Chicago Sailing Blog

What is the Volvo Ocean Race?

2011-12-14T15:01:00.003-06:00

As a new member of the sailing community, I am constantly amazed by the number of international races. When Sail-World first started carrying articles on the Volvo Ocean Race, I figured it was yet another small regatta. After a month+ of articles and coverage of the race, I have realized that I was very wrong.So what is the Volvo Ocean Race? Held approximately every 3 years, it is a

Charts from Google Earth!

2011-12-05T12:44:00.002-06:00

Sail-World has featured many great articles in the last few weeks. We're following the action in Perth and cheering on the American Olympic team candidates. Recently we came across some great practical advice that we wanted to make sure everyone saw. First, check out this great article on using Google Earth to create accurate charts for cruising. So simple, so easy, and such a valuable tool for

Last Blast Regatta

2011-10-21T11:36:00.003-05:00

Chicago Sailing would like to give a special thanks to everyone who participated in this year's Last Blast Regatta. It was a great sail and a lot of fun! For anyone who was unable to attend, go take a look at some awesome shots taken during the race. Photos are posted on Chicago Sailing's Facebook. We hope to see everyone at next year's Last Blast Regatta!

2011 Photo Contest

2011-10-14T12:32:00.006-05:00

Votes are in and the winner of our 2011 Photo Contest has been selected.Congratulations to Janet Gunn! Thanks again to everyone who submitted photos and contributed their votes.To all of our Sailors, come join us Sunday the 16th for a Club Sail. It is very possible that this could be our last Club Sail of the season, so you do not want to miss it! Meet us at B dock Sunday morning from 8:30am-

Awesome Weather!

2011-10-07T13:34:00.004-05:00

The warm weather has not left us yet! Chicago is experiencing an unusual weather pattern. Recently temperatures have been well above average. Typical October weather ranges in the mid 60 degrees, but this year Chicago temperatures are reaching nearly 80 degrees!With this warm weather still here, keep in mind we do have available boats to rent. On October 15th, our larger auxiliary vessels will

Photo Contest 2011

2011-09-19T13:21:00.006-05:00

Photo by last year's winner Roger HuangIt’s not too late, keep the photos coming! The Chicago Sailing annual photo contest is still taking place. Have you captured any fabulous shots out on the water this season? Send us your best shots and enter to win a free rental. We’ll post our favorites for all to vote on. Submit your photos by email to contactus@chicagosailing.com

Appropriate Foul Weather Gear

2011-09-12T12:06:00.002-05:00

Chicago Sailing would like to give you tips on appropriate weather gear for the recent shift in weather patterns. The current September weather has developed below-normal temperatures that are much cooler than expected. Considering the temperatures are beginning to drop we want to make sure everyone keeps warm for the rest of our sailing season. Keep covered! As many know, it can get much

A word about Reservations for services at Chicago Sailing

2011-09-02T13:40:00.000-05:00

Over the years, Chicago Sailing has found that its customers are well served when we deliver on our promises. This includes providing seaworthy equipment and professional staffing, all at the agreed time. Our objective is for you to come back regularly because you had such a great time with us. As with airlines and hotels, Chicago Sailing has limited capacity and, in our case limited

Photo Contest!

2011-08-28T14:18:00.003-05:00

Have you capture any fabulous shots out on the water this season? Send us your best shots and enter to win a free rental. We’ll post our favorites for all to vote on. Submit your photos by email to contactus@chicagosailing.com Here is the photo taken by last years winner Roger Huang

Chicago's Air & Water Show 2011

2011-08-28T12:54:00.004-05:00

August 19th began one of our busiest weekends at Chicago Sailing. It was a perfect weekend to experience the 53rd annual Air and Water Show while sailing along the lake. The show took place along the shore of Lake Michigan from Fullerton Avenue to Oak Street Beach. I must say that the view from the water is spectacular and essentially the best way to watch this show. Flying above our sails were

Making Connections

2011-08-12T12:38:00.004-05:00

One of the best things, or at least we think it is, about sailing is the social nature of the sport. When you are out sailing, be it racing or cruising, you are sure to swap stories! Our instructors get to spend the most time getting to know you, I'm sure you've found them to be a very social bunch. The office staff is also prone to story telling. Especially when it's you telling us about your

