The Charlevoix Yacht Club offers a full slate of racing from spring through fall including single-handed dinghy racing, One Design nights, and our Wednesday night races for larger yachts.
For more than 50 years, the Charlevoix Yacht Club has hosted Wednesday night races on Lake Charlevoix. Races begin in May with the Spring Series, continue with the Summer Series, and end with the Fall Series, which concludes in mid-October.
At present, there are five fleets of boats:
We have a strong group of one-design racers. Tuesdays this summer belong to the Melges 24 fleet as they prepare for the National Championship at Grand Traverse Yacht Club and World Championship at Little Traverse Yacht Club. We will be racing in Lake Charlevoix every Tuesday from May 5 to Sept 15, 2026.
To register your boat for the Tuesday night races, you must be a member of the Charlevoix Yacht Club. For those from other clubs who would like to join us this summer, we are offering a special Skipper Limited membership.
2026 Tuesday Night Entry Form
2026 Tuesday Night Notice of Race
2026 Tuesday Night Sailing Instructions
The Charlevoix Yacht Club hosts a Melges 24 Invitational Regatta that is open to all. Join us:
June 27 - 28, 2026
2026 Melges Invitational on YachtScoring
In 2026, the Charlevoix Yacht Club will offer a 9-week Summer Series of J/22 fleet racing on Thursday evenings beginning July 2, 2026. This is high-intensity short-course racing, typically 4 windward-leeward legs and 3-5 races in an evening. We're pleased to have one of the largest J/22 fleets in the Midwest, making for some great racing.
To register your boat for the Tuesday night races, you must be a member of the Charlevoix Yacht Club. For those from other clubs who would like to join us this summer, we are offering a special Skipper Limited membership.
2026 Thursday Night Entry Form
2026 Thursday Night Notice of Race
2026 Thursday Night Sailing Instructions
On Sunday afternoons in the summer, the Charlevoix Yacht Club, in cooperation with the Lake Charlevoix Mariners and Sail Charlevoix, hosts an open regatta series that attracts youth and adult sailors. Lasers are the primary fleet, but Sunfish regularly participate, and other dinghy-class boats are welcome.
Registration fees are low for this fun racing series and youth under 21 can participate at no cost, making this the perfect way to build your racing skills.
Have a boat? Storage at Depot Beach is available. Need a boat? You can rent a Laser or Sunfish - see the notice of race for details.
2026 Summer Dinghy Notice of Race
2026 Summer Dinghy Entry Form
For almost 40 years, the Charlevoix Yacht Club has hosted a competitive cruising race to Beaver Island in mid-summer. In this two-day event, boats race to St. James Harbor on a Saturday, overnight on the island, and return to Charlevoix on Sunday. The George LaBlance Memorial Cup is awarded to the winner of this race.
You do not need to be a member of the yacht club to participate in this event.
This year's race is scheduled for July , 2026
2026 Beaver Island Notice of Race
2026 Beaver Island Sailing Instructions
2026 Beaver Island Entry Form
Each year during Charlevoix’s Venetian Festival, a special regatta takes place.
The Venetian Cup is hosted by the Charlevoix Yacht Club and is part of our Summer Series of Wednesday Night races. Unlike the other races in this Summer series, the Venetian Cup race is open to all. Visitors who wish to participate are welcome to compete for the honor of the historic Venetian Cup.
Hosted by the Charlevoix Yacht Club for more than 50 years, the premier event of the local racing season takes place every Labor Day weekend.
In mid-October, racing moves from Lake Charlevoix to Round Lake. On Sunday afternoons, a fleet of eight to twelve J22s sail six short courses in tight quarters using just jib and main. Intrepid sailors delight in the unusual courses, crowded mark roundings, fickle winds, and occasional snowstorms that are the hallmarks of arena racing.
The season culminates with the Cranberry Cup race on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
Arena Racing is open to everyone - you do not need to be a member of the Charlevoix Yacht Club.
2026 Arena Racing Notice of Race
2026 Arena Racing Entry Form
