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Sailing Education

Sailing Education

Interested in learning to sail? Our On-the-Water team has opportunities for all experience levels. We teach students the different parts of a boat and sailing terminology. We also offer opportunities to try out the different crew positions on one of our Sonars, so the student feels comfortable in any spot on the boat. Whether the student is interested in just learning the basics or wants to try racing, our team of highly skilled staff and coaches will help him or her achieve their goals! You do not need to be a member to participate. However, members are offered discounted pricing and can rent and reserve club boats after classes end.

Member Registration Opens January 1, 2024
Non-Member Registration Opens February 1, 2024

Register for Classes

  • Learn to Sail
    • As a U.S. Sailing Accredited Keelboat Sailing School, we host a multi-day course that gives students the skills needed to confidently skipper and crew a day sailing keelboat. Students who pass the course are issued a U.S. Sailing Basic Keelboat Certification. All classes are taught by U.S. Sailing Certified Keelboat Instructors and the maximum class size is 4 students per boat. No prior sailing experience is necessary to enroll.

      Each course covers sailing theory, boat handling skills, safety and emergency techniques, anchoring and docking, heavy weather sailing, and navigation. The U.S. Sailing Keelboat Certification Course is held between May to October at our Belmont Harbor Station.
      Any questions can be directed to Mike DiPlacido at [email protected] or (720) 315-3707

      Session Dates & Cost: 


      Wednesday: 6 - 9 p.m. (Classroom/Dockside), Saturday & Sunday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (On the water)

      Session 1: 
      May 22, May 25, May 26  

      		 Session 2: 
       May 29, June 1, June 2
      		 Session 3: 
      June 12, June 15, June 16
       Session 4:
      June 19, June 22, June 23

      		  Session 5:
      July 17, July 20, July 21
      		  Session 6: 
      July 24, July 27, July 28
       Session 7:
      August 14, August 17, August 18      		  Session 8:
      August 28, August 31, September 1      		  Session 9:
      September 18, September 21, September 22


      Cost: Members - $440 / Non-Members: $730
  • Performance Sailing

    • This program is focused on racing and drills in CYC’s fleet of Sonars. The Performance Sailing Class will help you learn to analyze, adjust, and shape your sails for maximum speed, how to adjust the boats backstay and jib leads for optimum performance. This course will also introduce you to symmetrical spinnakers (hoisting, jibing, dousing). CYC will provide coaching from staff, top racing members, and/or guest coaches. There will be debriefs after sailing at Belmont as well as food and drink specials! 

      A successful completion of this course will earn you a Performance Sailing Endorsement through U.S. Sailing.

      Our goal with the advanced programming is to allow for an opportunity for sailors to build their skills on and off the water by facilitating fleet coaching and community camaraderie.

      Cost: Members - $370  / Non-members - $610

      Session 1 Dates: 5/30, 6/6, 6/13, 6/20, 6/27
      Session 2 Dates: 7/18, 7/25, 8/8, 8/15, 8/26

  • Private Lessons

    • Private Lessons

      For those of you who can't find a class that fits your schedule or who are interested in a more private approach, we offer private lessons that can be scheduled at your convenience! Whatever your needs are, our staff will work with you to tailor a perfect sailing experience. Whether you want to start from scratch and work towards a Basic Keelboat Certification, or if you would like to brush up on your skills, this is an ideal option.

      QUESTIONS?
      To set up your lessons today, contact us at [email protected] or call (720) 315-3707.

Women on the Water

Women's Committee & WOW Social Sailing

With a mission to “enhance the education and social aspect for the ladies of the club”, the goal for the Women’s Committee is to create connection and cultivate community. Made up of all the women of CYC, we are all part of something bigger; our club’s community of women! With a full lineup of on-the-water and off-the-water events planned throughout 2024, each event will create a purposeful experience; for every woman to walk away feeling welcomed, inspired, educated and confident!

Women-on-Water (WOW) is a traditional, Friday evening, on-the-water experience, consisting of six weeks of social sailing. Led by the Chicago Yacht Club OTW staff, you will get to experience time on the water, and an evening back at Chicago Yacht Club Belmont for socializing and fun! For more information, contact [email protected].


Join Our Mailing List

Want to be in the loop on everything the Chicago Yacht Club Women’s Committee has to offer for women who want to be on the water through our Women-On-Water (WOW) Social Sailing program? Join our mailing list to stay up-to-date!

Join Women's Committee Email List

Women-on-Water (WOW) Social Sailing

Welcome to the 2024 Women-On-Water (WOW) Experience! Hosted by the Women’s Committee and led by the Chicago Yacht Club OTW team, the Women-on-Water (WOW) is a traditional, Friday evening, on-the-water experience, consisting of six weeks of social sailing.Our goal for WOW is that every woman who wants to experience being on the water, whether novice or advanced, has an inclusive on-the-water experience as part of an amazing women’s community.


