We are pleased to offer a special event rate for the following three hotels:
City Suites Hotel
933 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL
The Willows Hotel
555 W Surf St, Chicago, IL
The Majestic Hotel
528 West Brompton Ave, Chicago, IL
The rate is $120/night for single queen rooms or $150/night for suites(king suites or double rooms).
Contact Jennifer Manguino to book rooms at this discounted rate for any of the three hotels:
Email: dos@cityinns.com
Direct Line: (773) 404-3499
Please tell Jennifer that you are competing in the 505 North Americans.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
Diversions - things to do off the water
Taste of Chicago - June 25th - 27th, food from all over Chicago, live music. Grant Park
Chicago Summerfest - June 26th - 27th, art show, live music, food vendors. Clark and Armitage
Cubs at White Sox - June 26th - 27th, the crosstown classic. U.S. Cellular Field
Chicago Summerfest - June 26th - 27th, art show, live music, food vendors. Clark and Armitage
Cubs at White Sox - June 26th - 27th, the crosstown classic. U.S. Cellular Field
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Registration is Open
We are using the Compete-at product that many are familiar with from Midwinters and other events. If you do not already have a profile on the Compete-at website, please take the time to set one up and get your team registered. You will need a PayPal account to complete payment on-line. If preferred, you may send payment via post and a check.
If you have any problems that their support cannot address, please let JB know.
Late fees kick in after May 31st. Please get your registrations in. We are looking forward to a great event!
2010 505 North American Championship Registration
If you have any problems that their support cannot address, please let JB know.
Late fees kick in after May 31st. Please get your registrations in. We are looking forward to a great event!
2010 505 North American Championship Registration
Friday, February 26, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
CYC Blinker Article
The 505 Class was featured in the Winter 2010 issue of The Blinker, the Chicago Yacht Club's member publication. This issue was recently distributed at the Chicago Strictly Sail boat show. This article provides us with some great exposure to the club members, many of whom have never witnessed a major 505 regatta first hand.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Preliminary Housing Information
PROVIDED HOUSING:
There will be a limited amount of provided housing for the regatta. We are working hard to find as much provided housing as possible for those teams that are interested. In addition to local 505 fleet members, Chicago Yacht Club members may be volunteering to host some teams. More information will be availible over the next few months. Please email Craig Thompson if you are interested in provided housing. A priority list has been established and housing will be made availible based on "first contact/first serve basis".
Please, only request housing if you are serious about attending. Note that provided housing may require a vehicle for getting to/from the Yacht Club. If you are shipping your boat and flying, consider a hotel or apartment rental within walking distance of the club so you do not have to rent a car.
HOTELS/APARTMENTS/ETC:
For those of you traveling with families/wives/girlfriends who would prefer a more private housing arrangement, there are several options availible:
1. Craigslist - Furnished apartments on Criagslist are a great way to enjoy Chicago for the week. Fleet 13 members rented an apartment for the 2009 Worlds in San Francisco and it worked out great. The neighborhood where the event is being held is called Lakeview, and there may be vacation/furnished apartments within walking distance from the club. A larger unit is great for a group of sailors and can often be cheaper and nicer than a typical hotel.
CLICK HERE to view search results for Lakeview vacation rentals on Craigslist.
2. Hotels - There are 3 hotels that are within a 15-20 minute walk from the club. Book early to lock in a low rate. Summertime in Chicago is busy and rates/availility may become an issue as the dates get closer. The following information is from Hotels.com:
Best Western Hawthorne Terrace - Rates about $135 per night
3434 N Broadway Avenue, Chicago, United States
Hotel Info: 866-539-0036
Guest rating 4.3 / 5
100% Recommend
City Suites Hotel - Rates about $99 per night
933 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, United States
Hotel Info: 866-539-0036
Guest rating 4.3 / 5
90% Recommend
The Willows Hotel - Rates about $90 per night
555 W Surf St, Chicago, United States
Hotel Info: 866-539-0036
Guest rating 4.3 / 5
92% Recommend
There are hundreds of other hotels that would be within driving distance, but traffic can be prohibitive during weekdays. Also be weary of "to-good-to-be-true" rates, as some areas may not be as safe as others. Contact us if you have any specific questions about neighborhoods/saftey.
