Saturday, September 20th was a perfect day for the Annual Exchange Student Sail sponsored by the Chicago Fleet of the Yachting Rotarians Fellowship along with generous support and hosting from Chicago Columbia Yacht Club members. Twelve boats assembled at the Columbia dock beginning at around 10:30 a.m. and volunteers began preparations for serving a Chicago-style hot dog luncheon to all participants. At around 11:00 the first of over 80 students began arriving with their adult team leaders and drivers. These high school seniors, who will spend a school year in the USA, came from countries throughout the world. They are staying with Rotary host families in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan.
The students visited and exchanged contact information and thoroughly enjoyed their lunch, although most put ketchup on their hot dogs. Ugh! Including students, adult guests, skippers and crew, we fed about 140 people in half an hour. At 12:45 they quickly assembled under the Rotary Banner with the Chicago skyline in the background for a group photo (below). Nearly all students had their own digital cameras which they dumped at the feet of volunteers who recorded the moment on their cameras too. Amazingly, everyone got the right camera back.
By 1:15 everyone was on their assigned boats and the skippers took off under near perfect conditions. The day was partly cloudy, temp in the 70s, wind 8-12 knots from SW with 1-2’ seas. Say goodbye to those conditions for a while. The boats spread out and sailed various courses off of Monroe Harbor with most boats ending the event with a motor sail past Navy Pier.
By 4:00 all boats had returned with the same number of students they had when they departed. It’s hard to figure out who had the better time, the students or the boat crews. These kids are special and it is truly a privilege to meet them and show this wonderful aspect of our great city.
Special thanks go to the seven skippers from Columbia Yacht Club and friends of Yachting Rotarians who participated with their boats to allow us to entertain such a large group.
Submitted by Phill Klein, Commodore –IYFR Chicago Fleet (easytoo@pklein.interaccess.com)
The students visited and exchanged contact information and thoroughly enjoyed their lunch, although most put ketchup on their hot dogs. Ugh! Including students, adult guests, skippers and crew, we fed about 140 people in half an hour. At 12:45 they quickly assembled under the Rotary Banner with the Chicago skyline in the background for a group photo (below). Nearly all students had their own digital cameras which they dumped at the feet of volunteers who recorded the moment on their cameras too. Amazingly, everyone got the right camera back.
By 1:15 everyone was on their assigned boats and the skippers took off under near perfect conditions. The day was partly cloudy, temp in the 70s, wind 8-12 knots from SW with 1-2’ seas. Say goodbye to those conditions for a while. The boats spread out and sailed various courses off of Monroe Harbor with most boats ending the event with a motor sail past Navy Pier.
By 4:00 all boats had returned with the same number of students they had when they departed. It’s hard to figure out who had the better time, the students or the boat crews. These kids are special and it is truly a privilege to meet them and show this wonderful aspect of our great city.
Special thanks go to the seven skippers from Columbia Yacht Club and friends of Yachting Rotarians who participated with their boats to allow us to entertain such a large group.
Submitted by Phill Klein, Commodore –IYFR Chicago Fleet (easytoo@pklein.interaccess.com)
1 comment:
Thanks to the Chicago fleet of yachting Rotarians and the Columbia Yachting Club , our youth exchange Students experienced first hand fun and fellowship made possible by citizens of Chicago.
What a great way to promote understanding and goodwill among peoples of the world. Thank you yachting enthusiasts. You have brought us one notch closer to a peaceful world.
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