sailboat racing in chicago

5 reasons to experience the U.S. Sail Grand Prix Chicago at Navy Pier

Published on June 12, 2023 by Choose Chicago

The Rolex United States Sail Grand Prix Chicago at Navy Pier brings action-packed racing to Lake Michigan, Chicago’s Skyline Stadium , on June 16 – 17, 2023 to kick off the summer of racing.

National teams from the United States and all around the world will race hydro-foiling 50-foot race boats that literally fly over the water while sailing at 60+ mph speeds, thrilling crowds on land and on water, all in the heart of the Windy City. 

Chicago is the only freshwater venue in the world, and is the first event to open SailGP’s season four! Here are five reasons to come experience the adrenaline-fueled racing at Navy Pier:

1. Race boats that literally fly out of the water. Really! The F50 catamaran uses hydrofoils to lift out of the water and achieve highway speeds, faster than almost any power boat! This means close racing, crashes, capsizes, and drama — definitely not your normal day on the water.

2. Come for the party, stay for the racing! Tickets start at just $35 for general admission on Friday or Saturday. The Race Stadium opens at 3 p.m. and racing begins at 4 p.m. each day.

New to the festivities this year: the White Claw™ Beach Club. With panoramic views of the racecourse, the Beach Club is located right at the water’s edge and is the best place to witness the fast and furious racing action of SailGP. 

3. Feel the spray of the F50s flying by Navy Pier. SailGP brings fans closer into the action than any other sporting event with opportunities to meet world-class athletes on shore and catch a glimpse of the race boats up close!

4. Bring your own boat! Yes, Chicago’s Skyline Stadium really will feel like a race course and you have the opportunity to bring a boat (or ask a friend) and anchor right next to the race course for an unparalleled, up-close race experience!

5. Don’t have your own boat — no problem! Another new option is the On-Water Premium Presented By White Claw™ Spirits. Treat yourself to an exclusive race experience onboard the SailGP spectator boat fleet with unique viewing opportunities located immediately next to the race course.  

How to watch Sail Grand Prix

Join the party on land or on water! Navy Pier is race stadium headquarters and will host the weekend party to watch as the turbo-charged 50-foot race boats fly only a few feet away, across Chicago’s Skyline Stadium. Enjoy live music and DJs, premium food and beverage experiences, fan shops, big screen TVs, fireworks, and more!

Racing takes place between Navy Pier and Adler Planetarium, guaranteeing a front-row seat along the waterfront as well.

When is Sail Grand Prix

Race day 1 | Friday, June 16 SailGP Stadium | 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. Race times | 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Race day 2 | Saturday, June 17 SailGP Stadium | 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. Race times | 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

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Sail Grand Prix debuts in Chicago off Lake Michigan's fresh waters

ABC7 Meteorologist Greg Dutra is live from Navy Pier

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The T-Mobile United States Sail Grand Prix debuts at Chicago's Navy Pier this weekend.

Sailing Lake Michigan, it's the first time the global racing championship has competed on freshwater.

RELATED: Sail Grand Prix makes Chicago debut on Lake Michigan

The weekend promises to deliver spectacular racing action as the sport's best athletes compete on 50-foot hydro-foiling race boats that fly over water while sailing at 60+ mph speeds.

The national teams from Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Spain and Switzerland will join the American home team on Lake Michigan.

Two-time SailGP champion Tom Slingsby and the Australian team currently lead the standings after a Season 3 opening victory in Bermuda last month, but Spithill and the American team are hungry for their first win, especially in front of the home crowd.

Tickets are still available for purchase to enjoy a fantastic weekend of racing.

The Navy Pier Race Village opens at noon on Saturday and Sunday, with racing at 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

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Midwest Open Racing Fleet

Welcome to MORF

(Photo credit: Karen I. Hirsch Photography )

65 seasons of the Midwest Open Racing Fleet (MORF)!

Founded in 1959, MORF is dedicated to providing fair, fun and competitive offshore sailboat racing for mid sized racer/cruising sailing yachts.

The MORF mission is to provide “The best possible racing and social programs for a mixed PHRF fleet.”

During the Chicago racing season from May through September MORF offers a full schedule of short-course and long-distance races conducted under the PHRF handicapping system.

MORF offers experienced racers and their crews the challenges of racing against some of the best sailors in Chicago land. And with its training programs and casual races MORF welcomes new racers to the excitement and of sailboat racing.

As a voluntary organization MORF depends upon its members for race management allowing for very modest membership and race entry fees. Racing is one fee for the season, just show up, check in, and race.

MORF is a member of U.S. Sailing Association, the national governing body of the sport of sailing in the United States.