Regatta Team Building Sail

2011-07-25T12:00:00.004-05:00

Today we had four of our J22’s racing in a team building regatta sail. The teams sailed through four races, the last one bringing them back to the dock. They sailed two WL 2’s and one WL 4. The race was about 200 yards. There were a few things noticed during the first round that the teams had a chance to improve on during their last few rounds. We noticed that one team went around too far

Kacey's experience working at Chicago Sailing

2011-07-22T12:02:00.002-05:00

Kacey is on the far right, our new marketing intern. Working at Chicago Sailing has been a perfect addition to my summer. I have been working with the dock staff for a few months now, and I only have positive things to say. All staff members are extremely friendly and I always have a great time working with them. Each day at work I love to see all of the boats heading out for an afternoon

Parking in Belmont Harbor

2011-06-02T15:18:00.004-05:00

This past Memorial Day, we finally got busy in Belmont Harbor. So busy, we didn't have a chance to take many pictures! Look at that empty dock! From 11 am until the end of the day, we saw this for both our big boats and the J/22's. Boats came in and went right back out with another crew aboard. It was such a treat for the staff to see smiling faces again enjoying the warm weather in Chicago. Plan

End of May already!

2011-05-27T14:31:00.006-05:00

Despite the rainy weather, we've had a busy couple of weeks. Our first proposal charter was cut a little short due to area thunderstorms. It was still a successful trip, with a smiling engaged couple returning to our dock. We've experienced some weather extremes. One weekend our instructors dressed like this to go out: The following weekend was sunny and warm, with a busy dock along with the

Those scary weather predictions...

2011-05-19T17:22:00.004-05:00

The sailing season in Chicago, thus far, has been a tad bit wet to say the least. We're ready for some summer weather. Or even just some appropriate for late-May weather! In the meantime though, we're going to dissect the upcoming weather predictions for Chicago. Check out the current 5-day forecast on Weather.com.Yeah, not looking so great. And those thunderstorm symbols are rather off-putting.

When you're short-handed...

2011-05-06T16:42:00.003-05:00

Even the boss has to lend a hand! The forestay on our J/24 broke and it seems like these things always seem to occur at the wrong moment. Jayme and Todd, our crack fleet management team, both had pre-scheduled duties away from the dock. So Alan lent a hand and took care of it. Of course they chose just when it got cloudy to head up the mast, they must have known I was going to snap a picture of

NEWS

2011-04-21T11:42:00.002-05:00

The newspapers beat us to the news this morning. As reported by Dan Moran of the Lake County News-Sun, Chicago Sailing will have a satellite operation in Waukegan Harbor this season. Read the full article. We plan to be operational by May 15th in Waukegan Harbor. Our offerings will include many of our most popular courses, including Basic Sailing 101 and Advanced Sailing 161. In addition, we will

Opening Weekend 2011

2011-04-18T13:48:00.005-05:00

It certainly wasn't warm and harbor conditions are quite interesting, but Chicago Sailing did indeed open over last weekend. Saturday's lake conditions included heavy waves, rain, and gusty winds - necessitating a postponement of our festivities until the next day. Sunday brought heavy western winds, but otherwise fine sailing conditions. Those who planned ahead and brought many warm layers

Moving Back to B Dock

2011-04-12T13:58:00.002-05:00

Things are getting busy at Chicago Sailing. We're hoping the weather improves for opening weekend, 43 and rain requires a lot of serious equipment on Lake Michigan.Today's sunny weather was beneficial for our crew hard at work getting the boats ready. Check out what they've been up to.

How did you choose a sailing school?

2011-02-22T14:01:00.002-06:00

One of the projects we're currently working on is updating our website. We're adding a page that gives tips on choosing a sailing school. Which brings us to our question... How did you choose a sailing school? What factors did you look at and which were most important to you?52 days to go!

Dreaming of the Sailing Season

2011-01-21T13:25:00.002-06:00

On this frigid day, I've been dreaming of a return to sailing. Starting up the motor at the dock and feeling the boat jump forward against the dock lines...Standing at the tiller as we head down the channel with a hand on the boom, scouting ahead and eager for the open water of the Lake...The rush of raising first the main and then, later, the jib...Feeling the wind catch the sails as we leave

Sometimes things just get in the way.

