About Clinton Marina Sailing Club
Providing affordable pathways to sailing at Clinton Lake since 1978.
Who we are
Clinton Marina Sailing Club is an auxiliary of Commodore Decatur Yacht Club (CDYC) on nearby Lake Decatur. One membership, just $100/yr, gives members full sailing access to both Clinton Lake and Lake Decatur, along with complimentary crew training, racing and social activities. Flying Scot sailors organize sailing activities from the marina docks with the full support of the marina, but the sailing club operates independently of Clinton Marina & Campground.
To learn more about Commodore Decatur Yacht Club, visit saildecatur.org.
Our roots
Flying Scot Fleet 135 sailors helped build the foundation for sailing on Clinton Lake, and we mean that literally. The Hartmans and Johnsons donated the materials to build a pavilion and grill area that would serve Clinton Marina sailors for decades. Fleet 135 introduced the legendary Glow in the Dark Regatta that put Clinton Lake on the sailing map. In 2013, the Flying Scot leadership team kickstarted a fleet-building effort that was instrumental in transforming the marina into a thriving sailing center.
2014 to 2024
In 2014, DeWitt County officials warned that government wasn't well suited to run a marina. Deferred maintenance had accumulated, and the dry-land boat parking lot resembled a boating graveyard, with a growing number of abandoned and neglected boats. Several attempts to offer food service at the marina had started and failed. It would take the county 10 years to address more than 60 ADA violations and get the marina ready to put up for bid. Fayhee Recreation was chosen, and the property officially transferred to private ownership in 2024.
The lemons
With big changes looming, the future of organized sailing activities at the marina was uncertain at best. The new marina owner had proposed doing away with dry-land storage to make room for seasonal campsites. However, to accommodate dinghy sailors who were accustomed to dry-land, mast-up storage, the marina offered to build a brand-new floating dock for dinghies that required no down payment or long-term commitment. Through the transition, the marina property was completely transformed. The 40-year-old covered docks were replaced, and a new bar and restaurant was introduced that has transformed the atmosphere and made the marina into a more attractive destination.
2025
The old sailing club, operating at the marina since 1978, would no longer be permitted to organize sailing activities from the marina at the end of 2024. The establishment of a new sailing club was necessary to ensure the continuity of longstanding sailing programs. Commodore Decatur Yacht Club stepped up and saved the day, saving Flying Scot weeknight racing and the Glow in the Dark Regatta from extinction. Clinton Marina Sailing Club was formed as an auxiliary of the Commodore Decatur Yacht Club. Today, organized sailing activities continue to thrive at Clinton Marina.
Our commitment
Today, mast-up storage options at Clinton Marina are limited to wet slips. More affordable dry-dock storage alternatives for sailboat owners no longer exist at the marina (or anywhere on Clinton Lake). Even still, dinghy sailing activity at the marina has grown since those fleet-building initiatives began in 2013, and the cost for non-sailboat owners to participate in coordinated sailing activities has stayed the same at just $100 per household. Thanks to the support of the marina owner, sailors who don't rent a slip are permitted to sail on club-owned and borrowed boats, so no one is forced to buy a boat and pay for a slip to take part in organized sailing at the marina. Maintaining an affordable pathway to sailing is essential for growing the sport, and we're thankful for the marina's support. The marina also waives launch fees for Glow in the Dark Regatta sailors, and the Shore House offers catering at a discount, allowing our regatta meal fees to stay at pre-2024 levels.
Questions?