MORF Officers: Commodore – Todd Gayley (Touring Machine) Vice Commodore – Dave Baker (Handsome Pete) Rear Commodore – Mark Bouckaert (Gaucho) Treasurer – Mike Ciechanowski (Cahoots) Secretary – Peter Cooper (Tenacity) Section 4/5 Captain – Jon Hood (Gaucho) Section 6/7 Captain – Tracy Stephenson (Fastnet) Section 9 (JAM) Captain – Ralph Krauss (Yukon) Fleet Crew Captain – Nicole Scardigno (Mazal Tov) Past Commodore – Tim Herboth (Fastnet) Protest Chair – Dennis Bartley (Planxty) Webmaster – Peter Cooper (Tenacity)

Membership Application Send completed Membership Application Form  to MORF (P.O. Box 3429, Lisle, Illinois 60532 or electronically to [email protected] ). Payments can be made online through the paypal link on the Join MORF page

• Annual Membership $250
• New Member Special $125
• Partner/Crew Membership $25

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Racing Season In Chicago Commences With High Speed Sailboat Grand Prix On Lake Michigan [PHOTOS]

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NAVY PIER — The first of two large scale races to come to Chicago’s Downtown set sail over the weekend as Chicago hosted its second Rolex United States Sail Grand Prix.

The race series, which took place Friday and Saturday, started SailGP’s Season 4 global championship.

It drew thousands of spectators along Chicago’s lakefront, many of them milling about Navy Pier to watch the competition and soak in the sailing scenes. The eastern end of the pier turned into a race village, with bars, grandstands, activities and spots to watch the race.

“[It’s an] awesome place to sail, especially here in Chicago. This city is sick,” said Canada’s SailGP Team’s Phil Robertson after disembarking his vessel Friday.

“The sort of backdrop on the race course and the breeze blowing up and down here, the fans on Navy Pier, it doesn’t get much better,” he said.

New Zealand’s team placed first in the weekend’s races, followed by Australia in second. Roberston’s Canada team placed third.

Following SailGP, Chicago will next host the NASCAR Chicago Street Race, which will take over Downtown July 1-2. The controversial race series is currently being set up in and around Grant Park.

Read more: NASCAR Pledges Safety — And Big Money For City — Ahead Of July Street Race

The catamarans are known to travel more than 60 miles per hour as they cut through the race course. The vessels made an almost jet-like hissing sound while they maneuvered in the harbor.

The weather over the weekend proved a challenge for the sailors.

Though Friday’s windy conditions were ideal for race day, Saturday’s light breeze made it so that the lightweight, high-speed boats could not execute their trademark foiling.

Canada’s Robertson noted that sailing in Lake Michigan — the only freshwater course in the racing series — makes for a different racing experience, too.

“There’s a little less density than saltwater, so there’s not much lift in the water. So you sort of take off speeds quite a lot later,” he said. “It’s a bit harder.”

Jimmy Spithill is the CEO and driver of the home team, USA SailGP Team, which placed second to last on Lake Michigan.

“On the bright side, it was great to see and hear the huge crowds at Navy Pier this weekend. Chicago is an iconic sports city and it’s an incredible place to race,” Spithill said.

“Navy Pier was buzzing with anticipation and excitement all weekend,” Marilynn Gardner, Navy Pier President and CEO, said in a press release. “We’re grateful for this rewarding partnership with SailGP and the Chicago Sports Commission.”

See more photos from Friday’s racing:

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Colin Boyle

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Levitating sailboat race returns to Chicago in June: ‘Not your grandfather’s sailing’

Sailgp kicks off its second year in the water off navy pier on father’s day weekend, racing 50-foot catamarans that reach highway speeds..

A SailGP boat races near Navy Pier on June 18, 2022. The race returns to Chicago on Father’s Day weekend this year, with nine boats from different countries competing.

Bob Martin for SailGP

A high-speed race is coming to Chicago’s downtown lakefront in the next few weeks, but it’s not NASCAR’s Street Race .

This one is happening on Lake Michigan.

SailGP, short for Sail Grand Prix, kicks off its second year in the water by Navy Pier on Father’s Day weekend, racing 50-foot catamarans that appear to float above water.

They’re not levitating — just balancing on a below-boat foil, like an airplane wing, that reduces drag and allows them to reach 60 mph.

“This is not your grandfather’s sailing,” said Tod Reynolds, event director for SailGP in Chicago.

Nine boats, each representing a different country, will zoom across the lake from the pier to the Adler Planetarium in SailGP’s fourth season opener June 16 and 17. The race is officially called the Rolex United States Sail Grand Prix.

Julie Giese, president of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race, and Cooper Dressler of SailGP’s USA Team, exchange helmets at a news conference at Navy Pier. NASCAR is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

SailGP publicized the race at a press event with NASCAR officials Wednesday at Navy Pier, challenging racers from each franchise to try each other’s sport.

