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Commodore's Corner

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Board meeting 8 March, General meeting, 15 March via ZOOM https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81165798529 Meeting ID: 811 6579 8529

Member dues are due by March 31st. $40 single/$50 family. Send your checks to our club P.O. Box (see below).

Please spread the word about our great club. Our primary recruiting event, the Sailing Show @ McCormick place did not happen in 2021, so we are relying on word of mouth and your good ideas to grow and serve our club. Contact any officer with those ideas and get your friends, family, even perfect strangers to join us.

Want to join? Please do! Applications and payment can be mailed to:
NWSA-Membership P.O. Box 921 Arlington Heights, IL 60006

Commodore's Message

As much as we’d rather be on the water right now, it recently was 10 degrees outside and there are 4 foot piles of snow everywhere! So I’m trying to enjoy a real winter while I can. Fortunately, we’ve been getting some nice sunny days. They really help take your mind off things.

Ever since the shutdowns, we have been getting together online for our meetings. Our online meeting in January had a great turnout and even greater presentation! Many of us learned a LOT about inflatable life vests and boat insurance trends.

Although we can’t get together in person yet, we are still planning out a summer of sailing. With the vaccine starting to roll out, we are hoping things will be much more open this summer. So we are planning for the best!

Many of us renew our memberships in person at our meetings. Alternatively, consider sending in your 2021 dues to our PO Box, found on the Membership Form found on the last page of our monthly Communique. PDF and online versions of our membership fForms are available here on the website.

-Marc Holdwick, 2021 Commodore

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NWSA History

flag 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.