The TellTale: October 2024

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View this email in your browser Issue 10: October 2024 Congratulations, Class of 2024! This year Sail Chicago graduated 34 new skippers! Skippering out is a significant accomplishment that takes careful study, hard work, and practice, practice, practice. Congratulations to: Alejandro Fernandez Alvarez, Allen Diallo, Antony Moyalan, Brian Huang, Cody Cole, Dan Gammie, Daniel Galinovsky, David Friebus, David Neuman, Evangelos Poneres, Hashmet Eke, Isaak Krautwurst, James Wyeth, Jeffrey Lopez, Jim Roggeman, Katie Mackh, Kenneth Bunnell, Kevin Micks, Lee Shibley, Lisa Dewey, Luke Leisman, Lynza Sprowl, Michael Schur, Moritz Schimmele, Paige Downie, Salomon Elizondo, Sebastian Lindskog, Shelby Koos, Stefan Loebling, Stephen Paige, Thomas Emerson, Tom Hafner, Tracy Mackh, and Tudor Chima! This year, for the first time, new skippers received a US Sailing Basic Keelboat certification and a one-year membership in US Sailing. New skippers that were unable to join the New Skipper September Happy Hour to pick up their US Sailing Logbook will have it mailed to them soon. Congratulations again on your achievement. Congratulations also to the 200+ students who took classes with Sail Chicago this summer. We hope you had a wonderful time this summer learning and enjoying time out on the water. No matter where you are in your sailing journey, we're glad you're here, and we hope you continue to find a home with us at Sail Chicago. Build Your Sailing Resume There's a reason that every new skipper certified by US Sailing receives a logbook. It's because logging sails is such an important part of being a sailor. Just like your employment resume shows the experience you've gained in your career and demonstrates that you're qualified for a job, a sailing resume shows the quantity of sailing you've completed, the number of hours spent on the water, the different types of boats sailed, and the roles that you've served on those boats. If you hope to expand your sailing life beyond Sail Chicago, your sailing resume will be an important credential that can open up new opportunities. So whether you use your paper US Sailing Logbook, or choose to keep an electronic log, building your sailing resume is a valuable part of your sailing journey. Sail Chicago can also help you do this! We maintain a Sailing Resume Report on our data hub that pulls together information from every pre- and post-sail checklist for non-cruising boats completed since 2023 and displays it in format corresponding to the entries in a US Sailing Logbook. You can use the filter to display your sails. Click Filter to reveal the filter popup box and choose +Add condition. On the “Where” line, use the dropdown to change “name” to Members. On the right side of the box, click the Plus Button (+) to search your name. That's all there is to it! You can also download or print this report to incorporate this into your own resume. Community Cruise Wrap-up This season had multiple successful Community Cruise Outings with approximately 20 total participants from Sail Chicago and participating organizations! Many of the guests noted that it was their first time sailing and reported being super excited to do it again. Thanks to all the Sail Chicago members who were able to volunteer, and to the following awesome organizations which were represented: Cardz For Kidz is committed to uplifting spirits worldwide through the delivery of inspiring handmade cards. They offer scholarships to the patients they serve and provide portable electronics to brighten the days of patients and families confined to their rooms. House of Hope Foundation (No Kids Die in the Chi) is a local anti-violence organization in West Humboldt Park that focuses on anti-violence advocacy, mentorship, and providing safe spaces and a safer future for Chicago’s kids. River City Community Development Center serves the West Humboldt Park community with children’s programs that build foundation and cast vision for career, junior high programs that build peace through team-based career activities, and teen apprenticeships that build work skills, experience, and endurance. Silent Auction Donations Donations are needed for Sail Chicago’s annual Silent Auction on October 24, 2024. All proceeds are used to fund Sail Chicago’s Scholarship Program, which provides free sailing courses to diverse scholarship recipients.  We are seeking new and unused boating or sailing-related items that can be auctioned off at the event. We are also looking for volunteers to help solicit local businesses for donation items. Please contact Ashleigh Luttery, for items to donate and/or volunteer. End of Season Dinner and Auction Don’t forget to reserve your tickets for the biggest social event of the year! Tickets are $35 per person and include dinner. There will be a cash bar, presentations, silent auction, and lots of fun! Please reserve by October 17th. End of Season Dinner Chicago Yacht Club  Thursday, October 24 6:30-9:30pm Reserve tickets Share Your Photos Have some great photos from this season's sailing adventures? Dig through your phone and send them our way for the End of Season slide show. All you have to do is drop them into the shared folder! Upload photos Storytellers Ahoy! Take a moment and share a favorite story of your sailing season! Or do you have a fellow Sail Chicago member you would like to recognize by sharing an impactful experience about sailing with them? We are looking for great stories and great photos!  Tell your story! September Happy Hour/New Skipper Event It was a great night at Island Party Hut on the Riverwalk with great weather and about 50 members in attendance, including 11 new skippers. The event's emcees were Board Member Shawn Joseph with Chair Gerry Stacy. Maintenance leader Rich Costello, Incoming Deputy Instructor Brian Huang, and new skipper Katie Mackh gave brief speeches. What a great night. Many thanks to Monte Lewis, Tracy Mackh, Linhda Nguyen, Deb Griffin, and Jack Griffin for executing another successful event. Volunteers Still Needed It’s starting to feel like the end of the sailing season is just around the corner. Remember, when the season ends on October 31, our volunteering season ends as well. Do you still need to meet your 2024 service time requirement? Are you looking for additional hours? Below are some end-of-season opportunities to help out. Help unstep Colgate masts and transport boats to the boatyard in October. Unstepping the masts takes several hours on a Saturday or Sunday and many hands are needed but no experience is required. Come see how we lower a mast! There are still a few volunteers needed. Social Committee volunteers are needed to help with the end-of-season dinner on Thursday, October 24. Help solicit business donations for Sail Chicago's upcoming auction. This is an easy way to volunteer...just tap into your existing network and business favorites. Many businesses see auctions as a great way to get new bodies through their door and are happy to give a coupon or free service. To sign up for any of these opportunities, complete the Volunteer Signup Form or contact the Volunteer Team at volunteer@sailchicago.org. Merch for Sale Check out our cool line up of Sail Chicago merch. We’ve sourced T-shirts, polos, jackets, fleece, and hats from top quality vendors, all embroidered with our burgee logo. Take pride in Sail Chicago and wear your merch at social events and on the water. Gift cards are available in increments of $25.00. Buy Merch Contact Us Shop for cool Sail Chicago Gear  Follow us on Facebook for updates, reminders, event info and activities! View previous issues of The Telltale Sail Chicago Mission Statement  |  Member Benefits  |  Fleet Locations  |  Member Log In   Member Registration  |  Sail Chicago Rules and Regulations  |  Board Meeting Minutes Instruction  |  Sailing Weather Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

The Telltale: September 2024

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View this email in your browser Issue 9: September 2024 The season is winding down, but its not over yet. This chilly weekend is a reminder of what is to come, so be sure to take advantage of the sunny days ahead. Don't forget to mark your calendars for our biggest social event of the year, the End of Season Dinner and Auction on October 24. See you there!  — Meighan Depke, Editor Submit your best photos! Have some great photos from this season's sailing adventures? Dig through your phone and send them our way for the End of Season Dinner slide show. All you have to do is drop them into the shared folder! Upload here Silent Auction Donations Needed Seeking donations for our Silent Auction at the End of Season Dinner at Columbia Yacht Club. All proceeds from the Silent Auction are used to fund Sail Chicago’s Scholarship Program, which provides free sailing courses to diverse scholarship recipients.  In support of the Silent Auction and the Scholarship Program, we are requesting donations of new and unused boating or sailing-related items that can be auctioned off at the event. We are also looking for volunteers to help solicit local businesses for donation items. Please contact Ashleigh Luttery, ashleigh.luttery@sailchicago.org, for items to donate and/or volunteer. Social News   September will be the last happy hour of the season, and we hope to see all Sail Chicago members at the event! New skipper graduates and achievements will be celebrated along with updates regarding what’s new at Sail Chicago. New skippers will receive their US Sailing log books and one-year US Sailing membership.  Members are welcome to bring one guest. Appetizers will be served and one drink ticket will be provided for all attendees. Please register so we can plan and if your plans change, please cancel. Thank you! Thursday, Sep 26, 6-9pm  Island Party Hut, 335 Chicago Riverwalk Sign Up End of Season Dinner and Auction It's almost time to celebrate another great sailing season so mark your calendars for Thursday, October 24th, for our End of Season Dinner and Auction at Columbia Yacht Club. Festivities begin at 6:30pm. Again this year there will be a silent auction to benefit Sail Chicago’s DEI scholarships and we hope to have a great turnout. Watch for the Eventbrite signup in the October. August Happy Hour Sail Chicago's August Happy Hour at Weather Mark Tavern was a great success with over 25 attending — many new members included. Weather Mark Tavern is a favorite spot among Sail Chicago members and we haven't visited since pre-pandemic! Everyone enjoyed delicious food, refreshing drinks, and of course, the sailing-themed decorations. For those who missed it, hope to catch you at the September Happy Hour!  It was a fun night and a great turnout at the August Happy Hour Colgate 26 Skill Standards Many of you are familiar with the pdf guide, "On the Water Skills for the Colgate 26", which describes Sail Chicago's approach to preparing for departure, leaving the mooring, sailing, and returning to the harbor. The pdf has now been updated and turned into a print-on-demand paperback book available at Amazon. Complete with photos and diagrams, you will find yourself reviewing the skills over and over. The book will also be used by students in all classes—Crew, First Mate, and Skipper Prep. Get one today for $12! Order Skill Standards Volunteers Still Needed It’s starting to feel like the end of the sailing season is just around the corner. Remember, when the season ends on October 31, our volunteering season ends as well. Do you still need to meet your 2024 service time requirement? Are you looking for additional hours? Below are some end-of-season opportunities to help out. Help unstep Colgate masts and transport boats to the boatyard in October. Unstepping the masts takes several hours on a Saturday or Sunday and many hands are needed but no experience is required. Come see how we lower a mast! After lowering the masts, the Colgates are taken down river to the Canal Street boatyard. Crews are needed to make the two-hour trip on weekday mornings. Social Committee volunteers are needed to help with upcoming events. Extra hands are needed to help with the end-of-season dinner on Thursday, October 24. Help solicit business donations for Sail Chicago's upcoming auction. This is an easy way to volunteer...just tap into your existing network and business favorites. Many businesses see auctions as a great way to get new bodies through their door and are happy to give a coupon or free service. To sign up for any of these opportunities, complete the Volunteer Signup Form or contact the Volunteer Team at volunteer@sailchicago.org. Merch for Sale Check out our cool new line up of Sail Chicago merchandise for sale. We’ve sourced T-shirts, polos, jackets, fleece, and hats from top quality vendors, all embroidered with our burgee logo. Take pride in Sail Chicago and wear your merch at social events and on the water. Gift cards are available in increments of $25.00. Buy Merch Contact Us Shop for cool Sail Chicago Gear  Follow us on Facebook for updates, reminders, event info and activities! View previous issues of The Telltale Sail Chicago Mission Statement  |  Member Benefits  |  Fleet Locations  |  Member Log In   Member Registration  |  Sail Chicago Rules and Regulations  |  Board Meeting Minutes Instruction  |  Sailing Weather Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

The Telltale: August 2024

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View this email in your browser Issue 8: August, 2024 As we all know, weather in Chicago is no joke, especially on Lake Michigan. It comes in fast, and this year seems particularly tricky. For sailors, being prepared is critical. We want to sail, but well, sometimes the weather doesn't cooperate. As a new skipper, I err on the side of caution. I snapped this picture sailing with skipper and co-editor Anders Carlsson. Shortly after, we headed into the harbor. Clouds were looming, so better safe than sorry. So please review the note below from our Safety Committee and safe sailing! Meighan Depke, Editor Following the Wind Guidelines Over the past couple of months, the safety committee has reviewed a number of incidents — some serious — which have resulted from sailing at the edge of, or outside of, our wind guidelines. This has resulted in damage to our fleet, additional repair costs that we all share, and serious consequences for some skippers. Please remember: It is your responsibility as skipper to follow the wind guidelines. This means: — You are aware of windspeed and whether winds are trending up or down before and during your sail. — Winds greater than 16 knots may be sailed with caution only by experienced skippers and crew. — If winds build to 21+ knots during the sail, you must return to the harbor as quickly and safely as possible. Assessing the wind goes beyond simply being aware of windspeed. A skilled skipper is aware of the wind and weather AND they assess their abilities and the capabilities of their crew and make sound, safe judgements given the conditions. Sail Chicago rules make it clear that skippers should refer to the Current Weather and Weather Forecast information available on the my.sailchicago.org landing page to determine compliance with our standards. These readings come from the NOAA station on the Harrison-Dever crib. If you are making decisions based on another weather station, you are not following the rules. When an incident is reported, the first thing the safety committee does is look at the wind and weather data. We review the NOAA marine forecast that was in place at the time. We review the wind readings at the Harrison-Dever crib in the hour before the sail and throughout the sail. We look at a chart of those wind readings to understand whether the wind was trending up or down. All of these tools are available to you on your smartphone in real time. As skipper, expect that when the safety committee talks to you about an incident, they will ask about and evaluate your judgement as a sailor in light of this information. When you're making a go/no-go decision on a sail, please consider what your answers to the safety committee would be should an incident occur. This is part of the accountability we owe to each other as a learning community of sailors whose #1 goal is safety.  — Safety Committee Colgate 26 Skill Standards Many of you are familiar with the pdf guide, "On the Water Skills for the Colgate 26", which describes Sail Chicago's approach to preparing for departure, leaving the mooring, sailing, and returning to the harbor. The pdf has now been updated and turned into a print-on-demand paperback book available at Amazon. Complete with photos and diagrams, you will find yourself reviewing the skills over and over. The book will also be used by students in all classes—Crew, First Mate, and Skipper Prep. Get one today for $12! Order Skill Standards Volunteers Still Needed It’s starting to feel like the end of the sailing season is just around the corner. Remember, when the season ends on October 31, our volunteering season ends as well. Do you still need to meet your 2024 service time requirement? Are you looking for additional hours? Below are some end-of-season opportunities to help out. Students are eager to practice and want to get out on the water! It's easier than ever to become a Member Cruise Outing or Tiller Time Skipper. And skippering one of these program sails will give you 4-5 hours of volunteering time. Help unstep Colgate masts and transport boats to the boatyard in October. Unstepping the masts takes several hours on a Saturday or Sunday and many hands are needed but no experience is required. Come see how we lower a mast! After lowering the masts, the Colgates are taken down river to the Canal Street boatyard. Crews are needed to make the two-hour trip on weekday mornings. Social Committee volunteers are needed to help with upcoming events. Extra hands are needed to help with the end-of-season dinner on Thursday, October 24. To sign up for any of these opportunities, complete the Volunteer Signup Form or contact the Volunteer Team at volunteer@sailchicago.org. Social News   Great weather for Friends + Family Picnic.  The introductory sails were sold out and we had 26 members, plus skippers and first mates, partake in the picnic food. Winds were about 8 knots, so perfect for our novice guests. No one got sick this year! Thanks to everyone involved who helped make this highly coordinated day a success. August Happy Hour Join us on Tuesday, August 27 for fun social evening to meet old friends and new. Weather Mark Tavern, 1503 South Michigan Ave. 5:30-7:30pm Happy Hour Sign Up Merch for Sale Check out our cool new line up of Sail Chicago merchandise for sale. We’ve sourced T-shirts, polos, jackets, fleece, and hats from top quality vendors, all embroidered with our burgee logo. Take pride in Sail Chicago and wear your merch at social events and on the water. Gift cards are available in increments of $25.00. Buy Merch New Skipper Social Hour Join us for our next casual social for new Skipper Graduates. Connect with skipper candidates, share stories, and find first mates to help with the new Skipper requirement of completing three final sails. Thursday, Sep 26 Lizzie McNeill’s: 400 N McClurg Ct. Tiller Time Skippers Needed Hey Tiller Time Skippers, now is the time to sign up to host Tiller Times for this season’s Sail Chicago students. Classes have started, and our students need to practice! Current Tiller Time skippers can schedule to host on the Sail Chicago website. For Sail Chicago skippers who are interested in hosting Tiller Times, get started by contacting tillertime@sailchicago.org. Tiller Time skippers can earn sailing credits and fulfill their volunteer commitment by hosting, so please consider volunteering for this important role. Call for Videographers Once again this season, Sail Chicago is looking for a team to create instruction videos. The video team will create content, record video, edit, and post to the Sail Chicago YouTube channel. Interested? Have video production skills? There will be a pre-season meeting so please contact Doug Sink at ddsink@icloud.com or 630-418-1318 if interested. Contact Us Shop for cool Sail Chicago Gear  Follow us on Facebook for updates, reminders, event info and activities! View previous issues of The Telltale Sail Chicago Mission Statement  |  Member Benefits  |  Fleet Locations  |  Member Log In   Member Registration  |  Sail Chicago Rules and Regulations  |  Board Meeting Minutes Instruction  |  Sailing Weather Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