2011-01-17T12:36:00.003-06:00

This past Saturday, online registration for our lessons was supposed to launch. Some people may have noticed over the weekend that we hadn't updated our website. We are sorry for the delay. In short, we've had to change our provider. The company we had been using to provide a secure internet registration process changed their fee structure right after the New Year. We discovered last week that

Frequent Sailor Program

2011-01-14T13:24:00.002-06:00

Help us design our Frequent Sailor Program! In the off season, we adjust our existing offerings and come up with new ways to serve our customers. We'd like to offer those who sail with us frequently an opportunity to save money over the course of the season. But, what would you truly be interested in? Please take our survey and tell us!

A Year of Photos

2010-12-17T13:02:00.002-06:00

Wishing everyone a happy holiday and festive New Year. Before we close the books entirely on 2010, here's our year in review:

For the Sailing (Apple) Geek

2010-12-02T10:48:00.009-06:00

Our minds have been on the holiday season recently, and we started thinking about what we would like to get in our stocking this year. For those iPhone and iPad owners, how about an iTunes gift card? There's an incredible range of applications that are available to assist in your sailing adventures. Some of our favorites: Knot Guide: For $1.99, get access to step-to-step guides for 88 knots. Make

Closing up for the Season

2010-10-22T10:35:00.003-05:00

The end of October is always bittersweet for Chicago Sailing. This month has proven even more so, with the wonderful sun that we have had recently. Despite the sun and mild temperatures, winter is coming. Next week's weather is a mixed bag of rain and heavy winds interspersed with a couple of dry days. On those dry days we will be hauling out the remainder of our J/22's and the J/24. Tuesday

Oktoberfest

2010-09-30T10:00:00.007-05:00

It's back! This Saturday, October 2nd, will see B Dock a-buzz with sailors and German food. (Extra points for German garb.) Last season's closing event was our Oktoberfest party. The weather has decided to behave for our Second Annual Oktoberfest party. Join us on B Dock from 12 - 4 pm for sailing,* food and friends. * Boats are available for rental throughout the afternoon. Call to make your

Changes in Parking

2010-09-27T13:18:00.004-05:00

There have been some changes to parking in the harbor that we wanted to alert all of our customers to. Last week the Park District appeared to be putting in an automatic parking tender to the parking gates at the entrance to the harbor. It can now accept credit cards (hooray) as well as bills and change. We were all surprised this morning to arrive and have the parking gate down. Apparently they

Vote for your favorite!

2010-09-13T14:22:00.002-05:00

Our photo submissions are live. Check out all the photos sent in to us from sailing this season and vote for your favorite.View the album.If you have a facebook account, sign in to "Like" your favorite photo. If you don't have a facebook account, email us to let us know which photo you like best.

More Photos!

2010-08-25T14:33:00.004-05:00

We've enjoyed the submissions we have received over the last week to our photo contest. Here are some of our early favorites!by Roger Huangby Janet GunnYesterday, we shot some photos of our own during the Tall Ships Parade. We didn't capture every boat, but the ones we shot are gorgeous. What have you captured out on the water? Share your photos with us for the chance to win a free sail!

Photo Contest

2010-08-18T14:19:00.002-05:00

We got out on the water the Friday during the Air and Water Show practice to capture some photos and take in the action. I have never seen so many boats anchored in the water! Luckily Kyle went out with us and drove, weaving his way in between the different boats and getting us up close. He definitely proved how maneuverable our J/22's are. We were distracted by the awesome view and missed the

What's in a name?

2010-08-11T14:09:00.003-05:00

We've been speeding full force into August. What a crazy, hot season it has been! Some of you may have noticed the inconsistency on weather predictions for the Chicago area. While thunderstorms and rain have been predicted for many days, very few of those have actually hit Chicago. If you're curious about whether we'll actually have thunderstorms, check out the radar and hourly weather prediction

Self-Serve

2010-07-27T12:17:00.004-05:00

My family has spent 4 generations operating gas stations. Growing up, I could be found slinging hot dogs and hamburgers for customer's while their cars were washed, much like Chicago Sailing's Tuesday Night BBQs. The stations that we operate are all self-service and I recently found myself on the dock referencing 'self-service' for Chicago Sailing.Chicago Sailing is also a self-service operation.

