It can be hard for us to brush up on our sailing skills during the harsh Chicago winters. Even though our winters can be harsh, there are ways for us to still be able to enhance our skills off season—with our everyday commute! Here are a few ways in which you can use your everyday commute to help keep your skills as sharp as your sails as you wait for the weather to clear up once again.  Knot-Tying Practice Knowing how to tie knots is one of the most critical skills in sailin

via National Archives Did you know that approximately 18,000–20,000 African American sailors, roughly 16-20% of the Union Navy's enlisted force, served during the Civil War? Black sailors were crucial to the success of the Union during the civil war. One prominent figure that played an important role in Union success was that of Mary Louvestre. Mary Louvestre was born into slavery in Norfolk, Virginia. She was free as an adult and served as a housekeeper in the household of C

PIRATES There’s something poetic about the way sailing season in Chicago ends just as Halloween arrives. The warm sunsets of July give way to crisp October wind, docks empty out one by one, and the harbor slowly transforms from a summer playground into a quiet stretch of water waiting for the big freeze. And for many of us who grew up on the lake, the end of the season wasn’t just a task on the calendar — it was a ritual. For my family, that ritual always fell just before Hal

Unlock Freedom, Confidence, and Adventure on the Water with Great Lakes Sailing When you step aboard a sailboat, you're not just learning...