Page 29 - 2020 Yachting in Chicago

CHICAGO CORINTHIAN YACHT CLUB

person boats were paired with a permanent
partner or a sibling. Each evening the sailing
pods arrived in thirty minute waves to reduce
congregating on the dock. Additionally we
expanded our launching to a second location
thus keeping people, boats and parents
hen March rolled in, we were in full
further spread out. And as it turns out, the
swing - processing memberships,
kids didn’t skip a beat and loved every single
W spring cleaning and plotting
second of it.
out our hefty schedule of on and off water
events for our members. Like most, when
COVID-19 entered the picture, we knew the
SECOND: GET RACING UP AND
future was uncertain but we were hopeful.
As the pandemic played out, we realized that
RUNNING.
we were dealing with something far more
serious. Something we have never dealt with
Finding ways to competitively race safely was
before.
the task at hand. At the CCYC, we are always
looking for innovative ways to enhance sailing.
Running on 86 years of history, it was our
This season, we teamed up with MarkSetBot.
Board’s mission to honor that legacy and
This enabled our RC to set courses quickly
keep our Club afloat. But how do you do that
and accurately. If the wind changes direction,
when you don’t know what's next? When it’s
the RC can easily reposition the mark and pin
unclear when your members will be allowed FOURTH: TRY TO GET BACK TO
just by entering the new wind direction in the
access to the Lakefront? Their boats? Our (OUR NEW) NORMAL.
mobile app, so course changes can be handled
Club? How can you give your members all of
automatically without a mark boat crew. Now
those experiences and memories that they For a Club that has as much life off the
add in crew limits, online registrations and
have come to expect and cherish for decades water as it does on, we had to rethink our
virtual award ceremonies and we were back
when there’s so much working against you? social activities. Our Galley offered pickup
on the water.
and delivery to boats. We started traditions
The answer is simple: you can’t. But, you come
of Movie Nights on the lawn. And what is
together, adapt and create new ones.
more socially distant than golf? Although
postponed, the Denzaroo charity golf outing,
a tradition unlike any other, was able to carry
on. And we couldn’t give up live music. It’s in
our souls. Instead of large bands to a packed
house, we shifted to 1 to 2 person acts on the
lawn - our own little Ravinia.
DISCOVER THE FUN. EXPERIENCE CORINTHIAN. FIFTH: MOVE FORWARD.
‘ Affordable Membership ‘ Poker Run Even though it feels we are focused on simply
‘ Power Boaters and Sailors ‘ Fish This THIRD: GET THE KIDS BACK ON getting through 2020, it’s equally important
‘ Wednesday Night Racing ‘ Holiday Events FIRST: GET THE CLUBHOUSE THE WATER. to look at how we can move forward and
be better. While we pride ourselves on
‘ Confortable Clubhouse ‘ Festive Lawn Parties and Bands OPEN. We were adamant that we find a way to keep being inclusive with extensive community
‘ Family Oriented ‘ Crew School and Safety Education the youth program going. With a little creative outreach in our Uptown neighborhood, we
‘ Junior Fleet Sailing Program ‘ Adult Sailing School Safety of our members was our #1 priority. thinking and flexibility, the program took a look forward to spending time this off season
As a 100% volunteer club, we do not have a different shape. Gone were the pre and post finding new and better ways to reach a more
staff in place to implement and enforce COVID gatherings at the Club – replaced by dock diverse community both on and off the water.
safety related restrictions. With the help drop-offs and virtual recaps. In an effort to
2021 is still uncertain. But we do know this:
of dozens of member volunteers, we were promote social distancing and prevent viral
when the CCYC membership comes together,
able to implement all of the COVID safety spread in our youth programs, we reduced
as it did this season, there isn’t a better
requirements set forth by the city and state. our sailing classes from weekly day camps
community to be a part of to face those tough
Through consistent communication, endless and a racing program to a one night a week
challenges. And we will do it with a little
signage, member reminders, and a ton of sailing lesson. Operating on multiple days,
elbow grease, a $2 drink and a lot of laughs.
hand sanitizer, our members have masked up our 65 youth sailors were broken into pods
and were able to enjoy our club safely. and each assigned a coach. Students on two-
2020 yachting in chicago 29

www.corinthian.org membership@corinthian.org