Blinker Fall 2017 by Chicago Yacht Club

Chicago Yacht Club Calendar of Events

Nov 5

W T 1 2

F 3

S 4

10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17

W T

December 4

10 11

F 1

S 2

M 1

T 2

W T 3 4

F 5

S 6

10 11

12 13 14 15 16

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

17 18 19 20 21

22 23

26 27 28 29 30

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

January

November

December

January

2 - WOW Chef Series (M)

2 - Children’s Holiday Party (M)

4 - Mac Awards Banquet (M)

2 - CSF Holiday Party (M)

January 1 - February 6 Monroe Station Closed

4-5 - Great Lakes

2 - Island Goats Party (M)

High School Regatta (B) 5 & 12 - Fall Frostbiting (B) 8 - Wholesale Wine Night (M) 10 - Associates Fall Club Crawl (M) 10 - Trivia Night (B) 12 & 19 - Bears Bus (M) 15 - Annual Meeting (M) 17 - WOW Happy Hour (M) 18 - RYF/Offshore Awards (B) 23 - Thanksgiving Day Buffet (M) 26 - Gingerbread House Pick-up (M) 29 - Commodore’s Circle Dinner (M)

3 - Children’s Holiday Party (M) 3 - Bears Bus (M) 6 - WOW Wonderland Holiday Party (M) 8 - Power Fleet Holiday Party (M) 8 & 15 - Holiday Lunch Buffet (M)

5 - Dinner & Children’s Movie Night (B) 6 - First Wine Dinner (B) 13 - Pink Pony Party (B) 20 - Chili Cook-Off (B) 20 - Wine Dinner (B)

9 - Tacky Sweater Party (B)

27 - CSF Dancing with the Stars (B)

12 - Hanukkah

27 - FAC Winter Carnival (B)

13 - CYC Sailing Honors Ceremony (M) 14 - Candlelight Dinner (M) 16 - Gingerbread House Drop-off (M) 17 - Commodore’s Open House (M) 20 - Dinner with Santa (M) 25 - Christmas 28 - 30 - End of Year Buffets (M) 31 - New Year’s Eve Dinner & Party (M)

(M) = Monroe Station and (B) = Belmont Station.

* Belmont is open for lunch at noon on Fridays in January.

Contents 13

Fall 2017

- Calendar of Events

- CYC’s Personal Signal Flags

- From the Helm

- Member Spotlight - Pamela Rose

- New Faces at CYC

- Membership

- Aboard the Coast Guard Cutter

- Verve Cup Regatta

- Chicago Regatta

- Getting to Know the Manusos

- #JustAddWater

- America’s Cup in Bermuda

- CYC’s Opti Sailors in Bermuda

- Junior Member Spotlight - Aisling Sullivan

- Power Fleet Report

- Cruise Around the Sun

- Tallship Adventure

- 2017 Mac Photo Contest Winners

- Race to Mackinac CYC Member Winners

- Offshore On the Water

31 - 35

- CY-Scene Photo Series

On Our Cover: Ed Falkenhayn’s Jeanneau Prestige power boat, Lakehouse. Cover artwork by Nicole Richardson.

˙www.chicagoyachtclub.org

REVAMPING CYC’S PERSONAL SIGNAL FLAGS By: Fleet Captain Samuel Wm. Sax This year, Chicago Yacht Club’s burgee flags (not the burgee itself) were redesigned under the leadership of Samuel Wm. Sax, Fleet Captain and member of the Chicago Yacht Club’s Old Guard. The revamping of Chicago Yacht Club’s personal signal flags has been a topic of discussion for the past several years and under the leadership of Commodore Leif Sigmond, the redesign has finally been accomplished. “The underlying dynamic around the replacement was maintaining the unity of the burgee. With the outstanding international reputation, the Chicago Yacht Club holds, we were tasked to organize at the highest level of maritime tradition the personal signal flags of the Club,” said Fleet Captain Sax. “With unanimous approval of the Flag Officers, Past Commodores, Board of Directors, Committee Chairs, and the General Manager, these flags were adopted.” There are now 16 Chicago Yacht Club personal signal flags, which now separate leadership members from one another by carrying an insignia in the top right-hand corner to visually tell the story of what each leadership member title is within the Club. The Old Guard burgee is the original burgee of the Chicago Yacht Club from 1875. In the Spring of 1920, the Lincoln Park Yacht Club of Chicago was consolidated with the Chicago Yacht Club. For a more modern and contemporary look, the burgee of the Lincoln Park Yacht Club was adopted in place of the Chicago Yacht Club’s former burgee, which is now the Old Guard burgee.

United States Yacht Ensign

Race Committee Flag

Chicago Yacht Club Burgee

New Member Signal Flag

Old Guard Burgee

Union Jack

2017 CHICAGO YACHT CLUB VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP Flag Officers 2017 Leif Sigmond, Commodore Lou Sandoval, Vice Commodore Nick Berberian, Rear Commodore Rick Lillie, Secretary Martin Sandoval, Treasurer Past Commodores Greg Miarecki Gerald Bober Board of Directors Cyd Archer Sandy Curtiss Ian Fisher Michael Frerker Frederick Hagedorn Ted Jones Don Maxwell Edward McNulty Elizabeth Newman Kenneth Nordine Sarah Renz Christopher Thomas Dr. Regan Thomas 2017 CHICAGO YACHT CLUB EXECUTIVE STAFF General Manager Dwight Jenson, CCM Monroe Station Staff Controller Kelly McGuire Membership Director Emily Giaimo Food & Beverage Director Kristin Aleshire Catering & Events Director Christina Barbaro Communications Director Tracy Gladden Executive Chef Larry Asher Human Resources Director Daisy Aponte Assistant Controller Daniel Post Sous Chef Silvestro Salgado Communications & Design Specialist Nicole Richardson Assistant Food & Beverage Director Zac Carlson Member Services Manager Mark Schaeffer Dockmaster John Porter Belmont Station S taff On the Water Director Jay Kehoe Sailing School Director Julia Melton Belmont Chef & Manager Jill Dedinsky Keelboat Director & Belmont Dockmaster Chuck Nevel Regatta Manager Elizabeth Dust High Performance Coach Issac Clark Bosin Nick Chadwick Belmont Assistant Sarah Collonge Employee of the Quarter Danny Palacios Employee of the Quarter Danny/Rosas

