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Chicago Sailing - Latest NewsClub Sails and BBQ every tuesday evening, Now BYOB!!Summer is in full swing which means that we will be sailing and BBQ'ing every Tuesday evening through the remainder of the summer. Last tuesday we had over 30 participants in our Clubsails and Introduction to Sailing classes with most participants joining us for the BBQ and fun times afterwards.As the Clubsails have increased in popularity we have had requests from our sailors to make this a BYOB event as Chicago Sailing cannot provide alcohol due to licensing issues. We are more than happy to allow our sailors to BYOB and will have coolers on hand for your return to the dock. Come join us for the Club Sail where you can sail with kindered spirits and feast with hungry souls. Call us before 3pm to make your reservation so we can plan for the BBQ. Air and Water Show recap: The grandest one in years.Now that Chicago’s 50th annual Air and Water Show is history, we want to thank all of you who braved the spectacular weather to join us for three-day celebration! We were treated to sparkling waters, favorable breezes and dazzling aerial displays from Friday morning through Sunday afternoon, seemingly non-stop. And while there is not a bad view on Chicago’s lakefront, the one from from the lake is priceless. Check our blog for some stunning pix.Looking south, we saw thousands of anchored boats partying between Belmont Harbor and Oak Street beach, giving the appearance of lakefront carpeting. Away from that swath was a lake alive with SAILBOATS! Apparently the price of fuel has altered the boating habits of motor boat owners; a good things for everyone. Sailors find it more peaceful and power boaters are discovering the joy of boating sans engines. There were remarkably few boating incidents too. Apparently the saying, ‘Nobody move, nobody get hurt!’ has had a positive affect on this group. Opportunities to obtain Sailing CertificationsThis has been a great season, offering many opportunities to expand one's skills on the water. Now would be a great time to parlay those skills into that US SAILING Certification you have worked toward. Certification serves your sailing future in two important ways; 1. certification proves you have learned a skill to the highest levels of USSA, 2. Certification provides you with an inner confidence, one that will serve your lifetime of adventure.Procedurally, Basic Keelboat Certification is fairly easy and quick. One only needs to complete Intermediate Sailing 161 and sit for the one hour exam. All this can be accomplished within a few days. Why not do it during the balmy days of late summer and early fall. Not only will you have checked off an important sailing milestone, you will go a long way to proving your winter chartering credentials. Cruising Courses planned for August & SeptemberChicago Sailing’s cruising course 421 is more than an opportunity to learn many of the important skills necessary for successful cruising and chartering. They are a unique vacation opportunity in some of the finest cruising areas of Lake Michigan. So, in five days you will learn advanced sailing skills, the cruising lifestyle, and bareboating essentials in Lake Michigan’s premier cruising locations. US SAILING’s certifications for Basic Cruising and Bareboat Cruising are included.We plan on hosting one more course in august from Sunday 24th - Thursday 28th and an additional subject to demand in from Friday 29th of August - Tuesday 2nd of September. Call Ronan today to register or for more information. Second Half Kickoff- the best sailing of the seasonWhile Labor Day Weekend marks the sartorial end of summer, we sailors know that it represents the beginning of sailing’s finest season. From late August until mid-October, the winds are steady, the water is warm and the sun casts a golden glow all day long, especially in the afternoon when its rays fall on the world’s most picturesque skyline, Chicago.Make plans to enjoy your sport and your city during this special season. You will be delighted to discover that Labor Day is just halftime in a long sailing season. Join us for the second-half kickoff, which begins Tuesday, September 2 and ends sometime in October. To introduce you to sailing’s best-kept secret, Chicago Sailing has created some attractive incentives*. Sail three hours for the cost of two every day, including weekends. You can further celebrate this special season on weekends too. Join us for a complementary cookout between 11AM and 1PM on each Saturday and Sunday during the entire fall sailing season. Grab a grilled sandwich on your way to or from sailing, meet other sailors and socialize with our staff. Let us know how we can serve you better in the future. Feel free to wear white pants, too; there are no fashion police at Chicago Sailing. * not to be used in conjunction with other offers Big Team RegattaChicago Sailing is proud to be a contributing sponsor of the Big Team Regatta for the third consecutive year. , on Friday September 5, This regatta generates thousands of dollars to underprivileged school children in the Chicago area, with a pass-through percentage of 90%. Nearly all regatta expenses are donated by sponsors, while competing teams contribute $4,000 per boat. Is your company interested in supporting such a worthy event? Who do you know that would sponsor you or another team? There are traditionally significant promotional aspects that accrue to sponsoring firms, including media coverage. Here is a link to the Big Team Regatta, its beneficiaries and its mission. http://www.bigteamregatta.com/ Congratulations to our newly certified US Sailing InstructorsChicago Sailings newest instructors have just successfully completed an intensive 3 day instructional and evaluative sailing and class room based course to certify them as US Sailing Basic Keelboat Instructors. We are