Chicago Yacht Club (CYC)

Club information

• Country: United States
• Town/City: Chicago

© Chicago Yacht Club

Chicago-yacht-club-logo

Chicago Yacht Club (CYC)

Founded: 1875 Location: Monroe Harbor & Belmont Harbor, Chicago, Illinois

The Chicago Yacht Club is a Midwestern giant in the world of competitive sailing. With a legacy dating back to 1875 and twin clubhouses on Monroe Harbor (downtown) and Belmont Harbor (Lincoln Park), CYC is one of the most active and respected sailing organisations in North America.

CYC is best known for organising the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac — a 333-nautical mile offshore challenge and one of the longest-running freshwater races in the world. Each summer, this race attracts over 300 boats and more than 3,000 sailors from around the globe, making it the pinnacle of Great Lakes racing.

CYC’s Monroe Station, near downtown Chicago, features a stylish clubhouse with full dining services, event spaces, locker rooms, a race office, and marina access. Meanwhile, Belmont Station serves as the training and junior sailing hub, complete with classrooms, equipment sheds, floating docks, and a vibrant one-design fleet culture. Fleets include J/70s, Etchells, Melges 24s, and T-10s.

The Junior Sailing Program at CYC is highly regarded, with year-round instruction, competitive travel teams, and summer camps for beginners. The club also supports match racing, team racing, and collegiate events — including hosting the US Match Racing Championship and Sailing World’s NOOD Regatta.

Members benefit from reciprocal privileges worldwide, an active cruising fleet, women’s sailing initiatives, and winter education programmes. The CYC calendar is full of social events, ranging from formal balls to post-race BBQs and speaker series.

CYC balances tradition with modern energy — and serves as the racing, cruising, and social anchor for Chicago’s vibrant waterfront sailing community.