About Us

     Welcome to the Aspen Yacht Club!

We are a 43 year old private sailing club located on Ruedi Reservoir, 18.5 miles east of Basalt, Colorado on Frying Pan Road. Our yacht club occupies Benedict Bay, a small scenic cove in the middle of the 3 mile long Ruedi Reservoir - 

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=ruedi+reservoir,+co&ie=UTF8&hl=en&hq=&hnear=Ruedi+Reservoir&t=h&ll=39.36764,-106.790704&spn=0.004628,0.011319&z=17 .

 Our 11 acre leased property is in the mountainous and beautiful Frying Pan River valley, located within the White River National Forest. The Aspen Yacht Club is a member of the Sailing Association of Intermountain Lakes (S.A.I.L.), whose membership goal is to support and promote the sport of sailing in the Rocky Mountain Area and encourage excellence in sailing.  Additional community based outreach programs that the Aspen Yacht Club supports are: the City of Aspen’s Sailing Program; Aspen School District’s “Outdoor Experience Programs,” and “Operation Vacation” for military families.

It's a wonderful rustic facility that includes: vehicle parking, boat storage, a mast raising yard arm, a club house, camping lawn, volleyball court, fire pit, beach, 60 plus boat slips, rigging dock & concrete launch ramp, porta potties and 14' & 23' rescue boats.  Although the water temperature barely hits 70 in the peak of summer, a floating swim platform for kids is anchored off the beach for their enjoyment. The mountain weather and winds challenge even the most experienced sailors.  AYC is also an active participant with the Colorado Department of Wildlife and USFS in preventing the introduction of the zebra and quagga mussels (aquatic nuisance species) into the Ruedi Reservoir. AYC members are Colorado certified zebra mussel inspectors who inspect all members and visiting boats, prior to them entering the reservoir, from the AYC launch ramp.

There are approximately 80 memberships, made up of families and individuals living in the Roaring Fork Valley, who belong to the club. They sail a variety of crafts from dinghies to keel boats, 10 to 28 feet in length. There is weekly club racing every Sunday from June until September. A festive annual Open Regatta in July draws 50 plus boats from as far away as Arizona and Texas for two days of racing. A club regatta race and party takes place in mid August. We put on an annual awards banquet and election of new officers at the end of the season.  Please contact us by double-clicking on the “Home” heading on our webpage if you have any interest in becoming a member or participating in our annual Open Regatta.

 Dave Faulkner
2011 AYC Commodore