From the Helm

The summer sailing season was one of the busiest and most successful seasons in the Club’s history. Chicago Yacht Club members were active spending time on the water whether sailing, power boating, or paddling. We hosted various amazing events, whether it was our annual Race to Mackinac, Verve Regatta, In-Water Technology Show, Special Needs Cruise, Chicago Regatta, Sight Impaired Cruise, and the Annual Cruise among others. In this Fall edition of the Blinker, our members share their experiences this boating season. Learn about how so many of our members gave back to the Chicagoland community. The CYC Foundation provided scholarships for teenaged girls to have an adventure of a lifetime, the Power Fleet held multiple charity cruises sponsored by Wintrust, and the Chicago Regatta raised more than $80,000 for three children’s charities. Your generosity was evident this summer and I am so impressed by the volunteer spirit of this Club. Our members continue to build Chicago Yacht Club’s international reputation by doing remarkable things in sailing around the world. We have a member who won a world championship and three members who are North American Champions this season alone: Don Wilson skippered his team at the M32 Worlds to 4th overall and earned the title of Corinthian World Champion; Malcolm Lamphere won the Laser North American Championship while still a student at Yale; Helmut and Evan Jahn won the Farr 40 North Americans for the third time in a row; and Phil Dowd won the Corinthian award at the Farr 40 North American Championships. In addition, member Sarah Renz was second in the Corinthian Division of the J/70 North Americans (16th overall) in a field of 20 Corinthian boats (52 boats overall). Members Stephanie Roble and Maggie Shea were added to the US Sailing Team’s 2017 roster. Taylor Canfield took second place at the Match Cup Sweden. Bryon Ehrhart brought home 1st place on “Lucky” at the PalermoMonte Carlo Race. Finally, our Optimist program yielded some great results at the South East Opti Championships, with Peter Barnard, finishing 14th overall out of 273 boats, earning him a spot on the US Optimist National team and a chance to represent the US at the South American Championship. As cooler temperatures are upon us, there are many activities planned at our Clubhouses which typically sell out quickly, so be sure to make your reservations early. During the holiday season, our Club’s signature events are a huge hit including the CYC Sailing Honors Ceremony, Commodore’s Open House, Children’s Holiday Parties, Candlelight Dinner, and our alwayspopular New Year’s Eve celebration. I would like to thank our Club volunteers and Club staff for all their hard work this season, I know the planning is already underway for the 2018 season. As my first year as your Commodore ends, it has been a privilege to serve this incredible Club.

LEIF SIGMOND, COMMODORE sigmond@chicagoyachtclub.org ˙www.chicagoyachtclub.org

Member Spotlight

Rosebud skipper blooms in third year racing J/70s Chicago Yacht Club’s Pamela Rose wins 25th Annual Verve Cup Inshore Regatta by MICHAEL ESPOSITO hird time’s the charm – as in third year sailing (and just second full year of racing her J/70 sailboat) – for Rosebud Racing skipper and Chicago Yacht Club member Pamela Rose, the reigning champion of the 25th Verve Cup Inshore Regatta. "‘Why wait?’ has been my tag line,” she says. “Every breath is a gift, so we cannot wait, we need to work for success and for things that give us intense pleasure.” One of those intense pleasures is sailing in the waters off Belmont Harbor in the summer and Miami in the winter. “The highlight is when all the personal hard work combined with a great team delivers victory,” Rose says. “It’s a great feeling, and I must admit, I want more!” Apart from enjoying her children getting a kick out of seeing their mom doing competitive racing, Rose says a highlight of her J/70 campaign has been getting to know more members of the J/70 fleet. Rose spent the last two decades as a powerboat owner, so she says building relationships with sailors is a new experience. Some of her favorites are fellow Chicago Yacht Club members. “Stephanie Roble and Maggie Shea are my female idols, because of their total dedication to racing and exceptional sportsmanship,” she says. “They are training to win spots on the U.S. Sailing Team for the Olympics. They need our financial support to make it – hint, hint!” she says in hopes of encouraging more Club members to join in supporting their Olympic campaign. Donors can visit Roble/Shea Sailing USA to support. “Another great sailor is Taylor Canfield,” Rose says. Canfield, who is also a Chicago Yacht Club member, was part of Rosebud’s Verve-winning crew. “He is an outstanding racer and I respect and admire his athletic and tactical talent,” Rose explains. “He is committed to ‘winning’ and every time I sail with him I reach another level.” After buying her J/70 on a “mid-life happy crisis” impulse late in the summer of 2014, Rose found that first season frustrating, and says she nearly sold the boat. “I had no idea how to rig or sail it and didn't even

Blinker | Fall 2017

think about racing,” Rose says. “My first race was the Miami Bacardi Regatta in March 2015, finishing 31st out of 36 boats entered. Rosebud raced the Chicago NOOD & Verve in the summer 2016 with mid-fleet results and started to have better results last winter with a 5th of 52 at the St. Pete NOOD. That felt great!” With the Verve championship, Rose hopes to turn her passion and confidence into a dedication to work harder, to train more intensely, to build a true team, and to keep traveling to regattas. Her favorite regatta venue is Key Biscayne Bay. “The water is always warm, calm, and enjoys consistent winds. The environment supports various marine life – fun to have dolphins swimming around,” Rose says. “Lake Michigan is awesome, but near shore for sport boats, you often see choppy waters and city/wind scenarios.” That doesn’t mean she discounts Chicago sailing, calling the Club community “one of the most dedicated.” Rose says supporting many national events in Chicago will attract new athletes, equipment, and increase drydock facilities to make access to the sport easier to the many young sailors Chicago attracts– and hopes that one more Chicago J/70 event could be added between the NOOD & Verve. “I’m so grateful to have found this new passion at this stage in my life,” Rose says. “I want to push it as far as I can. Winning feels very good! Now when I'm not racing, I’m planning the next race.” She says it would be good to see more competitors on the water, especially women, who can begin participating in sailing through the Club’s Women on the Water, or WOW, program on Thursday nights. She recognizes sailing as a good way to challenge physical and intellectual abilities, and recommends the match-racing clinics the Club offers in conjunction with the Chicago Match Racing Center as the best route toward competitive sailing. “Try to identify the best sailors and learn from them,” Rose advises budding racing sailors. “Train hard and keep your equipment and sails in excellent shape.” Do that, and you might find yourself hoisting some silver at an awards ceremony.