delighted to report that all 6 candidates successfully completed the course and are now US Sailing qualified instructors and ready to teach our US Sailing courses. Congratulations again go out to Eric Hanson, Brett Dudician, Shaun Palous, Joshua Seeger and Tom Macku. We are actively updating our Blog and would love to hear your commentsWith the updated website we now have online we are also actively working on keeping our Blog updated. This will provide a timely recap on events and some photos. To view our blog just scroll to the bottom of any of the pages on this site and you can click on the link that will bring you directly to the Blog. Alternatively click here. We would love to hear your comments and welcome any posts that you would like to add. Fireworks Cruises coming to an endBelieve it or not the bi- weekly fireworks cruises are coming to an end and there will be only be seven more dates that the fireworks will be taking place. Don't forget that there is an extra fireworks display this coming Friday night for the Air & Water Show. If you have been planning on getting out to see the fireworks from the best spot in the city, call us now to reserve your space. Newport-Bermuda Race, Chicago Sailing well representedGood sailors and good fun seem to go together. Sometimes they even win. This is certainly true in June’s Newport to Bermuda Race, where six Chicago solo sailors (including Chicago Sailing’s owner, Alan Veenstra) turned heads in one of the world’s premier ocean races. In addition to winning their class by three hours, the crew of ‘Bodacious’, a Sabre 402, placed third in Division and in the top ten overall (unofficial). Pick up the September issue of “SAILING” magazine (the large format monthly) for the interesting story and pictures. Safety reminders and tipsNow that the season is in full swing, Chicago Sailing encourages sailors to continuet the season well and on a sound footing. To that end we taking this opportunity to remind you of important issues that will add to your safety and enjoyment on the water. Rules & Procedures:Please note that Chicago Sailing has instituted some important procedures to increase your safety and enjoyment on the water. To that end we ask that each of you read and understand our updated Rules and Regulations, Outboard Motor Operation and Sailing vs. Auxiliary Propulsion. For your convenience, all our J22s will have instruction manuals for all these operations aboard.Chicago Sailing has a new dedicated EMERGENCY telephone number: (773) 706-3910. Please store this in the cell phone that you have aboard the vessels you use. Also, remember to record your cell number with the office prior to each departure. Our dock staff have been hard at work all season, keeping our fleet sound and presentable. We appreciate your cooperation in keeping them safe and presentable to the next sailors. Report any damage of problems immediately and be conscientious about footwear. Black sole marks are unsightly and stubborn to remove. Avoid cleanup responsibilities by having your guests to wear non-marking shoes. Chicago Sailing has a new message board on the outside of our houseboat/office. In addition to general information, this board will indicate the expected weather conditions, and the day’s limitations on sail deployment and geographic sailing parameters. Each renter is required to consult this board before leaving the dock. Own your own boat: Easy, Fun, Cost-effectiveChicago Sailing is expanding its fleet, adding boats in the 32-42’ range. To meet these goals, Chicago Sailing is looking for a limited number of captains to purchase boats and lease them back to our program. The concept is the simplest and and most cost-effective way to own a boat.
Email Alan Veenstra today to learn how such programs would benefit you or call him at 773 252 3700 Attention SailorsSailing is an adventure, one that lasts a lifetime. And like all adventures, enjoyment comes from the journey, not the destination. Chicago Sailing makes the journey convenient and affordable in several ways, none more so than our Preferred Rental Programs (PRP). They are the perfect way to polish you sailing skills, entertain your friends and pursue your own lifetime of adventure.New sailors appreciate that the J-24 PRP offers an average of 6 three-hour sailing slots/ month from April to October. Priced at only $1800, you will be sailing for less than $17/hr if you take full advantage of the program. In addition to reserved sailing time, you may trade sailing dates or request unused sailing time from other participants. Chicago Sailing offers the PRP on larger boats as well, like the J30, Tartan 10 and the Hunter 326*. These programs offer the additional advantages of longer sailing times, more sailing slots and the ability to overnight at the dock. Visit here detailed explanation of each boat in our PRP programs. Then call Alan Veenstra at 773 252 3700. He will be happy to place you in a program that supports your lifetime of adventure. *subject to qualifications, two participations available. Display Your AchievementsWe are proud to offer frameable sailing diplomas for each US SAILING course. You will be proud to display these handsome certificates, which come complete with your name, level of accomplishment and an embossed seal. The certificate is included in the cost of 2008 certifications. Early graduates may purchase them for $10 each.Chartering OpportunitiesChicago Sailing is partnered with two first-class charter operators, one in northern Michigan and the other in Lake Superior. Take your sailing on the road and experience the joys of truly exquisite cruising grounds. You will find attractive rates on boats between 30 and 45’. And if your chartering plans include the Caribbean, Chicago Sailing’s partners offers a choice of locations and vessels. Call today to discuss the possibilities.
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