There may be more options availible. Housing is a high priority for us right now as we do not want this to be a cost-prohibitive aspect for everyone who will be attending. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you have.
There will be a limited amount of provided housing for the regatta. We are working hard to find as much provided housing as possible for those teams that are interested. In addition to local 505 fleet members, Chicago Yacht Club members may be volunteering to host some teams. More information will be availible over the next few months. Please email Craig Thompson if you are interested in provided housing. A priority list has been established and housing will be made availible based on "first contact/first serve basis".
Please, only request housing if you are serious about attending. Note that provided housing may require a vehicle for getting to/from the Yacht Club. If you are shipping your boat and flying, consider a hotel or apartment rental within walking distance of the club so you do not have to rent a car.
HOTELS/APARTMENTS/ETC:
For those of you traveling with families/wives/girlfriends who would prefer a more private housing arrangement, there are several options availible:
1. Craigslist - Furnished apartments on Criagslist are a great way to enjoy Chicago for the week. Fleet 13 members rented an apartment for the 2009 Worlds in San Francisco and it worked out great. The neighborhood where the event is being held is called Lakeview, and there may be vacation/furnished apartments within walking distance from the club. A larger unit is great for a group of sailors and can often be cheaper and nicer than a typical hotel.
CLICK HERE to view search results for Lakeview vacation rentals on Craigslist.
2. Hotels - There are 3 hotels that are within a 15-20 minute walk from the club. Book early to lock in a low rate. Summertime in Chicago is busy and rates/availility may become an issue as the dates get closer. The following information is from Hotels.com:
Best Western Hawthorne Terrace - Rates about $135 per night
3434 N Broadway Avenue, Chicago, United States
Hotel Info: 866-539-0036
Guest rating 4.3 / 5
100% Recommend
City Suites Hotel - Rates about $99 per night
933 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, United States
Hotel Info: 866-539-0036
Guest rating 4.3 / 5
90% Recommend
The Willows Hotel - Rates about $90 per night
555 W Surf St, Chicago, United States
Hotel Info: 866-539-0036
Guest rating 4.3 / 5
92% Recommend
There are hundreds of other hotels that would be within driving distance, but traffic can be prohibitive during weekdays. Also be weary of "to-good-to-be-true" rates, as some areas may not be as safe as others. Contact us if you have any specific questions about neighborhoods/saftey.
There may be more options availible. Housing is a high priority for us right now as we do not want this to be a cost-prohibitive aspect for everyone who will be attending. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you have.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Blinker Article
The following will appear in Chicago Yacht Club's quarterly publication, The Blinker:
The International 505 class will return to Lake Michigan for the 2010 North American Championship; racing will be held at Belmont station June 24-27th. This event will mark Lake Michigan’s second 505 North American Championship. Waukegan Yacht Club hosted the event in 1978.
The 505 will bring an exciting level of performance and sailing skill to Chicago’s Lakefront. First designed by John Westell in 1953; the 505 has changed with the times and has been at the fore-front of sailboat materials and technology throughout its years. The two-man, single trapeze, centerboard dinghy specifies a minimum weight of roughly 280 lbs (127.4 kilos) with all equipment less sails. Unlike many high-performance dinghies, the 505 continues to use a symmetric spinnaker. This makes downwind sailing challenging and tactical as both “wire-running” (reaching) and running can be effective tactics. High-tech Kevlar and technora sails are common along with carbon booms and spinnaker poles. Many of the boats themselves are constructed with Kevlar and carbon over a nomex honeycomb or foam core and epoxy. This makes the boats capable of handling punishing loads and lasting decades longer than flimsy Lasers or 470s.