Editorial Advisory Board

Fred Hagedorn, Communications Chairman Sarah Alger Amy Baxter Megan Dawson Michael Esposito Bess Gallanis Rose Mills Nancy Snyder Jane Vartan

Managing Editors Tracy Gladden Nicole Richardson

Commodore Leif Sigmond

Contributors

Sarah Alger Cyd Archer Peter Barnard Ed Falkenhayn Jay Kehoe Nick & Lauren Manusos Stan Mehaffey Greg Miarecki Eric Moore Pamela Rose Samuel Wm. Sax Laura Sigmond Scott Sims Nick Spallina Aisling Sullivan Ted Towey

Photo/Image Contributions Chris Albanis M.D. Greg Alm Hector Avelar Ryan Donahue Emily Giaimo Lydia Lutzow Pamela Saylor Mike Schrager John & Tammy Whelan Don & Carol Wolniak Maciek Wszelaki

Publication information. Blinker (USPS 104020), issue number 409, is published triannually (Spring, Summer, Fall) by the Chicago Yacht Club Communications Committee, 400 E. Monroe St., Chicago, IL 60603-6493. The subscription rate is $25 annually, available only to Club members. Copyrighted by The Chicago Yacht Club. Periodicals postage paid at Chicago, IL and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Blinker, Chicago Yacht Club, 400 E. Monroe St., Chicago, IL 60603. Printer. Blinker is printed by Kjellberg Printing, Inc., 805 W. Liberty Dr., Wheaton, IL 60187. Phone 630-653-2244. Publication policy. We publish articles about club activities and members and their participation in competitive and recreational sail and motor yachting. Our purpose is to recognize those who contribute to the organization and operation of the club and its activities, and to promote member interest and participation in club functions as well as civic and military affairs. Members are invited to contribute to the contents of the magazine. Postmaster: Address Change Service Requested, please send to Chicago Yacht Club, 400 E. Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603.

New Faces KELLY MCGUIRE, CONTROLLER

Kelly has over 20 years of financial and managerial experience mainly in the Media Industry, and for a short time in the political community. Before joining the Chicago Yacht Club, Kelly was the CFO of Invivo Media Group, a start-up National/International Live Event, Artist, Content, Brand, and business amplification company across media, music and sports. Prior to that, Kelly was the CFO and VP of Strategy and Operations at JWC Media a premier lifestyle publisher of digital and print media with a main focus on streamlining operations, developing digital assets, and company growth. She served as the Deputy CFO/Director of Financial Operations/Controller for Obama for America, a billion dollar political campaign. Prior to this role, she served as Director of Finance at the Big Ten Network, and Controller at both Univision/Telefutura Television and at Tribune Entertainment. Kelly graduated with honors in Accounting at the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign, holds an MBA from DePaul University in Finance and International Business, and attended the Chicago Management Institute Executive Education Program at the University of Chicago. Kelly is also a Certified Public Accountant and is currently an Adjunct Accounting and Finance Professor at the Robert Morris Graduate School of Business.

ZAC CARLSON, ASSISTANT FOOD AND BEVERAGE DIRECTOR

Zac Carlson is CYC's newest Assistant Food and Beverage Director. Zac is originally from Marshfield, WI. He studied sports management while at University of Wisconsin La Crosse. Before working at CYC he worked for the Missouri Athletic Club as a Banquet Captain/Bar Manager.

MARK SCHAEFFER, MEMBER SERVICES MANAGER

Mark Schaffer is CYC's newest Member Services Manager. He was recently promoted from Member Services Agent. Prior to working at CYC, Mark had a 5-year background in hospitality and auto sales. Mark is originally from Chicago. He studied at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

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Stewart Hayes Analyst at Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, L.P.

Membership

John Leahey

New Members: Regular

Dr. Richard Bischoff Dentist and Owner at Bischoff Dental Spouse: Cheryl

Christopher Cacciatore President and Owner at Elgin Sweeping Services Spouse: Bridget Joseph Caltabiano Founder at Cresco Labs Spouse: Annie Fleet: Power Harbor: Montrose Boat Name: Joint Credit Darin Facer

Corporate Consulting at Alix Partners Spouse: Chelli Fleet: CS Harbor: Belmont Boat Name: Deja Vu Laura Ferrio

Adam Filkin Managing Director at William and Blair Spouse: Melissa Fleet: Power Harbor: Diversey

Stewart Pinsof Spouse: Evelyn Fleet: Power Harbor: DeSable Boat Name: Once Again

John Rosanova Physician at NCH Medical Group Spouse: Rachel

Blinker | Fall 2017

Broker at Jameson Sothebys Spouse: Anjum Abbasi Fleet: Power Harbor: Belmont Boat Name: Sitara

Associate

Steve Blasco Rick Strusiner President at Craig Steven Development Group Spouse: Lynda Fleet: CS Harbor: Burnham Boat Name: Journey

Brian Sweeney

Senior Associate at Focus Healthcare Partners Spouse: Hannah Spencer Clark

Partner/Vice President at Howl USA

Edward Valente Chief of Police at Village of Streamwood Spouse: Charise Fleet: CS Chief Advancement Officer Harbor: Belmont at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab Boat Name: Dionysus Spouse: Keith Fleet: Power Harbor: Burnham Boat Name: Commander & Chief 8

Mark Voight

Construction Manager at McAdam Landscape Fleet: Power Boat Name: Uncle Robert Corrado Sales at Chicago Luxury Beds Significant Other: Carly Brandt

John Elam Senior Analyst at Cameo Works Spouse: Jeni Oppenheimer Fleet: OD Harbor: Saugatuk Boat Name: Bad Dog Elizabeth Emery

Special Projects Manager at ACGME Mary Reid Ervin

Leadership Coach at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business Andrew Furman Medical Student at Northwestern

Juniors Alexandra Adams Ann Marie Anderson Asha Baddi Madison Coklow Dylan Hardt Rider Odom

Manager of Retail Operations at TD Ameritrade Spouse: Jordan Fleet: OD Harbor: Belmont Boat Name: V15 Anna Lentsch

Student Clerk at United States Attorney's Office Fleet: Power Harbor: Burnham Boat Name: Anna Marie

Katherine Lynch Assistant Professor at Illinois College of Optometry Spouse: Dave Moss Robert Morgan Manager at Huron

Nashaun Tomlinson Luxury Specialist at Beam Suntory

David Phlamm CJ Ricci Elizabeth Silvay Samantha Stoeber Markus Tam

Member Milestones: Non-Resident Senior Warren Allabastro

Spouse: Alice

James Annable Spouse: Susan

George Bennett

Edward Bidanset, III

Mazzetta Company LLC Spouse: Karen

Don & Carol Wolniak - 50th Anniversary

Robert Mondo Spouse: Kristin

John & Tammy Whelan 30th Anniversary

Spouse: Joan

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Veteran Milestones: Veteran I to II James Anderson William Dwyer Jr. Daniel Griggs

Veteran II to III John Matthews Roy Hammond

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In Memoriam Raoul Allessee Hari Bucklo Roger Hruby

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˙www.cycracetomackinac.com

2017 Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust

Aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Escorting the Fleet by STAN MEHAFFEY

arly this spring, Helle Getz, Mac Race Director, honored me by extending an invitation to represent the CYC Race Committee aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter which was assigned to escort the fleet during the 109th running of the CYC Race to Mackinac. After having sailed 30 Macs, I decided I needed a bigger boat for the race so I enthusiastically accepted the offer. Then I wondered, “exactly what would be my responsibilities?” I soon learned that my assignment had 2 primary functions: to be the source of communication from the Cutter on the lake to the Race Committee on land; and to provide race and fleet information to the Coast Guard to help them in their role of informing commercial traffic of the fleet’s presence on the lake. In addition to traffic control, the Coast Guard would be providing escort and rescue (as needed) services throughout the race.