Julie Giese, president of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race, exchanged racing helmets with SailGP USA team member Cooper Dressler.

Giese called the NASCAR race, set for July 1-2 around Grant Park, NASCAR’s “boldest initiative” in its 75-year history.

• NASCAR to close southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive 6 days, other major streets
• NASCAR to use mufflers in Chicago, keep lakefront accessible

Dressler said the high speeds of the SailGP-style boats can be dangerous for crew members, but that there are extensive safety training and measures to account for that: safety knives, tethers and oxygen bottles in case crew members get stuck under wreckage.

The Chicago race is unique to sailboaters because it’s the only freshwater course in SailGP’s international circuit. The boats can go quicker in fresh water because there’s less drag than in salt water. But freshwater is also less buoyant, so the boats must reach higher speeds to rise up on their foils.

SailGP’s season 4 calendar

Chicago’s weather is less predictable than in ocean-side races. Last year, racers had to move farther out onto the lake because the lake breeze wasn’t reaching the shores.

“Chicago is very unpredictable — which makes it actually really interesting,” Dressler said.

• Summertime festivals and special events offer fun for all ages

Reynolds said the race weekend was moved a day earlier on the weekend, over Friday and Saturday, so it wouldn’t interfere with Father’s Day, as it had during the Chicago race last year.

The race was also pushed later into the afternoon, starting at 4 p.m., when winds are expected to be stronger along the shore, he said.

A SailGP boat races near Navy Pier on June 18, 2022. The race returns to Chicago over Father’s Day weekend this year.

Jon Buckle for SailGP

SailGP’s Chicago race map

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June 17, 2023 @ 2:30 pm

Rolex United States Sail Grand Prix Chicago at Navy Pier

Please be aware that the content on this webpage was authored more than 6 months ago, so some information may be outdated or no longer accurate. Please visit our event calendar for information on current events.

ROLEX UNITED STATES SAIL GRAND PRIX CHICAGO AT NAVY PIER Friday, June 16 – Saturday June 17

The thrilling speeds and action-packed excitement of SailGP return to Chicago’s Skyline Stadium for the  Rolex United States Sail Grand Prix | Chicago at Navy Pier, June 16-17, 2023 !

The fan-focused,  two-day  spectacle of exhilarating races will take place immediately adjacent to Navy Pier as nine national teams, including Jimmy Spithill’s United States team, battle it out in short, intense races competing on the F50 catamaran – a race boat that “flies” out of the water and can reach speeds in excess of  60 mph !

Navy Pier will be transformed into the  SailGP Race Village  featuring stadium viewing – the only way to watch the racing from land –  with tickets starting at $35 .

Buy Tickets Now

General Admission $35 This ticket offers access to the  SailGP Race Village at the east end of Navy Pier, immediately adjacent to the racecourse at the United States Sail Grand Prix | Chicago with sweeping views of the racing and iconic Chicago skyline. Tickets for youth 6-12yr are $20. Entry for kids 5 and under are free. Buy adult tickets from $35

Waterfront Seating $75 This ticket offers  bleacher seating at the east end of Navy Pier immediately adjacent to the racecourse at the United States Sail Grand Prix | Chicago. This ticket also includes exclusive access to the closest landside seats from which to experience the racing. Buy tickets from $75

On Water Premium Seating Join us  on the water for the SailGP: United States Sail Grand Prix Chicago Lunch Cruise on Lake Michigan. This ticket offers a custom lunch menu, a premium open bar, and unbelievable views of the event. Book On Water Premium Tickets

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United States Sail Grand Prix: How to watch, stream, time, channel for SailGP's first ever race in Chicago

Sailgp will hit navy pier as 10 national teams are set to compete in a high-speed race on lake michigan.

This weekend's race may be the second of SailGP's third season, but a pair of firsts make it a must-see affair. The T-Mobile United States Sail Grand Prix Chicago is SailGP's first ever race in Chicago, and it's also the championship's first race to take place on fresh water. 

Beginning at Navy Pier, 10 national teams in F-50 catamarans will race through Lake Michigan in a thrilling high-speed competition from June 18-19. The participating teams are Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland and the U.S. 

Anna Weis, who sailed for Team USA in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and is LSO slated to compete in this weekend's SailGP race, told CBS that fans should expect significantly more intense sailing than what they may see at home. The carbon fiber boats can travel up to 60 mph, so she isn't exaggerating. 

"This is definitely some full-on sailing and not your leisurely everyday, go out and have fun, it is extremely fun, but there's a lot on and there's a lot of technicalities and teamwork that is required to make the boat go fast," Weis said. 

Here's the full TV schedule for the T-Mobile United States Sail Grand Prix Chicago. The race can also be streamed on fuboTV (get access now) . 

