The Waukegan Yacht Club is distinguished among the oldest yacht clubs in the USA, operating on its existing site since its origins on a modest houseboat named Genevieve in 1927. Through booms, recessions, wars, a devastating fire, and pandemic, the members and mentors of the Waukegan Yacht Club are resilient and prevail – bringing education and entertainment for all who are interested.
Purpose
As it was in 1927, our purpose is to promote boating and water related activities. Mentoring for recreational boating safety on our beautiful lake is a serious responsibility. We share experiences and we hold each other accountable for following best practices for boater courtesy and keeping each other and the property around our boats safe. Whether you are cruising, fishing, foiling, paddling, sailing, or racing in any of its formats we are here to help. We host distance races to and from many other clubs each season, including the second largest sail race on Lake Michigan – the Chicago to Waukegan Race – run for over 90 years! Together with the other great businesses and resources of our harbor, we host Lake Michigan’s cruising, driving, and train traveling visitors.
Membership is Inclusive
If the harbor is calling you – if you are interested in the water related activities of Waukegan Harbor and Marina, then you are eligible to be a member in the Waukegan Yacht Club. YOU DON’T NEED TO OWN A BOAT!
The only element of our purpose that has been revised over our greater than 95 years of existence is awareness of and ongoing expansion of our understanding of equality. As our world changed, so have we – inviting, embracing, and celebrating diversity in all of its definitions – as the world learns of the need to re-define inclusion, so do we.
Our eldest mentors tell amazing tales of the history of our club trailblazing in diversity of leadership. Regardless of how each those proposals were received in the short term, our club has a history of challenging any claims that there are LIMITS to who can enjoy boating or lead in our organization! There are no limits.
If you love the water, boats, an active social calendar, and meeting wonderful people, you will feel at home in the Waukegan Yacht Club. Join us today – the harbor is calling you! Join WYC today!
Visiting WYC
The club is open to the public on Thursday nights with live music starting at 7PM throughout the year, only closing around major holidays so volunteers and temporary staff may spend time with family.
Visiting members of other clubs are welcome! Proof of membership in a well known club is often enough to enjoy reciprocal benefits and before traveling over a long distance, it is best to have your club send us an introduction letter on your behalf with your expected arrival date(s).
Our entertainment activities begin in late winter after we perform a deep clean and repairs and reinstall equipment. We are striving to increase our dining hours and social activities sustainably in this tough economic environment. Among those activities, our Membership and Social Committees are collaborating for planning regularly scheduled Open House events – tours, entertainment, and menu tastings to learn about membership and education opportunities.
We endeavor to be a contributing member to our harbor community and to the City of Waukegan. If you are a leader or planner for a local organization, please contact us about holding your meetings and events at the Waukegan Yacht Club.
Proud History
The Waukegan Yacht Club was founded in 1927 to promote yachting, yacht racing and “good fellowship among yachtsmen on Lake Michigan.” The club has grown from its original home, a 20 ft x 60 ft houseboat, to its present one-story, full-service facility in Waukegan Harbor. In each of its iterations, the club was built by members and paid for through membership activity and volunteerism.
Children have been learning to sail with club mentors at the Waukegan Yacht Club since 1952 and with dedicated, certified instructors since 1966.
Governance
The club is governed under membership Bylaws with a Board of Directors and Officers elected each year by the members and appointed in interims when needed. All directors and officers are volunteers, giving their leadership and time to staying the course on our purpose.
Our Bylaws are governed by IRS 501(c)(7) Nonprofit Social Organization, which requires memberships within our shared interests and to keep careful track of member, guest, and non-member spending in the club. Membership meetings are held quarterly in March, June, September and December. Members are also welcome to attend the monthly meetings of the Board of Directors which are held on the fourth Thursday of each month.
Social Events
The Waukegan Yacht Club offers many boating and social events to its members. All events are organized and run by volunteer member committees and typically include: a New Year’s Eve Party, St. Patrick’s Day Party, Blessing of the Fleet, Chicago to Waukegan Sailboat Race, Milwaukegan Race, and the Commodore’s Ball. Other events fill out a full schedule of activities for the participation and enjoyment of the membership and their families.
Sailing Activities
The Waukegan Yacht Club is well known for its diverse sailing, learn to sail, and sail racing programs which run all year, except when the harbor is frozen over.
- The club promotes a Junior Sail Program for children ages 5 to 17 years. Participants in this program learn sailing theory, seamanship, self-reliance, and sportsmanship.
- The adult sail program is held on Wednesday nights, starting in April – currently seeking a new volunteer instructor
- A new woman-only adult sail program is being planned for Thursdays
- Frostbiting in Waukegan Harbor during the winter rounds out our programs.
- There are a host of club racing venues to join –
- Wednesday night summer “beer races”
- Port-to-port events
- Regional Regattas
Cruising Activities
The club also offers both sail and power cruising activities:
- Power yacht owners frequently plan informal cruises to nearby harbors as well as to harbors across the lake. More ambitious cruises to other ports of call are commonplace among members of the power yacht fleet.
- Sail cruisers join together for several trips ranging from single-day “lunch cruises” to “long-distance kick-off” cruises.
Club Amenities
The Waukegan Yacht Club offers excellent dining and lounge facilities for members and their guests. The atmosphere lends itself to casual and formal dining as well as parties and special occasions. Our professional galley and kitchen safety contractors and temporary staff offer a quality culinary experience at reasonable prices. Dinner is typically served on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights during the boating season, with special events, parties, and other activities scheduled on Saturdays.
Club Rental
The Club’s facilities and restaurant, along with its unique waterfront location and spectacular views, are available for private, fully catered events and meetings. Club rental is discounted to members.
Click on the “Find Us – Directions” menu item for directions to the club.