Chicago America's Cup World Series (ACWS) and Hobie Sailing

I'm surprised there isn't already a thread on this, or maybe there is and my searching skills suck. In any case, I'm very interested in attending the America's Cup World Series (ACWS) event in Chicago this summer, 10-12 June 2016. Tickets are on sale and event information is online at http://acws-chicago.americascup.com/.

The reason I'm posting here is to see if any other Hobie guys have the same idea as me... watch the races, sail, and have a blast during this once in a lifetime opportunity. As far as I understand it, this is the first time an ACWS event has been on fresh water. I really like taking my Hobie 16 to new places to sail and as far as I understand it, Lake Michigan has great winds.

So, I'm trying to figure out what sailing opportunities are there on Lake Michigan? I'm assuming there's a ton, but I'm having a hard time finding suitable public launch areas that are beach cat friendly, or really any launch area at all. I saw on google maps what looked like a HUGE catamaran sailing club up at Gillson Park... anyone from that area know if a visitor can "day use" the facilities there? Or maybe is there a camping location with a beach cat friendly launch? I don't know enough about Warren Dunes or Indiana Dunes to know if that's a good idea or not. Finally, early June on Lake Michigan, what air and water temps should be expected. I have a 2/1mm shorty suit and a 3/2mm full suit.

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Bradley M. Davis - Hobie High Life YouTube Videos
2012 H16 (with 2018 Cayman Main) #115139

expect cold water. weather can be anything, but it is always, "cooler by the lake".

Anything nearby isn't going to be beach catamaran friendly. The Catamaran Racing Association of Michigan in either an official or unofficial manner looked into trying to do something there that weekend, but no suitable launch location brought that idea to a halt quickly

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

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Catamaran Racing Association of Michigan - Marketing Officer
USF18 - Social Media Manager

2010 NACRA Infusion
2004 F18 Hobie Tiger - SOLD
Hobie 16 - BREAKPOINT - SOLD

I haven't been up there in many years, but does Wilmette still have a sailing beach. I think that there is someone here that sails out of there.

Lake Street Beach in Gary Indiana and Weko Beach in Bridgeman Mi. are perfect places for cat sailing

Thank you for the info wanasail. Lake St Beach in Gary looks perfect... assuming you've been there? Any tips?

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Bradley M. Davis - Hobie High Life YouTube Videos
2012 H16 (with 2018 Cayman Main) #115139

Been there many times, can't wait to take my Hobie 16 out on first decent day this year. Tips, how about 18th Street Brewery for some great craft beer

This guy knows the launch spots and the beer spots. You sir are a gentleman and a scholar

I looked up Weko Beach and that looks like a great setup too. I'm considering renting one of their cabins and sailing for a few days after the ACWS. Do you know if they would be keen on me pulling the boat up on shore overnight for a few days, or would I have re-trailer it everyday? Is the shore grade smooth enough to allow rolling up onto land? I saw some pictures on facebook where it looked like they were experiencing shore erosion there.

I'll definitely give you a heads up when I'm headed up there if you want to get some sailing in and/or brews together... Thanks again for the info.

I think you have to put your Hobie on the trailer over night can't leave on the beach . the ramp right into Lake Michigan is like made from a steel wire mesh and depending the water level you have to becareful how far you back up, don't go off the ramp . Most of the time other boaters are there to help any one that gets stuck. Hobie people are the best .Weko Beach is beautiful you can sail right off the beach and right back on again smooth sailing . There are two breweries right in town of Bridgeman Mi. and Greenbush in near by Sawyer Mi. yea give me a heads up before you get there.

Has anybody trailer launched from Burnham Harbor? Or Monroe Harbor? That's right there.
(Oops. Just looked. Monroe Harbor has no launch. But Burnham Harbor does.)
Here's a link to Chicago boat launches. Costs $26 to launch and Burnham Harbor has parking for 43 trailers.
http://www.chicagoharbors.info/daily-dockage/
(yet another edit) I was looking at related forums, not certain if you can launch sailboats at the public ramp at Burnham.

We have our tickets for the LV/America's Cup Challenge off Navy Pier! Pretty great Christmas present from my wife!

