Many sailors who keep their boats at Waukegan Marina have wondered what it would be like to participate in a sailboat race.
The good news is that racing with Anchorage Yacht Club is designed to be welcoming, friendly, and accessible for sailors of all experience levels.
Many of our current racers began exactly where you are now — curious about racing but unsure how to get started.
The truth is, getting involved is much easier than you might think.
One of the easiest ways to get comfortable with racing is simply to watch a race from the harbor or from your boat.
During our Thursday Night Series, you’ll see boats heading out of Waukegan Harbor in the evening to sail short buoy courses just offshore.
You’ll quickly notice that while the racing can be competitive, the atmosphere is also friendly and relaxed. Many sailors participate simply because it’s a fun way to spend time on the water.
Anchorage Yacht Club members are always happy to talk with fellow sailors in the marina about racing.
If you see boats preparing for a race, feel free to stop by and ask questions. Most sailors are more than willing to explain how the races work and how new participants can get involved.
Racing is one of the best ways to meet other sailors in the marina and become part of the sailing community.
You don’t need special equipment or extensive experience to begin racing.
Most boats at Waukegan Marina are perfectly capable of participating in our races.
Anchorage Yacht Club uses a PHRF handicap system, which allows different types of sailboats to compete fairly against each other. Boats are grouped into divisions so that you race against boats with similar performance.
Even cruising sailboats can be competitive.
Our Thursday Night Series is the perfect introduction to sailboat racing.
These races take place on short buoy courses, usually last about an hour, and have a relaxed social atmosphere that makes them perfect for sailors who want to try racing for the first time.
Once you're comfortable with the basics, you may want to try our Saturday Series.
These races resemble a leisurely cruising sail along the shoreline. The course is simple: sail north toward Zion, turn around, and return to Waukegan Harbor.
Because the boats spread out more over the course, these races feel less crowded and are perfect for bringing along family members, friends, and marina neighbors.
You do not need to understand all the racing rules before you begin.
Our members are always happy to help new racers learn starting procedures, course navigation, basic racing tactics, and sailing rules.
Many sailors discover that racing actually improves their sailing skills faster than almost anything else.
At the end of the season, Anchorage Yacht Club hosts an Annual Awards Banquet where race results are announced and awards are presented for the top finishers in each division and race series.
It’s a great opportunity to celebrate the sailing season with fellow members of the club.
If you have a sailboat at Waukegan Marina, we would love to see you join us on the starting line.
If you have questions about getting started, please contact:
John Simons
Sail Chairman – Anchorage Yacht Club
Email: john.simons@aycchicago.org
Cell: (847) 226-1070