Chicago Park District harbors officially close Oct. 19 at midnight. If your boat is not out of the harbor, you can expect a ticket. Ignore the ticket and you can lose your spot in a Chicago harbor.
But with a $100 Late Leaver permit, the boat can stay at one of three designated harbors until Nov. 15. Brrrr.
Designated harbors are Diversey, the north end of Burnham and the new slips at Montrose.
Among the big changes in the program this year, Belmont Harbor joins Jackson Park, 59th Street and Monroe Harbors as off-limits to late leavers.
Scott Stevenson, vice president of Westrec, which operates the harbors for the Chicago Park District, said Belmont was dropped as a late-leaver facility over concern for the boats’ safety. Again last year, many boats received major damage in a fall storm when southeasterly winds sent huge waves through the harbor.
“Montrose, Diversey and Burnham are very well-protected from storms,” Stevenson said.
Wonder what it would be like at one of those fancy slips? For the $100 late-leaver fee, you can use one at Montrose, Burnham or Diversey (powerboats only).
Water for the slips will be not be operating, but the electric service will be kept on and harbor security will remain in effect, Stevenson said. No late-leaver mooring cans or star docks will be available, he said.
Phase 2 of the $35 million harbor renovation gets under way this fall with more slips installed at Montrose, Diversey, 59th Street and Jackson Park Harbors. A lawsuit to stop the harbor work was dismissed in September.
– Off and sailing. The 7th (and final) Whitbread Around the World Race began Sept. 21 near Southampton, England.
The premier around-the-world race is run in nine legs, the first, and longest at 8,452 miles, is to Cape Town, South Africa.
ESPN plans 14 hours of coverage. For race updates and TV coverage times, check the race web site www.whitbread.org.
British beermaker Whitbread has sponsored the event since 1973. Volvo will take over sponsorship next year. Sorry, but Volvo in the name just will not have the same ring.
Three of the 10 Whitbread 60s are flying the U.S. flag. Dennis Conner and Chris Dickson are co-skippers on Toshiba, which recently set a record for distance sailed by a monohull boat in 24 hours. An astounding 499 miles. In comparison, the all-time speed record for the 333-mile Mackinac race is just under 26 hours.
– Canceled. We reported this year that Westrec would rent personal watercraft at two Chicago locations. After a few weeks, Westrec pulled out because safety concerns, Stevenson said.
Personal watercraft, often referred to by the brand names Jet Ski, Wave Runner or Sea Doo, have been under attack for safety and environmental reasons.
In an unusual move, the National Park Service is enacting an emergency rule to ban personal watercraft from all national parks, lake shores and recreation areas. The new rule will take effect when it’s published in the Federal Register, which is likely within the next few weeks.
“Considering the volume of complaints we’re getting, it seems everyone who doesn’t have a personal watercraft can’t stand them,” Dennis Burnett, of the Park Service, told the Duluth News-Tribune.
Vermont has banned the craft from lakes smaller than 300 acres; Connecticut requires training for all operators.
Washington’s San Juan County banned water bikes in 1996. The law was overturned after the industry sued, but county officials, joined by other critics, are taking the issue to the state Supreme Court.
– Speed zone. Don’t be surprised to see a strictly enforced speed limit on all watercraft around Navy Pier.
The operator of one speeding boat was killed there July 27, when he hit the wake of another craft and his boat broke in two.
The area often is crowded with tour boats, sailboats, speedboats, cabin cruisers and personal watercraft, many operating at high speed. The potential for disaster has authorities looking at ways to improve safety.
What a shame that boaters of all types can’t just take the responsibility to operate safely.
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Questions, announcements, suggestions? E-mail boatnews @aol.com or write to William Recktenwald, City Room, Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611-4041.
