The Waukegan Yacht Club kicks off our Off-Shore Race Series on Saturday, May 8th with our first race to Winthrop Harbor. The Race starts at a line between Bell Buoy #3 and the Green Light House at the entrace to the Waukegan north harbor at 1100 and races to a line extending 090º T and no more than 600 feet from Northpoint Marina Entrance Red light #2. Keep Mark Z at least 300 feet to port.
Racers should mark their finish time and boats ahead and behind and report this information to sail @ waukeganyachtclub.com.
Lunch at the Tropics
This Saturday also marks our first WYC Cruise for 2021. Cruisers may start up to Winthrop Harbor at any time, but should stand clear of the starting line and racers at 1100. Racers and cruisers are invited to dock in Northpoint at pier AA to have lunch at The Tropics after the race.
After two failed attempts Waukegan Yacht Club finally got our first 2021 race under our belt. The wind was very unpredictable at first. It shifted 20-30 degrees several times before the race started and almost died. But after delaying the start of the race for 20 minutes section one responded to the cannon on the Committee boat and jumped off to windward. Fortunately, the wind filled in and the race was on.
Conditions would have been warmer but ideal for the first race.
As the picked up the bunched up racers started to separate. The skies were spackled with thin clouds the temperature brisk. The air was crystal clear and the visibility unlimited. Chicago sat proudly on the southern horizon begging for a visit.
Crew of Sails Call seems to be having fun
As the wind picked up the mark, so tiny on the eastern horizon, approached quickly. Most racers made the mark with only two tacks.
Weather conditions were brisk but clear. Perfect for the first WYC race.
Although we started late, the fleet made it to and around mark in record time. The wind shifted finally to the south allowing everyone to sail right to the mouth of the harbor.
You could not have asked for better conditions for the first race, although 70 degrees would have been appreciated by everyone. Is your boat in the water? Are you signed up for WYC racing? It’s never too late! Come out and join the fun! All racers are welcome.
All racing skippers must provide crew on the WYC Committee boat a minimum of three times during the season. Please schedule your time on the boat by clicking below:
The Waukegan Yacht Club burgee is well known around the world and is available for purchase through the WYC Club store. Founded in 1927, WYC is one of the oldest yacht clubs on the Great Lakes. In March, the WYC board voted to return to the traditional burgee. We ordered a set of burgees and they are now in stock.
Order yours today and fly it proudly from your yardarm.
For years, the Waukegan Yacht Club has displayed photos of members boats on the walls of the bar inside the club. Unfortunately, many of the photos hanging on the walls today are of boats of members that are no longer part of the club. The WYC Sail Committee has decided that the photo wall should be updated with photos of the boats of current members.
All members in good standing are invited to submit a framed 8″ X 10″ photo of their boat to be hung within the club for 2021. We will have one wall dedicated to members who participate in our weekly races and the photos will be displayed each week in the order of that week’s race results. Each week after the race on Wednesday we will have an impromptu ceremony at the club to honor that week’s winners and set their photos in the proper order. All racers are encouraged to attend and participate.
Submit a photo of your boat to hang on the wall of Waukegan Yacht Club
Another wall will display photos of all other members’ boats. Photos can be of sail or power boats and may include your skipper and crew. Photos may include name plaques identifying the boat or skipper’s name.
The first WYC race is scheduled for Wednesday, April 21. This will be a practice race and not count toward flags or awards. All racers are encouraged to participate to get their boats and crews into shape for the upcoming season. The club is also planning a Fish Fry for April 23. You may bring your photos on either dates or anytime afterward, whenever the club is open.
Frames should be plain black or brown and no more than 1″ in width on all four sides.
We hope that all members submit photos for our “Wall of Fame”! If your photo does not have a plaque identifying the boat or owner, please identify your photo in another way so we know who it belongs to.
Please make sure all frames are plain black or brown and no more than 1″ in width on all four sides. The maximum dimensions of any framed photo should be no more than 12″ x 13″. At this time we’d like to hang photo only in portrait mode.
Welcome Family, Friends, and Alumni of WYC Junior Sail! Join WYCYF for this event filled with energy and anticipation of summer winds on Lake Michigan!
The Waterfront Tailgate is their kick-off fundraising event for the summer of 2021. Pack up your coolers and deck chairs for some tailgating fun on the lakefront. Bring your own food or preorder PIZZAS for pick up at the event.
Join us for this great new fundraising event to support WYCYF Junior Sailing! Waukegan Yacht Club Youth Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Donations made at the event may be deductible and documentation will be available during the event or you may choose to have it emailed after for your tax purposes.
Poor weather/rain date is May 2. Announcements will be made via email by 9 AM on May 1 if the rain date is necessary
Below you will find the cruising schedule for the Waukegan Yacht Club Cruisers. All boaters are welcome to join us, motor and sail.
Cruisers assemble at dawn at St Joseph River Yacht Club
Winthrop, IL – May 8. Practice Cruise. We will cruise up to the harbor and have lunch and then return. You welcome to stay the night and return the next day.
Muskegon, MI – Memorial Day Weekend. Leave on Friday, return on Monday or Sunday, depending on wind and weather.
Chicago, IL – (Montrose, Belmont or Monroe) June 26. We will pick the final destination closer to the date.
St Joe, MI – July 24 (Alternate: New Buffalo). Final destination will be designated closer to the departure date.
Milwaukee, WI – Aug 14. WYC is working on a new port-to-port race which will have a cruising division.
Racine, WI. – Sept 18. This is a long time traditional race. Racers and Cruisers are welcome to participate.
Kenosha, WI – Sept 25. This is part of our traditional Last Race, Race. Racers and Cruisers are welcome to participate.
The WYC Cruisers are dedicated to cruising and will pick nearby destinations from time to time for impromptu cruises. Join our mailing list if you’d like to be added to our mailing list to be notified of upcoming cruises.
For scheduled cruises you are welcome to reserve a pier or other accommodation at the destination harbor. Most reservations can be cancelled up to the same day as arrival.
If you do not have a boat, let us know you are interested in joining the cruise as crew! We will pair you up with a boat.
On Saturday, April 17th, 24 members and guests gathered for the Spring Clean Up and tackled a daunting challenge! The club was closed most of 2020 and had not been cleaned and maintained for nearly a year. Bo Harper, Howard Fassnacht and Jim Maivald planned and organized a cleaning crew of volunteers to tackle this big job and many people stepped up and pitched in. Thanks to all of you who answered the call!
Please thank these members and guests next time you see them! If you helped out and don’t see your name, please let me know and we will correct the oversight!
The second WYC trapshooting event is scheduled for Saturday, April 3, at noon. The event is open to all WYC members and guests.
The event will be hosted at the McHenry Sportsmen’s Club in Johnsburg, Illinois. You do not have to own or bring your own shotgun, there will be extra shotguns so everyone can shoot. Trapshooting is conducted in “rounds”. A round consisted of 25 clays at 5 separate stations. The shooting started at noon and everyone will be able to shoot as least three rounds. The fee covers three rounds but you are welcome to shoot more. An additional fee will be paid on site.
Although you don’t need a FOID card to shoot you do need one to buy your own ammunition or a gun. We plan on scheduling future events. So you may want to apply for a card as soon as possible. You can apply for a FOID card by clicking the following button:
Note processing of FOID cards has been very slow due to the pandemic. You may not be able to obtain the card before April 3rd. Children may also obtain a FOID card if sponsored by a FOID carrying adult or guardian.
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