Clinton Lake Sailing Association

When the sailing season ends at Clinton Lake, the Mid Illini Sail and Power Squadron offers classes taught by CLSA members.   The Mid Illini Sail and Power Squadron is part of America's Boating Club/US Power Squadron.  Beginner, intermediate or advanced — whatever your skill level, ABC's in-depth boating education courses will boost your knowledge and confidence on the water.

The US Power Squadron has a 100-year history of training sailors.  The completion of Power Squadron courses and designations are recognized by other national organizations.  Mid Illini sponsors a flotilla trip to the British Virgin Islands every two years that is attended by many CLSA members.  The cost to join Mid Illini and take classes is $82 annually plus textbook costs, typically $40 per class.   The recommended BVI flotilla training courses include Boat Handling, Marine Navigation, Cruise Planning and Sail courses along with on the water exercises.  Those with extensive sailing experience can opt-out of the Sail course.  These courses provide sailors with the knowledge and the confidence to be able to successfully charter 40-foot yachts in the British Virgin Islands.

Please visit the Mid Illini website and the America's Boating Club website to learn more and take advantage of their classroom training.

Sea Scouts is a program of the Boy Scouts of America.   Click here to learn more.  Sea Scout units– called ships- are established all across the country on oceans, bays, rivers, and lakes.  They provide limitless opportunities and exciting challenges that you won’t find anywhere else.  Sea Scouts is a place to grow and learn, find adventure, and build long lasting friendships.  Sea Scouts is youth led and adult mentored. Sea Scouts and their shipmates lead each Sea Scout program. Elected youth leaders plan and conduct the program and adult leaders guide and support their efforts as they learn important leadership and life skills.  Sea Scouts can earn valuable certifications in SCUBA, boating safety, lifesaving, and CPR, as well as advance in rank from Apprentice to Quartermaster.  Each certification and level of advancement marks a Sea Scout's growth as a sailor and a leader.

Ship #1015 sails on a Capri 22 Monday evenings at Clinton Lake and is looking for adult mentors as the group hopes to rebuild after Covid-19 setbacks.  This is a great opportunity for CLSA members, especially those with teen sailors.   If you are interested in learning more, please contact Curt Ware (217) 841-0445 or cwarecentralregion@gmail.com. 

The Vickie Cup is CLSA’s end-of-year championship, and this year we will have buoy races on Saturday and a distance race on Sunday. The CLSA calendar has been updated with this information.   

Oct. 16: CLSA Vickie Cup Buoy Race

-       All boat types welcome

-       Noon competitors’ meeting

-       1 p.m. first race start sequence

-       3:30 p.m. last race

-       Different boat classes will compete against each other using the Portsmouth rating system, which provides a handicap factor for each boat type depending on its typical speed under the conditions of the race.  

-       We will aim for two or three consecutive 50-minute races on a windward-leeward course.

Boats will be divided into two starting groups:

1) Flying Scots and other boats with a Portsmouth rating greater than or equal to that of the Flying Scot

2) 5 minutes after the first start, Thistles and other boats with a Portsmouth rating less than that of the Flying Scot

Oct. 17: CLSA Vickie Cup Distance Race

-       All boat types welcome

-       One race on a long course around Clinton Lake

-       5.5- or 11-mile course, depending on wind speed and conditions

-       Noon competitors’ meeting

-       1 p.m. (approximate) race start in the small basin just west of CLSA

On Saturday, Oct. 2, CLSA Commodore Nooreen Meghani unveiled the Deb Aronson Sailing Library. It will be installed before next sailing season in the club pavilion so members can share their favorite sailing books. Deb Aronson is a published author, and it is fitting we are naming this community sailing library after her. Deb and husband Ben may be moving away, but CLSA will always be thankful to both of them for making such a positive difference in our sailing community.

Did you know that CLSA pays one discounted fee to the marina so all of our members may use the bathrooms, dumpsters and electricity? Doing so affords our members access to modern bathrooms with running water just steps away from our dock. It also allows us to use their electricity for running our crock pots for social events. Dumpsters are located in the marina parking lot, and we appreciate members removing garbage from the pavilion after use. To access the bathroom after hours, use code (log in to see member handbook since these announcements are public).  

Join us for a Venetian Night celebration on Saturday, Aug. 21! We've got something for almost everyone and a full day of fun activities planned.  

Schedule: 

Noon - Competitors Meeting

1 p.m. - Mixed Fleet Racing (around the buoys) with special guest Principal Race Officer Geoff Endris.   

4 p.m. - Cabin boats will assemble on the dock after the racers have returned to the dock.  

5 p.m. - Dock walk begins. Cabin boat owners welcome guests on their boats to show off their rides. A great opportunity to see different boats and meet new people.   

6:30 p.m. - Dinner is served. We'll be serving up rolled Italian flank steak, roasted potatoes, corn on the cob and caprese salad for $15. Members are welcome to bring a dessert to share. Sign up here through Wednesday the 18th so we can place our food order. 

7:44 p.m. - Sunset. Cabin boats have historically decorated their boats with festive lights, invited sailors for a sunset sail and returned to the dock under the light of a full moon.   

Coral Reef offers a great selection of CLSA apparel and merchandise.  

Click here to visit our ship store!

This event is open for both new racers and experienced racers.  Reserve a club-owned laser or sunfish or bring your own. 

Click here to register 
(must log in to Wild Apricot)

11:45 race rules briefing for newer sailors

Skipper’s meeting at noon

3 or 4 races, windward-leeward, 20 -30 min each, in the small basin starting at 1:00

First race may be for first-time racers’ only, if there’s demand for that (or perhaps a practice start, with experience racers expected to coach and advise new racers)

Race committee will start races with horns and flags

Race committee will record finish order and times

Post-racing Q&A, snacks, BYOB

As of July 12, we still have openings in our morning and afternoon sessions.  

Register Here 

This class is designed to encourage and promote sailing activities the whole family can enjoy. You and your child will learn the basics of sailing and gain confidence on the water while sailing pram dinghies, Sunfish or Lasers. Our program will be family orientated for parent and child participants. The class will briefly cover sailing concepts followed by on the water experiences. Classes in each session will be very hands-on driven. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Tuition for this class is $50 for both the parent and child to attend. Parents can sign up for either the morning or afternoon session.  The morning session starts at 9am and the afternoon session starts at 1pm.  

We are looking for volunteers for the Small Boat Introduction to Sailing Class on July 19 and 20 and July 26 and 27 for the positions listed below. 

Click here to sign up: https://www.clsasailing.org/event-4088700 

(Members must sign in to register)

1.  Safety Boat Captain - RC Boat

2.  Safety Boat Captain - Whaler

3.  Safety Boat Deckhand - RC Boat

4.  Safety Boat Deckhand - Whaler

5.  Shore Support (x3) 

6.  Photographer 

7.  General - where needed