Venue costs to host the 2016 Olympics in Chicago are estimated at $900 million, plus an “Athlete’s Village” costing another $1 billion.
It is believed most host cities report net losses due to hosting the Olympics- does anyone believe Chicago will prove to be an exception?
Barracuda, the Beneteau 40.7 which sank during the Chicago Mackinac return delivery last year, has been replaced.
Steve Pelke is the proud new owner of Stingray, a Beneteau 36.7.
We expect Stingray will be very competitive in the growing 36.7 one-design section.
Congratulations, Steve!
The Beneteau 36.7 North American Championship will be held in Chicago this year.
The 2008 NA’s take place September 2 – 6, 2008, hosted at Chicago Yacht Club by the Lake Michigan Beneteau 36.7 Fleet.
Sadly, there have been a series of death-related posts here on www.sailfastchicago.com. I was hoping to change the theme, especially in light of the holidays and hopes for a new year of sailing adventures.
But, unfortunately, circumstances have included the loss of too many Chicago area sailors in recent months. It is with sadness and respect that we give recognition to these individuals, in priority over other less somber sailing news.
Tom Kennedy passed away suddenly at the end of 2007. He was the owner of Blu Interlude, Beneteau 47.7, sail number GBR 7237. According to sources, Tom was unexpectedly stricken with a heart attack. Paramedics were called to his home after Tom felt chest pains, but he suffered a massive attack prior to their arrival and could not be revived.
Marty Bernstein raced regularly on Blu Interlude and shares this memorial tribute in remembrance of Tom Kennedy:
Tom was one of the nicest gentlemen on Lake Michigan or anywhere. It was a tremendous shock for his crew, his family and friends. Hundreds turned out for his send off at St. Clement Church, and spent nearly three hours at an open mic at the reception following, telling stories and remembering a true sportsman.
His first boat was Q-11, Robin, back in the day when Chicago had a sizable Q-Boat fleet. That was followed by the new Robin with the Shields fleet in Belmont Harbor. When his business prospered, he added the Ben 47.7 Blu Interlude, doing the last five Mac races on her.
His generosity knew no bounds; he frequently implored the crew to take the boat out sailing when he was out of town. Tom couldn’t bear to have her just sitting on the mooring and the crew missing all the fun. Though fiercely competitive on the race course, the object was fun, no raised voices, no harsh words.
If you met him just once, you were his friend. The Chicago fleet won’t be the same without him.
Fair winds and gentle seas, sailor. We will miss you.
About the Blu Interlude photo (www.sailfastchicago.com):
Unfortunately, I did not get to know Tom, but sailed against Blu Interlude in the 2007 Tri-State Regatta. I shot the picture above during the St. Joseph, Michigan to Michigan City, Indiana leg of the race. Blu Interlude, Raven and St. Francis were the only three boats who ventured out into Lake Michigan, as the rest of the fleet all took a shore route. Raven passed Blu Interlude to windward, forcing Blu Interlude to tack into shore. Raven soon followed her in, but St. Francis continued on. After a period of little or no wind, the wind filled in with a change of direction, and St. Francis finished the race without ever tacking once, remarkably enough, finishing second-to-last in her section, but winning a moral victory by finishing ahead of Raven. Blu Interlude finished somewhere ahead of both of us.
I was new to St. Francis and the racing section, and thus not well-acquainted with Tom or Blu Interlude, but the owners and crew of St. Francis all had good things to say about Tom and his crew. He will be missed and remembered fondly.
The infamous, fun-filled, action-packed annual Key West Race Week send-off party for Chicago racers continues…
KWRW was originally founded by Chicago sailors, and over the years Chicago has had a very strong presence represented among the competing boats. Chicago participation seems to have declined in the past few years, however. Perhaps that is partial inspiration for the small name change for the Key West party. Anyhow, the annual Key West party in Chicago is always a fun gathering of sailors and friends.
Hope to see everyone there!
Here’s the announcement, courtesy Tony Bowker of Goose Island Brewpubs:
Goose Island Brewpubs are once again hosting a winter ‘ice breaker’ with the support of our friends at Mount Gay Rum. The invitation follows. I hope to see you there.
Cheers!
TonySailor, relieve your cabin fever at the umpteenth annual Key West Race Week Kick-Off Party. This is for everyone with a Key West attitude, not only for those lucky enough to have a KW ride, or sporting enough to have sent their own boat.
Please note the change of venue to:
Goose Island Wrigleyville, 3535 North Clark St.
(Red Line to Addison or park in the lot on Addison opposite Wrigley Field)Friday, January 11th – 6pm
Map: linkAs usual, you can drink Mount Gay Rum cocktails for a cause and enjoy special pitchers of Goose Island’s ales, locally crafted form the waters of Lake Michigan.
Everyone welcome. Even power boaters! Just make sure they can navigate to Wrigleyville, not the pub on Clybourn.
First-time Lake Michigan kayaker missing since October 28, 2007, dies; body washes up on beach…
ZION, Ill. — A body that washed onto Illinois Beach State Park near Zion on Wednesday is that of a missing north suburban kayaker. The body has been confirmed to be that of Walter Doroba, 44, of 4461 Country Trail in Gurnee, according to Lake County Coroner Dr. Richard Keller.
The body was found washed ashore at Illinois Beach State Park just south of the Zion Nuclear Plant just after 3 p.m. Wednesday by a park employee, according to a Lake County sheriff’s police release.
