As dedicated sailors, hard working instructors and lovers of the outdoors, being cooped up in an office all winter drives us nuts!! You can imagine that we really... really.... REALLY! look forward to the first sail of the year. Today Willie, Tim and I had the pleasure of taking four of the first J22's from
Montrose Harbor down to Belmont Harbor.
It was a lovely day, about 55f and the sun trying to get out from behind the clouds. The wind was about 5- 10 knots out of the east and there was not much of a swell (we really didn't want any of our boats to end up on the rocks!!
Unfortunately for me i was the dedicated driver of the truck meaning that i had the pleasure of driving the two lads to
Montrose, helping them rig the boats and then being the recipient of their waves and smiled of glee as they sailed off dock and out to Lake Michigan for the first of many times this season. I hopped into the truck to meet them at our dock at Belmont only to be greeted by a padlocked gate. I wasn't too worried, it just meant that the lads would have to dock the boats themselves without me there waiting with line in hand.... but the interesting part would be watching them try to negotiate their way over the top of the gate without falling into the ice cold water (which has happened in the past- to much laughter by all involved except the person in the water!!). I am sorry to say that neither of them fell in and within minutes we were on our way to meet the Harbor Master to see if she would take the lock off which they were only too happy to do.
With that done we drove back up to
Montrose, and again the lads (smiles and all) took off for another short sail down to Belmont. I again drove back to Belmont to meet them and am glad to say that they made it safe and sound.
So that was it for today, four boats launched and sailed to Belmont without any problems and with a lot of fun. From what the two lads said it was great to get out on the water and "BE SAILING AGAIN"..... well for some were my words ( a little more explicit than that though). Lucky them.
At the same time the owner of Chicago Sailing- Alan
Veenstra 
was down
south-side at the boatyard where we store our houseboat/ summer office (Yippee!!) making sure that she was ready to be 'splashed'. 'Splashed' is our term for launching a boat. Alan made sure that she was ready to go and that the engines were working correctly (they have a temperamental history... like almost any boats- maybe that is why they are referred to in the
feminine sense. Alan spent a few hours working his magic and reported that Squid is ready for her 'party trip' (See below) down the river.
We are not sure when we will be taking Squid (that is her below last year) down the river, it is weather dependant. Ideally it will be this coming weekend if it is warm and more importantly when all our friends and whom ever else we can find can come party with us as we come down the river and up to Belmont.
Last year the trip was great, we had about 30 people
onboard, 3
dj's and a lot of beverages (in case we got dehydrated). It was one hell of a trip down to say the least. I managed to find some photos and have included them for your viewing pleasure.
It sure was fun! If we get good weather this year hopefully you can join us.
Go on the summer!!
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