The Telltale: July 2024

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View this email in your browser Issue 7: July, 2024 Editor Meighan Depke is traveling, so I'm filling in for this issue. Let's all thank Meighan, and her predecessor Steve Vandervoort, for the efforts they have put into conceiving and creating each issue of TheTellTale. It is one of the "glues" that makes Sail Chicago such a welcoming organization!        Anders Carlsson, Assistant Editor   The Journey after Skippering Out I attended our Skipper-to-Skipper happy hour last week. It was a great event, all due to the hard work of our Lead Instructor and our Social Committee.  THANK YOU! I was asked to say a few words, and I gave three bits of advice for our new skippers: First, make friends and go sailing!  My first year as a skipper, I was very fortunate to meet and hit it off with another board member, Daniel Hazlett.  We went sailing together easily a dozen times that summer, and I learned so much from him.  Yes, it helped that Daniel is one of our instructors and a great sailor, but most of what I learned from him was to trust my instincts, to continue to practice, to be prudent, to try things out and observe what happens, and to keep learning.   Second, I encouraged these new skippers to not just sail, but to reserve boats as the skipper.  I've talked with a lot of new skippers  on MCO's, and every one of them says the same thing.  It feels very, very different to be the person in charge of a boat and its crew.  You feel the weight of that responsibility, and that shapes your judgment.  And careful judgment is what makes you a better sailor. Which brings me to my third piece of advice:  Own your mistakes.  Even the most experienced sailor can be humbled by wind and waves. This happened to me last week on an MCO I was hosting.  The winds suddenly jumped from about 6 knots to 18 knots, and before we had a chance to heave-to and reef, I executed a series of tacks that nobody in my boat, including me, was comfortable with. So own your mistakes.  Ask your fellow sailors and crew what they would have done differently.  Report incidents when they happen.  These are the best ways to learn.  Sail Chicago is a learning community.  As sailors, we're committed to spending our lives learning how to do this amazing thing even better.   -Gerry Stacy, Board Chair Become a Sail Chicago Instructor Interested in joining the Instruction Team? The Instructor Prep class gets you ready to teach at Sail Chicago! Candidates should have a minimum of two years skipper experience with Sail Chicago, and be confident and competent sailors. Prep begins with the Sail Chicago Skills and Standards for the Colgate 26 Instructor Exam. Candidates will then shadow a minimum of one Sail Chicago instructor and complete a shadow form. This is followed by two OTW classes with a Sail Chicago Instructor Trainer (certified Basic Keelboat Instructor). Instructor trainers will share learning practices that make Sail Chicago's classes safe and fun. Candidates will then demonstrate those practices. Finally, candidates will conduct a Tiller Time sail while being observed by Instructor Mentors. The Mentor then completes an observation form, gives solid feedback, and makes recommendations on improving the candidate's teaching style. Classes open soon, and there is limited space, so start planning now! Questions? Contact Monte Lewis at leadinstructor@sailchicago.org. Colgate 26 Skill Standards Now in Paperback Form Many of you are familiar with the pdf guide, "On the water skills for the Colgate 26", which describes the Sail Chicago approach to preparing for departure, leaving the mooring, sailing, and returning to the harbor. This document has now been updated and turned into a print-on-demand paperback book available at Amazon:   Order Skill Standards Complete with photos and diagrams, you will find yourself reviewing the Skill Standards over and over again. The Skill Standards will be used by students in all classes: Crew, First Mate, and Skipper Prep courses.  And the price is around $13! Pre-Sail Orientation Thanks Sail Chicago thanks each and every new skipper who presented at a Pre-Sail Orientation this season. It’s not an easy task to speak to a new group of folks who are just learning about our club logistics, our values and standards, and sailing itself. And yet, every single PSO attendee has given nothing but positive feedback, specifically mentioning they had all their questions answered and felt welcomed by the presenters. We've had 8 PSOs with about 230 attendees total. So with that, big kudos to the presenters (in no particular order): Alan Street, Alayna Parsons-Valles, Arjun Wadnerkar, Chad Skarpiak, Gary Nitz, Joy Ma, Laura Reilly, Meighan Depke, Natalia Pavarova, Sam Leist, Shawn Joseph, and Stan Szwalek. For those skippering out this season, you're up for next year! New skippers are asked to present in PSOs to help orient new members. It does count towards your volunteer hours. DM Nina Wheeler on Slack if you want to sign up early for next year. Defining the Wind and Sail Chicago At the spring instructors meeting, it was announced that Sail Chicago wind guidelines/limits were just increased. Yes, increased by 1 knot. At first I thought, how silly, go through all that trouble just to give us 1 extra knot? Maybe there haven't been any mishaps lately, so they are going to raise it a little each year, like the cost of living! But then I heard the name Beaufort Scale, and it all made brilliant sense. Sir Francis Beaufort was a 19th century hydrographer known best for his verbal definitions of wind speed categories. Author Scott Huler in his book Defining the Wind says  "The Beaufort Scale description of the wind doesn't merely reach that highest level of clarity; it surpasses it and becomes poetry." Level 4 Moderate Breeze 11 - 16 knots.  Small waves becoming longer;  fairly frequent white horses. Level 5 Fresh Breeze 17 - 21 knots. Moderate waves, taking a more pronounced long form; many white horses are formed; chance of some spray. Thank You Sail Chicago, for incorporating this part of history and nautical tradition into our program! Become a Member Cruise Outing Skipper If you're a skipper and are looking for ways to complete volunteer hours, consider becoming a Member Cruise Outing (MCO) skipper and taking your fellow Sail Chicago members out on the water. It's an easy and enjoyable way to spend time sailing while meeting other members. The rules for becoming an MCO skipper have recently changed, so it's even easier to sign up and volunteer: i) Sail the Colgates as a private skipper of record for a total of six (6) sails. This includes the three probationary sails you did as a new skipper. ii) Complete the US Sailing Safety at Sea: Coastal online course. Sail Chicago will reimburse you for the cost of this course after you upload your completion certificate. New Merch for Sale Check out our cool new line up of Sail Chicago merchandise for sale. We’ve sourced T-shirts, polos, jackets, fleece, and hats from top quality vendors, all embroidered with our burgee logo. Take pride in Sail Chicago and wear your merch at social events and on the water. Free shipping on orders over $100. A $9.95 flat rate applies to orders totaling less than $100. Gift cards are available in increments of $25.00. Buy Merch Friends and Family Picnic Saturday, July 20, Belmont Harbor We have made some changes to the Friends and Family Picnic this year. We have added another Colgate for the short introductory sails and can now accommodate 88 people! The picnic will be held at Belmont Harbor all day, and the first sails start at 9:45. The sails are free but you must register for a specific boat and time at the link below: Short Sail Sign Up We have also decided on lighter fare for the picnic (sandwiches, fruit and veggie trays), and are dropping the price to $15 from last year's $20. Kids are half price at $7.50. If you would like to partake, please register and pay at this link: Picnic Registration You can always bring your own picnic lunch also. Alcohol is not allowed on park district property. Social News   June Windy Educational Sail. Thirteen members and a few guests attended our June 8th Educational Sail on the Tall Ship Windy.  A few members helped hoist the sails, and we had some interesting discussions with the Windy crew. Afterwards some of us enjoyed delicious cheeseburgers from the Billy Goat Tavern.  It was a beautiful day for sailing!   Summer Skipper Event. Recently graduated Colgate Skippers, past Skippers, Instructors, and several SC Chicago leaders met at Lizzie McNeil's  Irish Pub to share stories of their SC Journey and met new Skippers to sail with. Newer Skippers learned how to continue their learning journey - by learning to sail on cruisers or smaller boats -  and give back to our Sail Chicago community by running Member Cruise Outings, Tiller Times, or becoming a Racing Skipper.  Mark your calendars: End of Season Dinner: Thurs, Oct 24 Tiller Time Skippers Needed Hey Tiller Time Skippers, now is the time to sign up to host Tiller Times for this season’s Sail Chicago students. Classes have started, and our students need to practice! Current Tiller Time skippers can schedule to host on the Sail Chicago website. For Sail Chicago skippers who are interested in hosting Tiller Times, get started by contacting tillertime@sailchicago.org. Tiller Time skippers can earn sailing credits and fulfill their volunteer commitment by hosting, so please consider volunteering for this important role. Mooring Line Reminder Please do not loop the mooring line over the pickup wand when departing the can — it should be left it in the water. Although convenient, doing so has caused damage and entanglements to the pickup wands and tether lines. Contact Us Shop for cool Sail Chicago Gear  Follow us on Facebook for updates, reminders, event info and activities! View previous issues of The Telltale Sail Chicago Mission Statement  |  Member Benefits  |  Fleet Locations  |  Member Log In   Member Registration  |  Sail Chicago Rules and Regulations  |  Board Meeting Minutes Instruction  |  Sailing Weather Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

The Telltale: June 2024

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View this email in your browser Issue 6: June, 2024 Sailing goals? A couple weeks ago, during mast raising, another member asked me "what are your summer sailing goals?" Of course I stared at him blankly. "To sail?" But his point was a good one. Summer slips by so fast, and having a few goals is a great idea! So ok, my goal is to learn more, meet new people, and sharpen my skills! Its obvious, but takes effort for a new skipper. So no matter your skill level, or how long you have been in the club, take advantage of this great organization filled with others eager to help you reach your goals. I'll see you on the water! Meighan Depke, Editor Volunteering — Get Your Hours  Sail Chicago volunteers, make sure to count your hours and think about how many you have. This spring, the board reinstated 20 hours as the minimum needed to fulfill your annual service requirement. This means you will need 20 confirmed hours reported in order to avoid the 2024 waiver fee of $400 when renewing membership next year. You'll be asked to report your 2024 volunteer hours after October 31 when this year's season ends. It's your responsibility to track and submit your hours in your 2024 year-end volunteering report. Remember, any hours spent volunteering after November 1 will count towards your 2025 service time and 2026 membership renewal. If you need help finding a volunteer position that fits your skills and schedule, please reach out to the volunteering team at volunteer@sailchicago.org. Tiller Time Skippers Needed Hey Tiller Time Skippers, now is the time to sign up to host Tiller Times for this season’s Sail Chicago students. Classes have started, and our students need to practice! Current Tiller Time skippers can schedule to host on the Sail Chicago website. For Sail Chicago skippers interested in hosting Tiller Times, get started by contacting tillertime@sailchicago.org. Tiller Time skippers can earn sailing credits and fulfill their volunteer commitment by hosting, so consider volunteering today! Last-Minute Tiller Times Students, remember to practice, practice, practice! If you sign up for a Tiller Time seat less than 24 hours in advance, it won't use up one of your Tiller Time credits. And remember, if you won't be able to make your Tiller Time, be sure to cancel more than 24 hours in advance to get your credit back. Litter Removal Continues! Last year Sail Chicago began a pilot program to encourage sailors to remove litter from the lake and all eight Colgates are currently equipped with a collapsible net to help with the process. It's difficult to assess the participation level, but we have been told by last year’s sailors that they felt great satisfaction knowing they helped clean our beautiful lake. Experience that feeling yourself and when you see litter and make an approach on close reach to scoop it out! Become an MCO Skipper If you're a skipper and are looking for ways to complete volunteer hours, consider becoming a Member Cruise Outing (MCO) skipper and taking your fellow Sail Chicago members out on the water. It's an easy and enjoyable way to spend time sailing while meeting other members. The rules for becoming an MCO skipper have recently changed, so it's even easier to sign up. Sail the Colgates as a private skipper of record for a total of six (6) sails. This includes the three probationary sails you did as a new skipper. Complete the US Sailing Safety at Sea: Coastal online course. Sail Chicago will reimburse you for the cost of this course after you upload your completion certificate. Operating our Outboard Motors Rich Costello, our head of maintenance, has made an informative video to remind all sailors how to use our outboard motors. Please search for the video channel in slack and watch today! New Merch for Sale Check out our cool new line up of Sail Chicago merchandise for sale. We’ve sourced t-shirts, polos, jackets, fleece, and hats from top quality vendors, all embroidered with our burgee logo. Take pride in Sail Chicago and wear your merch at social events and on the water. Free shipping on orders over $100. A $9.95 flat rate applies to orders totaling less than $100. Gift cards are available in increments of $25.00. Buy Merch New Skipper and Skipper Prep Social Join us for a casual social for 2023 Skipper Graduates and students in 2024 Skipper Prep classes. New skippers can connect with skipper candidates, share stories, and find first mates to help with the new Skipper requirement of completing three final sails. Thursday, June 27, from 6–8:00pm, Lizzie McNeill’s: 400 N McClurg Ct. Social News We had a great turn out for our May 11 Season Kickoff at ColYC and fun was had by all! Please remember to sign up EARLY for our events since we give venues a food count 7 to 10 days before the event. We did run out of hot food at our kickoff due to last minute RSVPs, so we want to make sure it does’t happen again! Our next event is the Windy educational sail. Cost for the sail is $35 plus tax and fees. Children under 18 are $25. After the sail, we plan to hang out at the Billy Goat (directly across from Windy boarding). Lunch and drinks are on your own if you choose to attend. Look for the social committee members at the picture area before boarding the Windy to check in and get a name tag. Tall Ship Windy Educational Tour: Saturday, June 8, 11am Windy Sign Up Mark your calendar for these events: Friends and Family picnic: Sat, July 20 Registration coming soon!  End of Season Dinner: Thurs, Oct 24 Mooring Line Reminder Please do not loop the mooring line over the pickup wand when departing the can — it should be left it in the water. Although convenient, doing so has caused damage and entanglements to the pickup wands and tether lines. Call for Videographers Once again this season, Sail Chicago is looking for a team to create instruction videos. The video team will create content, record video, edit, and post to the Sail Chicago YouTube channel. Interested? Have video production skills? There will be a pre-season meeting so please contact Doug Sink at ddsink@icloud.com or 630-418-1318 if interested. Contact Us Shop for cool Sail Chicago Gear  Follow us on Facebook for updates, reminders, event info and activities! View previous issues of The Telltale Sail Chicago Mission Statement  |  Member Benefits  |  Fleet Locations  |  Member Log In   Member Registration  |  Sail Chicago Rules and Regulations  |  Board Meeting Minutes Instruction  |  Sailing Weather Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

