Events during the Games
GLORY is organising a welcome party and reception for all regatta entrants and also all LGBT who are interested in sailing in Chicago (and visitors doing other sports) for the day of the weigh-in which will probably be held on Sunday 16th as the opening ceremony is on Saturday and the regatta starts on Monday 17th.
 
The objectives are:
- To develop a gay sailing group in Chicago and possibly elsewhere with visitors from other cities who may be participating in the Games but not in the sailing.
- To raise funds for GLORY and a nominated charity.
- To establish contacts for GLORY who can help to complete the board membership.

Location: Deck on top of 16 story apartment block with great views overlooking Belmont Harbor and Chicago.
Function type: Cookout and entertainment (band?)
Date: 16th July (weigh-in day)
Timescale: 6-8pm
Fundraising: Ticket Sales ($30 on the door, $25 in advance), Raffle of donated prizes and share of bar income

Accommodation
You must book accommodation NOW if you want to get somewhere close to where we're sailing as there aren't many hotels in that area of town. The Chicago Gay Games website does have a list of hotels which are offering discount rates to participants if you book through the site.
 
The closest is the Majestic Hotel at 528 West Brompton, Chicago, IL, 60657 which is a short walk to Belmont harbour. Their normal rates are $99-179 but during the Gay Games they are asking for $199 which we think is a rip-off.
 
There are short let apartments available (or "efficiencies" as they are known). Try searching on Sublet.com or the Chicago Tribune property finder.
  
Registration Questions
We asked a number of questions of Chicago and these are the replies we received to date. There are still a large number to be clarified as well as many other questions which we have submitted. We are aiming to help them to create a FAQ document to put on our website and theirs.
Q:  Can registered participants change teams?
A:  Yes, until the deadline of 15 April 2006.
 
Q:  Can teams be comprised of people from different countries?
A:  Yes.
 
Q:  Can sailing teams that currently have 3 people add a 4th person ?
A:   … to be confirmed by Chicago ….(GLORY Comment: As long as they are under the weight limit this should be OK)
 Q:  If a registered participant cannot attend GGVII and has found a replacement, what is the procedure ?
A. Registered participants who must cancel their participation may be replaced.  The person who is replacing the cancellation will be charged a fee of approximately $50.00.  Details will be confirmed.
  
Q:  Can a team change categories before the regatta starts – example : from Spinnaker to Non-Spinnaker
A:   Yes, until the deadline of 15 April 2006.
 
Q:   Will the weight limit of 275 kilos be enforced?   
A:  Yes, this is a J/22 Class Rule.
 
Q:  When will the teams be weighed?
A:  The teams will be weighed the day before the regatta – to be confirmed.

More information on the registration process and costs here

Race Organization
GLORY has found a certified US Sailing Race Officer, Chuck Goes,  who has extensive experience of organising regattas including the Chicago to Mackinac race. He has all the contacts for rescue boats and starting equipment etc and has his own power boat for a Commitee Boat. We still need additional volunteers for rescue boats, start boat, judges, registration etc.

Regatta HQ
Chuck Goes (see above) is also Commodore of the Belmont Yacht Club who have a 53 feet x 16 feet barge moored next to where the J22s are moored.  There are toilet facilities, a large lounge area with a bar, food warmers for keeping delivered food hot and a small office. It also has an outside deck which is tented in summer and has picnic tables and grills for barbecues. There are about 40 seats inside and 150 on the deck.

Practice Days
We have asked what access there is to the boats and are awaiting a reply
 
Sailors Bar
We suggest adopting a bar as a meeting place outside of Belmont Harbor, once the participants have left the area.  As we are so close to Boystown, does anyone local have a suggestion that is a good mixed bar ?
 
Life Jackets
Life jackets are NOT supplied according to the CGI website but the charter company that owns the J22s (Chicago City Sailing) do have them to be able to charter their boats. http://www.chicagosailing.com/. Awaiting more feedback.
 
