If you haven’t already noticed there are quite a few rugby/sailor connections in Chicago sailing community these days. And to be quite honest, there could be a few more. It is my personal opinion, and that shared by others in the Chicago sailing scene, Ruggers make great crew.

Why? Well, we currently play a team sport where you rely on teamwork, timing, and communication, we don’t whine and winge about hardwork and bad weather, and we’re not afraid of putting back a few cocktails after a hard day of fun in the sun activities.

To further prove this point I would like to invite everyone in the sailing community to come out to a Chicago Griffins home match this Saturday, and two weeks from this Saturday, so you can see for yourselves the talent pool available for the Chicago sailing community. Those of you that have made it out in the past can attest to the fact that our home matches are a blast, and shouldn’t be missed (too often). We’ll be shuttling folks from our home bar, The Black Rock on Damen Ave just north of Addison, out to our home field in Cumberland Woods, over by O’Hare. This way you can minimize or eliminate your driving and enjoy an afternoon at the pitch with a drink in hand.

Last year we had several hundred people out at the match, and everyone had a great time even though the weather wasn’t too accommodating. We had gas heaters, hot toddies, and a couple kegs of Goose Island’s 312 Urban Wheat Beer on hand, who just happens to be one of the best sponsors!

If you’re not stuck in the boatyard on Saturday, or out on a 420, Vanguard 15, or on a Laser, come on over to the Black Rock (see link below for details) for a little brunch, then off to the pitch for an afternoon a drinks and entertainment. We’ll bring you back to the Black Rock and you can experience a post rugby party like none other in Chicago (rated PG-13 of course).