The Telltale: May 2024

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View this email in your browser Issue 5: May, 2024 As the weather warms, we can all feel that it’s almost time to sail! Classes are full, last minute work is being completed at the boatyard, and the harbor is ready for our fleet! Thanks to everyone who helped ready the boats and to those that will move them up the river. If you have never volunteered for the river trip, keep your eyes on Slack— it’s a fun way to start the season. Hope to see everyone at our official kickoff party on May 11 at COLYC and on’t forget to register! Meighan Depke, Editor From the Safety Committee After a long winter, the sailing season is finally here! Soon we'll all be heading to the harbor to board our fleet of wonderful boats. Skippers, as you gear up, put on your sunscreen, and get ready to set sail, here are a few important reminders: Always Check your Boat's Status Before you head to the harbor, log on to my.sailchicago.org and review the status of your boat on the Fleet Status page. Are there any issues or warnings that you should be aware of? More importantly, has your boat been taken out of service? Remember, you are responsible for knowing the maintenance status of your boat. Sailing a boat that is out of service is the same as sailing a boat without a reservation. This is a serious rule infraction. And while you're on my.sailchicago.org, take a moment to review the current wind/wave conditions and the weather forecast for your sail. Carefully Complete the Pre- and Post-Sail Checklists The checklists are an essential and required part of every sail you do. They ensure that you have put eyes on and assessed your boat’s critical systems and safety equipment before setting sail, and that you consistently close up the boat after sailing completes. These checklists are also the primary way skippers communicate maintenance issues — even small ones — to our boat maintenance teams. Remember, failing to complete the checklists is an infraction of Sail Chicago rules. Proceed with Caution We're all eager to get out on the water, but for most of us, it's been at least six months since our last sail. Our skills are rusty!  Keep that in mind as you head out on your first sails of the season. Bring along another skipper or experienced crew. Use careful judgement about the wind and wave forecast, and be conservative in estimating your own skills. Let's make sure our sailing this summer is safe and fun — see you out on the water! New Tiller Time Policies Tiller Times are one of the most important ways that students can practice their skills, and all students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of them. Unfortunately, demand is high, and available Tiller Times are limited. So, to allow as many students as possible to practice, the Board has put the following new policies in place: 1. Every student is limited to four (4) Tiller Times per season. You will not be able to sign up for more than four. 2. If you cancel your seat on a Tiller Time with less than 24 hours notice, it will count toward one of your four Tiller Times. Students should practice as much as they can, and we want to make sure that everyone has a chance! Tiller Time usage will be monitored throughout the season, and adjustments to the rules will be made as needed. Keep an eye on The Telltale where any changes to these policies will be announced. Become a Sail Chicago Instructor Interested in joining the Instruction Team? The Instructor Prep class gets you ready to teach at Sail Chicago! Candidates should have a minimum of two years skipper experience with Sail Chicago, and be confident and competent sailors. Prep begins with the Sail Chicago Skills and Standards for the Colgate 26 Instructor Exam. Candidates will then shadow a minimum of one Sail Chicago instructor and complete a shadow form. This is followed by two OTW classes with a Sail Chicago Instructor Trainer (certified Basic Keelboat Instructor). Instructor trainers will share learning practices that make Sail Chicago's classes safe and fun. Candidates will then demonstrate those practices. Finally, candidates will conduct a Tiller Time sail while being observed by Instructor Mentors. The Mentor then completes an observation form, gives solid feedback, and makes recommendations on improving the candidate's teaching style. Classes open soon, and there is limited space, so start planning now! Questions? Contact Monte Lewis at leadinstructor@sailchicago.org. Waitlists for Classes Registration for the 2024 season is complete and all classes are full. If you signed up for the lottery but weren’t able to register, your name has been added to the appropriate waitlist. Students who were able to register for their chosen class have also been added to the waitlist for the next class in sequence. Waitlist order was determined by the number assigned in the registration lottery. Waitlists are now posted on the Sail Chicago Data Hub. Crew Waitlist First Mate Waitlist Skipper Prep Class Waitlist If you missed sign up for the lottery, add your name to a waitlist here. Pre-Sail Orientation With sailing classes about to begin, a reminder — before attending the first class, new students are required to attend a Pre-Sail Orientation (PSO). This is an opportunity to learn about Sail Chicago as an organization, find out what is expected for class, meet some seasoned members of the club, and ask questions. Sign up for a PSO on the my.sailchicago.org portal under Instruction > Course Availability. The 90-minute course is available in-person or virtual, so find a date and time that works for you. For questions, please email our PSO Coordinator, Nina Wheeler, at pso@sailchicago.org.  Social News Kickoff party at ColYC: Saturday, May 11, 3-6pm Register today for this fun event to kick off the season, catch up with old friends, and make new sailing buddies. The event is open to PAID members and their guest only, so be sure to get your 2024 dues paid if you have not already done so. The cruiser Calypso will be available for touring during the Kickoff event. Kickoff Sign Up Tall Ship Windy Educational Tour: Saturday, June 8, 11am This 90-minute hands-on learning experience is a great way to enjoy physics, history and storytelling while taking an active part in sailing the vessel. Learn about maritime heritage on the Great Lakes as history comes alive with an exciting educational adventure for curious minds of all ages. Cost is $35 plus tax and fees. Children under 18 are $25. Windy Sign Up Friends and Family picnic: Saturday, July 20 Happy Hour events: Aug + Sept dates TBD End of Season Dinner at ColYC: Thursday October 24 Our April Happy Hour had an amazing turnout at Lizzie McNeil's to watch the bridges raise and boats pass through. Ok it was only 2 boats, but the weather was perfect and it was fun to mingle with friends, watch the bridges, and gaze at all the sightseeing boats. Mooring Line Reminder Please do not loop the mooring line over the pickup wand when departing the can — it should be left it in the water. Although convenient, doing so has caused damage and entanglements to the pickup wands and tether lines. Call for Videographers Once again this season, Sail Chicago is looking for a team to create instruction videos. The video team will create content, record video, edit, and post to the Sail Chicago YouTube channel. Interested? Have video production skills? There will be a pre-season meeting so please contact Doug Sink at ddsink@icloud.com or 630-418-1318 if interested. Contact Us Shop for cool Sail Chicago Gear  Follow us on Facebook for updates, reminders, event info and activities! View previous issues of The Telltale Sail Chicago Mission Statement  |  Member Benefits  |  Fleet Locations  |  Member Log In   Member Registration  |  Sail Chicago Rules and Regulations  |  Board Meeting Minutes Instruction  |  Sailing Weather Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

The Telltale: April 2024

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View this email in your browser Issue 4: April, 2024 New Student General Registration Lottery Open  If you're looking to enroll in your first Sail Chicago class, be sure to sign up for our General Registration Lottery. Beginning April 15, everyone who has entered the lottery will be randomly assigned a start time for when they will be able to begin class registration. This is your best chance to get into a class. Signups for the lottery close at 11:59 pm on Wednesday, April 10 so don't delay!  Boatyard Open House Saturday Don’t forget our open house at the Canal Street Marina on Saturday April 6, 10:00am–12pm. See our entire fleet dry docked and our maintenance teams at work while discovering the fun involved in getting ready for the coming season. There will be tours, games, food & drinks, and sailing knot demonstrations. Become a Tiller Time Skipper Are you a skipper and looking to meet your service time requirement this summer? Consider becoming a Tiller Time Skipper. Here's how! 1. Sail one of the Colgates as a private skipper of record for a total of eight (8) sails.  This can include the three probationary sails you did as a new skipper. 2. Complete the US Sailing Safety at Sea Coastal online course and upload your certificate of completion. Sail Chicago will reimburse you for the cost of the course. 3. Schedule an on-the-water checkout led by the Tiller Time lead or their designate. Remember, completion of five Tiller Times satisfies your service time requirements for Sail Chicago. This a great way to volunteer where you can make your own schedule, and you get to spend time out on the water helping new students to practice their skills. Student Instruction Changes! Beginning this year, all new students in Colgate classes will be able to register for their Basic Keelboat Course through boaterexam.com for free (a savings of $50). Additionally, all Skipper Prep students that complete their on-the-water course, checkout, and pass their Sail Chicago Rules and Regulations exam will now take the US Sailing Basic Keelboat Certification exam for free (save another $50!)  For those new to sailing, the Basic Keelboat Course through Boater Exam tests basic knowledge prior to the Crew Level class. The US Sailing Basic Keelboat Certification is a more thorough exam and is now required for all new Sail Chicago skippers. Students that pass their US Sailing Basic Keelboat Certification will also receive a one-year membership to US Sailing, valuable discounts on sailing gear, and connection to a national community of sailors and sailing organizations. And again, there's no additional charge for this benefit. New students that register for a class will receive an e-mail course confirmation that includes a link to request access to the Basic Keelboat Course through Boater Exam. New students with proof of sailing experience will have an option to opt out pending approval. From the start of your sailing journey to becoming a new skipper at Sail Chicago, we now connect you to US Sailing and a greater world of sailors. Rhodes Deputy Managers Needed The Rhodes Maintenance teams are looking for a few good Sail Chicago members to take on the role of Deputy Boat Manager. For our fleet of three Rhodes 19 keelboats, we have a Boat Manager and Deputy Boat Manager assigned to each. The Deputy Boat Manager's role is to work with the Boat Manager to coordinate the pre-season, in-season and post-season maintenance work for their assigned boat. No experience is required—just a willingness to get involved. All three of our Rhodes 19 boat teams work together on all three boats, so you will have plenty of team support. Interested candidates should be a Skipper or be working towards becoming a Skipper since one of the Deputy Boat Manager's roles is to lead Maintenance Sails during the season. If you have questions or would like to discuss further, please contact Tim Rice at ricetj@gmail.com or via Slack DM. Scholarship Program Boating Buddies Needed The Sail Chicago Scholarship Program is part of our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiative with the intent to provide access and encourage participation for those not traditionally well-represented within our organization. Now in its third year, we are selecting recipients for the 2024 season. We hope to offer the Sail Chicago Scholarship recipients the opportunity to be paired with 1 or 2 Sail Chicago “boating buddies” who can show them the ropes (no pun intended!), help them navigate the organization, and perhaps even take them sailing. This is a great way to help support new sailors and share your experience and love of sailing! If you are interested in being a “boating buddy,” please contact us at dei@sailchicago.org. Social News Our next event will be a casual midday meetup on the Riverwalk on Saturday, April 27 to watch the bridges raise for the masted sailboats. If you've never experienced this, it is a sight to see! We'll meet at Lizzie McNeill’s, outdoor patio, 400 North McClurg Ct., around 11am. The even includes one free drink plus appetizers for you and a guest. If you plan to attend, email social@sailchicago.org, and let us know if you will be bringing a guest. Other 2024 Social Events Kickoff party at ColYC: Saturday, May 11, 3-6pm. Sign up open! Kickoff Sign Up Tall Ship Windy Educational Tour: Saturday, June 8, 11am This 90-minute hands-on learning experience is a great way to enjoy physics, history and storytelling while taking an active part in sailing the vessel. Learn about maritime heritage on the Great Lakes as history comes alive with an exciting educational adventure for curious minds of all ages. Cost is $35 plus tax and fees. Children under 18 are $25. Windy Sign Up Friends and Family picnic: Saturday, July 20 Happy Hour events: Aug + Sept dates TBD End of Season Dinner at ColYC: Thursday October 24 Changes to Wind Guidelines At its February meeting, the Board of Directors made small changes to the Sail Chicago Rules and Regulations wind guidelines. These are as follows: Up to 16 knots (Beaufort Scale 0-4), acceptable conditions for all boats.  17–21 knots (Beaufort Scale 5), proceed with caution for more experienced skippers and crew.  Greater than 21 knots, don’t go out. If winds build to greater than 21 knots while out, return to the harbor in a reasonably prompt manner.  No Sail Chicago boat can go out during the duration of a published Small Craft Advisory. The guidelines were revised to bring our standards in line with the Beaufort Scale, a measure of wind speed based on observable conditions on both water and land. Skippers should always refer to current weather forecast information on my.sailchicago.org for purposes of determining compliance with these standards. Have comments, feedback or ideas? Email them to newsletter@sailchicago.org.  Contact Us Shop for cool Sail Chicago Gear  Follow us on Facebook for updates, reminders, event info and activities! View previous issues of The Telltale Sail Chicago Mission Statement  |  Member Benefits  |  Fleet Locations  |  Member Log In   Member Registration  |  Sail Chicago Rules and Regulations  |  Board Meeting Minutes Instruction  |  Sailing Weather Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

The Telltale: March 2024

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View this email in your browser Issue 3: March, 2024 Board of Directors Election Election for Sail Chicago's Board of Directors opened this past Tuesday, February 27. All Sail Chicago members who have paid their 2024 membership fee are eligible to vote. Current members have been e-mailed a link to their online ballot, so check your e-mail (and spam folder) to vote. If you have not yet renewed your membership, you will be e-mailed a ballot link by the morning of Tuesday, March 5. Please renew your membership no later than noon on Monday, March 4 in order to vote.  Voting will close at the start of the Annual Meeting on Tuesday, March 5 at 7pm. Results will be announced at the meeting, so please plan to attend. Information and a link to attend are on the landing page of my.sailchicago.org. — Gerry Stacy, Board Chair Volunteering in 2024! As we look forward to the start of the 2024 sailing season, the volunteer team would like to remind you to start thinking about your contribution to the life of our organization this year. There are many volunteer opportunities that take advantage of skills you already have, as well as others were you can learn something new. The Sail Chicago Hub is now showing all 2024 available positions. If you reported your volunteer hours in 2023 and indicated that you would like to continue your current assignment, you've probably already been assigned. Check the Volunteer Assignment page for confirmation, or sign up for a new position. Remember that service time is waived for new member's first year. Volunteer Sign Up Don't have time to meet your service time requirement for 2024? Contact the volunteer team at volunteer@sailchicago.org to adjust your account and allow for selection and payment of the Service Time Waiver for 2024. Remember, if you fail to meet your service time requirement in 2024, you will be required to pay the 2024 service time waiver before renewing your 2025 membership. There are plenty of fun volunteer opportunities available, many taking only a few hours each month. If you're not sure where to start or what you'd like to do, email volunteer@sailchicago.org.  Boatyard Open House Join your friends and other Sail Chicago members at the Canal Street Marina, 2059 South Canal St. on Saturday April 6, 10am–12pm. This is a great opportunity to see our entire fleet dry docked. Ever wonder what's under the waterline on a boat that you're sailing? Well, now is your chance to find out. See our maintenance teams at work and discover the fun involved in getting ready for the coming season. There will be tours, games, food & drinks, and sailing knot demonstrations. — Rich Costello, Maintenance Coordinator Scholarship Application Closing The Sail Chicago Scholarship Application will close on March 8 at 11:59pm. Recipients will participate in Beginner Crew classes (including Pre-Sail Orientation and the US Sailing Basic Keelboat online course), have membership fees covered, and get priority access to class sign up. Scholarship recipients will also have racing sign up fees covered if they complete their Crew course and would like to try racing! Please share with all who may be interested in applying. Social News Our next event will be a casual midday meetup on the Riverwalk on Saturday, April 27 to watch the bridges raise for the masted sailboats. If you've never experienced this, it is a sight to see! We'll meet at Lizzie McNeill’s, 400 North McClurg Ct., around 10:30–11am. Includes 1 free drink plus appetizers for you and a guest. Meet at the outdoor patio. Boats start arriving at the Columbus Drive bridge at about 10am. Other 2024 Social Events Kickoff party at ColYC: Saturday, May 11, 3-6pm  Tall Ship Windy Educational Tour: Saturday, June 8, 11am. This 90-minute hands-on learning experience is a great way to enjoy physics, history and storytelling while taking an active part in sailing the vessel. Learn about maritime heritage on the Great Lakes as history comes alive with an exciting educational adventure for curious minds of all ages. Cost is $35. Children under 18 are $25. Windy Sign Up Friends and Family picnic: Saturday, July 20 Happy Hour events: August and September date TBD End of Season Dinner at ColYC: Thursday October 24 Scholarship Boating Buddies The Sail Chicago Scholarship Program is part of our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiative with the intent to provide access and encourage participation for those not traditionally well-represented within our organization. This year, we hope to offer recipients the opportunity to be paired with 1 or 2 Sail Chicago “boating buddies” who can show them the ropes (no pun intended), help them navigate the organization, and even take them sailing. This is a great way to help support new sailors and share your experience and love of sailing! If you are interested in being a “boating buddy,” contact dei@sailchicago.org. Sail Chicago members learning CPR and first aid at our recent CPR/First Aid class. Have comments, feedback or ideas? Email them to newsletter@sailchicago.org.  Contact Us Shop for cool Sail Chicago Gear  Follow us on Facebook for updates, reminders, event info and activities! Catch up! Previous issues of The Telltale Sail Chicago Mission Statement  |  Member Benefits  |  Fleet Locations  |  Member Log In   Member Registration  |  Sail Chicago Rules and Regulations  |  Board Meeting Minutes Instruction  |  Sailing Weather Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

The Telltale: February 2024

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View this email in your browser Issue 2: February, 2024 Unfortunately February isn't the best time of year for sailors, but it IS great time to plan your Sail Chicago participation! So consider a run for a board seat, sign up for winter maintenance and mark your calendar for our social events. It's a time to stay warm and plan for a great season of sailing. Meighan Depke, Editor Annual Meeting March 5 By Gerry Stacy, Board Chair The Sail Chicago Annual Meeting of the Membership will take place on Tuesday, March 5 from 7:00-9:00pm and is a chance to learn about the state of our organization from program leaders and get a preview of what's ahead for Sail Chicago in 2024. The annual meeting is when terms begin for new Sail Chicago board members. Online voting for the board will start on February 27 and end at the start of the Annual Meeting. Only members in good standing can vote. You must have paid your membership fee for 2024 and met your service time requirement — or paid the waiver — for 2023. If you are thinking of running, it's not too late!  Nominations for the board are due February 11. Application instructions can be found here. We encourage everyone to consider this opportunity to participate in the leadership of our organization. Attention Maintenance Volunteers! Maintenance Season has begun! Please Sign up for a maintenance position and activate your Slack Channels. Unsure what position to choose? Contact Rich Costello in Slack for assistance.  Volunteer Sign Up Work will be performed on Saturdays in March and April with a few February dates if weather cooperates. Sundays will be added if needed. Watch for announcements in Slack. Also, our Second Annual Open House in The Boat Yard is scheduled for April 6 so save that date. The goal is to get all boats in the water and commissioned to sail by mid-May. See you in the yard! Improved Tiller Time Sail Chicago's Board unanimously passed a motion to improve Tiller Time by creating a committee to recommend changes to TT eligibility and sign-up procedures based on feedback from members in 2023. The committee will meet in February and March (three 2-hour Zoom meetings are proposed). We will review the process, brainstorm new ideas, and propose changes. Please contact Shawn Joseph to join the committee and lead the efforts to improve process for the 2024 season. Past TT participants, instructors, and aspiring future TT instructors are encouraged to join! CPR/First Aid Class Learn or review first aid skills in this four-hour course, Sunday, February 25 from 8:30am-12:30pm at Columbia Yacht Club in the Upper Salon.  Learn how to administer CPR, how to administer a shock from an AED, and other basic first aid skills. These skills are invaluable because they allow you to help injured people until you can connect with an emergency medical services team. There is no charge for Instructors, and a $110 charge for Sail Chicago members who are not instructors. Re-certification of your US Sailing BKI requires CPR/First Aid every three years. Sign up for the class at my.sailchicago.org > instruction > course availability. You’ll need to sign the general waiver and then enter the code CPR2024-G under the specific course to register. Class size is limited to 20 participants so sign up soon! Please contact Monte Lewis with any questions. 2024 Scholarship Program The DEI Committee is continuing our scholarship program as part of Sail Chicago’s commitment to increase diversity, equity, and inclusivity among its members within the organization as well as in the sport of sailing. The goal is to promote the sport of sailing to groups that have historically faced barriers to participation, such as people of color in the United States and people from low socioeconomic households. These barriers have included racial segregation in/exclusion from boating clubs, actual or perceived lack of access or acceptance, and/or high costs of participation in the sport.  The application is live through March 8, 2024. Recipients will participate in SC’s beginner Crew classes (including Pre-Sail Orientation and US Sailing Basic Keelboat online course fees), have membership fees covered, along with priority access to class sign up. Scholarship recipients will also have Racing sign up fees covered if they complete their Crew course and would like to try Racing! Please share within your network to all who may be interested in applying! Social News The Bonus Round Cafe happy hour was a great time! The games were fun and the food and drinks were delicious. We challenged our brains playing games called Hues and Cues, Codenames, and Unemployed, among others.  Other 2024 Social Events Casual midday meetup on the Riverwalk: Saturday April 27th. Salute the season start to watch the bridges raise for the masted sailboats. If you've never experienced this, it is a sight to see!  Time and exact location to be determined, watch this newsletter and SLACK for details. Kickoff party at ColYC: Saturday, May 11th, 3-6pm  Tall Ship Windy Educational Tour: Saturday, June 8th, 11am. This 90-minute hands-on learning experience is a great way to enjoy physics, history and storytelling while taking an active part in sailing the vessel. Learn about maritime heritage on the Great Lakes as historycomes alive with an exciting educational adventure for curious minds of all ages. Cost is $35. Children under 18 are $25. Windy Sign Up Friends and Family picnic: Saturday, July 20 Happy Hour events: August and September date TBD End of Season Dinner at ColYC: Thursday October 24th Have comments, feedback or ideas? Email them to newsletter@sailchicago.org.  Contact Us Shop for cool Sail Chicago Gear  Follow us on Facebook for updates, reminders, event info and activities! Catch up! Previous issues of The Telltale Sail Chicago Mission Statement  |  Member Benefits  |  Fleet Locations  |  Member Log In   Member Registration  |  Sail Chicago Rules and Regulations  |  Board Meeting Minutes Instruction  |  Sailing Weather Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