Gay Team in Chicago-Mackinack Race
This very famous race starts at lunchtime on the final day of the Games (22nd July) and takes 2-3 days.  It would be great to create an openly gay entry for this event to :
- Promote the Gay Games
- Increase visibility for gay people in sailing
- Gain coverage from yachting media 
 
GUST in the UK gained huge media coverage when they entered the Cowes Week regatta as the first openly gay entry - see www.gustsailing.org
Anyone interested (you would have to miss the closing ceremony)?
 
Bicycles
Bicycles can be carried on CTA trains and on buses equipped with attached bicycle racks. Bicycles are permitted on trains weekdays (except from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.), and all day on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Limit two bicycles per train car or bus. There are bike and running tracks all along the lake shore. Cycles can be rented from http://www.bikechicago.com/ (book early!).

Boats
Racing will be to ISAF rules using J22 keelboats with a crew of 3-4 in two divisions: With Spinnaker and Without Spinnaker.

Specifications

  U.S. Metric
LOA 22.50 ft 6.86 m
LWL 19.00 ft 5.79 m
Beam 8.00 ft 2.44 m
Draft 3.80 ft 1.16 m
Displacement 1,790 lb 812 kg
Lead Keel 700 lb 318 kg
Engine Outboard Outboard
100% Sail Area 223 f^2 20.72 m^2
Crew Weight Limit 605 lb 225 kg

More information is available on the following websites:


Venue
Lincoln Park, part of the Lakefront Sports Village, is where the Sailing (Belmont Harbor), Rowing (Rowing Lagoon), Tennis (Waveland), and Beach Volleyball events will take place. Sailing will take place In Belmont Harbor located between Lake Shore Drive and Lake Michigan at Addison, 7.5 km from the Hub (the Welcome Center, centrally located in downtown Chicago). Belmont Harbor is home of the Chicago Sailing Club which will provide the sailboats (J-22’s), Safety and Committee Boats.

Belmont Harbour is not far from the city centre and only 10-15 mins walk from the centre of the "boystown" gay district ("girlstown" is not far) and from Wrigley Field where the closing ceremony will be held.You need to get to the North end of the harbour as the J22s are moored on the inside of the "arm" of the harbour at Addison St /Lakeshore Drive, as is the clubhouse barge of the Belmont Yacht Club which we have been offered access to.

Other sports in the area will be Tennis, Marathon, Beach Volleyball, Triathlon, Figure Skating, Bowling, Rugby and Volleyball.

Location (not for Gay Games enquiries):
Chicago Sailing Club
3654 N. Recreation Drive,
Dock B - Belmont Harbor, 36, Chicago, IL
Tel: 773 871 SAIL (7245) Fax: 773 871 7264

Charts
Chart of Belmont Harbor
Chart of South Lake Michigan

Transport
There is parking at Belmont Harbor for 200 cars. The CTA # 146 and 151 buses run within 1/4km from the city centre.
For directions and a map showing the location of the Chicago Sailing Club click here.

The transport network is excellent and you will get free access to all buses and city trains during your stay. The best way to get to Belmont Harbour is by bus as these run right along the lake-shore. The 145 and 146 are non-stop from Belmont to downtown.
The CTA Red Line Train stops at Addison and it's about a 10 minute walk or you can catch the 152 bus.

See map here http://www.transitchicago.com/maps/maps/F2005N.html

Structure of Event
Anticipated number of participants - 100
Governing and Sanctioning RRS, International J/22 Class Rules
Categories/Divisions - 3 or 4-person crews (275 kgs/605 lb maximum weight) divided into With Spinnaker and Without Spinnaker divisions.
Duration of Event - 3 Days
Number of boats - 14 (more may be available if entries require it)
Each crew will have a minimum of 6 races with a final of at least 3 races.
Medal Ceremonies - 1 category x 3 medals each x 4 (per team) = 12 medals. Refer to Ceremonies section for medal’s ceremony format.

Organization
Sailing Director: Jim B. O'Brien Over the past seven years, Jim has been primarily involved with the Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club offshore Fleet and Lightning Fleet. In addition, he has com-petitively raced 420s, Mumm 30s, Tartan 10s, and J24s in Chicago. In 2002, William Gibson, Stephen Jenkins and Jim travelled to Sydney and placed second overall in the non-spinnaker section of the Games.

 
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