With a tough economic market continuing to rock many smaller travel companies, players in a number of industries have been left with no choice but to file for bankruptcy.

Airlines like Play, Braathens, and Blue Islands have all had to shut down operations in the fall of 2025, while tour operators such as Great Little Escapes, Jetline, and Tango Travel were also among those lost to the economic market in 2025.

On the sailing end, 56-year-old boat California manufacturer Catalina Yachts was also forced to stop production last October over what owner President Patrick Turner classified as difficulty “navigating short-term financial challenges.”

The company was evicted from its manufacturing facility in Largo over non-payment of rent and has not been able to fulfill orders for sailboats since then.

Club Nautique, a sailing school launched in 1980, will close its doors

This week, the sailing community in the Bay Area was further hit with the news that longtime sailing school Club Nautique would also file for bankruptcy and shut down operations, Latitude 38 reported.

The sailing school and club, launched in 1980 by Don Durant, had locations in Alameda and Sausalito that have both been closed since Dec. 31.

Along with difficulties around restarting the supply chain after the Covid pandemic of 2020, Club Nautique had been a dealer of the French Jeanneau sailboats; that side of the business was further impacted by the tariffs put in place by President Donald Trump in spring 2025.

Related: Iconic boat company closes down after 56 years

“Despite our best efforts to adapt, recover, and explore every possible path forward, we have reached the point where we lack the resources to continue,” current owners Stephanie and Jason LaChance wrote in a letter to their community. “This decision has been increasingly hard and is truly the last thing we ever wanted.”

Those who have taken out charter ships have been asked to return both the boat and the keys to their designated slips. Anyone with unused benefits or disrupted plans will need to go through the bankruptcy process, given the company’s financial situation.

Club Nautique sailing school was founded in 1980 by Don Durant.

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Refund claims will need to be addressed through the bankruptcy process

“Any claims related to refunds, unused benefits, or other amounts owed will need to be addressed through the bankruptcy process,” the company’s letter reads further. “Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.”

Club Nautique both provided tours and charter services as well as specialized in teaching long-range sailing to beginner members preparing to receive their certifications or embark on longer voyages for which they need training.

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News of the shutdown rocked communities that had used the company to rent boats and learn to sail for generations. Many expressed profound regret and hope that a last-minute Hail Mary would save the community staple.

“I’m so sad for my community,” Heather Leigh wrote under one of the posts announcing the shutdown. “The CN staff, the boat owners, all of our amazing instructors. They really fostered a strong sailing community and I’m not quite sure we will find something as special as CN.”

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