“A Tradition of Yachting Excellence” is not only the Chicago Yacht Club's tag line, but a fitting description for a club that has dedicated itself to promoting the sport and perpetuating the values of camaraderie and community. In 1869, eight sailors organized what was to formally become the Chicago Yacht Club six years later, in 1875. They had one 18-foot cat boat and an old wooden shack on Lake Michigan. Their intent: “To find a better way to attract more boats, more sailors, and to organize better races and other yachting events.” This continues to be the tradition 134 years later. The Chicago Yacht Club is one of the oldest and most respected yacht clubs in the world. In keeping with the Club’s original purpose, it sponsors over 100 races and other yachting activities and provides opportunities to introduce individuals to the sport year after year.
Our membership represents a diverse grouping of professionals, business men and women, students and retirees, as different as their occupations, backgrounds or families may be, they all share one common bond…..a passion for yachting. The club’s excellent international boating reputation is a well deserved reflection and a direct result of our members’ dedication to yachting, and their formidable accomplishments in the sport.
In addition to the club’s commitment to yachting, we host a variety of social events and celebrations throughout the year. In conjunction with the club’s management staff, our constantly active committees coordinate educational programs and seminars, holiday festivities, theater, museum and cultural outings, and regular Friday night committee and fleet happy-hour gatherings. From informal barbecues on the patio, and pot-luck dinners on the docks to elegant wine-tastings and black-tie New Years Eve galas, our members never lack for something to do at the club.