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Yet another Bob!
"Firefly" - 2012 Hobie Getaway with wings and spinnaker
"Icebirds" - 1974 Skeeter iceboat
Too many canoes and kayaks

Although it has been 30 years, I sailed out of Lake Street. Some days on the Lake are easy, others are hard and some impossible.

Find AlanRV8 on here he still sails from there.

There is a H21 sailor from Wilmette on thebeachcats. Wilmette has a sailing beach, but I have no idea on the access. Still have a mug from a points regatta there.

From Bridgeman to Chicago is 55 miles on the rhumb line. Off Gary you'd be 30 miles offshore. After Lake Street in Gary it's an industrial shoreline. No place to bail out.

It's a big bad lake.

It IS a big bad lake. I sailed out of Manitowoc, WI for the summer of 2012. When the wind was really good, the wave action was brutal. Steep, short frequency waves. Couldn't get up any speed before crashing into another wave and stopping.
Would recommend cold water clothes, VHF radio and maybe flares. Like my friend Mark said when I questioned the need for radio and flares because my boat is small: "yeah, but it's a big lake!"

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Yet another Bob!
"Firefly" - 2012 Hobie Getaway with wings and spinnaker
"Icebirds" - 1974 Skeeter iceboat
Too many canoes and kayaks

Day launching is generally a problem in the Chicago area - getting access and a parking spot are issues. Wilmette does have a big catamaran beach. The next 'burb south, Evanston, also has a launch and sailing beach at Dempster Street. Both, however, are restrictive about what they allow. You might be able to get a launch pass but you won't be able to leave the boat on the beach overnight, and you may have to be very creative about where you leave your trailer, which may not be real close by. From Evanston/Wilmette you'll be 10+ miles from downtown, where the race is. Don't plan to sail inside the breakwater at Navy Pier. I did that once even without a big event going on and will never do it again (tight quarters and BIG boats). I don't think it will be allowed for small boats at the AC event, and it's far from the north shore.

There also used to be a launch on the south side at 63rd street. I know little about it, other than it was run by the park district. There was another at Montrose Harbor on the near north side, but they have changed their minds on beach cats a few times over the years. There will be no camping at any of these places. If you're on the north shore, riding the train or the el is an easy shot downtown, maybe about 30 minutes or so at most. Then you can enjoy all the city has to offer and not have to drive.

Water will be cold. That's about the start of my sailing season and as an old fart I wear a dry suit until the water gets to the upper 50's at least which can be late June. Here's a plot from the South LM buoy from last year: https://www.wunderground.com/MAR/buoy/2015/6/10/45007.html?graphtype=1&MR=1. There will generally be wind in June, but it can be easy or hard. They're right about the waves being steep, especially if the wind is from the north. The "official" temp at O'Hare may be 80 but on the water it will be about 60 - cooler by the lake.

But let me tell you, when it's good, it's great. There is no prettier skyline from the water, I haven't found a more interesting place to sail, and it's wide open - very few jet skis or motor traffic usually.

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1989 H16
2009 H16 squaretop

I have my H21 in Wilmette on the beach. There are not good day launch locations, sorry to say. There is a day launch in Winnetka, not great but that is where I launched before I got beach storage. There are also boats stored on Montrose Beach in the city. They get passes from the city of Chicago and launch over the sand. There is a sailing club at Northwestern in Evanston, not sure about launching there. All of these locations are far enough from the AC site, you couldn't count on sailng down and watch.

As far as conditions, bring cold weather gear. When the wind picks up the water get cold due to the chop. North wind drives rough chop and can get ugly. Wind out of the West makes ideal conditions. I always sail with radio, whistle, etc. I prepare as if ocean sailing, the lake is that big.

Hoping to find other Hobie sailers at navy pier for the AC races.

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Scott
Hobie 18 w/wings
Hobie/Holder 12 Funseeker
2 Hobie Waves
Tandem Oasis Kayak
Hobie 16
Southern California

It's this weekend.

Has anyone figured out a way to spectate.

But there is only 1 1/2 hour of racing scheduled each day.