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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
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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
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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.
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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:
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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!
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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:
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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:
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You can always bring your own picnic lunch also. Alcohol is not allowed on park district property.
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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.
 
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Mark your calendars:
End of Season Dinner: Thurs, Oct 24
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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.
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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.
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the
Social News
sailing is almost here, and it begins with the rollout of our schedule of classes! New and returning students can find information about the 
the 
Guy Whitney, a Sail Chicago member from the early days of the organization’s formation, passed away peacefully on January 23. Sail Chicago old-timers will remember him as a tough old salt who wouldn’t tolerate any nonsense. He was on the Sail Chicago Board for several years, and was in charge of maintenance when we had only Rhodes 19s and a couple of cruising boats in our fleet. Younger members might remember him as one of the tender drivers who helped us get to our boats in Monroe Harbor throughout the summer months.
Season 2025 will have new instruction team leaders: Tom Hertel, Lead Instructor, and Brian Huang, Deputy Lead Instructor. Much thanks to the outgoing lead instructor, Monte Lewis who received an award recognizing his contribution at the annual dinner meeting on October. Season 2024 closed with 10% more learn to sail classes than 2023 and the student surveys show the sailing instruction program overall receives high scores.
Sail Chicago’s new boat is a 15.5-foot used Novurania Fiberglass with Hypalon inflatable pontoons and a 90hp Yamaha outboard motor. This boat is to be used primarily as a Maintenance Utility Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB). It will be docked in a 30’ slip at Belmont Harbor during the summer, close to a hydraulic lift (for stepping and un-stepping masts) and a marine-grade fuel pump for re-fueling our fleet of Colgate and Rhodes.
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!
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. 
