April 2012 – Move the boat to Chicago via the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. The trip is about 300 miles and should take about 4 days. We’ll leave early on a Friday to minimize the amount vacation time.
Crew: Jim, Janet, Hannah the dog, Joe, David S.(?), myself, and anyone else that’s interested.
May 2012 – Put mast up at Canal Street Marina on the Chicago Canal, tune rig, finish details for 15th Chicago to Mackinac Island Solo Challenge, and move to mooring at Monroe Harbor.
During late May or early June we’ll try to find a weekend that everyone can make so that we can sign off on the MOB and other requirements.
June 27, 2012 – Awards Luncheon to be held at the Mackinac Island Yacht Club at 1200 hours.
June/July 2012 – After conclusion of Solo Mac, Bonzon family cruise back to Chicago (appx. 333 nautical miles from Mackinac Island) from Mackinac Island, stopping at Beaver Island (appx. 35 nautical miles from Mackinac Island), Harbor Springs (appx. 42.6 nautical miles from Mackinac Island), Leland (appx. 75 nautical miles from Mackinac Island), Frankfort (appx. 106 nautical miles from Mackinac Island), Holland (appx. 225 nautical miles from Mackinac Island), and then St. Joseph or Chicago, who knows.
Early July I would like to find a weekend that we can either enter a short distance race or maybe sail overnight on our own to St. Joe’s or other destination.
July 14, 2012- 2012 Bell's Beer Bayview Mackinac Race maybe do the doublehanded race with Joe? The doublehanded boats do the shore course, and under PHRF. We would need to deliver the boat to Port Huron the previous week.
July 21,2012 – 104th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac I’m only going with six crew members; Joe Levanowicz, Jim , David Stevenson, Cody Stevenson, Mike Tomsu, and myself, in a gamble that most of the race will be in light to medium air. The boat is easy to sail and if we tack the off watch crew onto the windward side berths we should be able to minimize our lack of crew weight. Should the race turn into a long upwind heavy air beat, well, then we’ll get our asses handed to us. I’m going to request that after the race that we are berthed at the island and because of our draft we should get it.
A couple of crew members have already booked a room at the Quality Inn & Suites in Mackinaw City. I think that they said it was $119 per night, a whole lot cheaper than the island. Here’s a link if you’re interested in a room in Mackinaw City and here’s one if you’re interested in staying on Mackinac Island. You can make your Mackinaw City reservations now, but will have to wait till after January 2, 2012 to make your island reservations. Keep in mind that there is the added expensive of the ferry and that it takes anywhere between 16 and 30 minutes to get to the island if you stay off of the island.
I’m going to stay on the boat and anyone that wants to stay on the boat is also welcome. BOOTLEGGER sleeps eight unless you stack’m, then 16.
BOOTLEGGER will leave the island on Wednesday, July 25 and head back to Chicago. Joe is the only one that has committed, or he should be, to doing the delivery back to Chicago, and that should be enough, but anyone is welcome to join us. We’ll stop in CHARLEVOIX (appx. 48 nautical miles from Mackinac Island) to see my parents and Rosemary and Sam Hardy. After that we’ll head south and stop either in Muskegon (appx. 195 nautical miles from Mackinac Island), Grand Haven (appx. 205 nautical miles from Mackinac Island), or Holland (appx. 225 nautical miles from Mackinac Island) so that I can catch up with my parents at the 2012 National Model Railroad Convention in Grand Rapids. I don’t need to be in Grand Haven until the 29th, so I’m open to stopping anywhere along the way. We’ll probably head back to Chicago on the evening of the 29th or the morning of the 30th, weather permitting, and should make Chicago on either Monday July 30th or Tuesday July 31st.
The race also has a bus that will take you back to Chicago for $85 (2011 rates). If anyone has room in a car that’s going back to Chicago, please let me know.
I would ask crew to supply their own personal gear, including Foul Weather clothing, PFD/Harness and Tether, a personal knife to be carried at all times (this is to be used to cut a safety harness tether, so a serrated edge might be best), and any other required personal equipment, all in compliance with the requirements of the NOR and OSR (look under the heading “Personal Equipment”). Make sure to get a refill kit for your inflatable PFD! (We do have a limited supply of some gear that you might be able to borrow if this is a real problem.) In addition, please bring (and use, as necessary) whatever anti-seasickness treatment is most effective for you -- some of which may require a prescription from a doctor, e.g. scopolamine patches.
