Laser Fleet - Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club

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Laser Fleet:

In the Summer months, we race on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. On Wednesday and Sunday we use the fixed pin race course due East of the harbor. The Wilson Crib is on the eastern edge of the course. On Thursday's we race close to the harbor mouth entrance. See "Fleet Rules" to learn about the format for each week night's series.

About the boat:
The Laser is a 14-foot, one-sail, single-person boat. More Lasers have been built and sailed than any other type of sailboat in the world (over 200,000.) The Laser is a strict one-design boat, which means that all races are tests of skill and not expensive equipment. Many of the world’s top sailors honed their skills at Laser Racing.

Lake Michigan is a great place to learn the basics of Laser sailing and to develop your advanced boat handling and tactical sailing skills. The boat moves well in the moderate breezes of mid-summer and is thrilling on windy days. The local wind shifts and sea breeze help fine tune a total awareness of the racing environment.

Whether you own a Laser and want to join the fleet or you'd like to learn about the boat with a test sail, CCYC members and non-members alike are encouraged to come out and check us out.

There are several used boats in the area and our fleet would be happy to steer you to the boat right for your needs!

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Fleet Rules

Rules Make the Game. People Make the Game Fun.
The laser fleet races on Wednesday nights, Thursday nights and Sunday afternoons. We focus on skill building and knowledge sharing. We don't worry about the scoring during club racing. We do keep score at regattas. We do employ the Racing Rules of Sailing.

Wednesday Night:
Leave the dock at 5:50PM, Laser Start at 6:40PM
On Wednesday night, we race long course using the fixed pins on the CCYC OFFSHORE Course, East of the harbor. CCYC SIs located HERE.
The laser class is the first start of the night at 1840. We sail the trapezoid course. The beat is 3/4 mile, then a close reach, then a long run, close reach, then another 3/4 mile beat. Here is the cool thing, if you find yourself off the pace and want to "cut the corner", please do. In other words, sail a smaller trap inside of the big one and stay with the leaders. Do your best, have some fun, don't worry about the scoring.

Tips for Wednesday:
Please keep your safety in mind when sailing anywhere near the big boats. Imagine crossing an interstate highway with blind semi trucks flying through. Sail inside the mark if rounding is unsafe.
Don't be shy about asking for a tow. Use your main sheet, do a bowline around the mast and bring the centerboard up about 1/2 way.

Thursday Night:
Leave the dock at 6PM, Warning Signal 6:30PM
On Thursday night, we race outside the harbor mouth. The course is left up to the Race Committee's discretion, though typically it is a WL, twice around inflatable marks.

Sunday Afternoon:
Rig at 11AM
On Sunday afternoon, we race using the fixed pins on the CCYC OFFSHORE Course, East of the harbor. We do an interesting style of racing. Basically its a Windward Leeward course from the center pin of the CCYC circle to one of the marks and back. 3/4 of a mile up and 3/4 mile down. Here is the hitch, when the top boats round the windward mark, everyone else turns down wind to sail to the finish. The finish is the pin end or the line "racing rounding". In other words round it like its a leeward mark, trim up, and then you are done. There are several reasons for this change in the normal rules. First, it compresses the fleet so there is no long waiting time between races. Second, it gives the lead boats a great challenge to catch and pass everyone. Third, it keeps the newer sailors in the game longer as the time of actually sailing with the faster boats should be more similar. Finally, the best part of this is ANYONE can win!!!!!

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Fleet Events

All of the details can be found on the Annual Regattas page.

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Chicago Laser Clinic

2019 Laser Clinic Details Coming Soon

Contact Co-Fleet Captains for more information on Laser Fleet Racing, Laser Charters, and Laser dry sailing moorings at Montrose Harbor.

Rick Strilky -

Niels Heemskerk -

The fleet uses Google Groups. Join the conversation at CCYC Laser Fleet Google Group.