Commodore's Corner
This month, the club hosts Bill Bloom, our guest speaker on Monday, May 20th at 7:30 PM. Bill is an avid sailor and independent financial planner whose “Retire as You Desire” program has a yachting flavor. Check it out!
Commodore's Message
May 2019
It’s May! This is the month that we start sailing. We hope!
I have no idea what this summer is going to be like. Two weeks ago, we had an unprecedented several inches of snow in the middle of April. Now on the last weekend of April we got another few inches of snow.
Either another ice age is upon us - learn ice boating! - or we will have a perfect, nice warm summer!
On May 18th, Joe Rittner will be hosting our Ice-Breaker sail on Lake Geneva. This sail is often quite nice and the scenery is gorgeous. Lake Geneva is a really fun lake to sail our smaller boats on. Joe also timed the weekend as it is the racing scows unofficial opening sail. We often see bunches of Melges scows racing on Saturday. See page 13 of our April Communique for details of the sail.
We are always looking for more trailer sailors. If you are a beginning trailer sailor, or simply need help getting your boat in the water, we have many experienced captains and crew to help. Either contact Joe Rittner or Lorraine Klabunde our Fleet Captain.
Just after our first sail, we will have our May meeting on the 20th. It is held monthly at the Arlington Heights Historical Society building. We will have a short business meeting and a presentation by Bill Bloom. Doors will open at 7pm for set-up and socializing and the meeting will start at 7:30 sharp.
Our first Lake Michigan sail is scheduled for June 8th. (No cruise captain assigned) This is a good chance for our larger boats to get a shake-down cruise in before the season.
Planning on attending the Door County weekend this year? If so, consider making your reservations soon. The Egg Harbor marina starts taking reservations on May 1st. Asayo Horibe, our Cruise Captain, always makes the Door County sail a great summer event. She will be glad to help you plan for this long weekend sail.
It may seem far away, but don’t forget about the photo contest in October. As our sailing season starts, be sure to bring your camera along. Take those pictures that show the NWSA at our best — out having fun on the water!
—Marc Holdwick, Commodore
Rick Fee aboard Draver’s Kerplunk! is surprised as Shanafield’s Hjalmar III and crew sail very near on June 17, 2018 near Waukegan Harbor.
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.
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