Chicago Strictly Sail 2015

[relamb]

Who's going to Chicago Strictly Sail 2015 (besides me and the boss)?
http://www.strictlysailchicago.com/
Tentative plans are to come into Chicago friday evening, do the show Sat and Sunday.
Anyone else planning to attend?
Rick

[Bob23]

Sounds awfully cold! We'll be in Fla-di-da visiting our daughter. But it would have been fun to meet more Compac-o-nauts.
Bob23

[relamb]

Leaving for St Pete right after the show, on Monday!

[rbh1515]

I am going Wednesday.  I usually go on the weekend when it is crowded.  I should have the place to myself on Wednesday.
Rob

[Vectordirector]

Well, I just got back to Punta Gorda today, leaving a blizzard and -25 windchills in Chicagoland.  Strictly sail was, when I went a couple of years ago, rather disappointing.  It was the height of the recession, probably 2011, and there really weren't that many boats there.  A couple Lasers, a few windsurfers, a couple of the Sewards, a 26 for sure and maybe a 32 too.  The big boats were a couple of Hunters and Benes.  No Compacs or Catalinas that I recall.  There were a of ton of booths with 'stuff", vacation packages, one at Bitter End Yacht Club looked very enticing.  Custom canvas, vinyl stickers, hats, shirts, etc.  Electronics, you know, boat stuff, not necessarily sailboat specific either.  I didn't go to any of the seminars or classes, there are many, none of which appealed to me.  YMMV.  I haven't looked at this year's list of exhibitors because I won't be there.  Check it out and see if anything looks enticing.  

My take of it, and it may be better now, is if there is a boat there you are interested in, that you probably can't see anywhere else, go take a look.  If not, and you aren't local, keep in mind the weather. the cost of lodging and food, which ain't cheap in the city, and look at their web site to see if there are any classes/seminars you might be interested in.  Locals can skip the lodging and food and see if it is worth the trip.  I'm not all that big of a fan of big cities.  Oh, and Navy Pier is among the worlds greatest tourist traps, but you locals already know that.  Chicago is a great city if you like citys.  Be prepared to drop lots of cash if you want to really have fun and eat at the best places.  If you want to make a vacation of it, do it in September or Early October.  The weather is gorgeous and the tourists are gone.  There is also great sailing if you want.  Chicago Sailboat Charters is highly recommended if you want to have a cruise on the Lakefront.  Our captain of a Catalina 390 offered to let me drive.  Truly spectacular if the weather is good is the fireworks cruise in the evenings.  If you fancy yourself a Photog, bring a long zoom and fire away.  My Pro friend had a Canon 1d something with a 70-200L 2.8 IS and his shots were post card quality. That's about 5K$ worth of camera and 2K$ of lens to you non shooters.  And a 30 year Pro pressing the buttons.  My sorry Canon 50D and $600 lens could come close, about 8X10, he could have blown them up to 30x40 easily. 

But I digress.   

If I was going to spend the money to go to a boat show it would be Annapolis in fall, not Chicago in winter.  I hate the cold, so glad to be back in sunny SW FL.  

Vectordirector

[rbh1515]

Few corrections to above:
The show is not at Navy Pier this year...its at McCormick Plac, combined with RV/motorboat show.  This is a bit disappointing, but I'll give it a try.
I always go to the show and can't recall a year that Catalina didn't show.
Com-Pac will be there.
I find the show a nice diversion in the middle of the winter.  My boat has been out of the water for 2.5 months and my new boat won't be here for about 2.5 years.
Give it a try.  It will be cold, but it's winter and supposed to be cold!

[Greene]

Brenda and I find the show a great mini-vacation during the winter.  We take advantage of the numerous free seminars which can be quite interesting and informative.  Although we aren't interested in purchasing a mega-bucks yacht, it is still fun to tour them and get the summer sailing juices flowing again. 

We plan on arriving Friday a.m. and staying through Sunday noon. 

Mike and Brenda

[Vectordirector]

Wow, I wasn't aware of the change of venue.  Thanks for the correction.  McPlace is huge.  Did the auto show there a couple of times.  Hope everyone has a blast.  Let us know how it goes. 

Vectordirector

[crazycarl]

i have that wednesday approved off, but after macgyver had to cancel, we decided not to go.

however, a combined show sounds interesting as there may be vendors with items useful on a sailboat.

CC

[kickingbug1]

    i wont be there either----cant really leave my mother in law alone anymore

[Bob23]

Kick:  I know the feeling...in the same boat!
B23

[rbh1515]

i have that wednesday approved off, but after macgyver had to cancel, we decided not to go.

however, a combined show sounds interesting as there may be vendors with items useful on a sailboat.

CC

I agree...since I just ordered a HDC there a number of things I need.  There may be more availability of accessories with the combined show.  Also check out Curt Crane's booth.  Local artist and sailor in Milwaukee.  See below for one of his paintings I own.
Rob

[Subsailor637]

My wife Linda and I will be attending the Chicago show on Friday and maybe Sat. morning.  Would love to meet up with any fellow ComPac sailors attending as well. 

[rbh1515]

I'm going tomorrow.  Anyone need info or pics of anything?
Rob

[relamb]

Rob, I'm not familiar with the venue since it's new there this year.  Perhaps you can scout out a good place where some of us could meet up, on Friday or Saturday?  Snack bar, lounge area, compac booth?
Rick
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