Blinker | Fall 2017

Early on July 15th, a gorgeous Saturday morning, I boarded the USCGC Biscayne Bay… a 140’ ice breaker tug, which was to be my home for the next 3 days. I was welcomed by LCDR Jason Stanko and his officers and crew of 14. LCDR Stanko gave an overview of the duties expected of all and introduced me as “additional crew” for the assignment. I was pleased to present the Biscayne Bay with the CYC burgee which held the signatures of the fleet skippers. The burgee was flown on the Biscayne Bay throughout the race. At approximately 10:30 hours, the Biscayne Bay took her position east of the CYC Signal Boat, Carrier, for the start of the 2017 Race to Mackinac. We stayed in position until the last of the 19 classes had started, then off-loaded invited guests from the Biscayne Bay and got underway. Winds were northeast and moderate for the first Continued on page 12

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COAST GUARD CUTTER continued from page 10

few hours of the race. The boats moved steadily north and we were off Waukegan by early evening. By midnight the wind had shifted and there were increasing gusts and the racing fleet began experiencing challenging wave conditions. Shortly before midnight on Saturday, the yacht Meridian X radioed that they had a man overboard. The Biscayne Bay proceeded in their direction with their location reported to be 17 miles away. Our speed was 14 k which made us one hour + away from the MOB. Within a few minutes we received a radio report of the trimaran High Priority 2 capsizing with 4 crew in the water. Their location was in proximity to the Meridian X’s and the MOB. The yacht Dark Horse notified the Coast Guard they were standing by in the area. About the same time the Coast Guard received a report that the MOB had been rescued and the Biscayne Bay diverted to assist the crew of the capsized trimaran. A Coast Guard helicopter arrived on the scene as the Biscayne Bay approached the capsized High Priority 2. The Biscayne Bay requested the helicopter downlight the scene while they dispatched an 18’ inflatable rescue boat with two Coast Guard crew. They quickly maneuvered the rescue boat between the pontoon and center section of the trimaran’s stern and recovered the 4 stranded crew. Within minutes they returned to the Biscayne Bay, which had moved into position to allow safe boarding in challenging seas. All six were taken on board the Biscayne Bay and the rescue boat was raised on davits within a brief 2-3 minute period. The skill and efficiency of the Coast Guard rescue was most impressive. Once aboard, the 4 rescued crew were taken to the dining area and given warm blankets. The Coast Guard marked the position of the trimaran and turned toward Frankfurt where the rescuees were off-loaded by Sunday afternoon. Throughout Sunday, we were in contact with the CYC Race Committee and received word that numerous boats were withdrawing from the race due to the challenging weather conditions and seas. The Biscayne Bay stayed with the fleet as we progressed north on the lake. By Sunday evening we were passing North Manitou Island and the Foxes. 12

Blinker | Fall 2017

By Monday morning, winds had diminished and the fleet was progressing slowly toward Gray’s Reef. Later in the evening the Biscayne Bay anchored approximately 10 miles north of there for the night. During quiet time aboard, I had an opportunity to explore the vessel and meet with the crew. It was interesting to learn where they were from and what their duties were aboard the Biscayne Bay. They welcomed me as a fellow-crew member for this mission and I was assigned a regular bunk and ate with the crew in the galley. By Tuesday morning, most of the fleet was in the straits and heading toward the finish. Communication with the CYC Race Committee confirmed all boats would be finishing by noon on Tuesday. The Biscayne Bay headed toward its home port of St. Ignace where I disembarked. My plan was to take the ferry to the Island, but LCDR Stanko arranged for me to be “delivered” via a 45’ station boat. I was surprised as I boarded to learn this vessel was part of the Homeland Security detail assigned with the protection of the Mackinac Bridge. The crew was armed with machine guns and side pistols! I was delivered to the ferry dock where I was re-united with the CYC Race Committee for de-briefing. My presence on the Biscayne provided the Coast Guard with valuable insights from my 30 years of experience as a Mac sailor… information on the race, the boats, the sailors and the challenges of the longest freshwater sailing competition in the world. LCDR Stanko was most complimentary of my contributions to the execution of the Biscayne Bay’s mission.

25th Anniversary

Verve Cup Regatta by TED TOWEY 017 was the 25th Anniversary of the Verve Cup, the oldest trophy at the Chicago Yacht Club dating back to 1893. The Verve Offshore, had three wonderful days of sailing with a great breeze and the fleets were able to get seven or eight races in over the weekend. The regatta hosted 95 Offshore Buoy Racers, 25 Distance Racers and a new addition of the CASRA Casual Distance with 12 participants. The distance series continues to be a growing success in Chicago Sailing. On Saturday Night, the Verve Sundowner party was held at Monroe Station with plenty of fun for all sailors and their fans. The Gill Gear tent was available to purchase the latest 25th Anniversary Swag and Mount Gay Rum and Heineken Beer, our official sponsors of the event was used to wash down all the delicious food. Sunday afternoon during the awards ceremony we presented the winning boats with their brag flags and awarded all first-place finishers with Magnum (1.75L) of Luc Bel-Aire Champagne. The big surprise was the award for overall Distance Winner and Verve Cup Champion with a Nebuchadnezzar (15L) of Bel-Aire Champagne. I would like to congratulate to Steve Dorfman of On Edge for his Overall Distance win and to Karl Brummel, Steve Henderson, and Mike Mayer of Kashmir, the winners of the Overall Offshore. The Verve Inshore was held at beautiful Belmont Station August 25-27 hosting J/70s, Etchells, Club Sonars and Colgate 26s. This was also the first introduction of the Dragon65 RC Model Boats that were raced off the docks at Belmont. If you haven’t seen the Dragon65 fleet, come to Frostbiting this fall to see the 65CM Remote Control Boats race in the harbor! Chicago Yacht Club members Pamela Rose, Taylor Canfield, Will Holz and Scott Ewing won the J/70 Class on Rosebud. The regatta was extremely challenging this year due to the weather conditions. It was a great weekend of sailing on Lake Michigan. With sailors ranging in age from 15 to over 70, Chicago Yacht Club is proud to offer many different sailing classes depending on sailing style.

Mark your calendars for the 2018 Verve Regatta: Offshore: August 10-12 Inshore: August 24-26

Chicago Yacht Club member Steve Dorfman & crew of On Edge Verve Offshore Overall Distance Winner.