An autopsy conducted Thursday on the well-preserved body determined the cause of death to be drowning, Keller said. Cold weather and chilly waters may have contributed to the preservation, he said.
Doroba was pronounced dead at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Illinois Beach State Park.
Doroba was last seen on Lake Michigan about a mile from the Waukegan Harbor shore about 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, according to Lake County sheriff’s police.
Shortly after he disappeared in late October, Doroba’s kayak, life vest and paddle were found by searchers, Lake County sheriff’s police Sgt. Chris Thompson said. Search and recovery efforts were terminated Nov. 1.
Doroba was a novice to kayaking. He had recently purchased the kayak, and Oct. 28 was his first trip on Lake Michigan, Thompson said.
The criminal investigation division of the sheriff’s police is investigating, Keller said.
Source: http://www.nbc5.com/news/14730199/detail.html
In the grim aftermath of Walter Doroba’s death, the Chicago Area Sea Kayakers Association (CASKA) has published kayaking safey information here: http://www.caska.org/safety.htm
on tv right now…
Dirty Jobs – “Bridge Painter”
Mike Rowe and the Dirty Jobs crew travels to Michigan to work with the Mackinac Bridge Authority on one of the world’s largest suspension bridges. Mike goes to great lengths, and heights, braving 50 mile per hour winds while helping paint the bridge. -Discovery Channel
as seen on the internet:
2008 Proposed Area III Schedule
5-17 Jacobs Day 1 / BPYC
5-18 Jacobs Day 2 / BPYC
5/24 Reinholtzen / CCYC
5/25 Olympic Cup / CCYC
5-31 Chicago – MC (or distance substitute) / ColYC
6-1 MC – Chicago (or distance substitute) / BPYC
6-7 Colors Regatta / ColYC (non Area III)
6-8 Colors Regatta / ColYC (non Area III)
6/13 NOOD / CYC (non Area III)
6/14 NOOD / CYC (non Area III)
6/15 NOOS / CYC (non Area III)
6-21 Chicago – Waukegan / WYC
6-22 Waukegan – Chicago / GLYC
6-28 Hobelman / CCYC
6-29
7-5 Kaczmarek – CCYC
7-6 Mayor Daley / ColYC
7-12 Lutz / JPYC
7-13
7-19 Mac / CYC (non Area III)
7-20
7-26
7-27
8-2 Commodore’s / ColYC
8-3 Fran Byrne / ColYC
8-9 Zukasky / BPYC
8-10 Horton / BPYC
8-15 Verve / CYC (non Area III)
8-16 Verve / CYC (non Area III)
8-17 Verve / CYC (non Area III)
8-23 Lukemia Cup / ColYC (non Area III)
8-24
8-29 Chicago – St Joe / ColYC
8-31 St Joe – MC / MCYC
9-1 MC – Chicago / JPYC
9-6
9-7 Commodore’s / CYC
9-13 Clark / CYC
9-14
9/20 MORF Open / MORF
9/21 MORF Open / MORF
Reportedly, the J105 and T10 fleets have decided NOT to sail to Michigan City in the 2008 Tri-State Regatta, opting instead to sail home to Chicago on Sunday.
Photo by Scott Berry, as seen on WGN Weather Center Blog
The loss of life is extremely tragic.
This disastrous incident reaches all of us in the Chicago area sailing community, and hits close to home for many of us.
I knew John Finn, and sailed the 1998 Chicago-Mackinac with him, before he owned J/35 Jason. I also sailed one beercan race on Jason, and enjoyed one of John’s rooftop parties which he very graciously hosted.
I did not know the other crewmembers of the ill-fated delivery, and regret that I will never have the opportunity. I am both deeply saddened, and, quite honestly, somewhat outraged, that three lives are now no longer with us.
Amidst the sadness and grief, there are questions surrounding this ill-fated delivery voyage. By all accounts, there were a number of opportunities where better decision-making would have resulted in a safer journey.
Death is too high a price to pay for an activity we engage in only for pleasure. Unfortunately, the hazards of nature and elements beyond one’s own control sometime make that an unforgiving reality of the risks we take.
However, we should not discount the importance of all efforts necessary to prevent danger.
I cannot help but imagine the horror each of the four Jason crewmembers and the Coast Guard rescue team experienced on that night, beginning with the first awareness of the actual dangers involved in the voyage, to the loss of a crewmember overboard, the loss of the boat underneath your feet, and the individual fight for survival in the darkness against water, cold, and the unyielding breakwall.
We can all be thankful for the call to the Coast Guard, and the Coast Guard’s prompt rescue response. Without the wherewithal to make those efforts, the entire crew would have been lost.
My heart goes out to all who are affected by these events.
Just a few years ago, the Big Kahuna party was a fun event marking the middle of September, to be followed with a few more weeks of racing, including Area III followed by two weekends of MORF Open. A good number of boats would stay in the water until October or November, soaking up what was left of the full season before cold weather.
These days, Area III racing ends quickly- Saturday is the last Area III race- and MORF Open has been reduced to only one-and-a-half race days. The weather has been milder and warmer, but boats seem more eager to get put away before crew assistance vanishes.
Crowley’s move to the south makes the end-of-the-season boat delivery more exposed to the weather, and less interesting than the former traditional river trip to the old location.
Oh well, boats still have the option to stay in until October or later, the MORF Open is still a great way to extend your racing season, and the Big Kahuna is still a fun way to celebrate and socialize after the final Area III race this season!