Where to Find Us

Clinton Lake was built by Illinois Power Company during the 1970’s to cool the Clinton Nuclear Power Station. Now owned by Amergen, the lake is surrounded primarily by land managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. CLSA leases the club’s grounds from Dewitt County, which owns and operates the lake’s only full-service marina. CLSA’s pavilion is located adjacent to and just north of the marina itself. Most of the club’s members rent mooring balls, slips, or dry-moorings from the marina operator.

CLSA leases, maintains, and uses an open pavilion, a dock and gravel launching ramp. We own and operate a pontoon boat that serves as our race committee boat, and is equipped with horns, buoys, and all that is needed to run fun and safe races. We also own and operate a fleet of small sailboats available to our members.

Clinton Lake is located roughly 35 miles from Champaign/Urbana or Bloomington/Normal. The CLSA pavilion is best reached from Route 10 south of the lake. Find White Pigeon/Marina road and drive north. Take the entrance to Clinton Lake Marina and look for our facility just north (to your right) of the marina grounds. Click on the links below for maps.

CLSA is co-located with the Clinton Lake Marina (http://clintonlakemarina.com/), which provides dry and wet storage rental, food, boat supplies, and more!

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Regional Map

We are located on Clinton Lake near the town of Clinton Illinois with easy access to Bloomington, Decatur, and Champaing/Urbana areas. Click on the map for a better view.

Flying Scot Fleet

This is our only one-design fleet with a rich history of fun races and end-of-the-season trophies. The Scot is an extremely stable and forgiving boat that combines fun racing with a good family boat. It is generally raced with a crew of two or three, but is rated to carry eight. Many regard this as the perfect boat for Clinton Lake. Trophies are awarded at the Fall banquet for the top sailors in the distance and triangle series as well as the final championship distance and triangle races. The fleet also awards a sportsmanship trophy. CLSA Flying Scot Fleet 135 Fleet Captain: Eric Bussell (217) 377-0661

Click here for blogs regarding our Flying Scot Fleet

Links to Flying Scot Information:

Flying Scot Midwest District Blog

The Flying Scot Homepage

Flying Scot Racing

Flying Scot Inc.

Open Class Fleet

You and your crew are welcome!

Absolutely everyone with a sailboat is encouraged to come race or day sail with us. Currently there is an organized open class fleet with end-of-the-season trophies. Triangle races are scored using the Portsmouth Handicap system.

The open class includes Lasers, Sunfish, C Scows, MC Scows, and Thistles. Daily awards are given for the first three places. Series trophies for the top sailors are awarded at the Fall banquet.

The bottom line is - get your boat out and join us!

Cabin Boat Fleet

This fleet is very active and is composed of a variety of boats in the 20-28 foot range. The cabin boat fleet participates in our race series and is the backbone of our day sailing activities. During fleet races, triangle race times are adjusted using published Portsmouth numbers and the distance race times are adjusted using the PHRF handicap numbers. The fleet contains San Juans, Catalinas, Capri 22s, Rhoades, MacGregors, a Quickstep and more.

CLSA land area

LEGAL DESCRIPTION FOR THE CLSA AREA
The Marina agrees to allow CLSA to use a section of property roughly defined by the following: That part of Lot H35B of the Replat of Illinois Power Company's Addition in DeWitt County, Illinois as recorded as Document No. 115315 in Book "B" of plats, beginning on Page 136 in the records of said County, described as follows, to-wit:
Beginning at an iron pin approximately 42' Northeast of the Northeast corner of the CLSA Pavilion; thence South 00 degrees 59 minutes 56 seconds West 124.30 feet to an iron pin; thence South and East to a point on the East side of a rock road; thence South and East along the East side of the rock road approximately _ feet to the South side of the rock road leading to the gravel launching ramp; thence West along the South side of the rock road leading to the gravel launching ramp to the shoreline of Clinton Lake at normal pool (690' elevation); thence generally Northerly and Westerly along the meanders of said water line of Clinton Lake to a point approximately 1175 feet East of and 350 feet South of the Northwest comer of said lot H358; thence North 89 degrees 00 minutes 29 seconds East along a line 350 feet Southerly of and parallel with the Northerly line of said Lot H358 approximately 255 feet to the point of beginning. 

Cruising: A Midwest Perspective: Narrative by Joe Thompson

I would to make a strong statement for the benefits to the cruising yachtsmen who very much appreciate the fact the Clinton Lake has no shopping centers, golf courses or housing developments surrounding it. With the passing of the seasons at the lake, is never the same for more than a couple weeks at a time. There are deer to see all over the place, gulls are always present, and from time to time we see bald eagles, or even a lost pelican. The marina has a snack bar with tasty hot food and, within a reasonable sail, is the Boondocks, also a pleasant place to tie up and go ashore for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Anchoring out at night is delightful and some hardy sailors keep their boat in the water year around since the heat from the electrical plant helps keep the water from freezing most of the time. Wonderful cruising sailing in the Fall and Spring is enjoyed by many, including those who enjoy cooking aboard. Hiking is available for everyone, and people who tow their boats behind trailers can stay overnight in the campgrounds.

Some cruising related web sites you might enjoy browsing:

Cruising World Magazine http://www.cruisingworld.com/index.jsp

Trailor Sailor Magazine http://www.trailersailors.com/index.htm