Chicago Yacht Club members Karl Brummel, Steve Henderson, and Mike Mayer’s Kashmir Verve Offshore Overall Winner.

Chicago Yacht Club members Pamela Rose, Taylor Canfield, Will Holz and Scott Ewing won the J/70 Class on Rosebud. ˙www.cycracetomackinac.com

Chicago Regatta by GREG MIARECKI

n Saturday, September 9th, Chicago Yacht Club hosted its Chicago Regatta, presented by Wintrust and benefitting three different child-focused charities – the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital, SOS Villages Illinois, and the Chicago Yacht Club Foundation. This year’s Chicago Regatta included a total of five different events, all running at the same time: a buoy race for one-design boats; a 17 mile distance race for offshore boats; an eight-mile casual race for newer racers; a poker run designed especially for power boats; and a multi-race regatta featuring the exciting M-32 catamarans. More than 80 boats participated in the event, enjoying sunny skies, spectacular lakefront views, and a steady southeast breeze off Chicago’s lakefront. After the conclusion of the on-water events, boaters returned to Chicago Yacht Club’s Monroe Station for a blues-themes “Sweet Home Chicago” Dock Party, featuring fantastic blues music from Brian Lupo and the Sam Cockrell Band. The Club hosted a silent auction to raise funds for the three Chicago Regatta charities, and auction winners walked away with some spectacular prizes, including everything from coaching session with world-class sailors to ridealongs on M-32 catamarans. “This was a fantastic event,” noted Commodore Leif Sigmond. “It was a fabulous day on the water, and it was great to see so many fellow members and guests enjoying time together while helping out our three great charities.” The three overall winners of the Chicago Regatta will have their names inscribed on the Chicago Regatta Trophy, presented by the Pinnacle Foundation. Overall winners were: • Brass Monkey, owned by Mike Frerker (buoy race overall winner) • Defiance, owned by Dale Smirl (distance race overall winner) • Hedgehog, owned by Alec Cutler (M-32 race overall winner) Other division winners included Branta, owned

Blinker | Fall 2017

by Richard Jardine, and La Tigre Rinata, owned by Yaman Battikhi, which won the casual race spinnaker and non-spinnaker divisions, respectively. The Chicago Regatta’s Poker Run, jointly sponsored by Chicago Yacht Club and Burnham Park Yacht Club, attracted more than 50 participants. The winner of the poker run was Bob Connard, aboard Mirage. “This was a unique opportunity for our members from all fleets to get together and enjoy time on the water, while benefitting some great causes,” added Rear Commodore Nick Berberian, who participated in the poker run with other members of the Power Fleet. The Chicago Regatta gave the Chicago boating community a chance to get together for a great time, and also raised more than $80,000 for the three Chicago Regatta charities. “The Chicago Regatta has turned out to be a smashing success. We’ve had a lot of fun and a lot of people participated,” said Chicago Yacht Club Foundation President, CYC Past Commodore Jerry Bober. “We are so happy that we are raising money not only for our foundation but for two other worthy charities here in Chicago.” Mollie Kolosky, of Comer Children’s Hospital added that “[w]e are so grateful to participate in the Chicago Regatta this year. Funds that have been generously donated to us will go to advancing treatment, research, and patient care. And Anne Glazer, of SOS Villages Illinois, noted that “[a]ll of the funds raised, that go to SOS today will support children in foster care, keep brothers and sisters together, and help families heal.” The Chicago Regatta was made possible by the generous support of Wintrust, its Presenting Sponsor, as well as support from the Pinnacle Foundation and the Chicago Match Race Center. Plans are already in the works for an even bigger and better Chicago Regatta in 2018!

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Getting to Know Nick & Lauren Manusos by JIM SUGRUE

WHAT WERE SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR FIRST SEASON WITH CYC? We have enjoyed so many things at CYC. New Year’s Eve Dinner and Dancing, Prime Rib night, and the WOW series were some of our first encounters with the Club. The food is amazing at the Club. The chefs always exceed our expectations. This summer, we loved travelling by boat to Michigan City with the Power Fleet, and to Racine with the Sailing and Power Fleets. We were looking forward to these adventures. By doing these cruises, we learned about the areas as well as other great cities to visit. The Power Fleet Dock Party was really exciting with Burger Night on Friday and Steak and Seafood on Saturday night. We have attended many CYC offerings--a Big Smoke, Pasta Night at Monroe, the Big Loop Lecture, Belmont Brunch, Belmont Burger Night, Ladies Luncheon and Fashion Show, Poker Run, and more. We also had our daughter’s wedding shower at CYC Monroe, and the facilities, service, and food were second to none. The best part about being a member of CYC is the people! We have met so many great, nice and fun people, which is our favorite part and best reason for joining CYC.

WHAT TYPE OF POWER BOAT DO YOU OWN? We own a 2017 Cobalt A40 Coupe and we dock at Burnham Harbor. We have a dog named Daisy that goes on the boat with us and always has her life jacket on.

WHAT ASPECTS OF POWER BOATING DO YOU LIKE MOST? We love cruising around and anchoring. We enjoy entertaining on our boat especially at the Chicago Air and Water Show. WHY? We love being out in the fresh air and cruising around, and then looking at our fantastic City of Chicago. The view of the city from the boat is breathtaking. Our skyline is beautiful, day or night. 16

Blinker | Fall 2017

WHICH DO YOU PREFER LAKE OR OCEAN AND WHY? We have been on both and enjoy both. They are just different, being in saltwater or freshwater. Both can be unforgiving or can be glorious. PLEASE FINISH THE STATEMENT: "WHEN WE’RE NOT ON THE WATER, WE ARE..."? When we are not on the water we are usually with our kids, family, or friends. We enjoy travelling, Chicago street festivals and concerts, and trying new restaurants.

WHAT ARE YOUR BOATING GOALS FOR THE FUTURE? In the future, we hope to travel by boat to more harbors in Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. By meeting other boaters through CYC, we have heard about some of the best towns to visit. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR ANYONE CONSIDERING BUYING A POWER BOAT? Go to the Chicago boat show and get on the boats. Get educated and ask lots of questions. There are so many gadgets on the boats with all the new technology.

HOW DOES CHICAGO STAND AS A BOATING CITY IN COMPARISON TO THE REST OF THE WORLD? We have boated in Chicago, the Chain of Lakes in northern Illinois and in Florida so we have only seen a very small amount of what is out there when you compare it to the whole world. We think Chicago boating can only improve, especially with the new Chicago Riverwalk restaurants and docking opportunities, as well as the added amenities at Chicago’s Navy Pier.