The 102nd Mac is here!

2010-07-21T10:50:00.003-05:00

We're leading in to the Mac race. The cruising division gets their head-start on Friday, with the parade of boats and race on Saturday. Chicago Sailing's staff has been working hard preparing boats for the weekend and getting everything on B Dock ship-shape before they take off for the longest annual freshwater race in the world. Read more about the history of the Mac at the official website,

25th Anniversary

2010-06-30T10:13:00.002-05:00

We've been listening to the pressure washer all day at Chicago Sailing. The dock has gotten spruced up in preparation for our Anniversary Party tomorrow and the 4th of July weekend.Tomorrow, join us for $25 Club Sail and real, southern style barbecue. Yes, barbecue that requires the whole word getting spelled out. Anything less would be cutting it short. Chef Andrew Lawrence has flexed his

Summer Sailstice

2010-06-24T10:46:00.002-05:00

As if learning to sail wasn't enough to keep one busy last week, we had Summer Sailstice this past weekend. Saturday was an incredible day. There were so many people on the dock! The weather behaved for us too, delivering a beautiful sailing day. We grabbed some shots of the busy dock. This following Thursday is our Anniversary Party. We hope you can join us for the celebration! Chef Andy

A Recap - Day 5

2010-06-23T16:29:00.002-05:00

Sorry this was a bit delayed. We had a busy weekend with Summer Sailstice and Father's Day. Here it is Allison! If all goes well during your prior sessions, the last day should be fun. Each person gets the option to practice anything they are unsure of and just have fun at the tiller. We had some gorgeous winds that allowed us to sail with the main and jib the entire time. A picture is worth a

Heeling Over Day 4

2010-06-18T11:57:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was glorious. The wind was 15 knots out of the east, creating a little chop on our way out, but otherwise perfect conditions on the water.It was my turn to take us out of the harbor, which an unnamed member of the Chicago Sailing staff questioned, and we got quickly out and underway. With the main and jib up we were cruising out there. The day was devoted to saving Steve, our lifejacket

Saving Steve - Day 3

2010-06-17T09:29:00.002-05:00

Day 3 we were blessed with beautiful weather. The day started out with a reefed main only, but we did raise the jib for part of our time out on the water. Andrew really wanted to hammer in points of sail, so we spent more time working around the clock. Close Hauled, Close Reach, etc. all the way down through a gybe and then back into the wind, finishing with a tack. At the end of the day we

Drinking the Kool Aid - Day 2

2010-06-16T11:13:00.004-05:00

After the excitement of Day 1, I was anxious to get out for Day 2. As I beat all of my fellow students, it wasn't that hard since I work in the houseboat, I took advantage of Andrew's time and took another turn at the motor. Success!We rigged up quickly and headed out to make the most of our 3 hours on the water. I've been surprised at how quickly it flashes by out there. Here are some shots that

Day 1

2010-06-15T10:03:00.003-05:00

I have worked for Chicago Sailing for nearly a year and a half. During that time, I've picked up some of the vernacular and learned parts of boats. People are surprised to find out that I don't actually sail. Which isn't to say that I don't get out sailing from time to time. So many people who work at Chicago Sailing know how to sail, you can easily find someone interested in going out. Chicago

Two Months Already!

2010-06-10T13:46:00.002-05:00

Today is June 10th, marking 2 months of open operation for our 25th Season. It's hard to believe it has only been 2 months! Already, over 80 people have completed our Basic Sailing course. It has been a great time getting to know all of the faces on B Dock. Unfortunately, we haven't had such great luck with weather on Tuesday nights. By my count, we've had 50% of our Tuesday BBQs get rained out.

Suddenly it's Memorial Day Weekend!

