STYC was founded in 1976 by a group of live-aboard and racing sailors over beers at the Sloop Tavern in Seattle, Washington. We continue to hold our Ballard Cup Monday night series awards parties there, and for larger events we rent the Ballard Eagleson VWF 3063 hall next door. Our races and cruises are generally out of the Shilshole Bay Marina. Sailors with and without boats are welcome to join us on land and sea.

STYC has grown to over 300 members, keeping the original intent of being the club that welcomes everyone and costs little. We've added more and more races over the years, each a little different but all intended to be inclusive to new racers. The Three Buoy Fiasco, for example, is a very relaxed race where participants can take the buoys in any order, and usually with a couple of reaching legs. The Freshwater Race, added in 2019, is our only race not out of Shilshole, with fresh bacon as prizes. Women at the Helm, added in 2020, is a race that encourages women to take a turn driving, and is a bit of a nod back to when our J&J Race was the Jack & Jill Race. Take Your Time Fridays were created to encourage new sailors to start racing and for serious racers to relax. And we must of course mention that we run one of the most popular races in the Sound, Race to the Straits, which is only for double- and single-handed boats and is intended to be more inclusive to short-handed and casual racers.