No Yacht? No Boat? No Worries!

What is a yacht club without yachts?

A boatload of fun.

The Minuteman Yacht Club celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. It may be one of Westport's best kept secrets.

Members don't need a fancy boat to join. In fact, they don't need any boat at all. Everyone is welcome.

The Minuteman Yacht Club is defined "not by boats, but by people," says board member Linda Mezzullo. "We are a vibrant, welcoming community of individuals who enjoy social gatherings, and the coastal lifestyle that makes Westport summers so special."

The club was formed in 1966. Cedar Point Yacht Club — headquartered at the Compo Beach marina — relocated to Bluff Point, at the east end of Saugatuck Shores. The vacant clubhouse at Compo Basin became home to a new club: Minuteman.

The club's name reflects Westport's Revolutionary War heritage. In April 1777, British troops landed at Compo Beach. They marched to Danbury, and burned an arsenal. On the way back, colonial troops — "minute men," militia members trained to respond on a minute's notice — battled them on Compo Hill.

The Minute Man is an enduring symbol of Westport's history and spirit. "Those values continue to shape the club today," Mezzullo says.

The Minuteman Yacht Club is still at Compo, just a few yards from the cemetery on Compo Beach Road where the Minute Men killed by the British are buried. The clubhouse — now named for former Board of Finance chair Ned Dimes, and owned by the town of Westport — serves as the hub for gatherings today. A beach sticker is not required to attend events.

(The clubhouse can also be rented by outside groups, for other events.)

Today, the Minuteman Yacht Club includes residents and non-residents. What began as a boating club has evolved into a social, inclusive community. The calendar of seasonal events ranges from cocktail parties and clambakes to casual sunset gatherings. The club also hosts a Commissioning Day season kickoff, and a reception after the annual King's Cup Race. Local businesses often sponsor events.

As a member of the Yachting Club of America, Minuteman offers reciprocal privileges at more than 700 yacht clubs nationwide.

Minuteman members are primarily adults — singles and couples — though families are welcome. Children often play together during events. The age range spans generations, creating a diverse and inclusive atmosphere not found in many organizations.

"What makes the Minuteman Yacht Club unique is that it is truly a community, rather than a traditional, exclusive yacht club," Mazzullo emphasizes. "Unlike many yacht clubs, you don't need to spend a fortune to join. You just need an interest in fellowship, friendship, and enjoying Westport's coastline."

The club invites anyone interested in being part of a "welcoming, multi-generational community, and sharing a love of the water" to join.