2010-05-27T10:45:00.004-05:00

Wow, have we been busy. Where did May go?On May 14 - 16, we hosted US SAILING's Instructor Training course. Participants in the course went through a rigorous training program in the classroom and on the water. We were thrilled to have 5 of our instructors complete the course and are excited for them to begin sharing their new skills with our students.Maintenance is a constant project at Chicago

BBQ's at Chicago Sailing

2010-05-11T10:23:00.004-05:00

Last week we started our Tuesday night tradition of barbecuing. If you've never made it to a Tuesday BBQ, this is the season to start.Every Tuesday night we grill this season. Every other Tuesday will have a theme. Last week's BBQ featured a Cinco de Mayo theme.Liz Weber created her Guacasalsamole, which was outstanding. She's been kind enough to share her recipe with us!Guacasalsamole4 ripe

Events on B Dock!

2010-04-29T14:51:00.003-05:00

Tuesday Night BBQs Return to B DockThis Tuesday, join Chicago Sailing for the kick-off of our 2010 Season BBQs. It will be just like old times - good friends, good food and sailing.May 4th is close enough to Cinco de Mayo for us. Our theme this week is Mexican, so we're challenging our staff to come up with as many grilling recipes as possible. Empanadas anyone? Empanadas anyone?Boats will

We're Open!

2010-04-15T11:39:00.002-05:00

Phew! What a run up to the season. Every year, as soon as April hits, we orchestrate a semi-choreographed maneuver into the harbor. At the end of a Chicago Sailing season, our phone lines get transferred to our warehouse and year-round office on Campbell. The computers, printers, office supplies and everything else needed to operate an office all go there as well. Our boats get scattered. The J/

Gearing Up

2010-03-23T10:47:00.005-05:00

We're in the final run up to the start of the sailing season. What a relief! Chicago's winter weather was a little much this year. Especially last Saturday's snow storm. Prior to the snow, we took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather to get some preseason work done. The houseboat was pulled out of the river, where it spent the winter, and had a fresh coat of paint put on the bottom. She'll

Where are you Spring?

2010-02-25T10:52:00.002-06:00

With March just around the corner and current balmy 24 degrees outside, we felt it was time to go looking for some good news. Good News # 1: Tom Skilling predicts 30's for the next week! News We Already Knew About # 1: A quick perusal of the WGN weather blog led us to the nifty fact that this season's snowfall is almost double a regular season's. Yikes! No wonder we started researching the spring

What America's Cup?

2010-02-11T12:23:00.004-06:00

To-date we have failed to see any race action in the 33rd America's Cup. Some of our newer sailors may be wondering what it is we're speaking of, so we're taking some down time as we wait for the action to give a brief history lesson.The America's Cup is the oldest trophy in international sport. It earned its name in 1857 when the schooner America won the Cup and brought it to the New York Yacht

Strictly Sail Chicago

2010-01-19T14:28:00.004-06:00

It's back. Next week Thursday - Sunday, Navy Pier will be taken over by the largest group of sailing enthusiasts in the mid-West. Nothing beats the winter doldrums like a little glimmer of sailing and connecting with other sailors.Chicago Sailing will be in residence at Booth #149, just to the right of the center entrance. We'll have copies of our brand new, shiny brochures and Hershey kisses, as

Staff Update

2010-01-11T12:26:00.008-06:00

With the off season halfway through and Strictly Sail coming up, we thought it was time to let you know what our seasonal staff have been up to. Instructor Scott Meyers has the biggest news to share. He is getting married to his fiancée Brittany in July and setting sail for an around the world adventure in September. They are spending this winter preparing their boat, Rasmus (a Halberg-Rassey 35’

AEL Catering

2010-01-06T14:26:00.004-06:00

Ever wonder who is behind those really good food days, like last season's Oktoberfest party, at Chicago Sailing? Chef Andrew Lawrence and his wonderful staff are the creative geniuses! Just check out some of the food from Oktoberfest.And look at all the people enjoying it! There is even a guy from Germany in that picture. He couldn't believe he found food that good in Belmont Harbor.Check out AEL

Office Tour

2009-12-11T10:48:00.002-06:00

I've been quiet for a few weeks, partially because it's a slow time at Chicago Sailing. Donny and Kyle are working on the boats. Alan and I are working on brochures, the website and improving our services for all of our members.One of our recent additions is a video camera. Our web designer is working on building in video for our site, here's my first try at giving you an inside peek of our