CBS Sports Network Schedule                       

June 18 – T-Mobile US SailGP – Day 1 – 3:00-4:30 p.m. ET on CBSSN (LIVE)                                                                                    June 19 – T-Mobile US SailGP – Day 2 – 3:00-4:30 p.m. ET on CBSSN (LIVE)

CBS Schedule

June 26 – T-Mobile US SailGP – Chicago Highlights – 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET July 3 – T-Mobile US SailGP – Chicago Finals – 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET

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Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series – Chicago

June 7-9, 2024  •  Hosted by the Chicago Yacht Club

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June 7-9, 2024

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Social events and fees are separate from entry fees; all sailors, members, and guests are welcome. It is the intent of the OA to host the Sailing World Speaker Series on Thursday, a Happy Hour post racing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Chicago Yacht Club. Regatta Social Passes should be purchased in advance on the event website.

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The BVI Championship’s Mount Gay Rum Cocktail Contest is coming to the Chicago Yacht Club on Friday, June 7th. If you have a practiced hand or favorite recipe, sign up to create what could be Chicago’s Regatta cocktail. Mount Gay provides the mixers and the Mount Gay Rum (Eclipse, XO, Navy Strength, and Black Barrel). Space is limited.

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Join Todd Basch and Dave Gerber from Quantum Sails with Shea Gibson from Sailflow Weather for interactive forecasts, local knowledge, and expert tips. Ask your questions and prepare for your day!

Regatta News: Chicago

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With the distance racers battling shifts and holes offshore, the buoy racing action continued on the second day of the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series in Chicago.

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Chicago Local Knowledge With Quantum Sails

Late spring days offer some of the best sailing on Lake Michigan. Sailors with the most success will pay attention to the thermal shifts and look for the benefits of those lake breezes. Quantum Chicago’s Todd Basch breaks it down for the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series in Chicago.

Race Time In Chicago

The Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series kicks off the racing season in Chicago one big opener sure to please.

Onboard the GL52 Natalie J

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Sailing World is partnering with the EWE Spirit Foundation, as the local charitable partner of the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series in Annapolis. The EWE Spirit Foundation will be on-site during the Saturday BBQ to spread awareness and spirit! Sportsmanship, inclusion, and community outreach are all key components for charitable partners of the Regatta Series. Please join us in supporting the EWE Spirit Foundation!

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Countdown to the 114th Race to Mackinac - July 22, 2023

July 13, 2024

Registration for the 115th chicago yacht club race to mackinac opens february 1st.

At noon (12:00 p.m. CST) on Thursday, February 1, automatic invitations for the 115th CYC Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust will be sent out and invited competitors will be able to register their entry. Remember that your docking preference for Mackinac Island, St. Ignace, or Straits State Harbor are honored as best as possible according to entry and payment order, so enter soon!

What’s New in 2024?

As we look forward to warmer temperatures and this year’s race, we plan to begin sharing a series of updates regarding changes to the competition we think you’d like to hear about. If you are new to the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, and interested in learning more about how to enter the race, please visit our new FAQ page.  

Read on for recent updates to the 2024 race and remember that official race changes will be made when the new NOR and CMSR documents are available on February 1, 2024, when registration opens at noon (12:00 pm CT). 

That’s a wrap! 114th Race to Mackinac is in the books

CHICAGO and MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich., July 25, 2023 – Another successful Race to Mackinac is in the books, with today’s award ceremony taking place on the great lawn of Mission Point Resort. The race known as ‘America’s Offshore Challenge,’ delivered a spectacular race yet again with its mix of squalls, calms and most of all, new memories for the 240 teams competing.

For the Mackinac Cup, awarded this year to the large racing boats overall winner, first-timer Final Final won Section 2 and the Cup. Owner Jon Desmond of Cohasset, Mass., admitted they had more than a few moments of angst when early on in the race they made a tactical decision to split from the fleet. 

“We had this moment where it was like, ‘you realize we have just separated from the teams that have how many Macs under their belt’?” he said. The decision paid off, and the East-coast based Mills 41 is already planning its return to defend the victory. 

Light-air woes stall the fleet

CHICAGO and MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich., July 24, 2023 – The dreaded “light and variable” wind forecast has descended upon the boats still racing in the 114th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust, stalling the fleet in northern Lake Michigan. 

As of 3 pm EDT, there are 155 of 240 boats still on the race course, reporting boat speeds of 0.00 to five knots according to the YB Tracker. Just two of the 103 boats in the Chicago-Mackinac Trophy section (boats under 40 feet) have been able to finish, and with a bleak forecast for the afternoon, this year’s edition is quickly turning into a test of patience, and potential food and water rationing. 

Race Starts July 12, 2024

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