Sail Chicago Tell Tale

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

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