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Q?
How can I meet other sailors who might be interested in sailing with me?
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A.
You need to meet and interact socially with other sailors or would-be sailors. Sailing with us, you can join in on group sails, training and harbor-hopping sails and deliveries at the beginning and end of the season, as well as mingling and meeting other captain at a dock party or dinner party we sometimes host. Beyond that, the Columbia Yacht Club Skip-Jack program is a great way to meet potential crew.
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Q?
What does it cost to sail with you?
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A.
Fractional leasing is a very affordable alternative to the many costs and demands of boat ownership. Rather than unexpected costs and ongoing maintenance expenses, our fractional leasing program offers you a fixed-cost approach to sailing impressive yachts. Click or more details about our system and leasing packages.
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Q?
This sounds great! But, my wife/boyfriend/husband/family doesn’t like to sail as much as I do, I am worried I won’t have anyone to sail with.
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A.
Sailing is more fun with company! One way to assure sailing companions is to partner with an avid sailor or two who will frequently sail with you and ideally, be a partner in your lease. With fractional leasing, sharing seasonal costs with a lease partner is simple and perfectly legal. Not so if you own the boat you sail. Unless you are a U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain, you cannot accept boat usage or sharing compensation of any amount at any time for any reason from any person whose name is not on the title of your boat. Check out the warnings posted at every harbor.
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Q?
What happens if there is an accident?
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A.
Accidents happen; even to the most cautious sailors. When you sail with us, you can be confident that you are covered by insurance. Our insurance has a $1,000 deductible. You are responsible for any damage you cause up to this amount. If you are ever in an accident, your first step should be to call us.
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Q?
Is parking included?
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A.
We share parking passes at Monroe, Jackson Outer and Du Sable.
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Q?
How do I get out to the boats in Monroe Harbor?
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A.
A water taxi, or tender, will take you out to your boat at Monroe.
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Q?
Do I have to clean the boat? What is expected of me?
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A.
You are sharing a boat with a number of other captains. When you leave the boat, you should leave it in the same or better condition than you found it. You will need to remove all trash and spend a few minutes wiping down the cabin and cockpit. We are on the boat once a week to do heavier cleaning, and other times when lighter cleaning may be performed.
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Q?
How many people can I have on the boat?
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A.
No more than seven, including yourself. This is an insurance mandate and applies to all of our boats. I would not recommend actually sailing with more than five people on the Catalina 27's.
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Q?
Can I sleep on the boat?
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A.
Yes! You can sleep on all of the boats. The view from the harbors at night is stunning. Just be off the boat before 9 AM. The Monroe Harbor tender starts running at 8 AM on weekdays.
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Q?
Can I book the boat for multiple days?
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A.
Of course! You choose the exact days that you sail. Take them one at a time or, book long weekends.
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Q?
Can I anchor the boat or take it to the dock?
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A.
Sure! Anchoring in the playpen or off of Northerly Island during concerts is one of the things that makes sailing in Chicago unique. If you think you'd like to anchor or dock, have the instructor verify that you can safely do so during your checkout. If you are inexperienced in this area, we can teach you.
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Q?
Do you offer sailing lessons?
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A.
We provide hands on intermediate level instruction with some of Chicago's best sailing instructors as part of your lease. We also provide periodic seminars on topics such as navigation, docking, sail trimming, etc. There's always more to learn!
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Q?
I have never sailed before. Can you teach me?
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A.
Our program is not geared towards rote beginners. If you don't know the difference between a halyard and a sheet, you'll need some basic instruction before sailing with us. There are a lot of places in Chicago that can get you up to speed. We work closely with a few Captains in Chicago and point you in the right direction for getting some lessons from a qualified licensed captain and instructor. Once you've learned to sail, leasing one of our smaller boats is the perfect way to practice what you've learned and become more confident in your sailing skills! Summer 2018 could be the start of a lifetime on the water!
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Q?
I am just getting into sailing, do you have any recommendations?
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A.
The Skipjacks program at the Columbia Yacht Club is a fantastic overview of what sailing and the sailing lifestyle offers to Chicagoans. All too few Chicagoans realize that ours is one of the world's great sailing cities. Skipjacks provides some classroom instruction and will allow you to get out on a number of different kinds of boats, it also gives you temporary access to the club's facilities.
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Q?
What does it take to qualify for your program?
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A.
You need to be able to sail the boat you want to lease. We do not require documentation or certification of any sort. Paperwork (or the lack thereof) does not really say a lot about your sailing ability. Instead, we have an instructor take you out on the boat to ensure that you can safely and competently handle her on your own.
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Q?
I haven’t sailed in a few years, should I still sign up?
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A.
Yes! Our check-out process is to weed out applicants who simply cannot safely sail a boat of the size the want to lease (and, have overstated their skills on their application!). If, during your checkout, either your or our instructor think you could use a little extra training, we will provide hands-on-instruction until the instructor is confident that you can handle the boat on your own (when needed, this usually only takes a session or two beyond your checkout).
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Q?
Is there anything else that would prevent me from leasing from you?
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A.
We reserve the right to reject anyone either we or our instructors feel would not be appropriate customers. But, we are a very welcoming group. The only hard and fast no-go is a recent DUI conviction.
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Q?
Can I take the boat to another harbor?
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A.
Yes. All of the boats can be taken overnight to another harbor.
