Catalina Fleet 21 - Chicago Region
FleetSheet Newsletter

April 2010

GENERAL MEETING APRIL 20

It’s been a challenge to come up with a place and a program for our April General Meeting! That is why this Fleet Sheet is so late in arriving in your mail box. We apologize if it comes too late for you to make plans to attend our meeting on Tuesday, April 20. It’s going to be a treat! The new Hammond Yacht Club has graciously agreed to open just for our meeting. The old Yacht Club was demolished in the latest round of Hammond Marina construction. The new Yacht Club is now part of the marina offices/store complex. Come and check it out! The club will open at 6:30 p.m. for our group. Sandwiches, pizza or pasta will be available at reasonable prices and the bar will be open. You will need to bring cash. Our host for the evening, Yacht Club member Pat Reynolds, will have to charge everything on his credit card and you will need to repay Pat in cash. When you arrive at Hammond Marina you will have to go through a security gate. Tell them you are going to a Yacht Club function. The Yacht Club is in the building you’ll see shortly after going through the security gate. There is ample parking.

Our speaker for the evening is Marian Lambrecht, a marine surveyor. Her powerpoint presentation on Bad Stuff On Boats is sure to get you out there sanding, checking, and painting your own boat. The holed, cracked, and wet keels, hulls and decks are only the beginning of this sobering collection of photos and stories. Captain Marian Lambrecht, Surveyor Associate, is currently earning her AMS® certification from the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors (SAMS®). She has more than 20 years of boating experience and is a U.S Coast Guard licensed captain and is PADI® Advanced Open Water SCUBA certified. She’s serviced more than 500 boats, both power and sail.
Please RSVP to Bill Thompson by phone or email and plan to attend. Billcat30tr@sbcglobal.net 630-257-8052 or 630-373-3594

 

A MESSAGE FROM THE COMMODORE


Let me start off by wishing everyone a happy Easter or Passover. It looks like we finally made it to spring! Now the challenge it to complete the long list of spring commissioning items that have to be done before the splash date. I know I’m not alone in this as the boatyard will be full of people in the same situation. I’m dreading and at the same time looking forward to getting things back in shape and the boat in the water again; it’s been a long winter and Mickie and I are ready for some warm weather.

Our last fleet activity was Crawley’s Yachtapalooza on Saturday the 27th. Like past years they put on a fun day at the yacht yard. There were a number of seminars, vendor’s booths, good deals at the store and the used equipment tent. There was also food and beverage for sale and entertainment. Fleet 21 held their general meeting at 2:00pm and decided to change the venue for dinner from the pizza parlor to the newly opened Hammond Yacht Club. It was a good plan but unfortunately they didn’t open until after 4:00 with the kitchen not open until 5:00. Most of our members decided not to wait and we disbanded without the dinner portion of the day.

Our next general meeting is planned for April 20th at the Hammond Yacht Club. Hammond Yacht Club has just re-opened in its new facility and I am looking forward to seeing the new club. Our speaker will be Marian Lambrecht, who is a yacht surveyor, delivery captain and diver. She gave a presentation at Crawley’s and those that saw her said it was quite good. I don’t have final details of time and such so Carolyn will print the details after I submit my report. Thanks to Pat Reynolds for working with Hammond YC to set this up for us.

Be sure to mark your calendars for the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend for our annual season kick-off event the Margarita Party. This is always a fun event that brings out many of our members that we haven’t seen over the long winter months. The party will be at the same location as previous years, the park just south of the Burnham Park Yacht club. Be sure to stop by and renew some sailing friendships and make some new ones.

We are working on our list of events for the summer season and we should have most of them in the web page by now. Please don’t hesitate to give me a call if you have an idea for an event or a program, we are always looking for new ideas. If you haven’t visited our web site in a while stop by for a look, Bob Kuba our webmaster has done a great job of keeping Fleet 21 at the cutting edge of the high tech world.

Bill Thompson
Commodore




RACING

Fleet 21 has participated in the Chicago Leukemia Cup for the past several years. It’s a low-stress fun race for family and crew. This year the Leukemia Cup is August 28. Fleet 21 will have our own start; the race is a simple around the Crib race with a raft up and party afterwards at the Columbia Yacht Club. A Leukemia Cup kick off event is planned for Friday, April 23 from from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Chicago Yacht Club and features speaker Gary Jobson. It’s $15 at the door, but free with a Leukemia Cup registration. Get a crew together and plan to participate. Register at www.leukemiacup.org



MARINER’S FUND

Many of you asked for details on the Mariner’s Fund. It was established as follows:
Catalina Fleet 21 - Chicago Region established the "Catalina Fleet 21 Mariner's Service Fund" in the spirit of giving to contribute monies once annually to a sailing or boating cause or program that will benefit from such a donation. These could include, but are not limited to, sailing scholarships, boating safety educational programs, youth sailing programs, community based sailing programs, individual program sponsorship, or emergency or benevolent causes. All beneficiaries should in some way be linked to the promotion of boating. Individual yacht club sailing programs are not eligible.

"Catalina Fleet 21 Mariner's Service Fund" is funded in two ways. 1) Catalina Fleet 21 - may donate a said amount into the "Catalina Fleet 21 Mariner's Service Fund" one time each year. The amount donated by the Fleet from the general treasury can fluctuate each year. 2) Separately from the Fleet's donation, individuals or organizations may contribute to the "Catalina Fleet 21 Mariner's Service Fund" as, but not limited to, a memorial contribution, or in honor of an individual, date or special occasion.

