In June 1972, pioneers from the bayside Coronado Cays residential community decided to form a yacht club. Two months later on August 31, a “Formation Day” meeting was held to adopt the Club By-Laws and elect seven directors with Bud Holderness serving as the Club’s first Commodore. Ten days later the Club’s inaugural sail race took place and blossomed into the annual Classic Series of sail races conducted in all seasons of each year.

Shortly after, Jeanne and Don Parkinson won the contest to design the club burgee featuring a white seagull on a blue field.
In the summer of 1974, the Club’s facilities were enlarged and a patio and guest dock completed.

Through the years, CCYC joined several major yachting associations including the Yacht Racing Union, Southern California Yachting Association (SCYA), and the San Diego Association of Yacht Clubs (SDAYC) which formally inducted the Club into membership at an October 1974 Commissioning Ceremony. By September 1973, the Club moved from donated space in the Montego Village sales office into much larger rented space on Grand Caribe Isle. It remained at this location for the next 21 years. In December of that same year, a group of 30 ladies formed the C-Gulls auxiliary which now numbers well over 100 members. The C-Gulls quickly developed into a fun-loving and very active club support group. To this day, the C-Gulls sponsor numerous social activities for the enjoyment of all club members and host several fund raising activities for making club improvements.