Chicago Yacht Club

“A Tradition of Yachting Excellence”

Founded in 1875 with the goal of advancing the community’s knowledge, enjoyment and participation in boating and the nautical arts, Chicago Yacht Club remains a valuable resource for its members and for the Chicago community. In fact, Yachting Magazine declared it “one of the country’s most distinguished yacht clubs.”

Chicago Yacht Club is a preeminent organizer and host of regattas, races and predicted log contests in the United States. No other yacht club presents more national-level racing. Annually, the Club presents the storied Race to Mackinac, the longest annual freshwater race in the world, as well as the popular Verve Cup and NOOD for offshore racing, and the Timme Angsten Regatta, a cold-weather challenge for collegiate sailors in November. The Club also is the proud host of the North American Challenge Cup, a race for disabled sailors in its 12^th season. Through 2005, the race doubles as the U.S. Independence Cup, the national championship for disabled sailors.

Through its Sailing School and the Sea Scouts program, the Chicago Yacht Club has long been an enthusiastic supporter of community sailing. For the past 27 years, Chicago Yacht Club has been a leader in teaching children and adults how to sail. The Sailing School is staffed with US Sailing certified instructors and offers participants the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to enjoy the sport of sailing and become US Sailing certified. And since 1925, Chicago Yacht Club has sponsored the Sea Scouting ship S.E.S. Privateer. Sea Scouting, an advanced Explorer branch of Boy Scouting, helps young people develop traditional scouting values while learning boating and water safety skills.

The Club applies its sailing and boating interests to support the community by hosting charitable activities such as the Leukemia Cup Regatta and Jimmy Talbot Memorial Regatta, and benefits for the Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing program, American Cancer Society, and others. The powerboat fleet hosts activities such as a cruise for disabled persons, bringing youth from Misericordia and other homes for the disabled out for a picnic and day on Lake Michigan.

The two Club stations, Monroe Street and Belmont Harbor, offer facilities that meet the 1,500 members’ yachting and entertainment needs. Situated at the heart of the nation’s largest harbor system, the newly renovated Monroe Harbor Clubhouse is also adjacent to Chicago’s Loop and the center of lakefront cultural, educational and sports activities. The unique floating Clubhouse at Belmont is literally in Belmont Harbor, and is home to the junior and adult Sailing School programs. Currently, Raymond J. Green is Commodore of the Club.

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