Along with the materials that 505 manufacturers and sailors use in construction, the class has maintained an open mind when it comes to rigging. Essentially, you can rig your 505 just about anyway you want. This freedom does not necessarily make the 505 complex; in fact many 505 sailors rig the boat simply. The most important thing about rigging your 505 is, whatever you put on the boat, make sure it works in 25 kts.
While some freedoms are allowed under class rules, the 505 is not a true development class in the image of an International 14. Measurement is an integral part of major events. Over the years, the 505 class has made careful changes to its rules always in an effort to maximize the enjoyment of sailing the boat.
The pure joy of sailing a 505 has drawn many of sailing’s greatest to the class throughout its existence. Paul Elvstrom won the 2nd and 3rd World Championships, Cam Lewis was a two time champion, Chris Nicholson a three time champion, Morgan Larson and Howard Hamlin are also winners among many other great dinghy sailors and 505 champions. The 2009 505 World Championship, held at St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco was won by Mike Martin and Jeff Nelson. Mike is the only man to win as both a crew and this year as helm. Among the 2009 fleet were sailing legend Paul Cayard, Howard Hamlin, 1981 505 World Champion Ethan Bixby, 2003 Rolex Yachtsman of the year Augie Diaz and the above mentioned multiple World Champion Chris Nicholson. The balance of the fleet is filled with College Sailors of the Year and many college All-Americans. The fleet was also filled with many of the best dinghy sailors from Australia, Great Britain, and Germany.
Those Chicago Yacht Club members willing to lend a hand or who simply want to watch will witness something different than the Area III standard. The 505 class uses a gate-launch or “rabbit” start. This procedure uses the standard 5 minute countdown from the RRS. There is however, no fixed starting line. The signal boat is anchored to leeward of the starting mark, at the start a designated “pathfinder” (a competing 505) rounds the starting mark and sails upwind on port tack. The pathfinder is followed by a motorboat, “the gate-launch” (usually a RIB). To start, a racing boat simply “ducks” the pathfinder and gate-launch, passing to windward of the starting mark. After a predetermined amount of time, the pathfinder is released and can race as he pleases. The gate-launch then may motor at the same speed and course until stopping and drifting depending on the size of the fleet. After a predetermined time, the start is closed and any competitor that has not passed through the gate is scored as DNS.
While this starting method may seem complex to the unfamiliar, in practice the system works remarkably well. There are essentially no recalls, the Race Committee does not have to set a “square” line, and the competitors love the system.
The 505 prides itself on the great cooperativeness and resourcefulness of the fleet. Traditionally, camping has been an option at events; obviously some compromises have to be made in our urban venue. The event organizers may be looking for willing members to house visiting competitors due to our obvious lack of camping options. There will be more information available for those willing and interested closer to the event date. Also, while the 505 fleet is generally self-sufficient, we will be looking for volunteers to help with some landside and potentially race-course oriented tasks. Again, we will have more on the specific needs closer to the event.
In the meantime, we are taking our 505s to Florida to get in a little time on the water while we are all frozen here in Chicago. After we thaw out, Chicago’s 505s will be hitting the water and we are always happy to take those interested in the boat for a ride. Please have a look at our local fleet website and the 2010 505 North American Championship website for more information on 505s and the upcoming event.
Event Chairmen: Craig Thompson (USA 7346) and JB Turney (USA 7611)
The International 505 class will return to Lake Michigan for the 2010 North American Championship; racing will be held at Belmont station June 24-27th. This event will mark Lake Michigan’s second 505 North American Championship. Waukegan Yacht Club hosted the event in 1978.
