⛵ OPENING WEEKEND

The Return of Montauk Yacht Club.

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⛵ ANCHORS AWEIGH

Montauk Yacht Club reopens after a hiatus and rebrand. Previously owned and known as Gurney’s Star Island Resort, this new/old yacht club is bringing back an old-school Hamptons feel with a new look and energy for its opening weekend. Memorial Day Weekend folks, get ready for the Yacht Club to be the newest spot to park your boat, socialize with family and friends, and make a ton of great memories.

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⛵ PLACE: MONTAUK YACHT CLUB

The newly refurbished club has 107 guests rooms/villas and a 60 ft lighthouse.

Stepping onto the property, you immediately feel comfortable with energy from the nearby lake and a whiff of the fresh and salty air. Looking up, you can see some birds and the sun shining and glistening on the water with boats of varying sizes lining the marina, in addition to a beautiful lighthouse piercing the sky. Montauk, a Hamptons hot spot and known as the “End of the World,” reopens this MDW with the iconic Montauk Yacht Club.

Originally created on Star Island in 1928 by famous developer and innovator Carl Fisher, the Montauk Yacht Club was and still is a home away from home for many guests. Fisher imagined another place in Montauk to give homage to the original Montauk Lighthouse and constructed the 60-foot-tall lighthouse at the Yacht Club, which still stands today. Owned by Safe Harbor Marinas, the owner and operator of the world’s largest boating network (130 marinas and counting!), the group recently purchased the property from Gurney’s Star Island Resort & Marina, and now has reopened the new property as the Montauk Yacht Club after “nine months of investment and preparation,” according to a statement.

“Our teammates in Montauk and throughout the country have been working to prepare for this moment. It is our great honor and joy to bring the Montauk Yacht Club back to Long Island, to her many patrons, and to our tens of thousands of boating families in the region.” -Baxter Underwood, CEO of Safe Harbor Marinas

Located across a calm body of water, the Montauk Yacht Club is surrounded by the comforting elements of Lake Montauk, in addition to 107 guest rooms and villas, three pools, two restaurants, indoor and outdoor bars, tennis and pickleball courts, a private beach and more than 200 boat slips. Staying in one of the waterfront villas, I felt right at home and loved waking up to a beautiful view of the sun hitting the lake. As a guest, you can also rent bicycles, participate in morning yoga on the beach, and inquire about other activities like surfing or boating. Showfish, the on-site bar and restaurant provides a well-prepared selection of farm-to-table dishes and fresh drinks.

With sweeping views of the marina and the newly renovated property, guests and visitors of The Montauk Yacht Club can park their boats up to 300 feet in length with a maximum draft of 12 feet and a maximum beam of 45 feet. There is ample room for shore power hookups, fresh water hookups, pump-out services and the property offers complimentary WiFi. Recently staying here for The Purist’s wellness retreat, I experienced firsthand the property’s charm, the promise of new energy, while also seeing how the new owners planned to bring back the old-school glamour and history of Montauk that once permeated the space. The new Hamptons is really an old-school cool. Be sure to check it out this summer!

Fun Fact: Once an exclusive private club, the Montauk Yacht Club counted the Astors, Whitneys, and Vanderbilts among its original members. Charles Lindbergh was a guest, landing his seaplane in Lake Montauk and tying up at the club.

⛵ PERSON: CRISTINA CUOMO

After attending The PURIST’s “Spring into Self Care” wellness retreat this past week, I feel rejuvenated, refreshed, relaxed, and focused. Cristina Cuomo, Editor in Chief of the magazine, (also superwoman, expert wellness curator, mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend, and everything else you can imagine) was in charge of curating the best wellness practitioners and brands for the retreat. She is amazingly talented, smart, inspiring, beautiful inside and out, and her kindness and leadership in the wellness space is well-received and appreciated. Thank you, Cristina, for everything you do for the wellness community. Grateful for you and your team for this amazing retreat.

“And on this path to find meaning that I can impart to my littles comes choice—choosing what I find important in life, accepting failure, remaining humble in the face of adversity, living fully, seeing that we are bigger than ourselves, and serving others.” -Cristina Cuomo, Editor in Chief of The PURIST magazine

For this wellness retreat, we stayed at the newly renovated Montauk Yacht Club in private waterfront villas, while practicing a mix of wellness modalities, curated by Cristina herself. We had a cozy dinner at Pierre’s in Bridgehampton the first night, and then arrived at the Yacht Club to kickoff the retreat with a bunch of curated activities like mat pilates with Taylor Pearl, yoga with Erika Halweil, meditation, hiking the dunes, attending a nutrition consultation with Nutritionist Tapp Franke from StandWellness, tasting premium olive oil with Kyoord, energy healing in a Salt Cave Treatment, sampling psychedelic psychotherapy with Psychiatrist Dr. Lea Lis, and receiving personalized facial massages with Dr. Eunice Park of AIREM spa.

All of this was flawlessly packed in 3 days and 2 nights, and was one of the best wellness experiences I’ve ever had. We also received an amazing gift bag of wellness brands that Cristina approved, such as a matching Johnny Was fitness set, One Ocean Beauty moisturizer, Nutrafol shampoo and conditioner, and more. It was so inspiring to get the connection and clarity that I needed from the retreat, and to be surrounded by strong, accomplished, and compassionate women — who all believe in self-care and community as a part of a holistic wellness program… and on this journey called life. Check out The PURIST magazine for any upcoming events/retreats.

⛵ PRODUCT: AIREM’S PEARLESSENCE SHEET MASK

AIREM’s Pearlessence Bio Cellulose Sheet Mask - Dr. Eunice Park is a true innovator in the beauty and skincare space and attended the Purist retreat. She gifted all the guests a personalized facial and sheet mask. This regenerative sheet mask by AIREM Essentials Clinical Grade Skin Care is infused with hydrolyzed pearl powder and hydration-rich phytonutrients to soothe, soften and strengthen skin. The advanced bio cellulose technology allows the firming sheet mask to conform to the face, efficiently infusing the botanical-packed ingredients directly to your skin. I loved wearing this right after my custom facial by AIREM! Thank you Dr. Park and team.

⛵ WELLNESS WEDNESDAY

Your wellness fix in all dimensions.

💪 PHYSICAL: DanceBody is back out East starting MDW through Labor Day. Celebrating their 10th year in business, the DanceBody team is ready to help you find your rhythm and sweat on the dance floor. SIGN UP HERE.

💗 EMOTIONAL: Book a breathwork session with wellness guru Nadia Josse.

📚 MENTAL: Check out the reopening of the Guild Hall in East Hampton, the first exhibition which is Renee Cox: Woman of the Year.

🙏 SPIRITUAL: Listen to supermodel Paulina Porizkova’s latest book No Filter: The Good, The Bad, and the Beautiful.

😎 SOCIAL: Montauk welcomes two new dining concepts this MDW. “Inspired by the beaches of Montauk, the French Riviera and the Mediterranean, Maison Close Montauk and Talya will offer distinctive dining experiences through thoughtful cuisine, elevated beverages, and chic vibes that breathe new life into the storied properties they occupy.”

🌎 ENVIRONMENTAL: Attend the Central Park Conservancy’s Taste of Summer event on June 7th.

Interested in a curated, private wellness event(s) and/or growth consulting for your business?

Contact us at auraswellcollective@gmail.com.

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xx ALL IS WELL xx

Christina Chao, CEO of AURASWELL COLLECTIVE