#JustAddWater by LAURA SIGMOND

ater. The key element to WOW's enormously popular season. This should come as no surprise. It is an essential part of life and easily accessible to us in Chicago. This recipe for success was evident by the Come Sail Away Series' all time high attendance this year. Averaging over 25 women per session, ladies of all levels of sailing experience, returned each time wanting to learn more. Coach Amy Kehoe was instrumental in motivating and challenging the women to develop and sharpen their nautical skills. As a bonus to this series, members generously offered spots on their racing boats for the women to crew on select Wednesday night races. Racing opportunities continued for women in the 25th Anniversary of the Inshore Verve. Three of the six club sonars racing in the event were WOW boats. Special thank you to our outstanding skippers Nancy Snyder, Molly McMahon and Alina Dix for leading this effort on the racecourse. The positive feedback received by both skippers and crew is proof that everyone had a great time. Also, a winner in the Inshore Verve, placing 1st was Pamela Rose, skipper of her J/70 Rosebud. Rounding out the summer’s events was the Sunset Cruise and the Team Magenta32 Fundraiser. The Sunset Cruise was made possible courtesy of Pinnacle Yachts who donated four powerboats. WOW enjoyed the evening with dinner prepared by Chef Larry and a cruise on the lake and a portion of the proceeds from the event benefitted the Chicago Yacht Club Foundation. Ending the season on an all-time high was the Team Magenta32 Fundraiser. Team Magenta brought a unique experience to the women who were filled with excitement, mixed with a touch of trepidation. Sally Barkow and Maggie Shae invited us to join them and share in their hands on experience of what it's like to race on an M32. Need I say more? WOW! This season has been extraordinary for WOW. Truly living up to its name “Women on the Water.” Thank you to all who have made the magic happen. The fun continues with our fall events, check the Club calendar for details.

˙www.chicagoyachtclub.org

and direction, as we had to avoid Islands, shallows and the Ferries that are the lifeblood of the Bermuda Transportation System.

Some of the lessons I learned: Good is never good enough! If you want to do something right, do it right! We never settled for good, we always went the extra mile to be outstanding. It was a tall task to measure up to an America’s Cup standard, and I was fortunate to have a team that was willing to evaluate every day with “can we do this better?” From moving Super Yachts 50 meters closer to the action to having the Youth Endeavour regatta directly in front of the Grand Stand, for those three months, we constantly questioned, “How can we do this better?” Appearances matter! It was brought to the forefront that we wanted all of the America’s Cup guests to have the “Disneyland” experience. Russel Coutts and I would have daily walks from one side of the venue to the other. He was always keeping an eye out for the spectators’ experience, making sure there was no trash on the ground. It seems kind of crazy, but we went to that kind of detail. Have a plan. Talk it through. Practice it but be

flexible! Be ready to rip it up if it does not work practically! An example of this is our Super Yacht program, we decided to anchor boats in the back row and allow the front row (next to the action) to idle on their own power. We learned quickly that the front row of boats would drift and push too close to the course. We had to come up with another plan pretty quickly and decided upon relaying it to our Marshall boats and have them work with the Super Yacht Captains. The environment matters! We ran a green regatta which was more costly to do properly but completely worth it in the long run. When we sat in the budget meetings and realized that the solution could ultimately save 1,000 pounds of trash that couldn’t be burned, there was no hesitation to move forward. Our international event management was driven by the local Bermudians, they have a strong belief in preservation of the environment, often in disregard of the cost. These are only a few of the lessons I took away, besides the obvious of running a great regatta and planning for it. I took away some valuable Race Management tools that hopefully we can implement here at CYC. ˙www.chicagoyachtclub.org

The Bermudan Adventures of CYC Opti Sailors by PETER BARNARD

n June, Chicago Yacht Club junior sailor Peter Barnard (age 12) had the opportunity to sail in the AC Endeavor Hobie Waves regatta with fellow junior sailor, Annie Samis (age 10). The two day regatta was held in Bermuda in Hobie Wave catamarans during the last week of the America's Cup finals. Peter skippered the Hobie Waves with Annie as his crew, a new adventure for the two Optimist sailors. It has been a few months since your trip, what do you remember most about the experience? “I really remember the America's Cup boats and how fast they moved. It was amazing how fast the AC boats went from sitting calm in the water to up and out of the water on their foils. I also remember flying into Bermuda I saw nothing but ocean for a very long time and then suddenly land appeared. The water around the island was super blue, the bluest water I had ever seen.” You and Annie were guests on a special tour of the Oracle base. What did you see? “Annie and I were honored with a personal tour of the base and a chance to meet Sir Russell Coutts. During the tour we saw the buildings with the wing, the foils, the hulls and the gym. Most of the buildings were built out of shipping containers and other buildings, like the gym, were old Navy buildings turned into modern spaces. In the wing building we couldn’t take pictures but they did let us touch one of the old wings. The wing seemed hard at first but would flex with a little pressure. When you looked inside the wing you could see the crisscross support structure. In the foil building, they showed us the foils that they had redesigned and finished the day before for the expected wind during the last weekend of America's Cup racing. We toured the gym building and saw Matt Cassidy working out. Annie and I each tried the grinding machine the sailors worked out on, it was so hard to stay at the same level the AC sailors.” What was it like meeting Sir Russell Coutts? “He was very kind and had nice things to say to us about our practice day. He had been watching the practices, and even our race days, because his son, Mattias, was sailing in the regatta too. He said that we had good speed and that meant a lot since he is a great sailor.” What did you do besides sailing? “The AC Endeavor regatta was made up of sailors from all over the world and we all stayed in the same house. When we weren't sailing we hung out on the front lawn or swam in front of the house. Some nights there were organized activities for us to do like snorkeling and blokarting in the Artemis compound parking lot.” A blokart is a three wheeled go cart with a windsurf sail attached to the cart. You trim the sail and take off around a course on the ground with the front wheel steering the cart. You go so fast that it is easy to flip. That was a fun night because I learned about how to control a tippy cart, I’m sure that information will come in handy when I am sailing.” What is the biggest thing you learned? “I learned two important things during this experience. First, working with a friend as your crew can be fun and a great experience. Annie and I learned how to talk to each other so that we could go fast on the catamaran. That teamwork paid off because we had good boat speed and helped us do well in the regatta. The other thing I learned is that not everyone has the chance to learn to sail like me. Some people live near water but never had the opportunity to sail, like some of the kids from Bermuda that sailed in the regatta with us. From AC Endeavor here in Chicago and in Bermuda I saw how that program is taking kids and putting them in boats to learn about sailing and science. I hope that more kids get to learn to sail because I love this sport and want more people to see it the same way I do.