Holiday Gift Guide

2009-11-18T12:14:00.002-06:00

We know that as the holiday season approaches, everyone struggles with finding the right present! Here is our run-down of the top gear for sailors. We've chosen these items to help maximize your sailing time and comfort while out enjoying the adventure.1. Foul Weather GearIf this season's weather continues into next season, we're in for a rainy 2010. Foul Weather Gear allows your sailor to take

Houseboat Fall Delivery

2009-11-11T15:54:00.003-06:00

Last week we capped the season with our fall trip down the Chicago River. For those aboard the "Squid," it was a bittersweet voyage. It was a delightful way to spend an afternoon with friends with a view of one of the most beautiful skylines in the world. Visually stunning, I am genuinely awe-struck each and every time I catch a glimpse of Chicago from the water. And to think, every summer

Season Close

2009-10-27T14:58:00.003-05:00

And so it goes. Another sailing season has passed us by. The harbor is quieting down now, with more and more boats heading to their winter homes. Chicago Sailing still has a few J/22's in the water. You can still take advantage of them, provided you make a reservation in advance and the weather holds. In the shop, Donny and Kyle have already started getting the boats ready for next year. There is

Winding down

2009-10-09T14:14:00.004-05:00

We have gotten a few calls recently inquiring about boat rentals this month. The short answer is yes, we are still open! To elaborate: Our boats will start departing Dock B next week. Two of the Hunters are going up to Racine, where Bumblebee already is. The T-10 will also be leaving shortly. At some point during the week of the 19th, our remaining Hunters and the J/30 will travel to their winter

Oktoberfest!

2009-09-24T12:06:00.002-05:00

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

Chicago Match Race

2009-09-17T11:58:00.005-05:00

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

The fog came in again!

2009-09-05T09:45:00.005-05:00

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

The fog rolls in

2009-09-04T12:41:00.003-05:00

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

Air & Water Show Recap

2009-08-24T12:46:00.002-05:00

Air & Water show weekend was a crazy time on Dock B. Leading up to the weekend itself, we had a number of events keeping us busy. Tuesday night was Taco Night! (Greek night is tomorrow.) In total, 8 boats went out on Club Sail. In the food department, all 12 pounds of meat was consumed as folks hung out and got to know each other after sailing. The following day we had a second 65 person Team

Taco Night!

2009-08-10T13:59:00.002-05:00

With smooth sailing ahead in the month of August and an anticipated Indian Summer this fall, we've decided it's time to shake up the Tuesday night BBQ's. Tomorrow kicks off the new schedule with chicken and steak tacos and all the fixing. Tuesday, August 25th: Greek Night!Tuesday, September 8th: Shish KabobsTuesday, September 22nd: Jamaican Jerk ChickenThis Tuesday, instructor Chris Lovas serves

A week of Regattas!

2009-08-01T11:55:00.004-05:00

Chicago Sailing has had a busy week. Those of you who follow us on Twitter have received a few updates (@chisail). Monday - Wednesday of this past week Chicago Sailing had Corporate teams join us on Dock B for Team Building Events.We started the week off with 64 people from Baxter participating in a half-day Team Building program. Using 13 J/22's, 2 J/24's and the T-10 made for a busy day on the

Tracking the weather...

2009-07-18T13:17:00.002-05:00

At Chicago Sailing we spend a lot of time tracking the weather. Our captains are better weather guys than Tom Skilling sometimes! A lot of customers call the office inquiring about the weather prediction and winds.Here's a quick run-down of the sites we use in our office.The Chicago Tribune has a marine forecast. Click on weather on the right, scroll down until you find the Marine Forecast. Or

Economy or Weather, the boat industry makes the news.

