Get Involved!
Your Home on the Water offers countless opportunities to get involved! CYC has five different fleets and more than 40 committees. Whether you want to help with event planning, communications, finances, sponsorship, history, on-the-water activities or on-shore activities, there is a committee for you!
Meet the Fleets
CRUISING SAIL FLEET
The Cruising Sail Fleet provides adventure, friendship, and educational opportunities to all CYC sailors. Our many on-the-water and shore-based events include weekend cruises to scenic Lake Michigan ports, group entertainment, on-the-water community service cruises, and educational seminars covering boat maintenance and safety.
POWER FLEET
The CYC Power Fleet is an impressive combination of vessels including multi-generation owned vintage cruisers, sport-fishing boats, small cruisers or brand new mega yachts. The fleet hosts annual philanthropic events for special needs groups and the visually impaired. An active social calendar includes long-distance cruises around Lake Michigan, dock parties and boating safety seminars.
OFFSHORE FLEET
CYC’s Offshore Fleet is focused on maintaining a competitive and inviting racing environment. We offer racing opportunities to encourage development of the highest caliber strategic, tactical, boat handling and safety skills. They include multi-day regattas, buoy and distance races, and Wednesday night Skyline racing. All boats are welcome whether they are the latest in one-design, handicap or “age-less” speedsters. Our goal: to get more sailors and boats on the water.
RACING YACHT FLEET
CYC’s Racing Yacht Fleets compete out of Belmont Harbor most Saturdays during the season. The Racing Yacht Fleet is composed of One-Design classes and offers some of the best and most fun racing in the Midwest. In One-Design racing all boats are equal, which emphasizes the skills of the sailors. The first boat to cross the finish line wins.
DRAGONFORCE 65 FLEET
What started off as a fun pastime after racing during the offseason has grown! Sailing has gotten quite competitive for these remote-controlled yachts, especially for spring and fall Frostbite and the Iceberg Series. We have more than 140 Dragonforce 65 yachts in our fleet! For each race day, we anticipate 20-30 boats on the line.
Club Committees
There are dozens of opportunities to personalize your Club and volunteer for activities and events that interest you. The Chicago Yacht Club prides itself on having an active membership that continually strives to make your Home on the Water the best place on Lake Michigan!
If you are interested in joining a committee or have any questions, contact Member Relations Manager Jennifer Muir at Jennifer.Muir@chicagoyachtclub.org.
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Prospective members interview with this committee to get familiar with the Club. Committee members make recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding applications for membership, transfer or reinstatement.
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These committee members are between 21 and 39 years old. They focus on encouraging engagement among their peers. They plan activities and events intended to be of interest to their age group.
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The Chicago Regatta is a benefit for the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital, SOS Children’s Villages Illinois and the Chicago Yacht Club Foundation. It’s a showcase and celebration of the waterfront community’s generosity, love of the water and compassion for children.
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This committee works with the Club Communications Department as a liaison relating to the Club’s magazines, website and marketing efforts.
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We strive to be good neighbors both on and off the water. This committee serves as a liaison to the city.
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This seven-week course is taught in the spring by some of CYC’s best racing sailors. Committee members teach participants racing basics and beyond.
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Members of this committee coordinate with the Stations Committee to plan dinners, dances and other events.
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The Club is family friendly, and this committee aims to plan events that are of interest to adults and children.
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This committee is chaired by the Treasurer and works with the Accounting Department to supervise the Club’s finances. It also supervises the Club’s accounting to make sure funds are separated, reserved and used for proper purposes.
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Fleet Review represents the ceremonial inspection of the fleet by the Club’s Flag Officers. Members who own boats “dress ship” with colorful flags and pass in single-file review before the Club’s Flag Officers, local military dignitaries, and other members and guests at Monroe Station. This committee organizes and conducts the ceremony.
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This committee works with the librarian to capture the culture of the Club.
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This committee encourages children to get involved in yachting and be active members of the Club. Members of this committee also recommend nominees to serve as delegates to the LMSRF Area 3 Youth Council. In addition, the committee helps implement junior regattas.
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This committee promotes the sport of sailing. Members work with the Club’s on-the-water staff to create sailing opportunities and expand access to boats. Members plan educational programs, regattas and social events.
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This committee reviews documents, primarily contracts, usually at the Flag’s request.
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This committee cares for the trophies, books and other publications in the Club’s possession. It’s a yachting tradition to have a librarian as an officer.
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This committee represents the Club as the Race Organizing Authority as prescribed by the International Sailing Federation’s Racing Rules of Sailing, adopted by the national yacht racing authority for the Chicago to Mackinac Island Race. The Mackinac Race is conducted under nationally or internationally recognized rules. The committee also coordinates all social functions tied to the race as well as sponsorship and public relations. The committee also appoints a jury for the race. The chair is required to have extensive experience with offshore yacht racing. 80% of this committee is associate and regular CYC members.
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This committee aims to attract new members, make sure new members feel welcome and retain existing members.
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This committee plans and coordinates events relating to on-the-water activities. The goal is to foster interest in on-the-water activities, promote safety and teach members about the types of activities available to them. These events are open to all members.
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25 members with the most seniority are placed on the roster of the Old Guard. They gather each Friday for a round table.
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This committee is in charge of all aspects of procuring and updating all prizes. The committee also accepts all awards on the Club’s behalf.
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This committee arranges and manages all sail yacht races run by the Club, except for the Race to Mackinac. The Race Committee also records the results of all sail yacht races.
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This committee runs the Sea Scout program, which is part of the Boy Scouts of America. It’s designed for people between 14 and 20. The Chicago Yacht Club ship Privateer has activities throughout the year to encourage young adults to learn how to safely enjoy being on the water.
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This committee coordinates the selection and execution of special regattas, including world championships, North American championships, and similar events. This committee is by appointment only.
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CYC offers year-round corporate partnership programs with marketing packages focused on member and event participant positioning.
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This committee generally supervises the Club stations through a professional manager and paid staff. The committee’s duties include the operation and repair of the Club’s properties and facilities. This committee also prepares and submits the annual budget for Club operations and its properties.
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This committee organizes and runs one of the largest course-racing regattas in North America every year. Both the Offshore Regatta and Inshore Regatta attract more than 100 yachts to the lakefront every year.
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This committee aims to improve the education and social interactions for the women of the Club. The committee plans a variety of events to encourage Club involvement.