The 505 will bring an exciting level of performance and sailing skill to Chicago’s Lakefront. First designed by John Westell in 1953; the 505 has changed with the times and has been at the fore-front of sailboat materials and technology throughout its years. The two-man, single trapeze, centerboard dinghy specifies a minimum weight of roughly 280 lbs (127.4 kilos) with all equipment less sails. Unlike many high-performance dinghies, the 505 continues to use a symmetric spinnaker. This makes downwind sailing challenging and tactical as both “wire-running” (reaching) and running can be effective tactics. High-tech Kevlar and technora sails are common along with carbon booms and spinnaker poles. Many of the boats themselves are constructed with Kevlar and carbon over a nomex honeycomb or foam core and epoxy. This makes the boats capable of handling punishing loads and lasting decades longer than flimsy Lasers or 470s.
Along with the materials that 505 manufacturers and sailors use in construction, the class has maintained an open mind when it comes to rigging. Essentially, you can rig your 505 just about anyway you want. This freedom does not necessarily make the 505 complex; in fact many 505 sailors rig the boat simply. The most important thing about rigging your 505 is, whatever you put on the boat, make sure it works in 25 kts.
While some freedoms are allowed under class rules, the 505 is not a true development class in the image of an International 14. Measurement is an integral part of major events. Over the years, the 505 class has made careful changes to its rules always in an effort to maximize the enjoyment of sailing the boat.
The pure joy of sailing a 505 has drawn many of sailing’s greatest to the class throughout its existence. Paul Elvstrom won the 2nd and 3rd World Championships, Cam Lewis was a two time champion, Chris Nicholson a three time champion, Morgan Larson and Howard Hamlin are also winners among many other great dinghy sailors and 505 champions. The 2009 505 World Championship, held at St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco was won by Mike Martin and Jeff Nelson. Mike is the only man to win as both a crew and this year as helm. Among the 2009 fleet were sailing legend Paul Cayard, Howard Hamlin, 1981 505 World Champion Ethan Bixby, 2003 Rolex Yachtsman of the year Augie Diaz and the above mentioned multiple World Champion Chris Nicholson. The balance of the fleet is filled with College Sailors of the Year and many college All-Americans. The fleet was also filled with many of the best dinghy sailors from Australia, Great Britain, and Germany.
Those Chicago Yacht Club members willing to lend a hand or who simply want to watch will witness something different than the Area III standard. The 505 class uses a gate-launch or “rabbit” start. This procedure uses the standard 5 minute countdown from the RRS. There is however, no fixed starting line. The signal boat is anchored to leeward of the starting mark, at the start a designated “pathfinder” (a competing 505) rounds the starting mark and sails upwind on port tack. The pathfinder is followed by a motorboat, “the gate-launch” (usually a RIB). To start, a racing boat simply “ducks” the pathfinder and gate-launch, passing to windward of the starting mark. After a predetermined amount of time, the pathfinder is released and can race as he pleases. The gate-launch then may motor at the same speed and course until stopping and drifting depending on the size of the fleet. After a predetermined time, the start is closed and any competitor that has not passed through the gate is scored as DNS.
While this starting method may seem complex to the unfamiliar, in practice the system works remarkably well. There are essentially no recalls, the Race Committee does not have to set a “square” line, and the competitors love the system.
The 505 prides itself on the great cooperativeness and resourcefulness of the fleet. Traditionally, camping has been an option at events; obviously some compromises have to be made in our urban venue. The event organizers may be looking for willing members to house visiting competitors due to our obvious lack of camping options. There will be more information available for those willing and interested closer to the event date. Also, while the 505 fleet is generally self-sufficient, we will be looking for volunteers to help with some landside and potentially race-course oriented tasks. Again, we will have more on the specific needs closer to the event.
In the meantime, we are taking our 505s to Florida to get in a little time on the water while we are all frozen here in Chicago. After we thaw out, Chicago’s 505s will be hitting the water and we are always happy to take those interested in the boat for a ride. Please have a look at our local fleet website and the 2010 505 North American Championship website for more information on 505s and the upcoming event.
Event Chairmen: Craig Thompson (USA 7346) and JB Turney (USA 7611)
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