Oktoberfest!

All season long we have worked with our preferred caterer, AEL Catering to execute flawless corporate events.

This season saw numerous team building events, including two 65 person team building events that utilized every J/22 and J/24 in our fleet! Aboard Bumblebee, AEL Catering provided the food for many a cruise along Chicago's lake front. Chicago Sailing took care of three of the five senses for our guests with the sight of Lake Michigan and Chicago's skyline, the sound of a sail catching the wind and the feel of a rope or tiller in their hands. AEL Catering supplied the remainder with the smell and taste of exquisite food. In our minds - the perfect pairing for a day on the water.

As we near the end of Chicago's second summer, it is time to celebrate a season spent on the water enjoying the adventure! Coincidentally it is also Oktoberfest. So we put our thinking caps on and decided it was time to start a new tradition!

Sunday, October 4th join the staff of Chicago Sailing and AEL Catering as we celebrate the 2009 Season and hopefully store up enough memories of a sailing season to hold us through the gray Chicago winter. Rent a boat, go Club Sailing or just stop by in your best German-garb*!



*German-garb is encouraged, but not required. We just want to see you on B-Dock.

Chicago Match Race

This weekend is a busy weekend on our dock, for Chicago Sailing and Chicago Match Race. As Sail-World reported earlier this week, this weekend is the start of two weekends of Match Race competition just outside of Belmont Harbor.

In its first season, Chicago Match Race has kept their portion of B Dock busy! Earlier this season they hosted an international Grade 2 regatta in August. We've enjoyed getting to know everyone involved in the program. Having their headquarters docked behind our Hunters has made for a few tense docking moments though!

This morning we watched as they pulled their headquarters out to watch the action.





On the dock you can see that it's looking a little empty at the end. We have had some renters down visiting us today, taking advantage of our end of season special - 3rd hour free!



As we waited for some of our renters to arrive, we practiced our knots in the office. Kyle showed off his rescue bowline skills.

The fog came in again!

Our nemesis, the fog, rolled back in this morning just after our 9 am rentals left the dock. We quickly called the boats back in and I was armed with an actual camera, as opposed to my phone, to take some pictures.





These were snapped from the dock. I went for a wander and headed up to the breakwall to check out the visibility on the water.





Can you spot the sailboat in the fog?? In the next picture it had disappeared and was behind the fog as a motor boat went on by.

The fog rolls in

This morning as I walked into the harbor, it appeared a little hazy. Just a half-hour later that was a serious understatement! With visibility of only a few docks away from the house boat, we held our morning rentals on the dock and touched-base with the staff members out on the water.

While we waited for the fog to pass, we spotted a flock of geese who have returned to the harbor. We didn't see quite as many in July and August, but they've returned.



As the fog sat over us, you could follow our posts on Twitter for weather updates @chisail. Our staff made their way back to the harbor using the onboard compass to find their way.

After what seemed like most of the day (really just a few hours), the fog finally moved through. Sunny sky's returned! And our boats hit the water.