I will take care of provisions on the boat during the race, although you are most welcome to contribute in-kind if you wish (I think Joe is bringing Chili). On the other hand, meals out on shore -- such as the Mount Gay Rum party, our island crew dinner, or during work and training weekends, for example -- would normally be each crew member's responsibility.
It should also be understood that BOOTLEGGER is intended to be a smoke and drug-free environment, and we drink alcoholic beverages only after we're done sailing.
August 31 – September 3, 2012 (Labor Day weekend) – Tri-State Regatta
Crew (those who have committed or have given a strong maybe):
Dave B
Joe L
Jim S
Janet S
Matt R
Joy R
Jason W
Cathy W
Dan L
This is one of my favorites. We start Friday night in Chicago and race to St. Joseph, MI., usually arriving around sun rise. Then we party; beach volley ball, tug-of-war, dance and dinner at the club, all day and night Saturday. Sunday we race to Michigan City, IN where they have dinner and dancing waiting for us. On Monday we race back to Chicago and then head home.
Be warned that this race is definitely NOT kid friendly, on more than one occasion I’ve seen pretty, and not so pretty, women go skinny dipping in the St. Joseph’s Yacht Club pool, which is where you’ll find me once it gets dark.
The crew is responsible for their own meals, drink, and lodging (I like to stay on the boat and everyone is welcome to join me) while on shore. I’ll have some food and drink on the boat for the sailing portions of the weekend. Lodging close to the yacht club in St. Joseph isn’t hard to find, but it is in Michigan City, and to make matters worse Michigan City doesn’t have a taxi service. The good news is that during the Joe and a few others were able to find a ride to the hotel, so all hope is not lost.
For this race you’ll want to have a set of foul weather gear, safety harness and tether (with whistle and light), and any sea sickness remedy that you might need.
We usually have a car that follows us around that will carry our clothes and extra gear, so if anyone wants to jump ship during any of the legs they’ll have a ride to the next destination.
Here’s what the St. Joseph Yacht Club had planned for the 2011 race:
“Saturday (09-03-11)
The fun begins early as we will open the bar at 7am with Bloody Marys, Screwdrivers & Mimosas available for our early arriving sailors and anyone who wishes to come down and watch the boats come in.
Also at 7am the club will begin serving its traditional breakfast that includes pancakes (with and without blueberries!), scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, biscuits & Gravy and more!
Still Hungry? The club will have no shortage of dining options available to you as we will begin serving our "Cheeseburger in Paradise Lunch" at 11am. For only $6 you can enjoy a burger with all the fixin's and potato chips.
The party really gets started at 5pm when Steve Foresman takes the stage to entertain us with a mixture of rock, folk, classic country, and rhythm & Blues. Steve will play until 8pm and will be sure to have the crowd rockin'!
The event's amazing, annual dinner starts at 6pm and will be served until 10pm. This delicious meal includes your choice of Grilled Steak or Chicken ($18/$13) in addition to Sweet Corn, Caesar Salad, Fresh Local Fruit and more!
The Award Ceremony will be held at 7pm and is a great opportunity to cheer for your favorite yacht or find out how well you and your team sailed.
You'll know that the party is in full swing at 8pm when our headlining band (Libido Funk Circus) takes the stage. We are proud to welcome back last year's extremely popular band to our biggest party of the year and are extremely excited to hear what promises to be a great performance! Don't forget that we will have two bars in service and a beer truck pouring your tapped favorites. Be sure to invite your friends, family, neighbors & co-workers to the club to enjoy this exciting event with you!
Sunday (09-04-11)
The Sailors will rise on Sunday morning (clear headed and energetic) to ready for the second leg of their journey. They will be met at the club with fresh donuts, coffee and juice to give them a proper send off. Watching the boats sail out to the lake makes for an exciting family outing. Look to this section in the coming days for information regarding the ships anticipated departure times.”
The Moonshiner’s (crew for 2012):
Matthew B
Kathryn B
Dave B
Joe L
Jim S
Janet S
Jason W
Cathy W
David S
Cody S
Matt R
Joy R
Dan L
