New sailor looking for the Chicago scene

Hello all,

I am new to sailing and new to the Chicago area. I'm looking for a catamaran group or club that sails in the area. My wife and I would like to make some friends and learn how to sail in the process. I've had a difficult time finding anything other than big fancy shmancy Yacht clubs.

I did a search on the forum here and found one member, ILhobie, who is actually in Downers Grove, the suburb I am moving to. Unfortunately the PM feature is turned off and his last post was back in 2007.

Is anyone here from the Chicago area, or could put me in touch with someone who is?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Check the forum heading "Places to Sail". There's a thread on Indiana - NorthWest, for Gary (just outside of Chicago). There are a few other folks in your neighborhood who post here occasionally.

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What - Me Worry?


2006 Hobie Wave 7358
"Ish Kabibble"

Hey DM......there's a few of us that sail off of Lake St. in Gary....they have a ramp that works great for cat boats (when they keep it dug out), they charge $10 if you're out of state. You can launch the boat, and there is a small beach area about 25ft from the ramp where you can walk your boat over to for raising the sails.

A couple miles east of the Lake Street ramp is Ogden Dunes, and we have an 18SX, and 17' Nacra, and a gaggle of 16's out. Sail over sometime and we can sail to the warm water discharge just east of the Port of Indiana...the water rushes out to the Lake from the electric plant...and it is at times 15 degrees warmer than the lake.

Email me at jwirth1 at comcast dot net

hey guys, thanks for the replies. I'm currently on my way to Illinois. Had an issue with my trailer about 2 miles from our starting point in Houston. Started hearing a grinding noise.

Bearing...which had been brand new. Welded itself onto the spindle. Ended up having to change out the whole axle.

The Nacra should be ready to sail except I need to replace the ropes that hoist the main and jib. I'll also need to get the bug guts off of course

Anyway, how far are you guys from Downers Grove? I grew up there but it's been a while. What's the camping scene like in the area?

I'll post my contact info as well: [email protected]. Hope to get out there real soon.

Bummer about the bearing. I'm out your way in St. Charles. Other than Lake Michigan, most of the sailing seems to be in other areas than chicago. I usually sail in Wisconsin or at one of the lakes nearby like the Fox chain of lakes up north of 90. You have to get a waterway permit though... give me a shout at dstgean at geneva304 dot com

Dan

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Dan St. Gean
'82 H 18
'96 H Wave

anyone going to be out this weekend? I've got an itch and it's not the healing paper cuts from moving boxes. I'm itchin to sail!

Yeah...gonna try to get out both days......sailing off of Lake St in (gasp) Gary......I have a yellow H16......sail 89013

Another place to try and also camp is Weko Beach campground in Bridgeman Michigan. It is only 90 miles from my home in Downers Grove and has a beach ramp into lake Michigan, and a decent campground within walking distance of the beach. It is a great beach by the way. I usually camp there with my Wave a couple times per summer and see several other cats, kite boarders, surfers out there. They do not allow any PWC to launch at the site so you are not competing against a bunch of wave runners. Nice cafe right at the beach and concerts every other Sunday night at the beach. Let me know if you need more info about it.

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There's no motor?

Hey just the guy I was looking for! I just moved to Downers Grove.

I saw your posts in the past (posted about a year ago) about Weko beach and just got home from there yesterday. What a fantastic beach. We spent two days there. Winds were kind of light but had a great time none the less.

I tried to PM you but that feature appears to be off here and it didn't look like you had posted for quite some time so I figured you didn't come here anymore. Whereabouts in DG are you if I may ask?

If you would like to take this to email I can be reached at [email protected]

Look forward to hearing from you. Would be nice to be in contact with another cat sailor so close to home.

Dan, sent you an email but it would not go through to that address

Hey DM, glad to hear you made it out there. We live on the south end of town on 62nd street. I see you are on the Us Army, are you at the recruiting center there at Green Knolls?

Weko is about the only place I have sailed my Cat except for Kelleys Island in Ohio, another great camping and cat sailing spot, though it is 5.5 hours East, and a 30 min ferry ride to the island.

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There's no motor?

LOL are you kidding me? We live on 62nd street I grew up here, two houses down from where I live now. You'll probably see my Nacra next time you go to the Jewel.

I'm not a recruiter actually, but that is the recruiting station that I enlisted from. The Army is currently sending me to school to get my Bachelors Degree. It's a program they offer to make enlisted soldiers into officers.

Jeez, what a small world. It would be crazy not to meet you now

That's strange. try it again at [email protected] or pm me here.

Dan

Dan, sent you an email but it would not go through to that address[/quote]

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Dan St. Gean
'82 H 18
'96 H Wave

[/quote]

ahhh .org? you originally said .com.
I'll shoot you another email