Lake Pleasant Is Not ‘Just Another Pretty Place’
In addition to concerts, special events, fun activities and water sports, and great fishing, recreational boating is often the highlight of two local sailing clubs at Lake Pleasant. Check out Pleasant Harbor Marina and RV Resort.
Welcome To The Arizona Yacht Club!
Sailing is alive and well in the greater Phoenix area. Since our humble beginnings in 1958, AYC has continued to create the region’s best sailing opportunities for its members and guests! In addition to a love for all things sailing – camaraderie and friendships are a key part of what keeps the wind in our sails.
You can sail with us year-round at both Lake Pleasant and Tempe Town Lake. Our Monthly Speaker Series is one of the best in sailing and our social and cruising calendar is growing right along with our family of members! Check out our racing program, US Sailing-certified education opportunities, monthly meetings, cruising, and social events that fill our active calendar.
Every club event is organized, implemented and supported 100% by our member volunteers and we would not have survived this long without their knowledge, skill, commitment and care. We are certainly worth checking out if you’ve ever been curious about sailing.
Please visit our Join page if you are interested in AYC membership. Our club offers significant value, including free memories. And take a few minutes to read this fun article written by one of our long-standing members, “New Guy’s Guide” to the Arizona Yacht Club.
Basically we socialize, we race, we cruise, and we have fun in the desert!
I look forward to seeing you on the water or at one of our many events.
Debbra Heisler
Commodore, Arizona Yacht Club
For more information and to check racing schedules on Lake Pleasant, visit
Lake Pleasant Sailing Club (Motor Boaters Welcome)
The Lake Pleasant Sailing Club welcomes sailors and boaters of all stripes! We are an active Yacht Club based on Lake Pleasant, Ariz., (northwest of Phoenix). The Club also hosts boating events in California, on other Arizona lakes, and on land. The Club’s mission is to promote recreational and social programs, seamanship,and water safety. We encourage and establish good will among the Club and other yacht clubs and sailing associations. Last, we organize opportunities for members to take part in all forms of yachting and boating. For more information and dates of sailing events on Lake Pleasant, visit https://www.lakepleasantsailing.com/.
Getting To Lake Pleasant
Lake Pleasant, Ariz., is approximately 30 miles north of downtown Phoenix
The easiest access from Phoenix is from Interstate 17 (I-17), west onto State Route 74 (Carefree Highway), turn right onto 87th Avenue (Pleasant Harbor Road), and then left into the Pleasant Harbor Marina. In Mapquest or Google, enter “Lake Pleasant Regional Park.” And here’s a map of the lake showing the names of coves and access points. And a better, big color one.
There is a $6 charge to enter the marina grounds with (or without) a boat. After entering, turn left at the T intersection (the stop sign) to go to the South Ramp area where most AYC Members launch their boats. On race weekends, you’ll see a flock of AYCers setting up at Spinnaker Point (just to your left as you sit at the T after entering the grounds). If you turn right at the T, you’ll usually see the Thistles and others on the paved north lot, preparing to launch at the North Ramp.
You can also launch from the county park boat ramps or Scorpion Bay Marina, but most AYC off-the-water activities happen at Spinnaker Point, on marina land, at the south end of the lake.
Bottom Line
As their message on page 13 of this issue says, “Come to the FUN Side”. Sailing is only one of the exciting events and possibilities awaiting you at Lake Pleasant.
