NWSA

Commodore's Message

Happy New Year NWSA!

At the November Banquet we came for some good food and fun. A few of us came back with something unexpected. A new job on the board! The NWSA Board Transition Dinner was held at Francesca’s Tavola in Arlington Heights, IL on Friday, December 7, 2018. We welcomed the new and returning board members and thanked the retiring board members.

One of the things about our club is that you get out of it what you put into it. I joined our club back in 2007 and I have no regrets. The best part of all are the people that I have been able to meet. I have a ton of great memories sailing and working with many of you.

We are fortunate as a club. Many on the board members volunteered for another year. I would also like to thank some new board members for this year. Trish Baker will be our new Yeoman, Ted McClintic will be our Public Relations Director. Larry & Linda Gulotta will be our new Librarians. Lorraine Klabunde stepped up be our new Fleet Captain and Bill Draver graciously volunteered to be our Member-at-Large. I would also like to give a special thank you to Mike Saavedra. He was our Fleet Captain for the last four years. Please think of him and his cadre of cruise captains when you sail this year.

Early every year is the Chicago Boat show. Formerly known as “Strictly Sail”. It is our premier recruiting event. We often come back with well over 120 new prospective contacts. This year the show will be January 9th through the 13th. Unfortunately, the timing of the show now puts it before our first club meeting. So we will be dependent on the website for sign-ups. For more information see our Communique or go to our website.

Last year Mike Saavedra and Richard Reed worked to put on a Skippers meeting to help plan our sailing season. We are looking to do the same this year. Probably sometime in February. Hope to have details soon.

I am really looking forward our new year of sailing. Now that the busy holidays are over, let’s get our boat projects finished up and be ready for spring!

—Marc Holdwick, Commodore 

2018 Photo Contest Winners
Best Scenic  | Best Boat Name | Best Old Salt | Best Group Shot | Best Sunset 

NWSA History

Read a note written 1976 Commodore Pat Kellogg about the beginnings of NWSA.

Special thanks to Elmer and Joyce Hook for providing this wonderful look at the early days of the NWSA. 
Read the accompanying letter.

Mission Statement

The NorthWest Sailing Association is an enthusiastic  group of sailors living in and about Chicago's Northwest suburbs. The members share a quest for increased  knowledge and improved  seamanship in a spirit of camaraderie and fun.

Founded  in 1974  by  a  small  group  of  25 sailors  seeking others of similar interests,  the Club's initial purpose was to  exchange knowledge and experiences. In the course of the years hence, and continuing today, club  members  regularly  sail  together out of  all  major  Chicago  area harbors, on  inland  lakes  surrounding  Chicago, Wisconsin,  and  occasionally across Lake  Michigan  and  back!

The high  point of the summer sailing season, is our Door County / Wisconsin Sailing Weekend. Club members have organized charters in the Bahamas, Florida  and  other  exotic  locations, and  will  plan  future  charters  to various  prime  sailing  areas  as  the  members  interest  dictates.

Who Belongs to NWSA?

Members  include  families,  couples,  singles - anyone  interested  in sailing;  including  skippers with  large cruising boats or medium or small sailboats; even  sailors with no boats.   Members who don't know how to sail, but are interested in  learning,  may wish to crew with our experienced sailboat owners and gain valuable experience and knowledge of boat handling.

Ample opportunity  to crew  is available at each sailing event, and during the days between events with available skippers.

We Meet. . .

During the boating season, the NWSA sponsors  sailing events in many of  the major Chicago land lake, and Michigan  harbors, as well as inland lakes.  We have sponsored cruises in Wisconsin, - Door County, Racine and Lake Geneva; Indiana; Michigan and a Lake Michigan Crossing. Illinois:  Waukegan, Monroe, Montrose, Winthrop, Pistakee Lake, Fox Lake; Blackwell Forest Preserve, Warrenville, Busse Woods, Elk Grove Village.  Groups have chartered excursions in the Bahamas, Florida, and various prime sailing destinations.