Clear skys, calm conditions (except aboard), and chilly weather.
Made the run down the Great Lake Michigan without any problems....until we decided to start the engine.
Not that we needed to start it, but we were meeting friends downtown and it was beginning to look like we might be a bit late. The winds that had been blowing steadily from the southeast had petered out just as we reached the northern city limits. "Becalmed" we sailors call this situation. So firing the engine seemed appealing. Until we tried to fire it. Nothing. OK, no problem, I had just cleaned and rebuilt the carburator the day before, I could do it again now....Still nothing. At this point the wind picked up, from the north and at the leading edge of some weather moving south as luck would have it. Fantastic! Stormy conditions get you where you're going in a hurry under sail. Eric and Brian reset the sails and proceeded to haul for port. Meanwhile, the engine was giving me fits. It had become apparent that no gas was reaching the carburator. Alright, if I can rebuild a carb at sea I can rebuild a fuel pump....hold on, what's this? AAhhhhhh - the stupid fuel line had come undone from the engine! Easy.
During all the time I was futzing with the motor, Brian had guided us into the breakwater off Navy Pier, just a mile from our destination. And just in time for me to triumphantly turn on the engine and send us carreening toward our dockage. As we pulled in we noticed several people on the upper deck of the giant steel freighter that serves as the Columbia Yacht Club. And it was obvious they were noticing us.
Brian had arranged to meet his friend Steve Murakami at the club and, sure enough, he was dockside to receive us. And he brought a friend: Roberta, one of the members of the club and a member of the club's Cruising Society.
As it turned out the Cruisers were having their annual pre-season party. Roberta had noticed us arriving and exclaimed to the others: "There's a boat coming into the harbor!"
To which they responded: "Haha, April Fools!"
Roberta: "No really!"
Them: "Yeah, probably a power boat."
Roberta: "No, a Sailboat!"
And there we were.
Of course, the group had to meet us and we were cordially invited aboard the Yacht Club for drinks, food, and amazed conversation. (And also a little good natured, "I wanted to be the first one in!")
Thanks Columbia, we had a blast and you made our first day end perfectly!!
Later that evening I met up with Hannah Kirchner and Don Alsafi at Navy Pier. Don stayed on board over night and continued with us the next day.
On the morning of the 2nd day we stepped the mast. This means taking the mast down and laying it on top of the boat to facilitate travel below low lying obstacles. The lowest on the Chicago River is only 9 feet above the water. With Don's help the process was quick and relatively easy. And so we left Chicago Harbor for the 1st of a series of locks and the beginning of our river voyage.
YeeeeeHaaaaaaaw!