Getting to Chicago Yacht Club (two locations)

The Chicago Yacht Club has two stations (locations) in Chicago - (1) Belmont Station 300 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657 - launching/hauling/mast up/down as well as trailer storage will be at the Belmont location (2) Monroe Station - 400 E Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603 - will be hosting the event, docking, parties, any off the water activities. The Monroe location is closer to downtown Chicago and the Loop. Rigging & launching will be at the Belmont location. The city is filled with low bridges - it is very important to follow the route exactly.

Towing a J/88 into Chicago Belmont Harbor:
You need to plan your route ahead of time and be careful not to take wrong turns towards low bridges in traffic. Many of the older viaducts within the city streets are too low. It is against the law to drive with a trailer on Lake Shore Drive. This route is one that we have used. It may not be the only way, but it works well:
1. From points South and East, take I-90/94 towards downtown Chicago. You may take either the I-90 Tollway (Skyway) for a fee or the I-94 free route from Indiana.
2. As you approach downtown, follow signs towards Wisconsin. Avoid express lanes.
3. North of downtown, you will take exit 48A for Armitage Ave.
4. At the bottom of the exit ramp, you will need to make a right hand turn of about 110-degrees under a bridge. Leave yourself room to make a wide turn, probably from a half lane to the left of the right turn lane.
5. After crossing under this bridge, you will turn left onto Ashland Ave within 400 ft.
6. Take Ashland Ave. North to Belmont Ave. Turn Right on Belmont.
7. Take Belmont East all the way to the lake. You will pass underneath Lake Shore Drive just before the harbor. This bridge is arch-shaped. Stay near the left side of the right-hand land and make a right turn into the harbor drive. There is a “No Right Turn” sign telling you not to turn the wrong way into the off-ramp of Lake Shore Dr. You will turn right just past the off-ramp from Lake Shore Dr. and follow south to the harbor parking lot entrance

Rigging, Launching & Hauling

Option A: Rigging will take place in the parking lot at the Chicago Yacht Club Belmont. There will be a designated staging area with space to rig. The CYC has a 5 ton single point crane that will be available for you to self launch/haul your J/88. A number of locals will be there to help and will have lifting straps available. There’s mast crane on the end of the CYC barge. The facilities could not be designed any better for the J/88!

Option B: Event Sponsor Crowley’s Yacht Yard, just south of the city has organized a packaged deal with launch/hauling/mast up & down as well as storage for your trailer and vehicle. Crowleys also offers additional services, including rigging as well as delivery to/from Monroe Harbor. Details coming soon.

Docking

Docking is included in your regatta fee from the Chicago Yacht Club. Docking assignments will be determined by the CYC dockmaster and sent to competitors before the event. Please let the dockmaster know when you plan to arrive. Additional information dockmaster@chicagoyachtclub.org