The Telltale: January 2024

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View this email in your browser Issue 1: January, 2024 Meet the Board! January 16, Weathermark Tavern  Curious about what it's like to serve on the board of directors or have questions for the Sail Chicago leadership? Come talk to us at our Meet the Board Happy Hour on January 16 from 6-8pm at the Weathermark Tavern, 1503 S. Michigan Ave. Remember, board membership is open to all members in good standing, and we encourage everyone that is interested in running for a seat to do so. We have four seats open. If you're interested in running, here's how: 1. Renew your membership for 2024. You must be a member to run! 2. Complete the application form. 3. Have another returning member complete the nomination form. Your nominator must have been a Sail Chicago member for at least 12 months and have also renewed their membership. You can be nominated by multiple people, but only one is required. That's all there is to it! All applications and nominations must be submitted by Sunday, February 11, 2024 to qualify for the election. — Gerry Stacy, Chair Winter Happy Hour Game Night Thursday, January 25, Bonus Round Game Cafe, 6-9pm Let's get together for a fun game night! Join us at Bonus Round Cafe at 3230 N. Clark Street in Lakeview for some good food, drinks, and board games! Each member and guest will get one drink ticket and free appetizers. We hope to have a great turnout to stay connected during the off season. Please note: Seating is limited so if you register and your plans change, please cancel to open the spot for someone else. Street parking is available or there is a parking lot about two blocks away. The venue is near the Red Line for public transportation. Register to attend Basic Navigation Course, February 17-18 Our season of classes starts early this year with Basic Navigation! This course will teach sailors basic navigation skills and techniques that can be used within sight of land. It is primarily focused on the use of paper charts. Specifically, it will teach sailors how to read a chart and its symbols, convert between true and magnetic readings, plot course and position, calculate time/speed/distance, and take bearings and fixes. In addition, there will be a brief review of some basic information on chart plotters. Completion of this course is a prerequisite for Sail Chicago's Bareboat Cruising class.  The course takes place Saturday and Sunday, February 17-18, from 9:00am to 4:00pm at Columbia Yacht Club. Note that you must attend both days in order to complete the course. General registration for Basic Navigation opens on Wednesday, Jan 10 at 7:00 pm. Annual Membership Meeting Tuesday, March 5, at 7:00pm. Please attend! Did you know that Sail Chicago has a Google Calendar? Upcoming meetings and events – including our Annual Meeting – are all posted there. Subscribe today! 2024 Scholarship Program Application is Live The DEI Committee is continuing our scholarship program as part of Sail Chicago’s commitment to increase diversity, equity, and inclusivity among its members within the organization as well as in the sport of sailing. The goal is to promote the sport of sailing to groups that have historically faced barriers to participation, such as people of color in the United States and people from low socioeconomic households. These barriers have included racial segregation in/exclusion from boating clubs, actual or perceived lack of access or acceptance, and/or high costs of participation in the sport.  The application is live through March 8, 2024. Recipients will participate in SC’s beginner Crew classes (including Pre-Sail Orientation and US Sailing Basic Keelboat online course fees), have membership fees covered, along with priority access to class sign up. Scholarship recipients will also have Racing sign up fees covered if they complete their Crew course and would like to try Racing! Please share within your network to all who may be interested in applying! 2024 Course Rollout For the upcoming 2024 Sailing Season, Sail Chicago will be implementing a new rollout plan for courses. The demand for our classes has far surpassed our ability to meet them. As in 2023, we will implement a pre-registration process for previous students. We will, however, hold a general registration lottery for those looking to join and learn for the first time. You can find a detailed description of the 2024 course rollout plan, key dates, and frequently asked questions on our website. Additional information including links to online forms for the general registration lottery will be posted to our website and announced soon in The TellTale. Have comments, feedback or ideas? Email them to newsletter@sailchicago.org.  Contact Us Shop for cool Sail Chicago Gear  Follow us on Facebook for updates, reminders, event info and activities! Catch up! Previous issues of The Telltale Sail Chicago Mission Statement  |  Member Benefits  |  Fleet Locations  |  Member Log In   Member Registration  |  Sail Chicago Rules and Regulations  |  Board Meeting Minutes Instruction  |  Sailing Weather Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

The Telltale: December 2023

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View this email in your browser Issue 12: December, 2023 There are plenty of important meetings coming up, so please take a moment to mark your calendars. Wishing each and every Sail Chicago member a peaceful Holiday Season and Happy New Year. And if you visit Santa, please tell him I need some new sailing gloves! — Meighan Depke, Editor Mark Your Calendars for the Annual Meeting The Annual Meeting of the Membership will take place Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at 7:00 pm. Please plan to attend! Did you know that Sail Chicago has a Google Calendar?  Upcoming meetings and events – including our Annual Meeting – are all posted there. Subscribe to our calendar today! Meet the Board! Happy Hour, January 16, 2024  If you're curious about what it's like to serve on the board of directors or have questions for the Sail Chicago leadership, come talk with us! We will be holding a Meet the Board Happy Hour on January 16 from 6:00–8:00 pm. The location for this in-person event will be announced in the January newsletter. Remember, board membership is open to all Sail Chicago members in good standing, and we encourage everyone that is interested in running for a board seat to do so. We have four seats opening next year. If you're interested in running for the board, here's how: Renew your membership in January 2024. You must be a member to run! Complete this candidate application form. Have another returning member complete this nomination form. Your nominator must have been a Sail Chicago member for at least 12 months and have also renewed their membership. You can be nominated by multiple people, but only one is required. That's all there is to it! All applications and nominations must be submitted by Sunday, February 11, 2024 to qualify for the election. If you are curious about what it's like to serve on the board, come talk to us at the Meet the Board Happy Hour! — Gerry Stacy, Chair Check Your Spam Folder—Volunteer Reporting Continues Our end-of-season volunteer reporting continues, and by now you should have received several e-mails from your volunteer team inviting you to submit reports. If you have not received them, please check your e-mail's spam folder or reach out to the volunteer team at volunteer@sailchicago.org for help. Our volunteer reporting process ends soon, so please make sure to complete your reports as soon as possible. Remember, you must report your volunteer hours in order to meet your service time requirement and avoid paying the $400 waiver for next season. Reporting also helps keep your current volunteer position in 2024. 2024 Course Rollout For the upcoming 2024 Sailing Season, Sail Chicago will be implementing a new rollout plan for courses. The demand for our classes has far surpassed our ability to meet them. As in 2023, we will implement a pre-registration process for previous students. We will, however, hold a general registration lottery for those looking to join and learn for the first time. You can find a detailed description of the 2024 course rollout plan, key dates, and frequently asked questions on our website. Additional information including links to online forms for the general registration lottery will be posted to our website and announced early 2024 in The TellTale. Sail Chicago 2024 Scholarship Program! The DEI Committee is continuing our scholarship program as part of Sail Chicago’s commitment to increase diversity, equity, and inclusivity among its members within the organization as well as in the sport of sailing. The goal is to promote the sport of sailing to groups that have historically faced barriers to participation, such as people of color in the United States and people from low socioeconomic households. These barriers have included racial segregation in/exclusion from boating clubs, actual or perceived lack of access or acceptance, and/or high costs of participation in the sport.  The application will be open January 5 through March 8, 2024. Recipients will participate in SC’s beginner Crew classes (including Pre-Sail Orientation and US Sailing Basic Keelboat online course fees), have membership fees covered, and be given priority access to class sign up. Scholarship recipients will also have Racing sign-up fees covered if they complete their Crew course, and would like to try Racing! Applications will go live in January, so please keep an eye out if you know someone within your network who may be interested in applying. Social Committee Update The Social Committee is considering a happy hour at Bonus Round in Lakeview, in either January or February. Looks like a fun place so watch The TellTale or Slack for details. We hope to have a great turnout to stay connected during the off season. Have comments, feedback or story ideas for The Tell Tale? Feel free to email them to newsletter@sailchicago.org.  Contact Us Shop for your cool Sail Chicago Gear  Follow us on Facebook for updates, reminders, event info and activities! Catch up with the previous issues of The Telltale Sail Chicago Mission Statement  |  Member Benefits  |  Fleet Locations  |  Member Log In   Member Registration  |  Sail Chicago Rules and Regulations  |  Board Meeting Minutes Instruction  |  Sailing Weather Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

The Telltale: November 2023

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View this email in your browser Issue 11: November, 2023 Another successful season wrap up and we couldn’t have done it without you, our member-volunteers, who have logged in countless hours making our programs work and bringing the joy of sailing to our greater Chicago community. Let’s congratulate ourselves on a job well done and remember to log your volunteer hours! — Meighan Depke, Editor Sail Chicago members taking the boats up river on a few blustery days in October. It’s Volunteer Reporting Time Gerry Stacy, Chairman Our 2023 volunteer season ended on October 31. Thank you to all our members who gave so much of their time to keep our organization running. We all enjoyed another great summer of sailing because of you. Now that the season is over, there’s one more job to do and that’s to complete your volunteer reporting. This is an important step in our annual volunteering process because: — Helps maintain accurate volunteer and position records — Confirms that members met their 2023 service time requirement — Lets Sail Chicago know if you want your current volunteer position in 2024 — Gives an estimate of how much time our members are spending volunteering. In the next few weeks you’ll receive an email from the volunteer team listing the positions you filled during the 2023 season. You’ll be able to click through each position, provide an estimate of the hours you spent doing the work, and tell us if you would like to keep that position in 2024. If we missed any volunteering that you did, you’ll be able to indicate that also. Please complete your reports as soon as you can after receiving them. We will close the reporting process after November 30, record service time flags for 2023, and open the volunteer site to signups for 2024. Remember, any volunteer activity after November 1 counts toward your service time requirement for NEXT SUMMER and your membership renewal in 2025. If you have any questions about volunteering at Sail Chicago or the reporting process, please reach out to the volunteer team at volunteer@sailchicago.org. Run for the Board!  Would you like to take a turn on the tiller that steers our organization? Do you have ideas that you know will make Sail Chicago better? Do you think there's a point of view missing in our leadership, and that's yours? Then run for the board! Board membership is open to all Sail Chicago members in good standing, and we encourage everyone that wants to run for a board seat to do so. We have four seats opening next year, and anyone is welcome to run. If you are interested in running, here's how to do it. 1. Renew your membership in January 2024. You must be a member to run! 2. Complete this candidate application form. 3. Have another returning member complete this nomination form. Nominating members must have been a Sail Chicago member for at least 12 months and have renewed their membership. Multiple people can nominate you, but only one is needed. That's all there is to it! All applications and nominations must be submitted by Sunday, February 11, 2024 to qualify for the election. If you are curious about what it's like to serve on the board, come talk to us! We'll be holding a Meet the Board event in January. Information about that event will be posted in an upcoming issue of The Telltale. Congrats BKI Instructors! Please join us in congratulating Ben Carls and Franck Cappello on their successful graduation to BKI Instructor! After spending much of July, August, and September preparing for this intensive, 3-day evaluation administered by US Sailing, they completed the course in early October at the Jackson Park Harbor Yacht Club. Sail Chicago members interested in enrolling in a future BKI course should contact Candace Kohli or Tom Hertel. End of Season Dinner Wrap-up The 2023 End of Season Dinner held on October 12th was well attended this year. The menu was expanded to include steak, vegetarian and vegan options. The total cost was $89.10 per person this year but due to the generous discount from Columbia Yacht Club and cost sharing from Sail Chicago, we were able to keep our member cost at $30.00 per person. We hope that everyone that attended enjoyed themselves and the Social Committee is looking forward to a great 2024 season! The Social Committee is planning a winter event to take place in January or February.  Watch this newsletter and SLACK for details. Have comments, feedback or story ideas for The Tell Tale? Feel free to email them to newsletter@sailchicago.org.  Contact Us Shop for your cool Sail Chicago Gear  Follow us on Facebook for updates, reminders, event info and activities! Catch up with the previous issues of The Telltale Sail Chicago Mission Statement  |  Member Benefits  |  Fleet Locations  |  Member Log In   Member Registration  |  Sail Chicago Rules and Regulations  |  Board Meeting Minutes Instruction  |  Sailing Weather Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

The Telltale: October 2023

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View this email in your browser Issue 10: October, 2023 It’s sad to see the season end as our fleet heads to winter storage at the Canal Street Marina. But the work and fun doesn't stop there! There’s plenty involved in putting our boats to bed for the season and getting them in shape for 2024. Check out volunteer positions at my.sailchicago.org and sign up to be part of a boat team. It’s a great way to learn about our boats and make sailing buddies for the next season. Also, don’t forget the End of Season Banquet and silent auction on October 12. Celebrate a great season and connect with members, new and old! — Meighan Depke, Editor End of Season Dinner and Auction 2023 End of Season Dinner: Thursday, October 12 2023 Columbia Yacht Club, 6:30pm-9:30pm Last chance to register for the End of Season dinner at Columbia Yacht Club! The event includes a buffet, non-alcoholic beverages, and a cash bar. The evening's program will include committee chairs sharing their season successes and education about how newer sailors can get involved in 2024. See the link below to register and view the menu.  The event is open to members and 1 guest. $30 per person. Registration and payment will end at 6:30 PM on October 8th. Get Tickets The dinner will also include a silent auction and cash donation for the DEI scholarship program. Cash, check, Zelle and credit cards accepted (credit cards will have a processing fee). For zelle, use bookkeeper@sailchicago.org in your bank's Zelle app. For members that joined Sail Chicago within the last two years, we will have a drawing for a Private Colgate sailing experience with Skipper Shawn Joseph during the 2024 sailing season (winner + 3 guests). It's one ticket per attendee, and please pick up your ticket to enter the drawing when checking in at the dinner. The winning ticket will be drawn at the end of dinner.    This is our last event for 2023.  We are working on a winter event to keep everyone connected! Looking for Sailing Photos! Did you take some great sailing photos this year? Submit yours for inclusion in a rolling photo presentation at the dinner! Upload Photos Congratulations Class of 2023 The board and leadership of Sail Chicago would like to offer our warmest compliments to our skipper class of 2023. Congratulations on your achievement! Salman Ali, Alexander Brand, Meighan Depke, Louisa Fitzgerald, William Haggerty, Cara Jaques, Jiyoung Kang, Samuel Leist, Jon Lindberg, Joy Dantong Ma, Paul May, Gary Nitz, Hannes Ortmann, Natalia Povarova, Christopher Prattos, Andrew Proctor, Robert Reed, Laura Reilly, Aaron Sartin, Alan Street, Stan Szwalek, Dan Tzoumas, Arjun Wadnerkar, Alec Weege, Aleksey Zakharov As new skippers, the best thing you can do now is sail! Time on boats getting practical hands-on experience is the best way to continue learning while developing a sense of wind, weather, and sea. This experience results in the circumspection and judgement that together make up that quality we call "seamanship."  When Sail Chicago skippers sign the "Keelboat Skipper Personal Statement" we acknowledge that achieving skipper status doesn't mean that we're great sailors—it means we promise to continue learning and growing. We wish you the best on your sailing journey and see you on the water— we all look forward learning with you. Sail Chicago Gear Have you ever been on the tender and wondered “hey, where did that sailor get that great Sail Chicago hat?” Well, wonder no more. Purchase gear with the Sail Chicago logo on it to wear all winter as a reminder that cold weather really is temporary. Caps, shirts, pants and other gear are available. Shop Gear Have comments, feedback or story ideas for The Tell Tale? Feel free to email them to newsletter@sailchicago.org.  Contact Us Shop for your cool Sail Chicago Gear  Follow us on Facebook for updates, reminders, event info and activities! Catch up with the previous issues of The Telltale Sail Chicago Mission Statement  |  Member Benefits  |  Fleet Locations  |  Member Log In   Member Registration  |  Sail Chicago Rules and Regulations  |  Board Meeting Minutes Instruction  |  Sailing Weather Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