Blinker | Fall 2017

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Junior Member Spotlight

With Aisling Sullivan “Work extremely hard, and make your practice twice as hard as the regatta” – Aisling Sullivan isling Sullivan is a Junior member of Chicago Yacht Club, her mother, Sarah Sullivan, started her in the CYC Sailing School when she was seven years old and she began racing Optis three years later. This past summer was her third year on the C420 circuit and she won the CJ Buckley, the c420 National Team Racing Championship. It’s a regatta honoring the life of CJ Buckley, a sailor who had an extreme passion for racing, but lost a very difficult battle with brain cancer. “It’s by far my favorite regatta of the year because we are racing in the memory of a talented and inspiring sailor,” Aisling said. The young sailor has many local sailors to look up to including her coaches. She says they Sailors I look up to the most are my coaches, because it is so interesting to hear where their sailing careers started and how they got to where they are today. Additionally, I look up to sailors I know who are campaigning for the Olympics, including Maggie Shea, who was one of my first coaches, and Pancho Rena, who was my coach this summer. I hope to follow in their footsteps one day.” “What inspires me most about racing is the fact that there’s endless talent in the sailing world, no matter how talented you are, there will always be competition. There are so many ways to improve and learn from others, and sailing is one of the rare sports that you can keep improving upon your entire life.” Aisling remembers many inspiring quotes from her favorite sailing icons but states that the quote she lives her life by is one that her mother has taught her throughout her entire life, ‘mind over matter.’ For Aisling it means “if you put your mind to something, and really focus, you can overcome anything that is going on around you, no matter how difficult it may seem”. She offers advice to young sailors who are just starting to race on a larger scale. “Work extremely hard, and make your practice twice as hard as the regatta. It’s easy to feel disheartened after performing poorly after a race or whole regatta, but in this sport hard work really does pay off, and there will always be another event to look forward to.” As for goals in her sailing career, she plans to be successful sailing in college and her ultimate goal is to go to the Olympics.

Aisling sailing.

Midwinters race where Aisling placed 5th!

CJ Buckley team racing champs, the photo with Aisling and Boyd is the Triple Crown trophy. She will have it from February-July. ˙www.chicagoyachtclub.org

There’s POWER in Giving Back by ED FALKENHAYN he Chicago Yacht Club Power Fleet had a very successful 2017 sailing season. This April, in association with the Education Committee, we had our Power Fleet members Randall Schmidt and Kristin Berg discuss their experiences completing the Great Loop to a group of over 90 boaters. Soon after, we hosted our ‘Annual Meet the Fleet’ event sponsored by Chicago Yacht Works, chaired by Rob Hannah and Rhonda Thomas. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres were passed while the Power Fleet summer schedule was presented. We also introduced our Power Fleet Facebook page with business cards provided by Kurt Lentch. The month of May kicked off our Predicted Log training and competitions. 10 boaters attended the training session that was sponsored by John Vignocchi. The first predicted Log contest was in June, and the series wrapped up in August. Of the five completed races during the season, John Vignocchi was the overall champion, Nick Berberian took second place and Ed Falkenhayn earned a first place finish in his first contest. The Power and Sail In-Water Tech Show was hosted at Monroe Station on Saturday, June 2nd through Sunday, June 3rd. The Power Fleet event was chaired by Pat and Nancy Marek along with Sherwood and Maureen Bollier. The show consisted of over 30 boats on display with a number of exhibitors including BMW test drives

and seminars. It was a successful event with more than 400 people in attendance! The Power Fleet also participated in multiple charity cruises sponsored by Wintrust this summer. In June, we hosted a sight-impaired cruise that offered sight-impaired youth a chance to explore our boats and enjoy a cruise around Lake Michigan. Chairperson Tanya Whitehead, prepared a curriculum for Chicago Yacht Club volunteers to educate the guests on the day of the event. Next, we had the Special Needs Cruise chaired by Elena Mirochinik and Tanya Whitehead. This cruise and luncheon included guests from a variety of service organizations that support adults with special needs. We had approximately 16 boats and more than 120 guests from Misercordia, Helping Hands, and St. Mary of Providence. In conjunction with the Chicago Yacht Club Foundation, the Power Fleet supported a Boys and Girls Club of Chicago Cruise. The Power Fleet provided 8 boats and supported 35 kids to cruise around the lake. The last cruise of the season was in support of the Chicago Lighthouse. Gary Leopardo was the chair of this event. Lunch and a relaxing cruise was provided for more than 100 guests and the Power Fleet provided about 10 boats. On the social side, the Power Fleet hosted two trips this summer to Michigan City, Indiana and Kenosha, Wisconsin. The cruise to Michigan City was chaired by David Baruch and Beena Joseph. We started the trip with a Friday evening dock side

BBQ accompanied by a live band. On Saturday, we began our morning with a pot luck breakfast and a great morning workout. We also had the opportunity to attend the local farmers market, visit the beach, go to the zoo and some attendees even took a dip in the very cold Lake Michigan. On Saturday night, we all went to the local country club for a private steak dinner. Rod Benz and his staff assisted in making our trip a huge success. The second trip to Kenosha, Wisconsin was chaired by Ed and Nancy McNulty and Chuck and Rita Anderson. We had delicious group dinners on both Friday and Saturday nights, explored the famous Kenosha farmers markets and attended the local civil war museum, which proved to be extremely interesting and insightful. The event chairs had arranged for the Sunday paper to be delivered to the boats, which was a nice and unique part of the trip. In closing out the summer season, Rhonda Thomas and Cookie Merens planned a great weekend of events we called our “Summer in the City Dock Party”. Many power boats docked overnight at Monroe Station and we all enjoyed a fun staycation, which included an authentic “Chicago Steak House” dinner complete with entertainment by a talented classical guitarist. We look forward to closing out the year with our annual Power Fleet Holiday Dinner Party held on December 8th at Monroe Station.

A Cruise Around the Sun by ERIC MOORE he Cruising Sail Fleet had a busy year both on and off the water. The 2016 CSF Holiday Party evening took us back in time with a tour of the historic Glessner House Museum decorated in its Christmas splendor. Event chairs, Nancy Connolly and Cynthia Szczepanski, selected a specific menu prepared by Chef Larry which included delicacies from the time period. To add to the atmosphere, we were serenaded by live string music. In the New Year, our first event was CSF’s own version of Dancing with Stars at Belmont. This year’s roaring twenties theme was selected by the event chair, Lydia Lutzow, who got the prize for the best costume. Next up was our annual bowling tournament, chaired by Jackie Nowak. Her husband, Len, crushed the competition and won the coveted trophy. Our premier event “Meet the Fleet”, chaired by Nancy Connelly and Jan Close was a fantastic evening. Tod Reynolds gave a fascinating presentation entitled “Building on the America’s Cup World Series”. Lastly, the “Third Friday of the Month Discussion” format continued this year with highlight topics such as “Crossing the Lake/Using Technology” and “Cruising the North Channel” presented by CSF’s Vice-Chair Tom Falck and members Alan Haag and John Zienda.

