Page 18 - 2020 Yachting in Chicago

Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club Lasers IN the Pandemic
By Rachael Ahonen and Patrick Shanahan

Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club (CCYC) has had an When it was announced in March that the Chicago
active adult Laser fleet for the last 18 years. It was Harbors and our cherished lakefront would be
not until the summer of 2020, however, that our closed, the CCYC Laser fleet was faced with an
numbers really took off, culminating in our best existential question. What were we going to do
year yet. For those who are unfamiliar, the Laser this summer? Fortunately, our fleet already sailed
is a 14’ single-handed Olympic-class, fiberglass, a single-handed boat where social distancing
one-design sailboat. It was created for easy is baked into the design, but with the harbors
transport, speed, affordability and to highlight closed, we were a fleet with no home.
the individual sailor’s talents, rather than fancy Not to be deterred, Marcin Koziarski and Rick
equipment. The Laser is also, by far, the most Strilky encouraged us to temporarily relocate to
popular racing boat in the world. At first easy to a small man-made lake called Lake Opeka, home
maneuver, it takes years to master harnessing of the Des Plaines Yacht Club (DPYC). Lake Opeka
the wind and control lines for ultimate speed. was like a nursery for sailors to try out a new
Luckily experienced CCYC Laser fleet members boat in the fluctuating, but mostly forgiving wind
are there to help a newcomer grow, learn, and conditions. Experienced Rhodes 19 sailor and
advance his or her skills. As fleet member Andrea new 2020 CCYC Laser fleet member, Matt Perley,
Budano puts it, “CCYC has a fantastic fleet, whose summed it up best when he said, “The spirit of
members try to meet twice a week for training and hospitality in this sport shined in 2020, when the Mitch Polgar on a beat to the windward mark
once during the weekends to compete in races or CCYC Laser fleet and DPYC’s Portsmouth program Photo credit Jayme Novotney November 7, 2020
regattas. It is really a fantastic group of people, warmly welcomed sidelined T10 and Rhodes 19
and sailing with them has helped me to improve sailors to many great days of Laser racing.” Flannels Regatta the last weekend of September
my knowledge of the boat and my handling, from with Lasers, Vanguard 15s, Rhodes 19s, Sonars,
sailing faster, to managing very strong winds and Seeing our numbers grow, Strilky realized, “This Tartan 10s, J70s, and Etchells. The growth of the
stormy situations.” totally f***ed up pandemic/economic disaster Laser fleet was truly evidenced in October. For
has also proven to be a great opportunity for fleet the first time, CCYC hosted a Saturday frostbite
Christa Georgeson and Rick Strilky, as co- building. Imagine that!!” Strilky turned out to be
captains of the fleet, strive to balance a safe and right and our CCYC fleet grew to our largest yet; season and 19 Lasers registered!!!
friendly community with healthy competition. often with 12 or more boats at the starting line As the weather gets colder, and the season draws
Budano describes both Strilky and characteristics for Thursday night races. to a close, we will cherish these moments and
of the club itself, when he says, “Rick transmits new friendships we made and look forward to off
all the qualities I have always loved about true When Chicago Harbors reopened in July, season meetings and seminars. Andrea Budano
sailors: competence, conciseness, an obvious we returned home to Montrose Harbor. The says, “Probably one of my fondest memories will
love for the sport, paired with an almost ascetic mercurial wind, rolling waves, illustrious skyline, be a group of us reaching on a plane together
penchant for only the most simple, bare minimum fresh air, clean water, and sheer magnitude of back to the harbor after an afternoon of training
of sailing equipment, and absolutely no room for our billion year old Lake Michigan has no equal. with 27-30 knot winds, seeing all of us at sunset,
superfluous show-offs. This latter one being a As fleet member (and windsurfer) Andrea Budano sailing at lightning speed, pushed by the wind
feature that I have started to recognize as a CCYC puts it, sailing his Laser on Lake Michigan feels and the waves...it's an incredible feeling.” As
staple and one of my favorites.” “exhilarating and liberating all at once.” fleet member Giorgio Premiceri puts it, “As far
One unique aspect that makes the CCYC Laser as I am concerned, buying a Laser and joining
fleet very approachable is that while we race up the fleet has been my best decision of the past
to three times per week, no one keeps score. year. I prefer not to think about how different this
Instead, we focus on holistic fleet growth and ‘pandemic summer’ would have been without
individual development and returning veterans Laser sailing!”
sail right alongside neophytes trying Lasers for This summer was about a lot of incredible
the first time. On Wednesday nights, the Lasers sailing experiences, but also about how Chicago
join the other PHRF racers with a focus on Corinthian Yacht Club doubled its number of
endurance racing, Thursday nights are dedicated active Laser sailors in one shortened "pandemic"
to short dinghy races with Vanguard 15s, and season. Leave your dryland concerns behind and
on Sundays, the Lasers join the Rhodes 19s at come sail with us next summer. Bring your own
the center pin off of Wilson Crib; typically doing Laser or charter one from the fleet.
our own rabbit starts to keep boats within close
proximity of each other and maximize coaching For more information about our fleet or if you’d
opportunities within the fleet. We held two racing like to join us, contact our fleet captains
clinics in August with former Olympic trialist and Christa Georgeson at
US Sailing team member Erik Bowers as well. The christa.georgeson@gmail.com
clinics focused on starts, body position in the boat or 773-704-1634 (cell)
Christa Georgeson soaks up a
beautiful Lake Michigan sunset for both upwind and downwind sailing in both Rick Strilky at
Photo Credit: Andrea Budano strong and light wind conditions, understanding restoringart@gmail.com or
October 7, 2020 the current, using telltales, rounding marks, 773-419-0487 (cell)
and sailing through waves. We hosted the Red

18 2020 yachting in chicago