Mission Statement

WRY&CC is a diverse organization dedicated to the principles of safe boating, continuing education with respect to seamanship, fellowship in and amongst the boating community and the assistance of those less fortunate than our membership.

Club History

In 1965, West River Yacht and Cruising Club was formed as West River Yacht and Country Club on Grosse lle. The organization operated a nine hole golf course and marina facility built on the former Knudsen summer residence, located on West River Road across from Detroit Edison on the Trenton Channel.

In 1970, application to join the Inter-Lakes Yachting Association (I-LYA) was made and we received interim membership with full membership status finally granted in 1973. Around 1974, these was a disagreement between responsible parties resulting in the loss of this facility as our home & Grosse lle Township took over management of the property and opened the facility now known as Water’s Edge Country Club.

WRY&CC entered a period of time where the membership was met with both struggle and challenge. Over the next several years, the membership began to dwindle to lower than average numbers, and then finally rebounded to our current levels. Club membership has ranged from a low of one hundred twenty five (125) to a high of two hundred thirty (230) with one hundred ninety (190) being the average over the past few years. Through it all, several of our long-term members kept hopes high and expectations reasonable to be a viable entity with our fellow yacht clubs. Although no longer officially connected with the Township property, WRY&CC continued to function as a viable yacht club, holding monthly meetings at various locations in the downriver area and our membership within I-LYA remained intact due in large part to the efforts of lifetime member Paul Migda, P/C Bob Lang, P/C Bob Campbell and P/C Dick Kott, to mention a few. The name was changed at this time to West River Yacht and Cruising Club to better reflect the club’s central purpose.

In 2001, we were presented with the opportunity of returning to our roots, which in 2002, the membership overwhelmingly voted to do. In 2003, we were granted full membership into the Associated Yacht Clubs (AYC), a group of about 30 yacht clubs sharing the western end of Lake Erie and the Detroit River, all members of our parent I-LYA organization.

Over the years, we have continued to be a moving, growing and exciting club with many activities and outings available for our members to enjoy, along with an increasing interaction with our fellow yacht clubs.

Our Activities

Club activities include a very active presence at the I-LYA Powerboat Regatta, several rendezvous to various ports in Lakes Erie, St. Clair and Huron and usually at least two social events each month during the non-boating season. The highlight of the year’s activities is in January when the club honors the Commodore at what is considered by most to be the premier Commodore’s Ball in the area. With eleven (11) membership meetings during the year and a full calendar of social and boating activities (the majority of which involve eating and drinking), new members are quickly assimilated into this friendly boating organization.

WRY&CC has the best of both worlds to offer its members. While we enjoy all the amenities of a Clubhouse, we are not required to offset the cost in maintaining it. There is no monthly minimum which must be spent nor are any work hours made mandatory to the membership. In addition to these two perks, each member is entitled to a ticket to our Commodores Ball.

WRYCC offers both dual and single membership status. Welcome to our family! We are honored that you chose us to enhance your boating experience and remember, “The best is yet to come”!

Our mailing address is:

P.O. Box 334, Grosse Ile, MI. 48138

West River Yacht & C. C. is located at:

25215 West River Rd, Grosse Ile, MI. 48138, along with SHARKEY'S Riverfront Tavern.

For more information about WRYCC events, please contact the Entertainment Director.

For information on how to join WRYCC, please contact the Member At Large.