Catalina Fleet 21 - Chicago Region
FleetSheet Newsletter

September 2005

SUMMER SOCIAL
As the season winds down, let’s get together and talk over our summer adventures. Our scheduled program for September had to be scratched at the last minute, but we’ll still get together at the Columbia Yacht Club on Thursday, September 15. It will be a night of socializing and telling “what I did on my summer vacation.” In other words, where did you sail this summer? The slate of officers for 2006 will be presented at this meeting. Columbia Yacht Club is located in the ship between Monroe and DuSable Harbors. Enjoy dinner at Columbia beginning at 6:30 p.m. Make a reservation by calling 312-938-3625. Tell them you are with the Catalina group. By 8:00 make your way to the meeting room.

As far as parking goes, the Field Harbor Parking Lot we originally recommended, is no longer available; it went condo July 1st and no longer accepts daily parkers. We now recommend the DuSable Harbor lot; the entrance is beyond the Columbia member lot, but, if you drive back to Randolph to park, you can actually park closer than some of the Columbia member spaces. There are no stairs or ramps involved. The cost is $13 per day or evening. You may want to check the "Directions" link on www.columbiayachtclub.com  where any future changes in options will be noted.

Cheaper parking may be available in the Grant/Millennium Park underground lots (entrance on Columbus). You can park by the upper level Randolph exit; stairs are involved to exit the parking lot and again to get to middle level Randolph. Then the walk to Columbia is a block or two longer than the old Field Harbor option.

A MESSAGE FROM THE
COMMODORE

While the words and sounds of Jimmy Buffet's concert this past weekend still resound in my ears, I wonder...is it just me or what, but this sailing season seems to just last forever. While a significant improvement over last year with nearly perfect weather, wind every time we took Parrot Eyes out this year, I wonder, is this the year for a Late Leaver Permit? OK, call me delusional optimist, but I can dream, right?
Anyway, we have had such a great summer of Fleet 21 Outings, I have decided to keep the Endless Summer theme going a little longer. Barb and I will sponsor the Commodore's Last Fling, an anchor-out party on Saturday 9/24 at 3:00PM at the Olive Park area just north of Navy Pier. Nothing fancy, just one last chance for everyone to get together again with our boats. The plan is to sail in, ride anchor for a few hours to munch hors d'oeuvres, have a few cold ones, and have some fun. Bring your sailboat, dinghy (if you have one) to get between boats, and some eats and drinks. Call Barb or me by Thursday 9/22 at 630-879-2619 if you plan on coming so we can finalize plans. Last chance before the winter commissioning, so come on out!
Now for the serious part...Throughout my year as your Commodore, I have gained a better understanding how much our fleet membership has evolved since its early days. Your Board of Directors wants to assure Fleet 21 continues to meet your needs and expectations for the years to come. Therefore, one of our Board Members will be calling each of you in the coming weeks to conduct a simple telephone survey. Please give us a few minutes of your time and your candid feedback on what is working in the fleet, what could be improved. We need to know what kind of meetings we should have. What type of outings interest you? What educational or fun programs or events should we have at our meetings? We need your input to assure we continue to provide something for everyone in the Catalina Fleet 21 family. Thanks,
Commodore Terry

WEB SITE
As some of you have heard, in the last couple of months, SailNet, our website sponsor and marine supply store, has declared bankruptcy. SailNet has been very good to Fleet 21 over the last few years. They have allowed us to have a website presence and to expand our site at no cost to the Fleet. But the difficult financial times has forced them to close their doors. We had to find a new home for our website before the courts pulled the plug on the SailNet servers where our site resided. Even now, the SailNet site is still up and running, albeit on autopilot, with no one at the controls or in the offices.

After consulting with the Board, a new sponsor was found, and has been given exclusive sponsorship privileges in return for a three year agreement. We are very happy to announce that CLR Marine has agreed to pick up the tab for www.catfleet21.org thru 2008. I'm sure you all remember Chuck and Linda Reed, a couple of our Fleet 21 members that have relocated to the Detroit Michigan area. Chuck and Linda Reed, otherwise now known as CLR Marine, are the proud new sponsors of the Fleet 21 website.

Check out the links on our site to www.clrmarine.com  and peruse their selection of marine electronics and other great deals! A special discount awaits Fleet 21 members, so surf on over and let Captain Chuck know what you're in the market for.

Thanks from all of the Fleet 21 membership for your generosity.

