The Real Pirates are in your government; taxing, borrowing and spending too much.

Field Museum has some pirates, too.

Through October 25, 2009.

http://www.fieldmuseum.org/pirates

Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation invites you to two seminars this Saturday March 21, 2009 at Crowley’s Yachtapalooza – Free! Forward this announcement around to your friends.

New Racers and What Crews Should Know 9:00-10:00AM
Learn how to get involved with sailboat racing and what it really takes to get a boat to the starting line.
by Glenn McCarthy

2009-2013 Racing Rule Changes 12:00-2:00PM
Learn about changes to the racing rules for 2009-2012.
by Dr. Warwick Coppleson & Glenn McCarthy

For directions and other seminars go to http://www.crowleys.com

Race To Mackinac Committee announces:

I am pleased to announce that Chicago Yacht Club will have a booth at the Chicago Strictly Sail boat show this year. Additionally, we will be hosting a presentation at the show outlining our plans for, and answering your questions about, the 101st Race to Mackinac.

The presentation will begin on Saturday, January 31st, 2009 at 11:45 AM in Room 323 on Navy Pier. Please join us for this presentation and/or stop by our booth at the show.

This weekend marks another tradition as the Chicago sailing season approaches. Crowley’s Yacht-A-Palooza arrives this Saturday, March 29, 2008.

“This year we have decided to Lu’au for Yacht-a-palooza. The event, as usual, will feature big discounts on selected store items, the Nautical Donations Flea Market tent, guest speakers, workshops, featured vendors, food, a pig roast, entertainment and prizes…and admission is FREE!”

Here’s more information provided by Crowley’s:

Saturday, March 29, 2008
8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Come join the crew of Crowley’s Yacht Yard for our annual event -
Yacht-a-palooza. This year we are having a lu’au – pig roast and all -
in addition to our usual schedule of seminars, vendors and sale in the
Ship’s Store.

This year’s seminars will focus on money-saving do-it-yourself
workshops, racing and cruising sail trim, boating safety, important
information for evey sailor to have and Lake Michigan stories.

Vendors include North, UK and Quantum Sails, ACR, Mustang Survival,
Ocean Kayaks, Columbia Yacht Club Sailing School and, of course, Lake
Michigan Sail Racing Federation.

Admission is free so grab your grass skirt and coconut bra and come
spend the day with us. We’re starting summer now!

links:

Yacht-a-palooza Seminar Schedule

Yacht-a-palooza Vendors List

2008 Yachta-a-palooza Brochure (PDF)

Crowley’s Yacht Yard

Typically, there is little or no sailing presence at the show, despite the boating and recreation focus. One would expect attendees of a large, well-publicized and heavily-sponsored boat show would have interest in learning more about sailing. Conversely, one would expect the local sailing community to better use this event as an opportunity to promote local sailing activities. Unfortunately, that seems not to be the case.

Strictly Sail Chicago follows only one week later, as an entirely separate event. Although it is a welcome gathering for midwest sailors in the middle of winter, marketing sailboats and sailing to the more highly-focused audience lacks the exposure provided by the larger, better-advertised and better-supported Chicago Boat Show. It seems less than ideal that the Chicago Boat Show is under-used for promoting sailing.

Apparently, the show organizers, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), have finally arrived at the same conclusion. Shows in Virginia and Baltimore this year introduced Sailfest to test the waters of introducing more sailing at the boat shows.

NMMA and Sail America Launch New Sailfest Ventures

CHICAGO, July 24, 2007 – As a means of stimulating sales and providing additional opportunities for businesses in the sailing industry, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and Sail America are launching a new “Sailfest” venture at two upcoming NMMA consumer boat shows: The Virginia In-Water Boat Expo, taking place September 14-16; and the Baltimore Boat Show, being held January 23-27, 2008.

In addition to adding the “& Sailfest” tag to the end of boat show titles, the updated show format will feature a mini Strictly Sail show including: Sailboats, gear and accessories; sailing seminars; and other special sailing-related events. The Sailfest shows will be marketed to attract sailors in both the Norfolk, Virginia and Baltimore regions and complement existing show advertising to promote the two events.

“Sailfest was created as a response to boat show attendees asking to see more sailboats at shows where powerboats were primarily featured, as well as a strong desire on the part of exhibitors seeking ways to get their products in front of a larger audience” explains Kevin Murphy, national show manager for Sail America and the Strictly Sail events. “The overall goal of adding a more sail-focused component to these two events is simply to expose Sail America members’ products to more potential buyers.”

Murphy says the Virginia and Baltimore events are test cases for the Sailfest show. If the concept proves successful, the plan is to incorporate additional sail-focused components into future NMMA-produced consumer boat shows and events.

For more information, visit virginiaboatexpo.com, baltimoreboatshow.com, or contact Kevin Murphy at (401) 841-0900, ext. 28; kevin@sailamerica.com.

Sail America, an independent affiliate of NMMA, is the trade association that represents the U.S. sailing industry and plays a vital role for all companies involved in providing sailing-related products and services. Sail America has more than 500 members and works hard to promote the health and growth of sailing.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is the leading association representing the recreational boating industry. NMMA member companies produce more than 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, accessories and gear used by boaters and anglers in the United States. The association is dedicated to industry growth through programs in public policy, market research and data, product quality assurance and marketing communications.