Session 1: Friday, May 24 through Friday, June 28
Session 2: Friday, July 19 through Friday, August 23

Cost: Members: $250  | Non-Members: $490

Register for the WOW Sailing Series

Member Registration Opens January 1, 2024
Non-Member Registration Opens February 1, 2024

Crew U

Crew U

Crew U is a seven-week program starting in May and ending in June. Members of the Chicago Yacht Club offer their boats and wisdom to lead these classes. The course includes some classroom instruction, but the vast majority is taught on the water. The classes are held on Tuesday nights, and many students get additional practical experience racing on offshore boats during Wednesday night racing. If you are interested in being part of yacht racing on Lake Michigan, this is a great way to up your experience and build relationships that may yield a position all summer long. The goal of Crew U is to prepare students to crew on offshore racing boats. For the past 13 years, Crew U has taught adults with limited or moderate sailing experience everything they need to know to start crewing on most racing boats. Rigging, sail trim and teamwork are among the skills covered.

Member Registration Opens January 1, 2024
Non-Member Registration Opens February 1, 2024

Register for Crew U

2024 Schedule

Tuesdays |  May 7 - June 25  |  6 - 9 p.m.  |  Monroe Station
Crew U Graduation Party: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 from 6 - 9 p.m.

Cost: Member - $400 / Non-member - $660
*Cancellation Policy: Partial refunds will be issued up to 30 days prior to the start date of class

Powerboat Education

Powerboat Education

Chicago Yacht Club offers hands-on courses for anyone who wants to learn how to operate a small motorboat and improve his or her boat-handling skills with training in the classroom and on the water. The skills acquired during your certification are transferable to larger boats.

Registration Coming Soon!

Register for Classes

  • Adult Powerboat Courses

    • This hands-on, on-the-water course is for anyone who wants to learn how to safely operate a small motorboat and improve their boathandling skills with training in both the classroom and on the water. The US Coast Guard and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) have approved this course and an increasing number of states have recognized it as meeting their requirements for a state boating safety education certificate. The class is taught on the Chicago Yacht Club's fleet of 17' rigid hull inflatables and the skills you will learn on these boats are transferable to boats of all sizes.

      There are no prerequisites for enrolling, but students must be 18 years of age or older.

      Here are just some of the topics that will be covered in the course:

      On-the-Water Sessions

      • Starting procedures
      • Docking
      • Leaving and returning to a slip
      • Close-quarters maneuvering
      • Steering a range
      • Proceeding to a destination
      • Person-in-water rescue

      Classroom Sessions

      • Maneuvering concepts
      • Registration and capacities
      • Equipment requirements
      • Prep and fueling procedures
      • Aids to navigation
      • Rules of the road
      • Environmental regulations
  • Junior Powerboat Courses

    • This course covers the same content as the Adult Safe Powerboat Handling course but we tailor it for our junior audience. Any junior that drives the family boat or runabout, is considering a job teaching sailing, or just wants to experience the fun of driving a powerboat should take this opportunity!

      This hands-on, on-the-water course is for anyone who wants to learn how to safely operate a small motorboat and improve their boat handling skills with training in both the classroom and on the water. The US Coast Guard and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) have approved this course and an increasing number of states have recognized it as meeting their requirements for a state boating safety education certificate. The class is taught on the Chicago Yacht Club's fleet of rigid hull inflatables and the skills you will learn on these boats are TRANSFERABLE to boats of all sizes.

      All students must be between 13-18 years of age and have a completed Illinois boating education certificate before the first class.

      On-the-Water Sessions

      • Engine & electrical systems
      • Starting procedures
      • Docking
      • Leaving & returning to a slip
      • Close-quarters maneuvering
      • Steering a range
      • Person in the Water rescue
      • Proceeding to a destination

      Classroom Sessions

      • Safety, prep & weather
      • Maneuvering concepts
      • Registration and capacities
      • Equipment requirements
      • Prep & fueling procedures
      • Aids to Navigations
      • Rules of the Road
      • Environmental Regulations
  • Safety & Rescue for Race Crew

    • The Chicago Yacht Club Race Committee is welcome to enroll in the Accelerated Safe Powerboat Handling / Safety and Rescue Boat Course. Any volunteer who operates a Chicago Yacht Club vessel must successfully complete this class. In addition to all of the skills covered in the Safe Powerboat Handling Course, below is a list of some of the topics specific to the Safety and Rescue Boat portion.

      On-the-Water Sessions

      • VHF radio communications
      • Boat rescues including capsizes
      • Person in the Water rescue
      • Towing: astern and alongside
      • Williamson turn
      • Steering a range
      • Intercepting a moving vessel
      • Use of bearings & GPS search pattern

      Classroom Sessions

      • Weather & water briefings
      • VHF radio procedures
      • Safety and rescue equipment and procedures
      • Towing concepts
      • Search pattern concepts
      • Plotting a position
      • Calculating tides and currents
      • Light schemes
  • Course Schedule

    • Cost

      All Sessions:
      Member: $475
      Non-member: $785