Blinker | Fall 2017

CSF Vice Chair, Tom Falck, spearheaded an initiative to start a Saturday Open Cruise after each 3rd Friday Discussion. The purpose was to have an informal gathering on the docks (with drinks of course), to sail together and to meet new members or members who had not been active in the past. Those who participated said they really enjoyed the cruises. Of course, the Cruising Sail Fleet went on many cruises this year! Our first, was to Hammond, Indiana with 10 boats making the trip. The perfect weather conditions and fun camaraderie made the trip a hit! Thank you Jackie Nowak for organizing. Next, was the annual hop up to Belmont in conjunction with the CSF Ladies Skipper Race. Congratulations to our first, second and third place finishers Chris Albanis, Marcia Moore, and Mary Falck. Our last cruise of the season was to New Buffalo, where Felica and Lars Whilhelm graciously opened their modern country “farmhouse” to the cruisers. The magical evening of delicious food, exceptional wine, lovely weather and fabulous friends was topped off with a tour of the Whilhelm Vineyards. It has been a fun year, thanks to all of our CSF committee members, the presenters for the Friday night discussions, and the chairs of the events.

“Adventure of a Lifetime” aboard the Tallship Inland Seas Chicago Yacht Club Foundation Trip for Teenaged Girls by CYD ARCHER magine for a moment that you are a teenaged girl leaving home for the very first time, heading to Suttons Bay, Michigan for 5 days aboard the 77-foot gaff rigged schooner, Inland Seas. You’ve never sailed before, nor spent any, if much time at all, on a boat, or outside an urban setting. The Chicago Yacht Club Foundation was pleased to provide scholarships for 10 teenaged Chicago girls from Rickover Academy, The Chicago Boys and Girls Club, and the Sea Scouts who were selected as finalists in our essay contest. They experienced the “Adventure of a Lifetime” sailing at the North end of Lake Michigan out of Suttons Bay to both Fox and Beaver Islands from August 14-18th. “On our trip throughout Lake Michigan, we went hiking, visited islands, and got to study the

Blinker | Fall 2017

different types of organisms found in our lake,” said participant Ingrid Diego. “This was a great learning experience for both knowledge, and leadership, especially when all the girls helped set the sails.” The girls worked with the on-board lead scientist and educator, Jeannie Williams, using STEM training and experience to help the girls in collecting and testing water samples from the lake to help them answer questions about lake ecology and structure and how the Great Lakes work. They also took mud samples and identified zebra mussels, shells, rocks, sands and many of the other creatures that live within the lake bottom and learned about invasive species. “This trip has made a huge impact on my appreciation for science and sailing,” said participant Journey Jamison. “We were able to

sample animals and other organisms from the lake and learn a lot about sailing and navigation.” During the week-long trip, the girls learned about the stars and the constellations while sitting night watch. They learned to appreciate nature and landscapes barely touched by man. They saw animals and reptiles they would never see in the city. The girls also learned how to try knots, set the sails and steer the boat, and how to navigate through charting. They learned responsibility sitting night watch for boat. They also learned teamwork and how to live together in very tight quarters. “I learned so much about knots, navigation, the morals of boat life and biology. I loved taking the small boat through rough water after the sunset. I not only learned about sailing, but life skills that I

will carry with me forever,” said participant, Caroline Jenkins. The girls said it felt like one big family. They came from diverse backgrounds and made new friendships which will last a lifetime. The girls learned how to work as a team to conserve water, and were amazed by the fact that they did not need to take showers. Some had self-esteem problems and the absence of a mirror on board helped them to be themselves and not have to worry to how they looked. They said they loved the onboard chef who taught them how to eat healthier and feel better. Several girls said how helpful it was mentally and emotionally to get away from the City and clear their minds, forget about school, and just to be kids for a while.

˙www.chicagoyachtclub.org

2017 Mac Photo Contest Winners

Mike Schrager, Best Sunrise/Sunset

Hector Avelar, Viewers Choice & Mac Bridge Winner

Wszelaki, Weather

Greg Alm Video, Overall Winner

Pamela Saylor, Funny Wszelaki, (below) Teamwork

Lydia Lutzow, Someone Elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Boat Eric Wynsma, Video Category Ryan Donahue, Own Boat

Race to Mackinac CYC Member 1st Place Winners

VENDI VIDI VEACHI

JASMIN

INTANGIBLE

TOA

• Member Name: Jason Veatch • Section: Beneteau 36.7 • Division: Mackinac Cup Division

• Member Name: Tom Falck • Section: Cruising 3 • Division: Cruising Division

• Member Names: David Ormesher/Todd Williamson/Jon Sawyer • Section: Cruising 2 • Division: Cruising Division

• Member Name: Bruce Danly/Jim Mitchell • Section: Section 7 • Division: Mackinac Cup Division ˙www.chicagoyachtclub.org

Offshore On the Water by SCOTT SIMS t was quite a season for the Offshore fleet. It began in the spring with our first Crew Finder, Meet, Greet and Learn event. On a chilly March afternoon, more than 50 attendees offered and found summer crew opportunities and then picked up some new sail trim ideas. The second Crew Finder, Meet, Greet and Learn event in August featured a panel of Mackinac race winners describing their successful strategies. As always, our Wednesday Night Skyline Series kicked the sailing season off. Even though Wednesday’s have seemed to be a magnet for early evening thunderstorms, both the Monroe and Belmont fleets were able to get ten plus races in the books for the summer. The Helly Hansen NOOD Regatta served up three days of close racing. 145 entrants raced around the buoys as well as a distance race. Racing on Saturday proved particularly challenging as the fleet spent the day sailing in 25-30 knots of wind. Not surprisingly, there were some amazing stories being told back at the dock. For the second year, The Commodores Cup Junior Night Race challenged our junior sailors to demonstrate their sailing and navigation skills as they piloted “big boats” on a night distance race. In this case, there were some legendary stories told back at Belmont by the next generation of Lake Michigan sailors. The Chicago Regatta saw the fleet race for brag flags down the south lake front in fast reaching conditions. Most importantly, the fleet raised money for deserving organizations and had a great time at the evening party hosted at Monroe Station. “We couldn’t have picked a prettier day to sail” was a common refrain regarding the season ending Sheldon Clark Regatta. Almost sixty boats raced in picture perfect 812 knot conditions. To cap off a great day, the fleet arrived back at Belmont for the Big Kahuna party. Thanks to our great Race Committee and everyone who helped make these events happen.

Blinker | Fall 2017

Overall winner, photo by Paul Todd, outsideimages.com.

Commodores Cup Junior Night Race Awards.

Skyline Racing.