Young sailors diving into popular Great Lakes pastime
One of the iconic images of summer in Chicago is the sight of sailboats gracefully gliding along the city's waterfront. No gas or motor required, just a good summer breeze.
Those who sail like to describe it as a lifestyle. It takes skill and training to master, and along the way often develops into a lifelong passion. That's certainly the case for these kids who grew up living the sailing lifestyle and loving the sport early on.
You're off and away from all worries and problems that are back on the dock.
Sixteen-year-old Emily Gildea of Palos Park grew up sailing on a family friend's boat and by fourth grade wanted to sign up for lessons. She now sails competitively on the team for Mother McAuley and Brother Rice high schools. In fact, one of the reasons she chose Mother McAuley was because it had a sailing team.
“My high school team practices three days a week and then on Saturdays if we don't have a regatta, which is a competition,” says Gildea. “We compete against lots of different high schools like University of Chicago Laboratory School, St. Ignatius and Loyola Academy. On heavy wind days the workout you get sailing is very intense. You use a lot of different muscles and you're always moving.”
During the summer she races on the Columbia Yacht Club sailing team out of DuSable Harbor and helps the youngest sailors, ages 5 through 7, learn the craft in Columbia Yacht Club's Shark Bait summer camp. “Kids who have never sailed before come out and try it and love it.”
Gildea also enjoys sailing the family's small sunfish on Michigan's Lake Macatawa.
“What I enjoy most about sailing is being on the water. The view from whatever lake or ocean you're on is always beautiful,” says Gildea. “You're off and away from all worries and problems that are back on the dock.”
Beyond the thrill of the sport, Gildea loves the social scene around sailing.
“My friends at sailing are my best friends. I spend so much time with them and couldn't imagine my life without them.”
I enjoy sailing because there's always a new experience to be had.
Sixteen-year-old Jacob Dannhausen-Brun first learned how to sail as a Boy Scout, earning his Small Boat Sailing merit badge. He's now on the varsity sailing team at Hinsdale Central High School. It's a time commitment that would leave most people exhausted. “I practice Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. I leave directly from school and drive about an hour to sailing on those days. We practice at the Chicago Yacht Club, downtown at Monroe Harbor. When practice is over, I drive about an hour home and get home around 8 p.m.,” says Dannhausen-Brun.
“On the weekends, we usually have regattas that are all day Saturday and Sunday. If we don't have a regatta, there is Saturday practice from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.” During the summer, Dannhausen-Brun sails on the Chicago Yacht Club team.
It's not always smooth sailing on the Great Lakes. Storms and swells that would have most running for cover, are just part of the excitement for this teenager.
“Lake Michigan can throw all kinds of conditions at you. It can be flat with no wind or 25 knot winds with 10 foot waves. There can be dense fog that only allows you to see 100 feet or it can be a torrential downpour,” says Dannhausen-Brun. “There have been times we've been sailing where the waves are so tall that you can only see the very top of the mast of the other boats out on the water with you. There have also been times when we have been sailing in mid-November and the temperature is in the teens and it's snowing. I love all the crazy conditions, but the best is when the sun is out, there's a warm summer breeze, and you have a consistent 12-15 knot wind.”
Dannhausen-Brun also enjoys sailing in calmer waters. “My family has a small 15-foot sailboat at my grandparent's house in Lake Geneva that I enjoy sailing whenever I visit.”
Despite the time commitment and the inherent dangers of the sport, it's a lifestyle Dannhausen-Brun has come to love.
“I enjoy sailing because there's always a new experience to be had. There are so many boats you can sail on, places you can sail to, and conditions to sail in. I love being on the water.”
Want to make your own waves?
Ready to dive into the sailing scene? There are plenty of places locally where you can sign up for an introductory course or summer camp. Here are a few of them:
• Columbia Yacht Club (columbiayachtclub.org)
• Chicago Yacht Club (chicagoyachtclub.org)
• Montrose Harbor's Corinthian Yacht Club (corinthian.org)
• Sheridan Shore Sailing School in Wilmette (sheridanshoresailing.com)
• Some park districts have sailing programs.
Maybe this summer you'll decide to sail away!