Fleetsheet Archive
August 2017
THREE TO GO
Have you attended one of our Fleet Outings this summer? If not, you’re missing all the fun! There’s still time for you to see what Fleet 21 is all about by attending one of upcoming events. First up is the much-anticipated Shrimp Boil on August 12 at Hammond Marina. Fleet member Larry Meekma is cooking up a feast.. Potatoes, sausage, sweet corn, and shrimp are all cooked according to Larry’s secret formula and then dumped on kraft paper covered tables for all to enjoy. It’s a sight and a feast to behold! Hammond is an easy sail from Burnham, Jackson Park, 31st Street, Monroe, Belmont and DuSable. It’s only 33 nautical miles from Michigan City. Reservations for the Shrimp Boil are required and were due August 5. If you missed the deadline, give Larry a call and maybe he can squeeze you in—708-707-3237.
Labor Day will be here before you know it! The Fleet is headed to Michigan City and another culinary treat is on the menu there. This time it’s a Lobster Fest! On Saturday, the chefs on 800 Dock are steaming up whole Maine lobsters for just $16 a person. On Sunday, you’ll enjoy an afternoon of boat hopping in the Tour de Boat event. Throw in the beach, great restaurants nearby, the arrival of the Tri State Race boats and a dingy poker run and you’ve got a Labor Day weekend to remember. Reservations are a must and need to be made by August 30. There are many empty slips in Michigan City. Call Ted Kuenzli for 800 Dock slips. If you want a buddy boat for the trip across the lake, contact your Fleet Harbor Captain or Dave DeAre. More details are in the flyer included in this newsletter.
Later in September, we’ll keep the seafood theme going by participating in the Jackson Park Yacht Club Clam Bake. Details on that outing next month. You don’t have to sail to an event. Many of our members drive. Free parking is available in Hammond. Pay to park in Michigan City. Join us—and join in the fun!
Our final scrumptious event is Fleet 21’s Annual Awards Banquet on Saturday, November 11 at the Palos Country Club in Orland Park.
A MESSAGE FROM THE
COMMODORE
Due to a death in the family, we do not have a Commodore’s message this month. Our condolences to James on the death of his nephew, Sydney Caldwell.
MEMBERSHIP
Condolences to Shaun and Bernadette Kim on the death of his parents. His mother passed away last month and this week his father passed. Both were elderly (his father more than 100 years old) . Wishing a speedy recovery to Kathy Cusimano who fell and broke her ankle in three places. Kathy and Ed were in Florida when this happened and Kathy will be recovering there for some time. Their Florida address is 270 Belvidere Ct., Punta Gorda, FL 33950.
Ed Kita and Kathy Cusimano were inadvertently omitted from the 2017 Fleet Directory. Please add their information:
Skokie, IL 60076
Boat Name KC MBYC Mooring:71
Welcome aboard to our new member:
Skipper: Jim Miller
First Mate: Angie Fucigna
WANTED: Friends of Fleet members Laura and Pete Pohl are looking to buy a sailboat in the 30 – 32 foot range. Want to sell? Contact Jim at jameswgraham@gmail.com
OUTINGS
The Waukegan Adventure, held on July 22, was a resounding success. With 17 Fleet 21 members attending, we all had a great time visiting a different harbor. The event started with drinks and appetizers on the Marina Patio, then a good dinner in a private room at the Waukegan Yacht Club. Many of us then finished with ice cream and a live band at the outdoor harbor pavilion. Old friends, new friends and another great Catalina Fleet 21 outing. “Boats” that attended were More Details (Cantwell), Overdue (DeAre), Current Sea (Gagerman), Indulgence (Hansen), Wind (Kim), Kiana (Kravetz), and Team Effort (Lauraitis, Shereyk plus Nancy Bartlett). Thanks to Shaun and Bernadette Kim, Jerry and Irene Gagerman for sponsoring and hosting this event.
RIGGING & EQUIPMENT
Got Poop?
If birds are making a mess on your boat, Michigan City Harbor captain Ted Kuenzli recommends using Industrial Cleaner and Degreaser. Easy to use and does a fantastic job. You can find it at any automotive store.
RACING
Contributed by Pat Reynolds
July 15th saw the start of both the Chicago Yacht Club’s 289 nautical mile Race to Mackinac and the Racine Yacht Club’s 189 nautical mile Hook “Death Door Challenge” race. Commodore James Caldwell crewed on a Mac race boat and will tell of his first trip to Mackinac and their second place finish while Fleet 21’s Karizmaddie competed in the Hook Race. This race starts in Racine with a 155 mile leg to a turning mark at the top of Door County. The boats then sail past a small lighthouse on Pilot Island and enter the passage between Door County and Plum Island, following the set of range lights on Plum. Once through the “Porte de Morte” passage it’s a 34 mile race across Green Bay to Menomonee, Michigan.
On Saturday the 15th, the weather cooperated beautifully with winds out of the east and then clocking around to the southeast. It was a spinnaker run all day until a storm came through at 9:30 pm. The wind then shifted to the northeast and Sunday morning found boats sailing into 18 to 22 knots of breeze and 3 to 5 foot waves. Possibly due to last year’s continual parade of storms, the Hook fleet was only 33 boats out of the normal fleet of 50 to 60. 16 of those 33 boats choose to drop out for various reasons during Sunday’s continual beat to windward. Karizmaddie, with water finding its way into every pocket in the boat, two seasick crew and three falls by the captain, was able to finish the race early Monday morning, all bones intact.
Don’t forget the Leukemia Cup August 26.
CYA
Reported by Lori Lauraitis
Meeting of 7/27
*Lake levels are continuing to rise & causing power boats to be trapped-at both Diversey & Jackson Park-Inner. US Army Corps of Engineers forecast higher levels. It’s the highest it’s been since 1980.
* USCOAST GUARD – sees an increase in fires aboard vessels lately along with fake emergency calls. Fake calls take precious time to respond. Take pictures, check out name of vessel under stress. Yell for help, use VHF Radios, or 911!