The Telltale: September 2023

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View this email in your browser Issue 9: September, 2023 I refuse to accept that summer is winding down, but as the air starts to cool and the neighborhood kids head off to school, it seems inevitable. But the great news is that fall in Chicago is truly beautiful and one of the best ways to enjoy it is on the water. So don’t put that PFD in storage yet, get out there and sail! And if you need a sailing mate, post to #share-a-sail on Slack. Sailors at every skill level are eager to find someone looking to practice, relax, and enjoy a day on the water. — Meighan Depke, Editor Upcoming Social Events September Happy Hour: Thursday, September 14, 5:30pm, Island Party Hut Our September Happy Hour will be outdoors at Island Party Hut on the Chicago Riverwalk! Sail Chicago members are welcome to attend and bring one guest. Appetizers and one drink ticket will be provided for all attendees. This is a very fun venue with great views of the river, so don’t miss it! If there is a rainout, the happy hour will be rescheduled. Please register so we can plan for appetizers. Also, if you register and your plans change, please cancel your reservation, thank you! Register New Skipper Social Hour: Thursday, October 5th, 6:00–8:00pm Lizzie McNeill’s, 400 N McClurg Ct. Please join us for a celebration of achieving this milestone, socializing and discussing your experiences. Cash bar only. Register on eventbrite and get an automated reminder! Register 2023 End of Season Dinner: October 12, 2023 Columbia Yacht Club, 6:30pm-9:30pm Our last event for the year will be the End of Season dinner at Columbia Yacht Club. Again this year, we will have a silent auction to benefit SC scholarships for DEI. Mark your calendar for this fun event. Registration available soon! Skipper Prep Class Saves Bird This weekend Jiyoung Kang's Skipper Prep class collected garbage from the water while practicing COB. A wine bottle, fender, floatie, two life jackets, and an injured gull! When they spotted the bird floating on its back they assumed it was dead, but on approached they saw it move.   They performed a COB and scooped him up with the net and brought him to shore. Skipper Iwona Awlasewicz contacted Chicago Bird Collision Monitors and they picked up the bird. Today we received an update:   “Yes—thanks to you and all your help! It was picked up and taken to a wildlife center yesterday about 2 pm. I haven’t heard anything about its injuries, but it was alert and fairly active and a good eater— all very good signs. Thanks again for for your extraordinary efforts to help this beautiful gull.” Practice While You Clean! For those who would like additional COB or picking up a mooring line practice, you will find an extendable net on board all of our Colgates. You can use it to pick up debris in the lake. So in addition to practicing important sailing techniques, you’ll help with keeping the lake clean. Volunteer Team Thoughts As the sailing season winds down, we'd like to take a moment to thank everyone who has been working all summer long to keep our organization running smoothly. From scrubbing the boats and refueling the engines, to checking the electrical systems, to planning and pulling off fantastic social events, to teaching classes, leading Tiller Times and Member Cruise Outings, to heading up our racing, and to all the behind the scenes jobs completed to coordinate and lead our programs, THANK YOU ALL! Together, you've given thousands of hours of your time and Sail Chicago keeps running because of it! If you haven't had a chance to volunteer yet, it's not too late! Our 2023 volunteer season runs until October 31. There are still opportunities available on the Volunteer Website, and there is plenty of work to be done as we take our boats back to the boatyard and prepare them for winter storage.  Sign up for positions by completing the Volunteer Signup Form. If you don't see an empty position that interests you, reach out to the volunteer team at volunteer@sailchicago.org. Finally, a reminder that volunteering is a part remaining a member in good standing. The suggestion is to provide about 20 hours of service each season. If you don't complete your service time requirement for 2023 by October 31, you will be responsible for paying the $400 opt-out fee when you renew your membership in 2024. Any volunteering that you do after November 1 will count towards your service time requirement for next summer, not this one. Ideals Boat Team Manager Needed The Ideals boat team anticipates a vacancy in the position of Boat Manager for Solstice, one of our two Ideal 18's, for next year. The position involves working in cooperation with one of our continuing managers, Tim Sheehan in the pre-season preparation, launch, seasonal maintenance, and post season haul-out of the boat. Someone who is also currently Ideal skipper qualified, and willing to conduct orientation of additional skippers would be especially welcome. If you are interested, but unfamiliar with the launching, haul out and rigging of these boats, we invite you to get a flavor of this activity by joining us us for fall haul out, which we are targeting for Saturday, Sept. 30. If interested, contact either Tim Sheehan at timothyfsheehan@gmail.com or acting Solstice manager, Kenn Sinko at ksinko605@aol.com for more information. Silent Auction Donations Needed Sail Chicago will once again hold its annual Silent Auction at the End of Season Dinner on October 12, 2023. All proceeds from the Silent Auction are used to fund Sail Chicago’s Scholarship Program, which provides free sailing courses to diverse scholarship recipients. This 2023 season we have five scholarship recipients — four new sailors in Crew courses and one student returning from the 2022 cohort to complete their First Mate course. In support of the Silent Auction and the Scholarship Program, we are requesting donations of new and unused boating or sailing-related items that can be auctioned off at the event. We are also looking for volunteers to help solicit local businesses for donation items. Please contact Linhda Nguyen at linhdanguyen87@gmail.com for items to donate and/or volunteer. Sail Chicago Slack Channel #certprocess or email certificationadmin@sailchicago.org with any questions. Happy Sailing! Friends and Family Picnic The 2023 Friends and Family Picnic and short sails at Belmont Harbor were a huge success. The weather was perfect and everyone enjoyed the food. Thanks again to all our skippers and  first mates who volunteered to take our "family and friends" out for a short sail on Lake Michigan.                                                               Have comments, feedback or story ideas for The Tell Tale? Feel free to email them to newsletter@sailchicago.org.  Contact Us Shop for your cool Sail Chicago Gear  Follow us on Facebook for updates, reminders, event info and activities! Catch up with the previous issues of The Telltale Sail Chicago Mission Statement  |  Member Benefits  |  Fleet Locations  |  Member Log In   Member Registration  |  Sail Chicago Rules and Regulations  |  Board Meeting Minutes Instruction  |  Sailing Weather Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

The Telltale: August, 2023

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View this email in your browser Issue 8: August, 2023 Do you ever stop to think about how incredibly amazing it is to have a volunteer sailing club at your fingertips here in Chicago where you can learn to sail, become a skipper, meet great people, and get out on the water whenever you want? Well I do and after a 20 year hiatus I woke one day and thought “gee, what is my problem?” In addition, the policy change to Rule 4.13 for new skippers makes getting out on the water after checkout easier than ever! Having recently finished Skipper Prep class with my cohorts shown below (John, Paul, Sam, with Instructor James McLaughlin) I’m excited to take advantage of the new rule change and continue my lifelong learning as a sailor. — Meighan Depke, Editor New Skipper Policy Change The Sail Chicago board has passed a new policy change to Rule 4.13 stating: A new Skipper shall be accompanied by another Sail Chicago Skipper for their first three private rentals (i.e., as the skipper of record) after which they shall be granted permission to reserve a boat for a private rental in accordance with existing Sail Chicago policies. Prior to the change, Rule 4.13 required a first-year Skipper to be accompanied by another skipper with at least 12 months experience. The change requires new skippers to take three private sails with another Sail Chicago skipper before they can reserve boats with friends or non skippers. Why private sails? Because when you book a private sail, you are responsible for the safe conduct of the boat as the “skipper of record”. This means new skippers can partner up and sail a total of six times — three as “first mate” and three as “skipper” to increase their time on the water to learn, practice and have fun! Sail Chicago’s goal is to encourage skill development by getting every new skipper out on the water as quickly possible. New skippers are told to continue learning by sailing and agree the following statement, I understand that receiving a Keelboat Skipper card does not make me a great sailor – it indicates that I am trusted to continue learning while sailing the Colgate 26. Now new skippers can sail together to build their skills. If you have any questions about this new policy reach out to any board member or your Skipper Prep instructor. At the beginning of the season a group of our top instructors went out on the water to review key teaching strategies and discuss policy changes for the 2023 season. Upcoming Social Events The 2023 Friends and Family Picnic at Belmont Harbor on Saturday, August 12 is right around the corner! Please purchase tickets by August 10 if you would like to participate in this catered picnic.   We will meet on the grassy area across from Dock E where Priorities is docked. The BBQ picnic (served around 12pm) will include rib tips, chicken, hot dogs, and sides along with water and soft drinks (no alcohol allowed). Gluten-free, vegan, and children's options will be available. You are also free to bring your own lunch. This year we will have a tent with tables and chairs. Feel free to bring your own chairs, snacks, and games. We will have the Sail Chicago bags game. Get Tickets On the day of the picnic, free short sails on Calypso, Priorities, Recess and Poco are available for members and their friends/family. Registion for time slot is required. There are still some spots available.  Sail Signup September Happy Hour: Date and location TBD. Watch for notices in SLACK and the September newsletter. 2023 End of Season Dinner: October 12, 2023 Columbia Yacht Club, 6:30pm-9:30pm New Skippers Social: Thursday, October 5th, location TBD  Volunteers Still Needed It’s starting to feel like the end of sailing season is just around the corner. Remember, when the season ends on October 31, our volunteering season ends as well. Do you need to meet your 2023 service time requirement? Below are some end-of-season opportunities to help out. Students are eager to practice! For skippers with two years experience, consider hosting tiller times in August and September. If you are a skipper with one year experience, you can volunteer to host Member Cruise Outings. Let's keep everyone sailing through the end of the season! Help unstep Colgate masts and transport boats to the boatyard in October. Unstepping the masts takes several hours on a Saturday or Sunday and many hands are needed but no experience is required. Come see how we lower a mast! After lowering the masts, the Colgates are taken down river to the Canal Street boatyard. Crews are needed to make the two-hour trip on weekday mornings. Social Committee volunteers needed to help with upcoming events. Extra hands are needed to help with the Friends & Family picnic on Saturday, August 12 and the end-of-season dinner on Thursday, October 12. To sign up for any of these opportunities, complete the Volunteer Signup Form or contact the Volunteer Team at volunteer@sailchicago.org. Motors ON in the Harbor Please remember that the motors on our Rhodes and Colgate boats must be IN the water, ON, and READY to be used whenever the boat is between the mooring can and the mouth of the harbor. This rule applies to both leaving and returning to the mooring, and there are no exceptions. Failure to do so is a violation of the rules and can result in disciplinary action. Sailing onto and off the mooring can is a skill all skippers should master and it’s a satisfying accomplishment to do so. However, it is just as satisfying to do with the motor running and gives a fallback option should conditions suddenly change. New Online US Sailing Basic Keelboat Certification This is exciting news for sailors who have recently graduated to Skipper-level — you now have the option to obtain your official US Sailing Basic Keelboat Certification all online! This highly recommended certification provides multiple benefits including a one-year membership to U.S. Sailing, an official logbook to track sails, and an official US Sailing-sponsored Certification emblem. Another amazing benefit is certification recognition at sailing clubs across the country. If you happen to leave Chicago and Sail Chicago, this US Sailing Basic Keelboat Certification is nationally recognized at many sailing clubs. Although highly recommend for all new Skippers, obtaining the certification is optional. For those interested, we have established an online-only exam to complete. Skippers need at least a 75% to pass and receive certification. Once the exam is passed, Sail Chicago’s Certification Administrator will provide you with an official logbook affixed with the Certification emblem. For additional details on the Keelboat Certification process, please visit the Sail Chicago Slack Channel #certprocess or email certificationadmin@sailchicago.org with any questions. Happy Sailing! Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Needs Volunteer Skippers We are excited to host DEI Sails for a second season, but we need your help! Similar to a traditional Member Cruise Outing, these sails are focused on under-represented groups in Sail Chicago (and sailing in general). Last year we started with Women's and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, & people of color) cruises, and this year we will be adding LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) cruises! These cruises provide opportunities for our minority members to meet, connect, and sail in a safe and supportive environment. If you identify as a woman, BIPOC, or LGBTQ+, have been a skipper for at least a year, and are interested in hosting DEI Sails, please contact Rebecca Sheehy at rebeccajsheehy@gmail.com.  Hosting DEI Sails counts toward volunteer hours just like hosting MCOs. The cruises will be available on the normal reservation page (please make sure to only sign up for cruises if you identify as a member of the target audience). Single-Handed Instruction Interested in learning to single hand the Ideal 18’s? Single-handing a boat can be an exhilarating experience and highly satisfying encounter between the skipper, boat, and elements. There are, however, inherent dangers when sailing solo. The single-handed sailor cannot depend on another sailor’s opinion or tactical judgement, and they cannot rely on crew for equipment, weather, or health emergencies. For these reasons, the process provided during the instruction program should be carefully followed, and extra care and caution should be put into preparation and planning. The Sail Chicago wind guidelines and single-handing distance parameters must be followed. Finally, share a float plan with a trusted person on land and be sure and notify that person when you return. Check out the reservation page of my.sailchicago.org to sign up for our Single-Handed Class on the Ideals. … “no man will be a sailor who has contrivance enough to get himself into a jail; for being in a ship is being in a jail with a chance of being drowned”… – David Grann, The Wager Have comments, feedback or story ideas for The Tell Tale? Feel free to email them to newsletter@sailchicago.org.  Contact Us Shop for your cool Sail Chicago Gear  Follow us on Facebook for updates, reminders, event info and activities! Catch up with the previous issues of The Telltale Sail Chicago Mission Statement  |  Member Benefits  |  Fleet Locations  |  Member Log In   Member Registration  |  Sail Chicago Rules and Regulations  |  Board Meeting Minutes Instruction  |  Sailing Weather Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