Any interested potential beneficiaries should send their grant, scholarship, or donation criteria to the "Catalina Fleet 21 Mariner's Service Fund" chairperson Linda Kleitz or any Catalina Fleet 21 - Chicago Region board member. Also, requests for possible recipients will be periodically solicited in the Catalina Fleet 21 - Fleet Sheet. The Catalina Fleet 21 Board of Directors shall vote on the recipients from recommendations by the "Catalina Fleet 21 Mariner's Service Fund" chairperson.



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 or fax to 630- 668-8950 or email to deare30@sbcglobal.net. Listings will run for 2 issues unless you notify me otherwise.


FOR SALE: 1997 Catalina 34 Mark II, Sloop, Tall Rig, Fin Keel, Cruiser
Very Nice Condition: Shows Like a Much Newer Boat

ACCOMMODATIONS:
Sleeps 7 (plus 2 more on cockpit seats)
Convertible dinette sleeps 2
Convertible settee sleeps 1
V-Berth sleeps 2
Aft Cabin sleeps 2

Vessel Walkthrough:
You enter through a wide companionway, four steps down.
To the starboard is a well equipped L-shaped galley with plenty of storage space.
To the port is a large aft head with sink and shower, and plenty of storage space.
A large hanging locker, and the chart table are on the port side immediately forward of the head
The many ports and hatches provide a tremendous volume of sun-light and fresh air.
The interior is well appointed with the warmth of satin varnished teak and ash, louvered storage compartments, interior teak handholds, and sculpted burgundy settee and dinette cushions, surrounding the teak dinette table.
Forward is the owner’s cabin with 2 hanging lockers, large drawer and V-Berth.
A louvered bi-fold door separates the owners cabin from the main salon.
Aft of the galley is the aft-cabin with queen size athwart-wise berth.

See more information HERE.
 

CYA
Meeting Held March 25 Reported by Bob Kuba

New Harbors Update
Gateway and 31st Street Harbor went out for bid and Gateway's bid was returned higher than expected, and may undergo some re-design to keep costs inline. 31st Street Harbor came back on target for the Breakwall section of the bid, and the landside portion of the bid is expected to be returned next week (Mar. 31st) There are no plans for a yacht club building at 31st street, but a "Community" building would be built. The city is not interested in putting up a building on public land that the public cannot access. The go-ahead is expected on one or both harbors within the next two weeks. If both harbors open, it will add 1,200 boats to the harbor system.

Current News
Transfers and re-assignments are taking place at present. The biggest vacancy is seen in the 25-30 ft slip range with the greatest demand being for 35 ft slips and larger. There will be some slip assignments made to new harbor applications in Montrose and Diversey Harbors.A waiting list is already forming for the new harbors consisting of new and transfer boaters.

Harbor Upgrades
New Harbor Financing would be made possible through a bond sale, and would benefit all harbors in the system.

Montrose - Possible dry storage area to be made out of the big parking lot. Scott said it would require security fencing, 24 hr. security, and a possibility of water and electrical hookups available. A question was brought up about boaters being able to work on their boats, and Scott indicated it was a grey area when you consider all the environmental issues involved. The target date for storage would be this fall, 2010. The east storage compound may be utilized for dry storage for the increasing one-design fleet. There are no plans to reduce the number of star docks or moorings in Montrose.

Belmont - 1 floating washroom would be installed. Westrec is considering removing 5 of the 8 star docks and extending the slips to accommodate those boaters, at a higher price. The crane pad in front of the office will be rebuilt.

Diversey - Installation of a floating washroom similar to the unit in Montrose would be installed.

DuSable- Winter dry storage may be available this fall under Lake Shore Drive. But again, the same environmental issues are a factor.

Burnham - Two floating washrooms would be installed this year, one north and the other south.

Jackson Park - 1 floating washroom will be installed in the outer harbor. The breakwall will be extended farther into the harbor, and existing slips A -D will be extended, adding 80-110 more boats to the harbor. Dredging is also planned for the outer harbor to remove an accumulation of sand. There are no plans to reduce the number of moorings.

59th st. - The plan for this year is to remove the old boat ramp.

Security
All harbors - The contracts for the two firms providing security for the harbor system are up for renewal. The company providing security last year at Belmont harbor was fired mid-season due to ongoing issues at that harbor. Overall, some concern was voiced by those in attendance of the lack of visible security presence last year. Scott mentioned to voice concerns to the Westrec office if those concerns persist.

Parking
All Harbors - Westrec has no idea what the city is planning concerning metered parking at the harbors. Concern was raised about those who race on events that last overnight or span a few days and what parking issues they will face. Scott had no answer for that and said the best recourse would be to mail a letter of concern to Westrec and he will get it to the proper city desk.

Harbormaster
All Harbors - There will be some movement again this year, but will not be announced until late April when the Harbormaster will be reporting for duty. Not everyone will be relocating, just a few.

Chicago Marine Police Unit in attendance - Two veteran officers of the Marine Police spoke to the group about issues that boaters face both in the harbor, and out on the water. They mentioned that if you see something in the harbor while at your dock that doesn't look right, don't hesitate to call 911. That will be the quickest response, instead of waiting for the 25 m.p.h. Marine vessel to arrive. All patrol cars assigned to the harbor district have reference cards with listings of all the gate codes in the harbor system.

Currently the CPD has 7 boats, 45 officers, 5 of which are supervisors, to man the 24/7 shift. After midnight, only one boat will be on duty. And as a reminder, hail them on channel 16 and they will respond and switch you to another channel.