Class Registration Begins in April

A new season of sailing is almost here, and it begins with the rollout of our schedule of classes! New and returning students can find information about the class rollout and registration timeline on our website. Our class schedule will post the last week of March. As in the past, students who have taken classes with Sail Chicago previously will be allowed to pre-register for their next class in early April. Lottery signups will open on April 1, and individuals in the lottery will be notified of their registration window no later than April 14. Please carefully read our Class Registration and Cancellation Policy for all the information you need to know about selecting classes and meeting our prerequisites.

From the Volunteer Team
Gerry Stacy, Chairman

Hello Sail Chicago! Volunteer reporting for 2024 has finished up, and service time status is set. You can check your status on your member landing page when you log into my.sailchicago.org. Sailing credits for those that served in leadership and management positions have also been added. If you feel there is an error with your volunteering account for last season, or if you forgot to report your hours, please get in touch with the volunteer team at volunteer@sailchicago.org.

Looking ahead, there are many opportunities to fulfill your service time in 2025 that can take advantage of skills and abilities you already have, or even teach you something new. Our volunteer site now shows all positions available for 2025. If when reporting last year’s volunteer hours you indicated an interest in continuing in your current role, you've probably been re-assigned to that position. If your position was eliminated due to the 2025 reorganization of our maintenance program, you should have received an e-mail regarding this change. Please check the data hub for your current assignments.

If you’re considering joining Sail Chicago as a new member, remember that your service time requirement is waived for your first year.

Returning members, if you don’t have time to meet your 2025 service time requirement, please contact volunteer@sailchicago.org. The volunteer team can adjust your account to show the “service time waiver” so that when you renew your membership you can pay to waive your volunteer time for the current season.

Remember, if you fail to meet your 2025 service time requirement, either because you didn’t volunteer for a position or you failed to fulfill the responsibilities of the position you were assigned, you will be required to pay a service time waiver for the 2025 season before you can renew your membership in 2026.

There are plenty of volunteer opportunities available each season, and many of them can be carried out in just a few hours each month. If you're not sure where to start or what you'd like to do, reach out to the volunteer team at volunteer@sailchicago.org.

Boatyard Open House

Join your friends and other members at the Canal Street Marina, 2059 South Canal St., on Saturday April 5, 10am–12pm. This is a great opportunity to see our entire fleet dry docked. Ever wonder what's under the waterline on a boat that you're sailing? Well, now is your chance to find out. See our maintenance teams at work and discover the fun involved in getting ready for the coming season. There will be tours, games, food & drinks, and sailing knot demonstrations.

— Rich Costello, Maintenance Coordinator

2025 On the Water Classes

Hello Sailors! With the recent blast of warm air many of us are starting to think about summer and Sail Chicago is busy at work planning the 2025 schedule. At Sail Chicago, we offer an on-the-water three course sequence to “skipper-out" on a Colgate. These classes are called Crew, First Mate, and Skipper Prep. Each course meets once a week for four weeks. Last year, we had over 50 classes in total. We hope to be able to offer even more this season.

Remember all students enrolled in any Sail Chicago course must meet the following prior to the first class.

1. Have completed the Sail Chicago Pre-Sail Orientation (PSO) online course

2. Have completed the US Sailing Basic Keelboat online course and passed the online test. More information can be found on Sail Chicago’s Instruction webpage. Be sure to pick up a copy of the Sail Chicago On the Water (OTW) Skill Standards Reference Manual to prepare you for the season.

Are you already a Colgate skipper? Did you know we have other boats as well? Sail Chicago's fleet includes three 19' Rhodes, two 18' Ideals, and two 34' Cruising boats. Once you've skippered out on a Colgate, you can expand your sailing skills on the bigger and smaller boats in the fleet! We are re-vamping the Cruising Instruction and Curriculum this year to focus on building skills and confidence to take out one of our 34' cruising boats. We look forward to seeing you all on the water!

Social News

Season Kickoff
Columbia Yacht Club
Saturday, May 17, 3-6pm

Sailing season is just around the corner, and it’s time to celebrate! Join us for our annual Season Kickoff Party at Columbia Yacht Club, where we’ll gather to reconnect, make new friends, and toast to the adventures ahead on the water! This is your chance to catch up with old classmates, meet new sailing buddies, and dive into the excitement of a brand-new season. Whether you're a longtime sailor or brand new to the sport, everyone is welcome to join. This is a complimentary event for Sail Chicago members and students and all may bring a guest. Snacks and drinks will be provided.

Signup

Mark your calendars for the following summer events!

Racing Happy Hour
Jackson Park Yacht Club
Thursday, June 12th. Time TBD

Join us for a racing-themed happy hour. Learn about Sail Chicago’s racing program and meet other racing members. This is our first event hosted at the Jackson Park Yacht Club, so even if racing isn’t for you, come check out a cool new venue. This event is complimentary for Sail Chicago members and students and your first drink is included. Signup to come .

Friends & Family Picnic
Belmont Harbor
Saturday, July 26th, 9am-5pm

Our annual friends & family sailing picnic at Belmont Harbor is scheduled for late July! Share in the joy of sailing with the people you love by taking them out for short sails on the lake. This will be a paid event for Sail Chicago members and students, with lunch included. Details to come!

Keep up to date with additional Social News on the General channel on Slack. Our event schedule is also available on the public SC calendar located in your my.sailchicago portal.

Merch for Sale

Check out our cool line up of Sail Chicago merch. We’ve sourced T-shirts, polos, jackets, fleece, and hats from top quality vendors, all embroidered with our burgee logo. Take pride in Sail Chicago and wear your merch at social events and on the water. Gift cards are available in increments of $25.00.

Buy Merch

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