is a great way to meet people and it keeps dues reasonable. Docks Out 2026 is Saturday, October 17.
Membership meetings. Two a year: October (Director elections and trophies) and January (dues, Share Value, By-Law changes). One member per family Share is expected to attend. A quorum is required, so please plan to join us. The 2026 October meeting is Thursday, October 22.
Social functions. The Social Committee runs events through the season; see Social & Education. Members may always bring guests. There is no dress code.
Launch, docks and moorings. See the Launch and Docks & Moorings pages.
Sailing School. The club operates the KPYC Sailing School for kids and adults; see Sailing School.
Club gear. Your first burgee is free, with the compliments of the Club. Additional burgees, clothing and other items with the KPYC burgee are available from the Quartermaster, Adam Shapiro.