Chicago Yacht Club

Overview

Chicago Yacht Club is a yacht club offering sailing, racing, nautical education, youth and adult sailing programs, and social/dining events.

Boating season is usually considered May 1 to October 31.

History

The Chicago Yacht Club was founded in 1875. Its first Race to Mackinac was held in 1898.

The club obtained its first clubhouse (the Argo clubhouse at Illinois Central Pier #3) in 1900, and construction began on the current Monroe Harbor Station in 1955.

A centennial history titled “The First hundred years: a history of the Chicago Yacht Club, 1875–1975” was published in 1975.

Racing and regattas

Chicago Yacht Club hosts dozens of annual regattas including the Race to Mackinac, Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series, and the Verve Cup.

The club offers team racing, match racing, a women’s sailing series, and racing series on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays (spring–fall) at Belmont and Monroe Stations.

Nautical education and sailing training

Chicago Yacht Club offers a Nautical Education Series for members and guests at Monroe and Belmont Stations. Topics include safety, weather, instruments, yacht building, sail trim, boat handling, and marine navigation.

Sessions are in person and include specific 2025 topics and dates (some open to non-members), such as Safety at Sea courses and PFD clinics. Details are available via the club’s Nautical Education Series page.

Charters, rentals, and cruising opportunities

The club offers member charter and rental opportunities through partner providers, and it also provides club equipment rentals (Sonars, paddleboards, kayaks).

It also runs seasonal on-the-water programs and facilitated cruises/charters for members (see boat partner and charter opportunities).

Dining, social events, and meeting space

Chicago Yacht Club hosts social and dining activities, with dining at Monroe Station and family-friendly dining at Belmont Station.

It hosts over 200 events annually and offers year-round activities at two shoreline locations (Monroe and Belmont Harbors).

The club also has 10,000 sq ft of meeting space for events (with dining and facilities at Monroe and Belmont stations described on the club’s dining information).

Dining at Monroe Station and Belmont Station

Monroe Station features an upscale Main Dining Room with lake views, a Mackinac Bar, patio dining, and a Fireside Lounge.

Belmont Station provides a family-friendly venue for casual lunches and dinners and hosts private events, including summer dinner specials and pasta bar buffets.

Clubhouse features

Monroe Station includes fine dining in the Main Dining Room (with 180-degree Lake Michigan views), the Mackinac Bar for casual meals and watching games, an outdoor patio for summer dining and Navy Pier fireworks, and a Fireside Lounge with a fireplace and regatta trophies.

Belmont Station offers family-friendly, casual a la carte dining, summer dinner specials, pasta bar buffets, and facilities for hosting members’ private events.

Full-service catering is available at both Monroe and Belmont stations.

Moorings, transient docking, and parking

Transient docking is available at both Belmont and Monroe Harbors (up to 5 hours at no charge).

Shower, locker, and storage are available at both facilities, and there is convenient and complimentary members-only parking.

More information is available via the club’s member benefits page.

Member programs and events

Chicago Yacht Club has more than 1,400 members and a large junior sailing and nautical education program, along with extensive racing offerings.

It offers more than 125 racing events and year-round activities at two shoreline locations (Monroe and Belmont Harbors), as described on the club’s welcome page.