CLYC Sailing History 

The Crooked Lake Yacht Club was formed in 1948 to provide a robust sailing program for young people on Crooked Lake.  Sailboat racing, for both adults and youth, was a popular activity in the early years of the club.  In addition to racing on Crooked Lake, CLYC members would often travel to Walloon Lake, Burt Lake, Lake Charlevoix and Little Traverse Bay to compete in interclub regattas.    

The first organized CLYC racing was done in Nipper sailboats. In order to increase the Nipper’s performance, members added a bowsprit so the boat could fly a jib.  Through the 50’s, 60’s and into the 70’s, club members also raced Rebels, Lightnings and Snipes.   

By the early 70’s, many club members had purchased Sunfish sailboats and the club organized a Sunfish racing series that spanned several weeks through the summer. The Sunfish sailboat is 14 feet in length, weighs 120 pounds, and is easily rigged, sailed and stored.  The boat has proven to be a great fit for Crooked Lake and racing in Sunfish continues to be a mainstay of on-the-water activities at club.  

The CLYC sailing tradition continues with bi-weekly sailboat racing through the summer, where the focus is on building sailing skills and having fun.