The Telltale: July, 2023

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View this email in your browser Issue 7: July, 2023 From the Editor As you’ve most likely noticed by now, The Telltale has a new look and feel. It’s better, brighter, and more readable. This is thanks to Meighan Depke, a new Sail Chicago member, but one who learned to sail with us over twenty years ago when we were still a part of American Youth Hostels. Meighan is taking over as editor of our monthly newsletter. I am leaving this position knowing that it will be in capable hands. While I’ve loved working on the newsletter, I realize that it’s time to move on. I have been honored to be of service in this capacity to the Sail Chicago community, and I’m grateful for the many folks who have contributed articles over the years. You all have truly helped to make The Telltale a success! — Steve VanderVoort, Editor 2011-2023 We've Reached the End of an Era It’s here — the first Sail Chicago newsletter in many years that hasn’t been edited by Steve Vandervoort. How many years, you ask? I’m not sure we know. The earliest newsletter in our online archive dates May, 2011. Who edited it? Yep, Steve Vandervoort! For more than a decade, every month, Steve has been publishing this newsletter. He's been reaching out to Sail Chicago leadership and cajoling articles out of them. He's been carefully editing our mistakes. He's been choosing clip art and shrinking photos to provide us with a colorful, engaging read every month, for longer than many of us have been in the organization. So a huge THANK YOU to Steve from all of us at Sail Chicago for many years of service! Be sure to thank him personally the next time you see him on the water! — Gerry Stacy, Board Chairman Upcoming Social Events Sail Chicago’s July Happy Hour will be held Tuesday, July 25, at One North Kitchen and Bar at 1 North Upper Wacker Drive. Members +1 can enjoy a free drink and tasty appetizers. Register today! Mark your calendar for these social events: 2023 Family & Friends Picnic: Belmont Harbor, August 12, 10:00am-5:00pm 2023 End of Season Dinner October 12, 2023 Columbia Yacht Club, 6:30pm-9:30pm September Happy Hour: dates and location TBD New Skippers Social: Save the date: Thursday, October 5th  Looking for Volunteer Opportunities? These positions are still open this summer to fulfill your service time requirement: Membership Coordinator: answer questions from members and prospective members about Sail Chicago. This easy job can be done from your computer in just a couple hours a month! Volunteer Team Member: match members to volunteer opportunities. Instruction Team Member: track student records and proctoring the US Sail Keelboat Certification exam. Tiller Time Skipper: for skippers with more than two years experience, students are always looking for opportunities to practice! Host Member Cruise Outings: a no-brainer for experienced skippers — even those with one year of experience. Reserve a boat for free and get out on the water with other Sail Chicago members. What could be better? Signup on at Sail Chicago Volunteer Positiions or email volunteer@sailchicago.org. Free Rhodes 19 and Ideal 18 Orientations Colgate skippers, would you like to expand your sailing possibilities? Consider getting oriented on one of our smaller keelboats, the Rhodes 19 or Ideals 18. Both boats are fun to sail and quicker to maneuver than the Colgate, and have a different "feel" at the helm. Usage fees are less than the Colgate, and they can be sailed by as few as two people. Becoming qualified to sail a Rhodes or an Ideal can also give you more scheduling flexibility for private sails during busy times when other boats are in use. To schedule an on-the-water orientation for either boat, visit mySailChicago and select Course Availability from the Instruction menu. How to become a Sail Chicago Skipper! In our local Chicago sailing community and around the nation, US Sailing instruction programs are known for being rigorous. Sail Chicago is here to help you navigate the steps to becoming a Sail Chicago Skipper. Step 1. Successfully complete the Skipper Prep Class. Your instructor will sign your OTW Checkout Form and send it to the Skipper Records manager. Step 2. Pass the Sail Chicago online written exam. You can study the Colgate Standards booklet along with our Rules and Regulations to prepare. Your Skipper Prep class instructor will send the link to this exam once you have checked out. Step 3. Complete the Basic Keelboat Online Course at BoaterExam.com. Once complete, upload your certificate to Sail Chicago’s Proof of Sailing Knowledge page. With these three steps completed, our Skipper Records manager will update the membership directory to show your new skipper status! In addition, Sail Chicago highly recommends taking the US Sailing Basic Keelboat Certification exam. The BKC exam and certification connects you with U.S. Sailing and includes a one-year membership. It is another measure of your basic keelboat knowledge and can replace the Basic Keelboat Online Course certificate from Boater Exam. It is a written test only and we encourage everyone to obtain the certification when they have a chance. Mid Season and End-of-Season Checkouts For those that don’t pass the On the Water Skipper Checkout with your instructor, you will have a second (and third) chance! This season Sail Chicago is introducing mid- and end-of-season checkouts. These are for students who have received a Plan of Improvement (POI) from their Skipper Prep class instructor. Only students who have received a POI should sign up for these checkouts. Take as many Tiller Times as you need, practice as much as you can, and sign up to check-out mid-season or end-of-season! Colgate Litter Collection Program Have you noticed that our beautiful lake suddenly has less litter? Our Colgate pilot program using collapsable nets to pull litter from the lake is working! There is still plenty to be done but every sailor who removes a piece of trash is adding to the beauty of Lake Michigan. Please participate! Reminder: Self-Schedule Tiller Times and MCOs Tiller Time (TT) and Member Cruise Outing (MCO) skippers now have the ability to schedule TT and MCO sails themselves! Create a reservation at my.sailchicago.org as you would for a private sail. Under Reservation Type  choose the program sail that you plan to host — Cruise for MCO or TillerTime. Select yourself as the Skipper and the reservation will post and be available for signups. Remember, you must schedule TTs or MCOs at least 48 hours in advance in order for the program options to appear. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea The expression has existed since the 1600s and no, it doesn’t have to do with the guy in red with a tail, but to a seam around a ship’s hull near the water. When a sailor attempted to caulk this seam in heavy seas, he was in serious danger of failing overboard and drowning. Of course, if he didn’t caulk the seam, the ship could fill with water and sink. In other words, the sailor was faced with two awful choices: risk his life to repair the ship or risk the entire ship by not repairing it! — Ed Schroeder Become a Sail Chicago Instructor! Interested in becoming a Sail Chicago Instructor? Check out Sail Chicago’s Instructor Prep Class. Last season we placed seven Instructor Candidates through this rich and comprehensive coaching program. The objective is to guide motivated skippers to become capable, safe teachers with Sail Chicago. We cover advanced sailing topics and the basic principles of teaching adults how to sail. The ultimate objective of the course is to reduce our year-to-year backlog of students hoping to learn to sail with Sail Chicago. Candidates should have a minimum of two years Sail Chicago skipper experience, skipper a minimum of six Tiller Times, and be a confident and competent sailor. If you are interested or have questions, email Monte Lewis at leadinstructor@sailchicago.org. Basic Keelboat Instructor Course This year Sail Chicago is once again hosting the US Sailing Basic Keelboat Instructor (BKI) evaluative course from September 8–10 at the Jackson Park Harbor Yacht Club. The BKI seeks to evaluate your skills as a sailor and teacher. If you pass the course, you are granted US Sailing’s BKI teaching certification. Sail Chicago will hold a series of on- and off-the-water events over the next two months to help sailors interested in preparing. A Zoom orientation for information will be held on July 5 from 7-8:30pm. Please email Tom Hertel at hertel@purdue.edu or Candace Kohli at kohlicl@gmail.com if you are interested. Teaching Aids on the Colgates What’s that in the fuel compartment? It’s set of 6 double-sided laminated teaching aids that include a check list, points of sail, crew overboard, and NOAA charts for the Chicago area. 65% of students consider themselves visual learners, so next time you are out with your group, pull them out to enhance learning. We have also added a mini whiteboard and set of markers in the cooler to help our teachers further. A Sail Chicago Treasure is Moving On Jay Owens gave so much of his time, energy, and expertise to help make Sail Chicago the thriving community sailing organization it is today. He took on many significant roles including book keeper, Treasurer, Board Member, and maintenance crew team member and has been the epitome of what every volunteer organization wants and needs — a hard working, selfless team player. He and his charming wife Penny are moving on from Chicago to Fort Collins, Colorado where their daughter resides. Jay has said that although there isn’t much sailing in Colorado, he is looking forward to enjoying the mountain scenery. Cheerz Jay! We wish you and Penny all of the best! Below is an expert from an article by Norris Larson about Jay. Jay Owens, our bookkeeper and past treasurer, joined Sail Chicago (then American Youth Hostels Sail Chicago) in 1987. Shortly thereafter he became a skipper on the Rhodes, the Alberg 30 cruiser (Emotional Rescue), two pocket cruisers, and the Shields, a sleek 30-foot racing boat. His wife Penny also learned to sail after Jay agreed to marry her in church if she went sailing, too. Jay taught classes, raced, and became treasurer for Sail Chicago. When Sail Chicago initiated its plan to separate from AYH, Jay applied his financial acumen to negotiate the break including the transfer of boat ownership to an independent Sail Chicago. Jay continued as treasurer well into the 2000s and now confines his volunteering to bookkeeping and routine maintenance work keeping our boats in the water. As a retired CPA, Jay’s work as treasurer, bookkeeper, and financial negotiator is an excellent example of how members bring their professional skills to volunteer work and benefit Sail Chicago! Thanks Jay! Welcome to Our New Bookkeeper! Sail Chicago is happy to welcome Nicole Chen as Bookkeeper on the Sail Chicago Finance Team, replacing our long time Bookkeeper, Jay Owens. Nicole brings a great set of skills and knowledge to the role — she is a Certified Public Accountant and works professionally as an accounting manager. She has also worked as a financial auditor and controller, and is very familiar with financial statements and managing financial transactions. Please join me in welcoming Nicole. Please review our Sail Chicago financial best practices: Plan Ahead. To the extent possible, direct any and all Sail Chicago purchasing through our Purchasing Manager, Dana Smith. Dana is familiar with Sail Chicago vendors and suppliers, and is positioned to leverage our organization's purchasing power to get the best pricing and take advantage of available discounts. When you need to buy something on behalf of Sail Chicago, Dana is your main contact. Make Sure It's in the Budget. When you identity the need for Sail Chicago to purchase something, please check with the appropriate Budget Owner. Each team lead whose role involves purchasing is a Budget Owner and prepares an annual budget to help us stay within our financial plan. When in doubt about who to ask, please contact Tim Rice at treasurer@sailchicago.org. Get Reimbursed. When urgency requires out-of-pocket expenses for a Sail Chicago purchase, you can get reimbursed after the fact. Email bookkeeper@sailchicago.org with a copy of the receipt(s) and a full description of the item(s) along with what budget they should be paid from. Always make sure it's in the budget, and contact Dana first to see if he can get Sail Chicago to pay for it instead of you. Have comments, feedback or story ideas for The Tell Tale? Feel free to email them to newsletter@sailchicago.org.  Contact Us Shop for your cool Sail Chicago Gear  Follow us on Facebook for updates, reminders, event info and activities! Catch up with the previous issues of The Telltale Sail Chicago Mission Statement  |  Member Benefits  |  Fleet Locations  |  Member Log In   Member Registration  |  Sail Chicago Rules and Regulations  |  Board Meeting Minutes Instruction  |  Sailing Weather Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

The Telltale: June, 2023

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Sail Chicago looks at upcoming social events and volunteer opportunities.

View this email in your browser Sailing for All THE TELLTALE ISSUE #6/JUNE, 2023 TABLE OF CONTENTS FROM THE EDITOR... NEW ONLINE TOOL FOR STUDENT PREREQUISITES NEWS FROM THE SOCIAL COMMITTEE IDEAL ORIENTATIONS AVAILABLE SINGLE-HANDED SAILING CLASS FOR RHODES AND IDEALS SAIL GRAND PRIX RETURNS TO CHICAGO BECOME A SAIL CHICAGO INSTRUCTOR BASIC KEELBOAT INSTRUCTOR (BKI) COURSE OFFERED SAIL CHICAGO REMINDERS IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM THE EDITOR... By Steve VanderVoort, Telltale Editor Here at last! Our sailing season on beautiful Lake Michigan has begun. Programs are underway, classes are full, racing is in full swing, social activities abound, and best of all, the weather looks great, at least for the next week or so. So let’s everyone get out there and sail! Just make sure that you remember our safety tips and guidelines. Always wear a lifejacket when you’re on a boat, faithfully complete the pre and post-sail checklists if you use a boat, and obey the Sail Chicago guidelines for wind and small craft warnings. NEW ONLINE TOOL FOR STUDENT PREREQUISITES By Gerry Stacy, Board Chair Instructors and Students, you'll find a new report on the Sail Chicago Data Hub this month.  We now have a report that lists the students who have met the prerequisites for Sail Chicago classes.  As a reminder, the Class Registration and Cancellation Policy requires that all students meet the following prerequisites before taking their first class, regardless of level: Attend a free Pre-Sail Orientation class. Take the US Sailing online Basic Keelboat class. Students, we are tracking your attendance at PSO classes.  Once you have completed the online Basic Keelboat course, upload your course completion certificate here so we can verify it and mark this requirement as complete.  Once you have completed both these prerequisites, your name will appear in this online listing.   And instructors, you can now look for your students' names in this same online report to verify that they have all met their prerequisites.   NEWS FROM THE SOCIAL COMMITTEE The Season Opener party, held on the rail deck of the Columbia Yacht Club on May 20, was a great way to start the season. New members had an opportunity to witness the strong sense of community that our organization fosters, and old members had a chance to renew acquaintances and plan on-the-water outings with friends. A couple of pictures show that a good time was had by all.   Our Happy Hour for the month of June will be held on Thursday, June 15th at Slightly Toasted, 22 N. Clinton, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM.  Members and one guest can enjoy one free drink each and tasty appetizers. If you plan to attend, please register here.   Mark your calendar for the upcoming social events: 2023 Family & Friends Picnic Belmont Harbor August 12, 2023 10:00am-5:00pm 2023 End of Season Dinner October 12, 2023 Columbia Yacht Club 6:30pm-9:30pm July and September Happy Hours are also being planned with dates and locations to be announced later. IDEAL ORIENTATIONS AVAILABLE Would you like to be able to sail a small fast boat? Well, our Ideal 18s may be the “ideal” choice for you! Orientations on this enjoyable little boat are open to current Colgate skippers at no charge.  We will be adding classes soon, so check the course catalog on my.sailchicago.org to signup. SINGLE-HANDED SAILING CLASS FOR RHODES AND IDEALS By Tim Rice Sail Chicago is considering offering the Single-Handed Sailing class on either the Rhodes or Ideals later this season, most likely in August or September. The two-session class will provide sailors with a thorough overview of single-handing procedures on a Rhodes or Ideal, including emphasis on safety precautions, rigging the boat for single handing, performing basic sailing maneuvers without crew assistance, and solo training on critical tasks including departure from and returning to the mooring, reefing, in-irons recovery, heaving-to and anchoring. Ample practice time will be included in each on-the-water session.   Prerequisite: Interested members must be a skipper on the boat to be single-handed and have recent experience sailing the boat during the current season. We are making this announcement now so that you will have time to gain some current season experience prior to the class. The class will be offered by Sail Chicago instructors who are experienced in single handing.   Interested members are asked to send an email to the Instruction mailbox (instruction@sailchicago.org) to confirm their qualifications and confirm their interest in attending an August and/or September session of the course. Classes will then be scheduled based on the number of interested members and the availability of instructors.   If you have any questions about the single-handing course, please send an email to Tim Rice at ricetj@gmail.com. SAIL GRAND PRIX RETURNS TO CHICAGO SailGP, the world’s most exciting racing on water, is back in Chicago for the Season 4 opening event Friday and Saturday, June 16-17, 2023. Nine national teams - including Jimmy Spithill’s USA team - will compete in high intensity sprint races just off Navy Pier, on next-level F50 catamarans that fly across the water at electrifying speeds.   If you’d like to get “up close and personal” to the race, you can bring a Sail Chicago boat and get access to the innermost edge of the public boating boundary close to the action. Book online to guarantee your place inside the racecourse exclusion zone. You will receive a souvenir flag providing exclusive access to the perfect position to enjoy both days of racing and  VHF live race commentary.  Boats without a flag will be held outside the US Coast Guard exclusion zone at least 200m behind flag bearing boats.   If you’d like to stay on land, you may also have access to the SailGP Stadium at the east end of Navy Pier, immediately adjacent to the racecourse with sweeping views of the racing and iconic Chicago skyline. For tickets, click here. BECOME A SAIL CHICAGO INSTRUCTOR By Monte Lewis, Lead Instructor Are you interested in becoming a Sail Chicago Instructor? Then check out the Instructor Prep Class. Last season we placed seven Instructor Candidates (IC’s) through this rich and comprehensive coaching program. The objective of the program is to guide motivated skippers to become capable, safe teachers with Sail Chicago. The program covers not only advanced sailing topics, but also basic principles of teaching adults how to sail. The program is unique in the sailing community, as most other "how to teach sailing" programs focus on youth. Of course, the ultimate objective of the new Instructor Prep course is to reduce our year-to-year backlog of students trying to get into classes. Instructor Candidates should have a minimum of two years experience as a skipper at Sail Chicago, skipper a minimum of six Tiller Times and be a confident and competent sailor. If you are interested in the program or have any questions, you can reach Monte Lewis at leadinstructor@sailchicago.org. BASIC KEELBOAT INSTRUCTOR (BKI) COURSE OFFERED By Tom Hertel & Candace Kohli Are you a Sail Chicago Skipper who is interested in taking your skills ‘to the next level’? If so, please read on!   This year, Sail Chicago is once again hosting the U.S. Sailing Basic Keelboat Instructor (BKI) evaluative course. This will take place over three days in early September. We will hold the course Sept. 8-10 at the Jackson Park Harbor Yacht Club. The BKI seeks to evaluate your skills as a sailor as well as a teacher. If you pass this course, you are granted US Sailing’s BKI teaching certification.   To help you prepare (this is the best part), we will be holding a series of on-the-water and off-the-water events over the two months prior to the course. This gives you a chance to learn how to single-hand a Colgate as well as take some additional on-line coursework to enrich your skills as an instructor. If you are an active Sail Chicago Instructor, we will reimburse you for the $425 registration fee, provided you pass the course. This year, we have a commitment from ‘Cappy Capper’ to run the course. Cappy is U.S. Sailing’s Head Instructor Trainer and the Head Coach of the University of Minnesota’s sailing team.   Recent graduates of the BKI course include: Daniel Hazlett, Selma Loesche, Geoff Skyles, Candace Kohli, Daniyar Nurgaliev, Manoel Conde, Iwona Awlasewicz and Scott Schaedel.   The BKI preparation and course activities are being coordinated by Tom Hertel and Candace Kohli. There will be a callout/orientation to provide further information on July 5 from 7-8:30pm via Zoom. Please contact Tom (hertel@purdue.edu) or Candace (kohlicl@gmail.com) if you are interested in participating. SAIL CHICAGO REMINDERS   Whom to Contact Need information on an area in Sail Chicago, but don't know who to contact? Just click here.   Sail Chicago Gear Purchase gear with the Sail Chicago logo on it.  Caps, shirts, pants and other gear are available. To shop now, click here.   Like us on Facebook You'll get updates, reminders, and other information on Sail Chicago events and activities. Click here.  Missing Previous Issues of The Telltale? You can always find the current issue and an archive of previous issues of The Telltale at the first (and open to the public) page of the Sail Chicago website. Look under "News/Newsletter." IMPORTANT INFORMATION Click on the links below to find more information about Sail Chicago.   Sail Chicago Mission Statement Member Benefits Fleet Locations Member Log In Member Registration Sail Chicago Rules and Regulations Board Meeting Minutes Instruction Sailing Weather Want to change how you receive these emails? 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The Telltale: May, 2023

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Sail Chicago looks at upcoming social events and volunteer opportunities.