2009-07-11T09:55:00.005-05:00

The Chicago Tribune just ran an article on the boating industry in the Chicago area.For boating, rough watersThe article raises some interesting questions regarding the economy and its effect on the local marine industry. Recently, we were included in a Crain's article regarding the unseasonably wet weather. They created a video portion, that can be watched online.In the latest weather news, Tom

3rd of July

2009-07-04T10:13:00.009-05:00

Yesterday was a beautiful day for Chicago Sailing. Our boats steadily came in and left the dock on charters and rentals throughout the day, as many people were introduced to Dock B.Staff and customers operated like clock-work throughout the day.Alex Molo introduced Rich Feffer's passengers to the T-10 as Rich pulled back into the dock.Bumblebee was shined and ready for it's annual fireworks trip.

The Pride Parade

2009-06-29T14:50:00.002-05:00

Yesterday turned into a fantastic Parade Day! Chicago Sailing participated for the first time, along with nearly 250 other groups. So far we've spotted these photos on Flickr from other people of the float in action. We were too busy handing out brochures to take our own pictures!

One for the Team

2009-06-27T11:00:00.002-05:00

Last weekend one of our captains took out a Bachelor party on a charter. We encourage all of our guests to make an event of their sails, and this group was intent on having a good time.Apparently they wanted to add some music to their adventure. Unfortunately for our captain they did not bring out a large selection of tunes.For 2 hours they played the same song over and over.http://

Summertime in the City

2009-06-23T19:36:00.003-05:00

Summer is finally here! As our 90 degree high can attest to. A quick couple of photos from the dock this evening.And on the other side, quite a few big boats are missing. Don't you wish you had gotten out here too?Heading back to grilling now!

Is it Sun Spots?

2009-06-17T10:08:00.002-05:00

At this point, we have all noticed the unseasonable weather Chicago is experiencing. Yesterday our high was 12 degrees lower than the average temperature. The lake is higher than it has been in years. Over the winter Lake Michigan almost froze over, or so I've been told. Recently we heard rumors that this was going to be the summer that Chicago didn't get a summer. Crain's Chicago is even doing a

The Sailor's Forum has returned!

2009-06-03T12:44:00.002-05:00

Sailing is a social sport. We love watching new and old friends reconnect on B Dock while sailing. That's why it became so important for us to relaunch the Sailor's Forum. Take a tour of the topics we have created already. Let us know if there are topics you would like to see. Some of these topics were created in direct response to some of your survey responses.

A month of images

2009-06-02T16:26:00.002-05:00

A picture is worth a thousand words, or so they say. I'm hoping that the below pictures help cover for our general lack of blog updates recently. This May saw a lot of action on B Dock.Unilever came out for a Team Building event in the middle of the month. A little bit of the Irish luck helped us out, with a break in the rain that day allowing just enough time for the teams to go out and do some

FINALLY! Some great sailing weather...

2009-05-02T09:11:00.007-05:00

I arrived at B Dock to find the winds out of the west at 10 knots and our boats already heading out with classes on them. After three weekends of cold, overcast weather punctuated with sun and winds of 40 knots - today is a very good day. Summer might finally be on its way. Other sailors have caught on to the return of summer, as you can see the harbor is starting to show a little more life.

Feedback from You

2009-04-25T09:24:00.002-05:00

We have had a busy few weeks to the Chicago Sailing season. I actually looked forward to coming in today and the boats going out with their students. A moment of quiet time to catch up on our blog and other activities. Sitting next to my desk are the course evaluations from our first batch of converted landlubbers. The sentence that sums it all up for me is, "Best sailing class ever!"WOW - you

Tax Day Savings

2009-04-15T12:32:00.002-05:00

Just a few discounts from us to you from now through May 10th.* All seasonal check-out fees are waived with your first rental* Get 1 additional hour for free with all 2 hour rentals* Food and coffee to keep sailors warm on the weekendsBoats are available, call 773-871-7245 to make your reservation today.

