Sailing School Scholarships
by Annie Thompson
July 20, 2026
Niko made the jump from crew to skipper after receiving support for summer and fall sailing. “As a skipper, I learned how important clear communication, leadership, and trust are when sailing with someone new,” he said. “This scholarship has played a major role in my growth not only as a sailor, but also as a leader and teammate.”
A few seasons ago, Owen was the one learning to rig the boat. This summer, he's the one teaching it. He used his Sailing Education Scholarship from CYCF to earn a US Sailing Small Boat Level 1 Instructor certification at CYC Belmont, and is now an instructor. "The CYC scholarships allowed me to have the summer I was dreaming of," he said.
Sailing School Scholarships lead to long-term involvement in the boating world as competitors, crew, and instructors. Any young person in the Chicagoland area can apply to attend anywhere from two to eight weeks at any local sailing program or coaching certification course. Your generosity has made it possible for young people to develop their sailing skills at a higher level and receive training for jobs on the water.
The program keeps growing. Last year, we awarded fifty-four Sailing School Scholarships totaling $64,381. This year, we are awarding more than $100,000 in scholarships and are seeing more returning students than ever before: sailors who came for a single week of camp, now back for a second and a third summer.
Enoch and Titi started with CYCF in 2023, in the Adventure Boating program at Belmont Harbor, and they've come back every summer since for CYC Sailing School. In their third summer, they both walked out of their 420 classes with awards: Titi for Most Improved and Enoch for Sportsmanship. This year, they're back for a fourth season on Lake Michigan!
The parents feel it, too. "Sailing camp filled them with confidence and excitement for the future," said Hana O., whose two sons received scholarships. "They feel like they can now dream bigger and believe in their potential."