View this email in your browser Sailing for All THE TELLTALE ISSUE #5/MAY, 2023 TABLE OF CONTENTS FROM THE EDITOR... RULES AND REGULATIONS CHANGE NEW PRE AND POST-SAIL CHECKLISTS NEWS FROM THE SOCIAL COMMITTEE DEI SAILS - VOLUNTEER SKIPPERS NEEDED SAIL CHICAGO TO NET LAKE LITTER BOOKKEEPER NEEDED SAFETY AT SEA REQUIREMENT SPOTLIGHT ON VOLUNTEERS - KENN SINKO SAIL CHICAGO REMINDERS IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM THE EDITOR... By Steve VanderVoort, Telltale Editor Spring is definitely here! The weather’s warmer, classes are full and the first ones start May 15. Our boats will be in the water in the next week or so, and we’re on our way to another successful sailing season. Let’s make this one the safest ever!   Perhaps it’s time to step back for a minute to thank all our volunteers who make this possible, particularly those who spent countless hours in the boatyard earlier this year when the weather wasn’t nearly so nice. It takes a lot of work to get our fleet into shape for the season, and we couldn’t do it without you. You allow us to keep our costs down and to therefore make the joy of sailing affordable for a much wider Chicago community.   Our thanks also go out to the volunteers on our IT staff who continue to make it easier for the rest of us to sign up for the programs that we’re interested in. Automation saves us tons of work that would have to be done by hand, thereby taking up valuable human resources that are better employed elsewhere. We’re grateful for your dedication and hard work. RULES AND REGULATIONS CHANGE By Gerry Stacy, Chair   During the offseason, the Board of Directors approved some changes to the  Sail Chicago Rules and Regulations.  Here's a summary of what's new: Sail Further South:  The southern boundary for small keelboats has been extended to 67th Street.  You can now sail as far south as Jackson Park! (Rule 4.8.3). New Members with Sailing Experience:  Everyone who joins Sail Chicago must pass our Skipper Prep course to be certified as a skipper.  However, the board, at its discretion, may decide to waive other new skipper requirements for members who come to Sail Chicago with significant past sailing experience and skill.  This allows highly skilled sailors to move more quickly into program sailing positions (e.g., instructors, tiller time skippers) where their experience is needed (Rules 4.13.3 and 4.14.3). And with the start of the sailing season here, it's certainly a good time to reacquaint yourself with all the Rules and Regulations.  Take some time to read through them again!   NEW PRE AND POST-SAIL CHECKLISTS When you set sail this summer in our small keelboats, you'll find new pre- and post-sail checklists to complete.  These new checklists connect directly to our reservations and boat maintenance system, and automatically notify the maintenance team when you report boat issues.  As a bonus, completing a pre- and post-sail checklist each time you sail populates a Sailing Resume report that you can use to keep track of your time on the water! Every Ideal, Rhodes, and Colgate has laminated sheets with QR codes that you can scan to connect to these forms.  Or you can bookmark these links in your smartphone now: http://bit.ly/SCPre-Sail http://bit.ly/SCPost-Sail We also have a new link that any non-member guests you bring aboard can use to complete the required waiver of liability. http://bit.ly/SailWaiver Remember, having your non-member guests complete the liability waiver is a requirement and part of our Rules and Regulations (Rule 4.13). Here are some other things to keep in mind when using the pre- and post-sail checklist system: You must have a reservation in the system in order to complete a pre-sail checklist.  Pre-sail checklists are tied directly to reservations.  You should not be sailing one of our boats without a reservation, ever.  This is a serious violation of the rules. Pre-sail checklists must be completed while still at the mooring, before you set sail.  You'll only find your reservation in the pre-sail checklist on the day of your sail. You have to complete a pre-sail checklist in order to complete a post-sail checklist.  You begin the post-sail checklist by selecting your corresponding pre-sail checklist.  This connects the two records together. Have a wonderful summer out on the water! NEWS FROM THE SOCIAL COMMITTEE By Deb Griffin, Social Coordinator Season Kickoff - The 2023 Sailing Season Kickoff event is fast approaching!  It will be held at the Chicago Yacht Club Rail Deck on May 20th, from 3:00 to 5:00.  Please register here by May 9th so we can plan for the food and drinks.  CYC needs the order by May 10th.   Future Events - Mark your calendar! 2023 Family & Friends Picnic - Belmont Harbor August 12, 2023 10:00am-5:00pm 2023 End of Season Dinner - October 12, 2023 Columbia Yacht Club 6:30pm-9:30pm Happy Hours - The June Happy Hour will be held on Thursday, June 15th at Slightly Toasted, 22 N. Clinton, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. The sign-up for this event will be sent in the June newsletter. July and September Happy Hours are also being planned with dates and locations to be announced later. Maritime Museum Visit - Sail Chicago's event at the Maritime Museum was featured in their newsletter. Take a look!  DEI SAILS - VOLUNTEER SKIPPERS NEEDED By Rebecca Sheehy The DEI Committee is excited to be bringing back DEI Sails for the 2023 season -- but we need your help to make them happen! These sails are similar to the traditional Member Cruise Outing, but are focused on specific groups that are under-represented in Sail Chicago (and in sailing generally). Last year we started with Women's and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, & People of Color) Cruises, and this year we'll be adding LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Queer) Cruises! The cruises provide opportunities for our minority members to meet, connect, and sail with each other in a safe and supportive environment. But we need volunteers to make these cruises happen! If you identify as a woman, BIPOC, or LGBTQ+, have been a Skipper for at least a year, and are interested in hosting DEI Sails, please reach out to Rebecca Sheehy at rebeccjsheehy@gmail.com. Hosting DEI Sails counts toward volunteer hours just like hosting MCOs.   The cruises will be available on the normal reservation page. Please make sure to only sign up for cruises if you identify as a member of the target audience. SAIL CHICAGO TO NET LAKE LITTER By Tom Simms What could possibly make Lake Michigan even more beautiful?  How ‘bout removing litter!  Sail Chicago is implementing a pilot program to equip each Colgate with a net to remove lake litter. In addition to cleaning up the lake, netting litter can be good practice for “making an approach to a mooring.“  A successful pilot program will expand our efforts to include nets for our Ideals and Rhodes. BOOKKEEPER NEEDED Do you have finance/accounting experience?  We need your help!   Jay Owens, our long-serving bookkeeper, is moving to Colorado this month!  We wish Jay smooth sailing and all the best in his new home and give him a huge THANK YOU for his many years of service.  However, this means that we need someone to pick up this important work.   If you have experience working in accounting or bookkeeping, please reach out to the volunteer team (volunteer@sailchicago.org) to explore helping out in this position.   Worried that this might be too much work?  While our organization is bustling with activity, our financial life is considerably more sedate.  You probably have more transactions in your checking account in a month than we do in six.  Please consider helping out! SAFETY AT SEA REQUIREMENT Sail Chicago has a new requirement for all Program Skippers aimed at bolstering our collective preparedness and promoting safety.  Effective May 1, 2023, all Program Skippers are required to have passed US Sailing's Safety at Sea: Coastal online course in order to continue in these roles.  This requirement applies to all Instructors, Tiller Time Skippers, Member Cruise Outing Skippers, and Community Cruise Outing Skippers.  The course costs $50 ($45 if you're a US Sailing member), and Sail Chicago will reimburse you this cost once you provide proof of having passed the course. If you haven’t already completed the course and would like to remain a Program Skipper, please do so now.   You can upload your course completion certificate and apply for your reimbursement here. SPOTLIGHT ON VOLUNTEERS - KENN SINKO By Pat Webster   There are so many ways that Sail Chicago members can support the organization, and Kenn Sinko has been one of our stand-out maintenance volunteers. He has been very involved with getting our 18 ft Ideals seaworthy each season for the last 9 years and maintaining Solstice throughout the season, as the Boat Manager. Sometimes Kenn feels the Ideals are “the orphans” of the fleet, since they are so different from the rest of the Sail Chicago boats. They are light, they sail in next to no air, they can be single handed (with prior training), and they are an easy sail off and on the mooring since they’re so close to the harbor mouth. However, they are relatively small boats, with no motors or lights, a downside for some. Skippers who sail the boats love them, and Kenn would encourage others to get out on the Ideals and give them a try. He is also encouraging others to get involved with the maintenance of both the Ideals and our other smaller keel boats, the Rhodes. Right now he would be happy to hand off the Solstice Boat Manager role to someone who is looking for that kind of position as he is turning more of his attention to maintaining Priorities, our 34 ft Hunter. (Contact him if you’re interested.) He enjoys both working on Priorities and sailing her, and has been part of that maintenance crew for the last 11 years. He was also involved with Emotional Rescue, the cruiser preceding Priorities. His hope is that our cruising program will expand, perhaps by purchasing another cruiser and doing more organized port-to-port cruises.   Kenn grew up near the Great Lakes in a suburb of Cleveland. Since then he has always lived in close proximity to the Great Lakes. His sailing career with Sail Chicago began in 2007 when his wife bought him a membership and a series of classes on the Rhodes, our teaching boat at the time. He appreciates the great instruction he received from former members Bob Lapin and (the late) John Lemon, learning how to maneuver in the harbor without a motor. In the more recent past he has taken the Navigation class preparing him for port-to-port sails. His hope is that our cruising program will expand, by doing more organized port-to-port cruises.   Kenn has been retired since 2017 from his career in automotive engineering, although he is still involved in the field. He possesses both a Masters and a PhD in mechanical engineering as well as an MBA. He and his wife live in Oak Park, where he plans to enjoy his new hobby of working on his recently purchased 64 Corvair Monza Convertible.   We wish him well and appreciate his service and continuing support of Sail Chicago. SAIL CHICAGO REMINDERS   Whom to Contact Need information on an area in Sail Chicago, but don't know who to contact? Just click here.    Join or Renew Your US Sailing Membership at a Discount Through MVP Sail Chicago members can join or renew their US Sailing membership at a $10 discount through the US Sailing Member Value Partner program. Sail Chicago Gear Purchase gear with the Sail Chicago logo on it.  Caps, shirts, pants and other gear are available. To shop now, click here.   Like us on Facebook You'll get updates, reminders, and other information on Sail Chicago events and activities. Click here.  Missing Previous Issues of The Telltale? You can always find the current issue and an archive of previous issues of The Telltale at the first (and open to the public) page of the Sail Chicago website. Look under "News/Newsletter." IMPORTANT INFORMATION Click on the links below to find more information about Sail Chicago.   Sail Chicago Mission Statement Member Benefits Fleet Locations Member Log In Member Registration Sail Chicago Rules and Regulations Board Meeting Minutes Instruction Sailing Weather Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

The Telltale: April, 2023

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Sail Chicago looks at upcoming social events and volunteer opportunities.

View this email in your browser Sailing for All THE TELLTALE ISSUE #4/APRIL, 2023 TABLE OF CONTENTS FROM THE EDITOR... ARE YOU READY TO SAIL? VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM - BOATING BUDDIES NEEDED! MEMBERSHIP SPECIAL AT COLUMBIA YACHT CLUB SPOTLIGHT ON VOLUNTEERS - ROBERT TEPPER SAIL CHICAGO REMINDERS IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM THE EDITOR... By Steve VanderVoort, Telltale Editor Spring is officially here, and it won’t be long before our fleet is in the water. But there’s a lot to do before that day arrives. Our boat teams need all kinds of help preparing our boats for a busy summer of sailing. Please review the list of volunteer positions on our website. Spending even a few hours at the boatyard during a weekend over the next few weeks will be a tremendous help. Class registrations will be opening soon. Please keep an eye on our website and watch for notices in your inbox announcing specific times.The March issue of The Telltale has more information on how to register and registration and cancellation policies. You may wish to review it. We’re looking forward to seeing you on the water soon! ARE YOU READY TO SAIL? By Don Burman We're all ready for sailing!  After the winter and cold, wet spring who isn't ready for a change and a chance to sail again? While we're eager to sail, have we prepared ourselves for the season?  Many members choose to purchase an inflatable PFD as one of their first sailing investments.  And it is a wise choice - they are more comfortable to wear when sailing, they provide more buoyancy than most foam vests and they often have a built-in whistle and a zippered pocket for your phone. But these conveniences come at a price.  Besides the higher initial purchase cost, inflatable PFDs require periodic inspection and maintenance.  Unfortunately, many of us forget or dismiss these chores and grab our inflatable at the beginning of each season and have not made sure it will serve us in an emergency. As we prepare for the season, please review the inspection and maintenance instructions for your PFD and perform the recommended periodic service.  Your PFD's instruction may differ from mine but here are some typical service items for your inflatable PFD: Ensure the zippers of Velcro are in good shape and keep the PFD closed. Ensure the buckles open and close properly and that all webbing and straps are undamaged. Check if any items have expiration dates and that none have been exceeded. Open the inflatable PFD and inspect it for any signs of wear, rips or tears that may compromise its operation. Inspect it closely, like your life depends on it - because it does. Manually inflate the device and leave it sit for 12-18 hours. After that time, check that it is still as full and firm as when you inflated it.  If it feels less firm there may be a slight leak that should be sent back to the manufacturer for service or replace the PFD. My PFDs recommend I do this at the beginning of the season and every two months.  Weigh the CO2 cylinder. The minimum weight is stamped on the cylinder. If it is below the minimum weight, it may have a leak and should be replaced. Replace the bobbin every 3 years. The bobbin contains a substance like an aspirin.  When it gets wet, it melts and allows the spring activated trigger to pierce the CO2 cylinder and inflate the PFD. Be sure the whistle is in place and that the lanyard is in good condition. Replace the lanyard if it is worn. Before repacking make sure the bobbin is in place, the CO2 cylinder is installed properly and the service indicator is GREEN (if yours has a service indicator).  Also, be sure to place the dust cap back on the manual inflation tube. Carefully deflate the PFD and repack it according to your manufacturer's instructions. There are a wide variety of inflators in PFDs - be sure to follow the instructions for inspecting yours. For foam PFD's, inspect the shell for rips or tears.  Replace any PFD with visible rips or tears. We all are eager to sail, let's be ready to do it safely! VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES By Gerald Moose Stacy, Volunteer Coordinator Are you looking for a way to meet your service time requirement this season? We have many opportunities available that range from helping out with boat maintenance, to helping plan events, to moving our DEI initiatives forward, to answering questions from prospective members, and more. Whatever your schedule, your skills, or your inclination, the volunteer team can help you find an opportunity that works for you.  You can browse all the open opportunities on the volunteer website, but here are a few places where we could use your help: The Membership Coordinator helps answer questions from members and prospective members about what it's like to be part of Sail Chicago, questions about classes, etc. Rigging Volunteers manage, inspect, and maintain the rigging for the small keelboats (Colgates, Rhodes and Ideals) during the offseason. If you're a skipper with at least one year of sailing experience, volunteer to be a Member Cruise Outing (MCO) Skipper and take other members out for a sail!  Get out on the water and meet other members while fulfilling your service time requirement! Finally, the Volunteer Team could use additional volunteers to help match members to volunteer opportunities. You can sign up for any of these positions here. Or just reach out to the volunteer team at volunteer@sailchicago.org. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM - BOATING BUDDIES NEEDED! By Ashleigh Luttery, DEI Coordinator The Sail Chicago Scholarship Program is part of our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiative with the intent to provide access and encourage participation for those not traditionally well-represented within our organization. Following a successful inaugural Scholarship Program last season, we are in the process of selecting recipients for the 2023 season.  We are hoping to offer the Sail Chicago Scholarship recipients the opportunity to be paired with 1 or 2 Sail Chicago “boating buddies” who can show them the ropes (no pun intended!), help them navigate the organization, and perhaps even take them sailing. This is a great way to help support new sailors and share your experience and love of sailing! If you are interested in being a “boating buddy,” please contact us at dei@sailchicago.org. MEMBERSHIP SPECIAL AT COLUMBIA YACHT CLUB By Gerald Moose Stacy, Chair Unless you're new to Sail Chicago, you're probably aware of the close relationship we have with the Columbia Yacht Club and the big boat in Monroe Harbor ("Abegweit") that they call home.  Columbia allows us to use their dock space for maintenance on our boats and provides us with space for many of our meetings, events, and on-shore classes.  They have been a friendly, supportive partner of our organization for many years, and it is in that spirit of friendship that I'm letting you know about a Spring Membership Promotion they're currently running.  Now through the end of May, Columbia is offering a 75% discount on their initiation fee.  This is a huge discount for everyone, but for those of you under age 30, this means that the cost of joining Columbia is probably less than the last dinner you ate at a restaurant.  If you have ever thought about exploring membership at Columbia, now is probably the best time to do so.   Several Sail Chicago members are also members of Columbia and would be happy to sponsor you for membership.  If you're interested in learning more, please reach out to Don Burman (kb9wbm@aol.com). SPOTLIGHT ON VOLUNTEERS - ROBERT TEPPER By Pat Webster   As one Racing Skipper commented, “I sure would like to know more about Robert Tepper”. Robert is well known in the Sail Chicago Racing Program as he has been a stalwart participant in the Colgate 26 racing program since its inception. He has supported the program as a Coach, as an Assistant Coach (in the initial development of the program), and currently he provides guidance as a Racing Skipper most Wednesday evenings. This involves promoting responsible cooperative sailing, something Robert truly enjoys. Robert is one of those Sail Chicago member/volunteers who really gives his all to the organization. Not only has he been heavily involved in the racing program, but also contributes as an Instructor, teaching Crew classes, as an MCO (Member Cruise Outing) Skipper and as a Tiller Time Skipper.   Robert began his sailing career at the young age of 10 in summer camp in Lake Mendota in Madison. After that he had various sailing experiences including sailing a Star 23, an Olympic keelboat (a racing boat) in 1969 for about a year. Then in the 1980s he owned a 13 foot Ghost centerboard boat, which he trailered to Fox Lake. Robert resumed sailing and became most involved with the sport when he joined Sail Chicago in 2007. He started taking lessons at the urging of his wife, after enjoying sailing a 13 foot Hobie Wave in Mexico while they were vacationing there. She was concerned about safety. Given his previous sailing experience, he rather quickly checked out as a Sail Chicago Skipper, completing the equivalent of what is now our First Mate classes. He has been contributing ever since.   What Robert most enjoys about Sail Chicago, besides the easy access to affordable sailing, are our members. He finds them to be “uniformly very nice people”. He can also easily find crew through our MCO program and enjoys skippering our Cruisers as part of that program. In addition Robert likes being able to fulfill his service time requirement by getting involved with those aspects of sailing he enjoys most.   In addition to his involvement with sailing and Sail Chicago, Robert has been quite busy with home and career. He completed law school in 1969 and continues as a practicing attorney, doing litigation between businesses. He and his wife reside on the near north side of Chicago.   Thank you, Robert, for your contribution to Sail Chicago!   SAIL CHICAGO REMINDERS   Whom to Contact Need information on an area in Sail Chicago, but don't know who to contact? Just click here.    Join or Renew Your US Sailing Membership at a Discount Through MVP Sail Chicago members can join or renew their US Sailing membership at a $10 discount through the US Sailing Member Value Partner program. Sail Chicago Gear Purchase gear with the Sail Chicago logo on it.  Caps, shirts, pants and other gear are available. To shop now, click here.   Like us on Facebook You'll get updates, reminders, and other information on Sail Chicago events and activities. Click here.  Missing Previous Issues of The Telltale? You can always find the current issue and an archive of previous issues of The Telltale at the first (and open to the public) page of the Sail Chicago website. Look under "News/Newsletter." IMPORTANT INFORMATION Click on the links below to find more information about Sail Chicago.   Sail Chicago Mission Statement Member Benefits Fleet Locations Member Log In Member Registration Sail Chicago Rules and Regulations Incident/Accident Report Instruction Sailing Weather Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

The Telltale: March, 2023

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Sail Chicago looks at upcoming social events and volunteer opportunities.

