Clinton Marina Sailing Club is an auxiliary of Commodore Decatur Yacht Club (CDYC). Learn more
Five steps from your first ride to regatta weekends.
Enter your email to access all of our free sailing courses and receive an invitation to book your free sailboat ride.
One membership, only $100/yr, includes full sailing access to both Clinton Lake and Lake Decatur. You don't need to own a boat or know anything about sailing.
No sailing experience or gear needed. Our Saturday Coordinator, Bob, will connect you with an experienced skipper. Our boats are stable and comfortable, so you'll stay dry. Just bring sunscreen and a hat.
Saturdays at 10 a.m. at CDYC on Lake Decatur, starting in May
▶ Watch the promo video (youtu.be/2hws7rrKJ0I)
A 3-session hands-on course that makes you useful on any boat: safety, knots, rigging, sail trim and your job when the boat tacks or jibes. You'll train with Eric, a US Sailing Certified Instructor, and finish Crew Ready.
3 sessions, typically held in conjunction with Sea Leg Saturdays at CDYC.
Once you're Crew Ready, you can sign up for Crew Bank sails. Skippers will post sailing opportunities, and you can sign up for a slot. A fun opportunity to build skills and confidence.
Scheduled by skippers at their convenience.
Wednesday nights at Clinton Marina Sailing Club. Short, casual races where the point is getting better, not winning. Coaches help skippers and crew sharpen their skills, and nobody takes the results too seriously. Still sound a little too “racy” for you? Visit our Cruising page.
Wednesdays at 6 p.m. at Clinton Marina, starting in May
Regattas are the club's big weekends. The racing is competitive, but the event is for everyone: sail in it, help run it on the water or on shore, or just come cheer and stay for the party. Every member and volunteer is part of the fun.
Glow in the Dark Regatta, Sep 10–12, 2027 at Clinton Marina.
Commodore Cup Regatta, Oct 17–18, 2026 at CDYC.
▶ Watch the video (youtu.be/1atFL1_vn1c)
All sailing activities described above are complimentary and included with membership.
The boat you'll learn and race on
The Flying Scot is the club's primary training boat and one-design racer. It's the quintessential training boat because it strikes the perfect balance between performance, stability and comfort.
A wide hull and a weighted centerboard keep the Scot steady and upright, so it feels secure instead of tippy. Built-in flotation makes it unsinkable, according to its builder.
Designed in 1957 by Sandy Douglass with families in mind, the Scot has a big, roomy cockpit with space to move around and simple rigging that's easy to learn.
With plenty of sail and a spinnaker for downwind runs, the Scot can plane, lifting up and skimming across the water on a breezy reach.
A strict one-design racing class, so racing comes down to skill and teamwork, not who spends the most money. It's one of the most popular racing classes in North America.
Questions?