There’s a reason there are more sailboats moored in Chicago than any other city in the country. The lake is one of the best parts about living here and sailing is one of the most exciting ways to get out on the water.
If you are new to sailing or have limited experience, however, getting in on the fun can be difficult. There are a number of excellent places around the city where you can learn to sail; but what do you do when the lessons are over?
Renting a boat by the hour can be expensive and it can be a little daunting to go from sailing in a group with an instructor to be being entirely on your own. It is for this reason that a lot of people drop out of sailing after taking their lessons – they love the sport, but there doesn’t seem to be a way to move forward.
We want to solve that problem and get you on the water as a confident and competent sailor! We offer a two stage process that does exactly that.
First, you learn to sail on Whirlaway, our Catalina 27. Once you have a handle on sailing, join our SailClub and sail Whirlaway twice a month through the sailing season with a group of other sailors, some new and some with more experience. By the end of the season, you’ll have had a lot of fun and will have been thoroughly introduced to the joys of a Chicago sailing summer!
Our sailing instructor, Bob Wagner, has over 30 years of sailing experience and has been helping others learn to sail for 15 years. His easy teaching style and personality make learning to sail fun and enjoyable.
There are two courses of instruction. One, or both, should get you up to speed and ready to enjoy a summer on the water.
Basic Keelboat Sailing:
This “fundamentals” class is designed for new sailors or those with minimal experience. We teach you all of the essential skills necessary to safely take command of a keelboat in a variety of weather and lake conditions. The class is 15 to 16 hours on the water split over two weekend days. Three person maximum.
Beyond the Basics:
This is the next step after basic keelboat sailing or for those who have some previous sailing experience. Polish your boat handling skills while we introduce you to important new topics that will make you a more complete sailor. The class is 12 hours on the water split over two weekend days. Three person maximum.
SailClub:
Once you’ve learned to sail, you can join our SailClub and continue to sail on the boat you have learned on throughout the entire season. With SailClub you pick to sail either Tuesdays evenings (about 5:30 to 8:00) or Saturday mornings (about 9:30 to 1:00). The Tuesday slot goes out the 1st and the 3rd Tuesday of the month, the Saturday slot goes out the 2nd and the 4th Saturday. Up to six SailClubbers will be registered for each of the two slots. You sail with this group all season long. Whirlaway is moored in Monroe harbor.
The cost:
Individually, the components are priced as follows:
• Basic Keelboat Sailing - $480
• Beyond the Basics - $ 360
• SailClub – Tuesday or Saturday – $450
However, you can package either course with SailClub for $650. All three components can be bundled for $900.
Of course, one of the best parts of sailing is being on the water with your friends. And while a good part of the fun of SailClub is meeting new sailors, it is always fun to go out with someone you know. When two or more of you sign up together, each will receive a $50 deduction in your total package cost.
Interested? Good! You probably have a lot of questions. Just email info@olsonsclassicyachts.com or call us at (708) 481-3123 and ask for Charlie.
You can check out our website at www.olsonsclassicyachts.com and learn more about the guy who would teach you to sail at www.sloopcitysailing.com.
Copyright 2010 Olson's Classic Yachts
Get in on the fun!
Enjoy a Chicago Sailing Summer for $650, including lessons and bimonthly sailing time on a Catalina 27 throughout the season!