Opening Weekend 2009

2009-04-12T08:41:00.003-05:00

Friday I arrived at B Dock to find the guys hard at work. Bucko was washing off the boats. Charlie was working on the rigging on our J/22's. Donny was painting. They made sure all was ready for our season start yesterday. We had 5 eager landlubbers arrive before 8:30 am to start their sailing adventure. Rick Reed started his second season of instruction this weekend. Sanjay Singh, who has been

House Boat Delivery 2009

2009-04-09T12:04:00.003-05:00

Last Thursday we snuck out of the office and hopped on board the Chicago Sailing on-season office. Starting at Green Dolphin Street, we motored down the river to the Loop, out the locks to the lake and up the lake to B Dock in Belmont Harbor. It took us about 2 1/2 hours and a great time was had by all on board. Check out some of the photos, taken along the way. The House Boat is now fully

Skiing and Sailing

2009-04-01T14:05:00.003-05:00

Growing up my family skied. We went out west to the Rockies in Colorado, Wyoming and Canada pursuing our love of skiing as a family. In my hometown of Cazenovia, NY we belonged to the Cazenovia Ski Club. In many ways, I am reminded of the ski club when I come to work at Chicago Sailing. By 4 pm each Saturday, most skiers would retire to the deck to throw their brats and burgers on the communal

Keeping up with the Joneses

2009-03-09T12:04:00.004-05:00

or Chicago Sailing!Follow us @chisail on Twitter for daily weather updates and news regarding course offerings.If you're on facebook, we're there too. Become a fan of Chicago Sailing's page.At Chicago Sailing we're big fans of RSS feeds, make sure you're subscribing to our blog feed so you don't miss any updates. Let us know what you think, post comments here or send us a message. What do you

Season Start Countdown

2009-03-09T11:41:00.005-05:00

In roughly 33 days (April 11), Chicago Sailing's boats leave Belmont Harbor with their first lessons of the season. The long winter we have all experienced is coming to an end and today we spotted daffodils poking through the ground and a robin.At our office we have kept busy getting ready for the season. Charlie, Donny, and Bucko have been hard at work on our J/22's.Don't worry, despite the

More Air & Water Show Photos

2008-08-17T11:27:00.000-05:00

Early morning shots before the madness begins

2008-08-17T08:45:00.000-05:00

The majority of our fleet ready for action on the water.Even with such a busy weekend its wonderful to get down to the harbor bright and early and enjoy the sunrise and new day.The light is always wonderful this time of the morning and we could not resist a few early morning shots.

2nd Day of Air & Water Show

2008-08-16T21:05:00.000-05:00

Here we have a selection of shots from today, above you can see the aerial acrobatics.Above you can see our dock nearly empty earlier today due to so many people availing of the great weather and wonderful sights out there.Below we have Chris who was helping out Ronan on another Bumblebee charter also earlier today. He actually may even look like he knows what he is doing.

All hands on deck for cleaning today

2008-08-16T11:39:00.000-05:00

We are not sure was it because the weather was so nice and someone wanted to work on their tan this morning or if it really was that we needed to pull together to get all boats spanking clean again before they go out later today... either way our Office Manager - Stephanie was on hand to help out... and pose for a few shots at the same time.

Friday of Air & Water Show

2008-08-15T20:44:00.000-05:00

Bumblebee had a charter today with 30 passengers onboard, plenty of cocktails, food and refreshments.This company sails every year as a reward to its employees for a great job done. Needless to say a great time was had by all and they will be returning again next year.As it was the first day of the 50th Annual Air & Water Show they were treated to a visual feast of aerial acrobatics. Here you see

August 8th Nice sailing shots... and a wedding onboard!

2008-08-08T21:26:00.002-05:00

This is a shot of one of our Hunter 326's on a sunset cruise towards the city. Its a lovely evening for a sail. If you look closely you can see advertising on the sails.For the past two years we have been adding some advertising opportunities to our fleet which we push as 'Billboards on the water'. This form of advertising offers a unique advertising medium at a very reasonable cost. So much so

Aug 7th Regatta - McKinsey & Watson Wyatt Worldwide group

2008-08-07T17:17:00.000-05:00

Today we hosted the 'McKinsey & Watson Wyatt Worldwide' group for a team building experience. As with most of our regattas everyone had a blast and lived to sail another day.Here you see the result of unclear communication between captain and crew. If you look closely you will see that the J22 has fouled against the race mark and as a result is dragging it in the water. This has pretty much

August 6th activities

2008-08-06T21:58:00.003-05:00

This afternoon Bumblebee was out for a beautiful evening sunset sail. We had a group of about 20 individuals from some of the major advertising agencies in Chicagoland. One of their common clients took them all out for a sail and party.