View this email in your browser Sailing for All THE TELLTALE ISSUE #3/MARCH, 2023 TABLE OF CONTENTS FROM THE EDITOR... ELECTION FOR THE SAIL CHICAGO BOARD OF DIRECTORS OPEN HOUSE AT THE BOATYARD APRIL 1 NEW SAFETY AT SEA REQUIREMENT FOR PROGRAM SKIPPERS CLASS ROLLOUT IS COMING SOON! CLASS REGISTRATION AND CANCELLATION POLICY 2022 SURVEY RESULTS SAIL CHICAGO 2023 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM VOLUNTEERING IN 2023 RHODES 19 BOAT MANAGERS AND ASSISTANT BOAT MANAGERS NEEDED! VOLUNTEER NEEDED: HELP US ARCHIVE OUR OLD NEWSLETTERS! CALL FOR VIDEOGRAPHERS UPCOMING SOCIAL EVENTS: SAVE THE DATES LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER NEEDED BASIC NAVIAGTION COURSE TO BE OFFERED AGAIN SAIL CHICAGO MEMBERS VISIT MARITIME MUSEUM U.S. SAILING SURVEYS ONE DESIGN RACERS SAIL GRAND PRIX TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW SAIL CHICAGO REMINDERS IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM THE EDITOR... By Steve VanderVoort, Telltale Editor The weather's a bit warmer, and that signals perhaps Spring may be just around the corner. And things are certainly heating up at Sail Chicago! A lot is starting to happen as we prepare for another fantastic sailing season on our beloved Lake Michigan. Just look above at the Table to Contents to see what's happening, but then make sure that you get all the details by reading this newsletter completely through. You'll find that exciting things are happening, and we don't want you to miss out on something you might enjoy! ELECTION FOR THE SAIL CHICAGO BOARD OF DIRECTORS By Gerry Stacy, Board Chair The election for the Sail Chicago Board of Directors opened this past Tuesday, February 28.  All Sail Chicago members who have paid their 2023 membership fee are eligible to vote.  Current members have been e-mailed links to their online ballots, so check your e-mail (and your spam folder!) to look for your invitation to vote.  And if you have not yet renewed your membership, you will be e-mailed a link to your ballot no more than 24 hours after you renew. Voting will close with the start of the Annual Meeting on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at 7:00 pm.  In order to ensure that you receive a ballot and are able to vote, please renew your membership no later than noon on Tuesday, March 7.  And please plan to attend the Annual Meeting, where the results of the election will be announced.  You can find information about the Annual Meeting including an online link to attend on the landing page of my.sailchicago.org. OPEN HOUSE AT THE BOATYARD APRIL 1 By Rich Costello, Maintenance Coordinator Come join your friends and other Sail Chicago members at the Canal Street Marina, 2059 S Canal Street in  Chicago on Saturday April 1, 10:00 am to Noon, rain or shine. This is a great opportunity to see our fleet drydocked and all in one spot. Did you ever wonder what's under the waterline on a boat that you're sailing? Well, now's  your chance to find out. See our maintenance teams at work and discover the fun involved in getting our fleet ready for the coming sailing season. Also, get a first peek at the newest addition to our Colgate fleet, Cretin Hop and see our newest maintenance trailer. Our Maintenance Teams and Social Committee are joint sponsors of this event. If you'd like to share in the free donuts and coffee that will be available, please register here so that we can know how many people will be coming. Things you can do when you get there, or simply walk around on your own. 10:00 am Registration and meet and greet 10:30 am Tour of the boat yard and the Sail Chicago fleet 11:00 am Scavenger hunt 11:30 am Knot tying demonstration and competition 12:00 pm Attendees are invited to come to lunch in nearby Chinatown, pay-your-own-way NEW SAFETY AT SEA REQUIREMENT FOR PROGRAM SKIPPERS By Gerry Stacy, Board Chair Sail Chicago has a new requirement for all Program Skippers aimed at bolstering our collective preparedness and promoting safety.  Effective May 1, 2023, all Program Skippers are required to have passed US Sailing's Safety at Sea: Coastal online course in order to continue in these roles.  This requirement applies to all Instructors, Tiller Time Skippers, Member Cruise Outing Skippers, and Community Cruise Outing Skippers.  The course costs $50 ($45 if you're a US Sailing member), and Sail Chicago will reimburse you this cost once you provide proof of having passed the course. You can upload your course completion certificate and apply for your reimbursement here. CLASS ROLLOUT IS COMING SOON! By Gerry Stacy, Board Chair The days are getting longer, brighter, and warmer.  Spring is getting closer.  And that means that sailing is on the horizon!  The instruction program is gearing up, and we're eager to welcome both our returning students and all the new students who are looking to give sailing a try. We're still finalizing our 2023 schedule of classes, but here's some information about how our course rollout will take place this season. We will publish the schedule of classes by late March.  Everyone will have several days to review the course schedule before registration opens.  And remember: you don't have to be a member to see the class schedule or register for classes.  If you find a class that fits your schedule, you can pay your membership fee at the same time you register for the class. Our registration rollout will begin with students who completed the First Mate class last year.  They will be given several days to register for Skipper Prep classes.  We hope this wave will start before the end of March. After this first wave, we will open registration to students who completed the Crew class last year.  They will be given several days to register for First Mate and Skipper Prep classes.  We hope this wave will start in early April Finally, by mid-April, we will open our entire course schedule and our Crew classes to the public. Demand for our classes is very high, and the fact is that our learn-to-sail courses will likely fill up completely before the season even begins.  But people's plans change and seats do open up through the summer.  So, as in past years, we will maintain waitlists for each class, and we'll do our best to get as many students into classes this summer as we can! CLASS REGISTRATION AND CANCELLATION POLICY With the start of the 2023 instruction season, Sail Chicago is rolling out a new registration and cancellation policy which provides information to students on everything from selecting the right class to dropping classes, class cancellations and makeups, and refunds.  You can read the new policy here and on the Sail Chicago website.  And all students will be asked to acknowledge that they have read and understand the policy when they register for classes on my.sailchicago.org. 2022 SURVEY RESULTS By Rachel Granneman Thank you to the 125 people who completed the 2022 Membership survey! The survey is a great way for the DEI Committee and Sail Chicago leadership to track not only demographics but also satisfaction and feedback across many programs and areas. A few interesting data points from this year’s survey (please keep in mind that this was an entirely voluntary survey and that information has not been validated): The #1 reason that people joined Sail Chicago is that it is an inexpensive way to sail (80% selected this as one of the reasons – multiple reasons could be selected); other top reasons included that Sail Chicago offers sailing classes (73.6%), and that Sail Chicago has boats available for private reservations (65.6%). The largest age bracket was 35-44 (with 24.8% of respondents), the next bracket was 55-64 (19.2%) and then 25-34 (15.2%). A large majority of members identify as male (72.8%), with 22.5% identifying as female, and the remainder choosing not to answer. This appears to reflect some progress toward greater female representation, as a larger percentage (78%) of respondents identified as male in the 2020 survey. A large majority of members identify as white or Caucasian (86.4%), which is more than in 2020, which indicates that there is still a lot of work to do for Sail Chicago’s membership to reflect the general demographics of the Chicago area. About 5% of members identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, which is less than in 2020, indicating that there is still work to do for Sail Chicago’s membership to reflect the general demographics of the Chicago area. There is strong overall satisfaction with Sail Chicago and its various programs; for most of these questions, the most-selected answer (on a scale of 1 to 4, with 4 indicating the highest level of satisfaction) was 4 for most questions; there were only 3 questions where “3” was the most-selected answer, indicating a desire for more classes, MCOs, and opportunities for non-Skippers to go sailing. SAIL CHICAGO 2023 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM By Ashleigh Luttery  The DEI Committee is continuing our scholarship program as part of Sail Chicago’s commitment to increase diversity, equity, and inclusivity among its members within the organization as well as in the sport of sailing. The goal is to promote the sport of sailing to groups that have historically faced barriers to participation, such as people of color in the United States and people from low socioeconomic households. These barriers have included racial segregation in/exclusion from boating clubs, actual or perceived lack of access or acceptance, and/or high costs of participation in the sport.  The application is open until March 18, 2023. Recipients will participate in Sail Chicago’s beginner Crew classes (including Pre-Sail Orientation and US Sailing Basic Keelboat online course fees), have membership fees covered, along with priority access to class sign up. New this year, scholarship recipients will also have Racing sign up fees covered if they complete their Crew course and would like to try Racing! If you know someone within your network who may be interested in applying, please share the application link here. The application can also be found on Sail Chicago’s homepage banner at sailchicago.org. VOLUNTEERING IN 2023 By Gerry Stacy, Board Chair As we all look forward to the start of the 2023 sailing season, the volunteerism team would like to remind you to start thinking about how you’re going to contribute to the life of our organization this year.  There are many opportunities to fulfill your service time requirement which can take advantage of the skills and abilities you already have, or perhaps teach you something new. Our volunteerism site is now showing all the positions available for 2023.  If you reported your volunteering hours last year and indicated that you wanted to continue in your current assignment, you've probably been re-assigned to that same position or positions.  You can check your 2023 volunteer assignments on the volunteering website, too. If you’re considering joining Sail Chicago as a new member, remember that your service time requirement is waived for your first year. Returning members, if you don’t think you’ll have time to meet your service time requirement in 2023, please get in touch with the volunteering team at volunteer@sailchicago.org.  The team can adjust your account so you can select and pay for the Service Time Waiver when you renew your membership.  This will waive your need to volunteer during the current season. And remember, if you fail to meet your service time requirement in 2023, either because you didn’t volunteer for a position or you failed to fulfill the responsibilities of the position you were assigned, you will be required to pay a service time waiver for the 2023 season before you can renew your membership in 2024. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities available each season, and many of them can be carried out in just a few hours each month.  If you're not sure where to start or what you'd like to do, reach out to the volunteer team at volunteer@sailchicago.org.  And keep an eye out for the Volunteer Job Fair which we will host later this spring.  It will give you a chance to meet with leaders in all of Sail Chicago's programs and explore ways you can contribute.   RHODES 19 BOAT MANAGERS AND ASSISTANT BOAT MANAGERS NEEDED! By Tim Rice We are looking for a few motivated and organized Sail Chicago members to help lead one of our Rhodes 19 boat teams. No experience is necessary, we will train you on the job. All that is needed is a strong willingness to learn. The primary duties are assuming shared responsibility for one of our Rhodes 19 boats and helping to lead a small team of volunteers during pre-season, in-season, and post-season maintenance. You should either be a Rhodes 19 skipper or be on the path toward becoming one. Our pre-season maintenance begins in April, so now is the time to get involved. If you have any questions or if you are interested, please contact Tim Rice at ricetj@gmail.com. VOLUNTEER NEEDED: HELP US ARCHIVE OUR OLD NEWSLETTERS! Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity that you can: Do at home? Do in your spare time? Make a huge contribution to Sail Chicago? Look no further! We recently switched the service that we use to publish this newsletter.  But before we can cancel the subscription to our old newsletter publisher, we need to download and store all of our old newsletters that are stored on that site.  This is an easy task that can be done from home on your computer.  We'll walk you through how to do this work then you can work at your own pace to finish the job.  This will help us to preserve our history and maintain the newsletter archive on our website. If you think you can help us out, please get in touch with the volunteer team at volunteer@sailchicago.org.  We really need someone's help with this! CALL FOR VIDEOGRAPHERS By Doug Sink We’re looking for a team to create instruction videos this season. The video team will create the content, record the video, edit and post on our Sail Chicago YouTube channel. Interested? Do you have video production skills? To prepare we'll have a pre-season meeting. Please contact me at ddsink@icloud.com or 630-418-1318. UPCOMING SOCIAL EVENTS: SAVE THE DATES By Jack & Deb Griffin, Social Coordinators The Sail Chicago social calendar is getting into full swing.  Here are some upcoming dates that you should post to your calendar. More information will follow later. 2023 Spring Kickoff Party Columbia Yacht Club May 20, 2023  3:00pm-5:00pm 2023 Family & Friends Picnic Belmont Harbor August 12, 2023 10:00am-5:00pm 2023 End of Season Dinner October 12, 2023 Columbia Yacht Club 6:30pm-9:30pm Happy Hours for the months of June, July and September are also being planned with dates and locations to be announced later. LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER NEEDED By Kenn Sinko If you’ve ever admired lighthouses from a distance and wondered what it might be like to spend a week in one as a volunteer “keeper”, here is your chance.  The Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum located at the tip of Michigan’s little finger has vacancies in their volunteer keeper’s program.  As a keeper, you live on site in part of the Grand Traverse Lighthouse, while your duties for the week involve guest services to the visiting public and varied maintenance tasks.  General information on the keeper program is available here. And there is an online calendar that shows which weeks have keeper vacancies.  Sail Chicago member Kenn Sinko and his wife have been keepers on multiple occasions, and found it to be a fascinating experience. BASIC NAVIAGTION COURSE TO BE OFFERED AGAIN By Dan Pilch Sail Chicago will be hosting a Basic Navigation charting course again this year.  Keep an eye on Sail Chicago's Slack messages and the online class schedule for details. SAIL CHICAGO MEMBERS VISIT MARITIME MUSEUM Sail Chicago members had a great time at the Chicago Maritime Museum on January 21. After examining all of the exhibits and learning about the city's great maritime history, there was plenty of time to socialize with fellow members and with museum staff. If you'd like to see some photos of the event, please click here. U.S. SAILING SURVEYS ONE DESIGN RACERS Every two years U.S. Sailing surveys one design racers across the country. The results of the 2022 survey were presented at the recent U.S. Sailing Leadership Forum. Sail Chicago members, particularly those participating in our racing program, may be interested in those results. They contain a lot of useful information. To view the results of the survey, please click here. SAIL GRAND PRIX TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW On June 16-17 Navy Pier will be transformed into the SailGP Race Village featuring stadium viewing – the only way to watch the racing from land. Tickets start at $35 and are on sale now. For more information, click here. SAIL CHICAGO REMINDERS   Who to Contact Need information on an area in Sail Chicago, but don't know who to contact? Just click here.    Join or Renew Your US Sailing Membership at a Discount Through MVP Sail Chicago members can join or renew their US Sailing membership at a $10 discount through the US Sailing Member Value Partner program. Sail Chicago Gear Purchase gear with the Sail Chicago logo on it.  Caps, shirts, pants and other gear are available. To shop now, click here.   Like us on Facebook You'll get updates, reminders, and other information on Sail Chicago events and activities. Click here.  Missing Previous Issues of The Telltale? You can always find the current issue and an archive of previous issues of The Telltale at the first (and open to the public) page of the Sail Chicago website.Look under "News/Newsletter." IMPORTANT INFORMATION Click on the links below to find more information about Sail Chicago.   Sail Chicago Mission Statement Member Benefits Fleet Locations Member Log In Member Registration Sail Chicago Rules and Regulations Incident/Accident Report Instruction Sailing Weather Board Meeting Minutes Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.