Any student eligible to be enrolled at New Trier High School may try out for the team. Tryouts are typically held in August.
Generally, New Trier Sailing is a “learn-to-race” team, not a “lean-to-sail” team. However, those without a prior racing background are welcome to join our Sonar (beginner/casual) group.
Fall Tryouts (in August)
Both new and returning sailors must attend a mandatory tryout at the Chicago Yacht Club in August. Contact us to register or with any questions or concerns..
Those attending tryouts are required to wear a Type III Coast Guard Approved PFD (life jacket). In addition, sailors should wear closed toe shoes, sailing boots or booties. A towel, a complete change of clothes, water bottle and sunscreen are also recommended. It is possible sailors will end up in the water at some point, so plan accordingly.
Chicago Yacht Club typically offers “pipeline” training in August for for sailors considering high school sailing. Participation is not mandatory to try out for New Trier Sailing, but is recommended for those without significant racing experience, those who want to brush up on their skills, or those who want to get familiar with the 420 sailboats used in high school sailing.
Team Selection
New Trier Sailing will field three teams following tryouts: Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Sonar. Each team will be approximately 12 sailors. Of the approximately 36 total sailors, normally 20-24 are returning team members. All assignments and selections are made exclusively by the coaching staff at the Chicago Yacht Club.
Sailors interested in joining for the spring season who did not participate in the fall season tryouts should contact us to inquire about space and to arrange an evaluation. Sailors entering eighth grade with strong prior sailing background and the maturity to interact with high school students can also be considered for the team. Please contact us for more information.