The Inland Championships is one of the most prestigious events in the world of sailing and will be held in Clear Lake in August 2024.

Come Sail Away

By Rachel Wumkes

The Clear Lake Yacht Club is a hidden gem for sailing enthusiasts. Established in 1935, it has a rich history utilizing Clear Lake’s biggest and best asset to foster a community of passionate sailors. Through sailing classes and training, regattas, and racing events, they have introduced both youth and adults to the fabulous water sport of sailing.

It started with just a few families who loved to sail. Racing was added shortly after, and the competitive aspect became a key element for the club. As the years passed, the interest in sailboat racing continued to increase. The Yacht Club grew and became well-known around town.

The club boasts a well-maintained marina that is centrally located downtown, a clubhouse with panoramic views of the lake, and a vibrant sailing community welcoming to all ages and skill levels. With its friendly atmosphere and commitment to every attribute of sailing, the Yacht Club has become a hub for sailing fanatics in the heart of Iowa.

To ensure the sport’s sustainability, the Yacht Club has invested in youth sailing programs. Their purpose is to introduce young people to sailing at an early age, teach them decision-making skills and confidence and instill a lifelong passion for the sport.

And it is a fiercely competitive sport!

On many weekends throughout the summer in Clear Lake, you may witness racing events out on the water. Over the past five years, the Clear Lake Yacht Club has hosted a number of successful, high-level regattas.

But in 2024, for the first time in history, Clear Lake will be the site for the Inland Championships.

The Inland Championships, hosted annually by the Inland Lake Yachting Association (ILYA), is one of the most prestigious events in the world of sailing. The ILYA is a group of yacht clubs representing 48 different lakes from across the Midwest, mostly in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, and Indiana. This regatta draws sailors from across the Midwest and beyond, all vying for the coveted title and showcasing their sailing prowess. The championships encompass four separate regattas for different types of boats in a range of sailing classes, all differentiated by length.  All are a part of the inland scow family, including scows, keelboats and more, making it a diverse and exciting competition.

The Inland Championships are more than just an annual event race; they represent the unity of the sailing community and the celebration of a shared passion for the sport.

The regatta will be a split week format with the As and MCs sailing during the first part of the week, and the Cs and Es sailing during the latter part of the week.

For those not familiar with sailing lingo, here’s a little bit of information about these boats.

The A scow is the largest, fastest, and most powerful class in the ILYA measuring 38 feet in length with a crew of six to eight people. There are about 18 of these majestic boats expected to be in Clear Lake for this event. The E scow is the next largest boat at 28 feet long and carries a crew of three to four people. As these are more common, we may see up to 50 registered for this class level.

Later in the week, the smaller boats will take to the lake. With 45 expected to be in attendance, the C scow boat is typically 20 feet long with a crew of two or three people. The MC scow is the smallest of the boats included in this regatta, measuring 16 feet long and typically sailed by one or two people. The MCs are expected to have the most boats in attendance with approximately 60.

In total, the Clear Lake Yacht Club is expecting approximately 170 boats to sail at some point during the week.

“We are extremely excited to be chosen to host this event,” stated Stuart Oltrogge, Regatta Co-Chair. “Clear Lake is known throughout the Inland as being a great lake to sail on and our small-town charm is a huge draw for families.”

The Clear Lake Yacht Club stands as a beacon of both inspiration and dedication in the world of sailing. In the years to come, we can expect them to continue to shape the future of sailing, nurturing a new generation of sailors and fostering a deep love for the sport. With its rich history, vibrant community, and unwavering dedication to the principles of sailing, the Clear Lake Yacht Club has truly created a legacy that will ripple through time.

Allowing wind-filled adventures on the waters of Clear Lake to remain a cherished tradition.

5 Fun Sailing Facts:

  • The phrase “feeling blue” originated at sea.
  • Sailing has been part of the Olympics since 1896.
  • Sailing around the world westward is more difficult than eastward.
  • “He’s a loose cannon” is another phrase with sailing roots.
  • The world record sailing speed is 65.45 knots (about 75 mph).

2024 Inland Championship Schedule of Events:

Sunday, August 11: Registration and launching for A scows and MC scows

Monday – Wednesday: A scow and MC scow racing

Wednesday, August 14: Registration for C scows and E scows

Thursday– Saturday: C scow and E scow racing

Click here for more Clear Lake events in August!