A Magical Evening with Chicago Boat Friends

My friend Pam thought it would be fun to get together with our boating friends and arranged for an evening cruise of the Chicago river on Sea Sharp, Dick Hoffman's 48 Sundancer.  Sea Sharp is a sistership of the original Guided Discovery.  The cruise took place on Sunday evening August 24 and it was a memorable event.

Background: We have had the pleasure of making wonderful friends and a result of our boating activities both in Chicago and while on the Great Loop.

More Background: We moved Diversey Harbor to Belmont Harbor in 2006 as a direct result of purchasing our new 48 Sundancer.  The move from Diversey was motivated by Lake Michigan water levels which at the time were on the rise.  We were concerned with the 48's bridge clearance height in relation to Diversey's fixed bridge. At best we may have had 6 to 8 inches of clearance and that was achieved by taking the radar array of the arch and mounting it on the hardtop.   Lake Michigan water levels are also effected by heavy rains and by convective (thunderstorm) activity and wind.  High sustained winds and heavy thunderstorms can raise or lower water as high as 6 feet or more and this can happen in very quickly.  We did not want to find ourselves locked in or out of Diversey or worse having our radar array hit the bridge.

The 2006 season was spent on H-dock in a 45 foot slip next to a 46 foot sailboat.  Do the math.  The 48 Sundancer was actually 51 feet overall and she was 14' 8" wide.  Sailboats are very beamy.  In addition to sticking out we risked hitting the sailboat every time we docked the boat.  We immediately put in for a transfer to I-doc

We moved to I-dock in 2007 and stayed there until we departed for the Great Loop (October 3, 2010).  I-dock was a great place and we made lots of very good friends.

So what was unique about Sunday's cruise.  Well for one, I was a guest and that was great fun.  All of the "crew" were experienced boat owners; Dick has Sea Sharp, Pam has Sea Rose, A 47 Sedan Bridge, and a J70 sailboat, Brad and Mike have Arcadia, a 45 Sundancer and Marshall has a Cruisers 3870. The weather was perfect and the cruise on the river was both leisurely and extensive (i.e., we took the north branch to North Avenue and then the south branch to Chinatown and the Amtrack railroad bridge).  I will let the photos tell the rest of the story.

Sea Sharp's control station

Captain Dick Hoffman

Brad Bush, Co-captain of Arcadia

 

Dick, Marshall, Pamela, Brad and Les (Mike took to photo)

Mike Patten joins to the group (I took the photo)

Passing Pam's 47 Sedan Bridge and J70 racer

Pamela at the helm and having a good time

Marshall & Brad conversing as we speed to the Chicago River at 29.1 MPH

Throttles are set  at 2630 RPM.  She's going 29.1 MPH at 50.9 GPH
Not efficient but GREAT fun

Entering the Chicago Lock

Notice the water line.  The lake is the highest it has been in about 15 years

Heading west as we exit the lock
Note: 90% of the building in view were built since I moved to Chicago in 1972

The former North Pier which is being converted to River East lofts

The Trump Tower

Turning east toward the Trump tower and Lake Michigan

Chicago's famous Merchandise Mart

The Trump Tower and illuminated Wrigley Building

Magnificent Chicago view as we enter the Chicago River Lock 

Important Notes: Dick and Cathy Hoffman followed me out of Belmont on Sea Sharp and took photos of our Great Loop Departure.  Diana and Kodi were aboard Sea Sharp.  They met me 3 days later in Peoria.  Dick and Cathy joined Diana and I had the Miami Boat Show.  We had a lovely dinner in South Beach. Cathy was tragically killed in a freak auto accident just weeks later.  Pam has cruised with us on the 63 and has helped me move the boat from time to time. She provided critical feedback on my first VERY difficult docking situation at the Lake Park Trawlerfest.  Mike and Brad are two of of our earliest and loyal blog followers.

As I said, this was a very special evening.

Written by Les.