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Join Us for Nautical Education

We offer Members and their guests the opportunity to join us for our Nautical Education Series throughout the course of the year at Monroe and Belmont Stations. These sessions cover a wide variety of topics from safety, weather, instruments and DragonForce 65 yacht building, to sail trim, boat handling and marine navigation. All sessions are available in person.

2024 Topics
** Non-Members Are Welcome






Safety at Sea

Education, both in-person and online, to prepare you for offshore sailing.

Ever wonder what you would do if someone fell overboard from your boat? Do you have a plan to deal with dangerous weather if you can’t reach a safe harbor? Are you interested in selecting the right emergency communications equipment or storm sails, but you’re not sure what to buy? A U.S. Sailing Sanctioned Safety at Sea Course will help you answer these questions and more!

The Club is home to more than 1,400 members, including a winning America’s Cup skipper, Olympic medalists and hopefuls, and outstanding boaters of all types, from ages 4 to 100. The Club offers year-round activities for its diverse membership at two locations on the city’s shoreline, at Monroe and Belmont Harbors. We are recognized as a leader in sailing education, with one of the largest junior sailing programs in the United States.

The Club’s Main Dining Room at Monroe Station offers upscale dining and a menu featuring fresh, local ingredients. Belmont Station is a family-friendly venue for casual lunches and dinners and serves as a great location for hosting members' private events. With 10,000 square feet of meeting space, Chicago Yacht Club is perfectly suited to host your social parties, office gatherings and everything in between. Whether you are a novice enrolled in our nationally recognized sailing school, or an “old salt” with seasoned sea legs, Chicago Yacht Club is sure to satisfy you on and off the water, whether it be wind, fuel or oars that propel you.

U.S. Sailing: Safety at Sea Courses

Education, both in-person and online, to prepare you for offshore sailing. Check out what types of safety courses U.S. Sailing has to offer! PLEASE NOTE: Not all courses offered count toward the Race to Mac requirement. If you have any questions, email [email protected]

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U.S. Sailing: Safety at Sea Offshore Course

The Offshore Course covers Units 1-15 featuring topics such as Giving Assistance, Marine Weather, Signaling, Fire Safety, Storm Sails, Damage Control and Repair. Students must complete each unit in chronological order before advancing.

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PFDs: How to Repack and When to Replace

Chicago Yacht Club and Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac Committee host life jacket clinics as part of their efforts to provide safety education opportunities to the boating community. Boaters are invited to bring their life jacket, learn to repack and maintain, keep track of product recalls, and know when to replace them. Join industry experts from Crowley's, Spinlock, Mustang, Absolute Outdoor, Onyx and Crewsaver for hands-on education. The Coast Guard will provide an overview on Search & Rescue communications and will answer questions about search patterns and how to best provide outside support in emergency situations.

Requirements for Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust

At least 50% of a boat’s crew, one of whom shall be the person-in-charge, shall complete one of the following safety courses within the five-year period prior to the start of the race:

  • U.S. Sailing Sanctioned Offshore Safety at Sea Class
  • U.S. Sailing Sanctioned International Offshore Safety at Sea with Hands-On Training Class
  • Equivalent World Sailing recognized course conducted by another World Sailing Member National Authority

All crew members under the age of 18 at the start of the race, shall complete one of the following safety courses listed in the NOR or the Storm Trysail Foundation Junior Safety at Sea Seminar within the five-year period prior to the start of the race.