MEMBERSHIP
Welcome aboard to our latest new member:

Skipper: Pat Tagney
First Mate: Gail Tagney
Address: LaGrange, IL
Boat Info:
Name: Liberty Call Size: 30 Harbor: Burnham Mooring; Slip 0-36

RIGGING &
EQUIPMENT
Marine Diesel Maintenance Seminars

To educate and update diesel owners with their engines Mack Boring & Parts Company offers 1-Day Basic Diesel seminars. Classes run from 8:30 a.m. til 5 p.m. The $195 fee includes training materials, a continental breakfast and lunch. Classes are scheduled for 1270 Kyle Court, Wauconda, IL on Feb. 8, 15, and 20. There’s also a 2-day hands on diesel engine seminar for those who have already attended the 1-day basic class. For more information go to www.mackboring.com or call 908-964-0700 ext. 202. Or contact the newsletter editor. I have a brochure I could copy and send.

BUY/TRADE/SELL
Fleet members may list items they want to sell, trade, or buy in this column without any charge.
Send listings to Fleet Sheet Editor, 306 Linden Street, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 Fax 630-668-8950 email: deare30@sbcglobal.net Phone: 630-469-6117

FOR SALE: 1988 Catalina 27. Tall rig. Wing keel,.
GPS, Autohelm 4000, 150 Hood furling genoa, wheel. Self-tailing winches, 2 new marine batteries, cradle. Fully equipped inside and out. Ready to sail! $18,500. Currently docked at slip 643, Washington Park Marina, Michigan City. Call Barb or Ernie Miller 219-926-6673 or email: bemiller7@aol.com

FOR SALE: Dinghy. Pelican 245. 7’15”. Excellent condition. Includes oars, motor mount, wheels and two seats. $400 OBO. Call Walter Wolf 708-799-4705

FOR SALE: Alcort Sunfish Sailboat. 14 ft. Fully equipped. In excellent condition with trailer. It’s ready to go.
Walter Wolf 708-799-4705

FOR SALE: DRS multi color light weight sail for a Catalina 30. Flown like an asymmetrical spinnaker. $500.

5hp Nissan outboard purchased 2001. Very low hours and 9’6” West Marine inflatable. Roll up with aluminum floor. 1994. Plus cover. $1300 or best offer. 40” Edson SS Destroyer wheel $250 or best offer. Call Ron at 312-664-3648 or email at saleboater2aolcom

FOR SALE: Yanmmar YSE12. Good running condition. Repowered my Catalina 30. $450.
8 foot Eli Laminatic dingy. $100.00
2.5 hp Cruise & Carry motor. Like new, hardly used. $300. Call Joseph Richart 815-943-5696

FOR SALE: 8' folding boat, with sail kit. Folds to 4" X 24" X 8' ; I had it strapped to the forward lifelines of my Catalina 30. Can be sailed, rowed, or powered with a small outboard. Includes paddle, rudder/tiller, leeboards, all rigging, mainsail, and added jib for easier tacking. $1400. Call Mike Levine at 847-475-4249; email: mikel@uic.edu Pictures at http://tigger.uic.edu/~mikel/PortaBote/

FOR SALE: 1981 Catalina 25. Adios. Ready to Sail! Cruising accommodations for six people with the standard Catalina 25 layout. Lots of extra headroom, light and ventilation with the Pop Top companionway. 2001 Johnson electric start 9.9 HP outboard engine (used only in 2002 and 2003 seasons). Autohelm ST 1000 Tiller Pilot. Blaupunkt stereo, All original manuals. $8,000. Currently at Crowley's Yacht Yard. Please contact Ray Cesca at 630-789-3717
Email: r.cesca@comcast.net  or Bruce Rosenzweig and George Gaw at 312-225-2046 Email: bruce@sailboatsalesco.com

CYA REPORT
Lori Lauraitis attends these meetings. She reports the following:

*Burnham Harbor-Signage for no wake has been added. Blasting is going on for a McCormick Place drainage project. Buoys mark the blasting area.
*Monroe has problems with people pulling up on the wall and blasting radios. Call Marine Police when they get out of hand.
*Jackson Park-Marine Café is open and has a nice menu. Bring your own wine.
*Coast Guard urges swimmers to wear life jackets.
*National Boating Federation is asking for continued support for the upgrade and modernization of Loran stations nationwide to backup GPS in critical situations.
*Westrec has 5,100 boats in the harbor system, 300 waiting, 500 waiting for transfers. Planning is getting started on adding 1000 slips.