Clinton Lake, Illinois

[crazycarl]

Several co-workers/friends have mentioned for some time now how they have never set foot on a sailboat and would love to go out.

Today was the day.

Our choices were, Lake Geneva, Wi.  Lake Michigan at the IL/WI border.  Clinton Lake in central IL.

The winds were predicted to be 10mph for all three places, but the temp at Clinton Lake was predicted to be 10* warmer, so Clinton it was.

  We arrived around 11-11:30 this morning and I had the boat rigged in 35 minutes.  She slid off the bunks (now equipped with bunk slicks) with ease.  We motored out of the protection of the marina to find light winds and 1 other sailboat on the water.  Within a 1/2 hour, there were 3 boats and a steady wind moving us along at 4.3 knots.  Ryan had a bad migraine, but even after several offers to leave, he insisted he wanted to stay.  Les, a power boater, handled the tiller like he had done it his entire life, which let me go up front to drop and retrieve the anchor during our lunch break.  The afternoon brought a bit stronger wind that put us over to the point they thought we were going over.  I asked Les, who was on the lee side, if the rub rail was wet.  "No" was his reply.  "Then she has a lot more heel left in her", I calmly announced.  "Hell yea!, then let's put this baby on her side", Les called out.  Ryan, who was standing on the cabin top holding on to the windward side of the mast looked as if Les was crazy. 
  I explained what the different lines running all over were for and the dynamics of sailing, but what really amazed them was the way the boat slipped through the water so silently.  Les kept saying, "We're moving across this lake and not burning 1 drop of gasoline"!

Les is on the starboard side and Ryan is to port.


  Returning to the marina, I noticed 2-Compac 19s and a 25 or 27.  1-19 and the 25/27 in slips, and the other on a mooring. 



  We pulled the boat about 5:30 and had her ready for the road in 25 minutes.  The bunk slicks made cranking her onto the trailer so much easier than the carpeted bunks.

  It was great day made even better by introducing 2 good friends to this great passion of ours.

  On a lighter note, our boat is name Miss Adventures because every time out, something goes wrong.  This time after Les put our Jeep into 4-wheel drive to pull the boat, the light indicating it was in part time 4-wheel drive stayed on after disengaging and and now I can't get it into 4-wheel drive.  So, another trip to the mechanic is in order.

Carl

[wroundey]

Always a good day to go sailing and introduce someone to the joys of sailing.

[kickingbug1]

   carl you need to tell those other com-pac guys about the clr. more the merrier.

[crazycarl]

Steve, I was thinking the same thing.

I talked to a fellow sailor about moorings.  He thought he paid $600 for the year, and that includes trailer storage.  I'm contacting the marina Tuesday.

Carl

[skip1930]

Cool. Lake Clinton I think was created mostly to collect water for the cooling towers of the Nuclear Power generating plant there.
This Nuke was the last one built in the United States ... regulations have awarded the users with almost the highest kW costs in America.
Presently a permit has been issued a short time ago for a location in Georgia.

I went to school in Normal, Illinois [ISU] and had a good friend who's family lives and farms 3,800 acres of corn and 1,800 acres of beans in Wapella, Illinois. Now she lives in Clinton and owns a savings and loan. We have driven around that lake and there are a lot of really, really outstanding shore sites that we explored in the dune buggy. Additionally the largest air conditioned building is [or was] located in Clinton and it was built by Funk Seed International for seed storage before being purchased by Ciba-Geigy in the 1970's.

This is such an interesting area of Illinois. I luv's the country. Who knew it was top notch sailing too.

skip.