Night Crossing
Location: Mechanics Shop - Jackson Park
Cptn. Greg Gills
Greg first crossed the lake in 1991 on his O’day 22. Since then he has made countless passages, both alone and with his wife Ann. Greg has sailed in 17 Mac races, including a solo. He and Ann often cruise 450 to 500 miles a summer in their 1971 Pearson “Margaritaville” . Every year he makes a number of night passages, and he considers it a rich part of the sailing experience.
This seminar is designed for the sailors who are looking forward to crossing the lake for the first time. The presentation has an emphasis on a night passage. The information can benefit both the skipper and crew as well as any who simply wonder what preparing for a Lake Michigan crossing might be like.
I certainly hope you can find a few nuggets that will make the time well spent.
Elco Electric Motors and Repowers
Location: Montrose Tent
Robert Eckberg
Recently acquired by Elco as Midwest Regional Sales Manager. He has 50+ years of boating experience as a boat boy, chef, dock hand and harbor master. Helped in the repower of Alice Mary which you can view on the North Dock at Yachtapalooza.
Harken: The importance of regular maintance
Location: Fiberglass Shop - Dusable *Live Streamed Event*
Oakley Jones
Oakley Jones grew up on and around the waters of Cape Cod in Massachusetts. A life long sailor and racer he has competed at some of the highest levels in the sport both nationally and internationally. He has lived in Newport, RI for over 30 years and has worked for the past 18 at Harken as the Northeast Sales Manager.
Regular cleaning and maintenance will keep your boat in top shape. We all know this, but don’t always practice it. Oakley from Harken will focus on the importance of annual maintenance and how to keep your costs down by maintaining your gear. If you want your rigging to last longer the care and feeding of the Harken hardware is necessary. One point that I always make is If your headstay is over 15 years old it’s time to replace it. Save money & down time by doing regular recommended maintenance.
Splicing 101 - How to & Hands on Demonstration
Location: Training Room - Belmont
Phil is the General Manager at Crowley’s and is also the owner operator of Sailbrite Midwest - a sail care and canvas shop in Chicago. He has been in the marine industry for over 30 years and is a frequent speaker on boating topics ranging from fiberglass repair to boating safety and rigging.
In this hand’s-on seminar participants will learn the basics of rope construction, terminology, and technology. In the hands-on portion, participants will learn how to make a cover to core doublebraid splice and a simple Brummel splice.
Anchoring and safe boating
Location: Mechanic Shop - Jackson park
Cptn. Rosalie Johnson
Rosalie is a lifelong sailor and boater. She grew up on a sailboat and has crossed the oceans. With many years of experience, she enjoys teaching new boaters the lessons needed to safely navigate nearshore and offshore waters.
wood refinishing and varnishing
Location: Training Room - Belmont
Jayne Parker
Jayne Parker is a lifelong varnish enthusiast, she has 50+ years of experience beautifying teak. She knows all the tips, tricks and secrets needed to complete her projects.
Learn from the best in this hands on seminar where you will get to use the top products and get your hands sticky. Jayne will wow you with her skills and expertise.
boating and your brain - pt. 2
Location: Fiberglass - Dusable *Live Streamed Event*
Dr. Michelle London
Dr. Michelle London is a Johns Hopkins trained rehabilitation neuropsychologist who specializes in the cognitive, emotional and physical sequelae of diseases of the brain. She has been the director of a Memory Clinic at Weiss Hospital and is an Assistant Professor at Northwestern University.
When not working with patients she can be found sailing Coconut her 1979 30ft Catalina with a sea foam green hull out of Burnham Harbor. If you see her on the water yell “Brains Rule!”
Were you on hand for the gripping seminar in 2022?
The sport and recreation of boating can have a very positive impact on our minds and bodies. Alternatively, some gnarly injuries to this most important of organs can occur and BOOM! life is changed. Dr. Michelle London will be joined by Dr. David Ripley who will briefly join us for a neuro based case study detailing TBI in a patient from a sailboat accident. This brain based talk will be a review of how boating impacts our brains.
Fire Safety and In-Person Demonstration
Location: Montrose Tent
Captain Crossland is a dedicated Captain, marine consultant and instructor at Chicago Maritime School. He has a passion for being at sea and possesses a range of knowledge and experience that he enjoys sharing.
Got Fire? Hope not! With the recent boat yard fires we feel now is a better time than any to talk about fire safety. Stafford Crossland from the Chicago Maritime School will be on hand to teach you the chemistry of fire and how to avoid them. He will also provide a hands on demonstration of the best practices to extinguish a fire if/when one occurs. You must attend the 30 minute in person seminar to attend the hands on demonstration.
History over the horizon
Location: Fiberglass Shop - Dusable *Live Streamed Event*
Kris Habermehl
For many years, as the voice of Chopper Two on CBS Channel 2 and WBBM Radio’s flying traffic and news reporter, he has recorded videos which document the changes along the Calumet River from year to year, as well as the diminishing number of the giant lake freighters to be seen along its banks.
Winner of five regional Emmys as well as many other honors, Kris is also a certified Emergency Medical Technician and an active volunteer firefighter.
Get a close aerial view of the freight carriers that ply the Great Lakes with this veteran traffic copter reporter! He focuses on the terminals which are no longer there in an astonishing before & after display.
You won’t believe what you are seeing as he shows us his flights down the Calumet River, zooming in with a state of the art, gyroscopically stabilized camera while giving a live running commentary.
He enjoys interacting with his audience, so look forward to a lively Q&A afterwards!
A guide to yacht life
Location: Montrose Tent
Captain Derrick & Kitten Gray AKA Captian & Queen authors of "A Guide To Yacht Life" never Imagined 12 years ago that Yachting would change the direction of their life in such an incredible way. This dynamic duo is on a mission to impact the lives of millions of future Yachters/Boaters worldwide while elevating and empowering those already a part of this fascinating lifestyle.
Captain & Queen, authors of A Guide To Yacht Life, are on a mission to share their love of Yachting with the world. They will discuss the benefits of Yachting and Boater Safety along with what Yachting has meant to them. Living the Yacht lifestyle includes: The Benefits of Yachting/Boating, Yacht/Boater Safety, Yacht Purchase Guide, Steps to Becoming A New Boater, and Nautical Terms.
Take a trip down chicago river
Location: Mechanic Shop - Jackson Park
Cptn. Jon Meyer
Jon Meyer is a US Coast Guard Licensed Master Captain, Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED instructor, certified alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mediator, and pilot experienced in law enforcement and water rescue. Additionally, Jon is a freelance captain for public sightseeing tours and private yacht charters. As a founding member of Boat Safe Chicago, Jon aims to make basic boat safety available to everyone, making us all safer on the water.
Have you been frustrated by other boaters trying to navigate improperly? Have you had to wait for a novice boater to try and figure out the Locks? Did you know there is a Starbucks and a Target with boat access on the River?
You will learn how to boat on the Chicago River and Locks safely. Highlights include the different hazards on each branch; how to communicate with the commercial sightseeing operators; special nighttime operating procedures; dock-n-dine locations, and more!