A lot has changed with the pandemic since we ended our season last October.  And even though the pandemic isn't over, it seems like there is light at the end of the tunnel.

As such, we have updated our COVID policy to reflect the current state of the pandemic and current guidance by the CDC.

A few highlights include:

• Yes.  Masks are still required
• Yay!  The restrooms are available again!
• Cool!  We will provide coolers with ice this year for storing your cold items.

​Please click this link and make sure you read through our entire COVID policy.  We want you to be informed and not surprised by any of our policies.

Thanks for your continued support!  I am really looking forward to a great season!

See you on the water,

Capt. Mike

During the offseason, Capt. Mike created this fun, educational, and eco-friendly project.  Part paper craft with a hint of origami and a little bit of puzzle, this unique, three-dimensional model is an engaging activity for anyone interested in Chicago's history, historic preservation, model building, crafting, creative play, etc.  

BUILD CHICAGO W/PAPER: Four Mile Crib & Lighthouse! is designed to raise awareness about historic Chicago buildings in danger of being lost forever.  We chose Four Mile Crib as our first model because of the important role it played in Chicago's history, because it was featured by Preservation Chicago in its 2017 Most Endangered list, and because we love sailing by this ever-present building on the horizon of Lake Michigan.

We are preparing to launch this project very soon.  Interested?  Visit our Kickstarter preview page and sign up for alerts when we go live.  Please help us get the word out by Following, Liking, and Sharing our project.

Link to BUILD CHICAGO W/PAPER: Four Mile Crib & Lighthouse!

Due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, we don't feel that it is appropriate to continue our semi-private, shared sailing charters this season.  Therefore, we will only be operating private sailing charters for the remainder of the 2020 charter season.  Our apologies for any inconvenience.

Due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Chicago has cancelled it's annual Air and Water Show for the 2020 season.  As a result, we have cancelled our special Air and Water show charters.  A standard weekend charter schedule will be operated on those dates instead.  We apologize for any inconvenience.

Due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, Navy Pier has cancelled it's fireworks shows for it's Phase 2 Re-opening.  As a result, we have cancelled all of our fireworks related charters for the 2020 season.  If Navy Pier elects to resume their fireworks shows or hosts fireworks on special individual dates, we will offer a 3-hr sunset/fireworks combined charters for those dates only.  Follow our social media accounts for those announcements.

The City of Chicago announced yesterday that the Chicago Lakefront and parks would open on Monday, June 22.  The Chicago Harbors have confirmed that they will also open along with the rest of the lakefront on June 22, which means that after a long and difficulty wait...WE ARE BACK!!  SAILING STARTS MONDAY, JUNE 22!   Our booking calendar is open and ready to accept booking.  Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have questions or would like assistance.

On behalf of Come Sailing, Inc., owner Capt. Michael Blanchard has signed and is committed to the Boater Pledge Advocating for the Safe and Responsible Opening of the Chicago Harbors.  The pledge reads as follows:

​I hereby affirm that I am a boater who is advocating for the safe and responsible opening of the Chicago Harbors. I recognize that due to the current public health crisis, recreation must be done in a conscionable manner incorporating the best current public health practices and policies. As a boater, I acknowledge that I have an enhanced social responsibility to enjoy the lakefront in a way that keeps my friends, family, and general public safe

I understand that my actions affect others, and I pledge to recreate responsibly under the following guidelines once the harbors are allowed to open:

1. I will adhere to maximum capacity limits per vessel that are assigned based on boat size and current social distancing best practices.
2. I will practice strict hygiene procedures on the dock and on my vessel that include cleaning all touch points on my vessel with disinfectant before and after use, and otherwise adhere to current IDPH guidelines.
3. I agree to not raft my boat to other boats on the water and understand it will not be permitted until deemed safe to do so.
4. I will follow strict social distancing requirements while on docks, maintaining a safe separation with other persons, wearing a face mask when I cannot maintain that safe distance.
5. I will not engage in social gatherings while on the docks that are inconsistent with current maximum gathering policies set by the city and state.
6. I will recreate in a safe and responsible manner at all times and observe current local, state, and federal public health policies while doing so.

I further recognize that failure to observe municipal policies once the Chicago Harbors open may result in forfeiture of vessel mooring permits and other consequences.

Boating is a safe recreational activity and I look forward to contributing to a responsible 2020 Chicago boating season.

Additional information about the pledge and the Chicago Harbors' COVID-19 response can be found on the Chicago Harbors website.

Our new T-shirt will feature a single color version of our logo on the back.  This logo, as with any logo, has a lot of symbolism and meaning behind it.  We thought it would be fun to let you in on some of it.

So let's start with the oldest part of our logo: the seven flags along the bottom of the outer band.  Many people over the years have just taken these to be decorative random flags, but these flags are actually a part of the International Code of Signals.  From left to right their names are: CHARLIE  HOTEL  INDIA  CHARLIE  ALPHA  GOLF  OSCAR which, if you haven't already caught on by now, spells CHICAGO.  Chicago is, of course, our home port and I thought it would be nice to honor our city in a decorative but meaningful maritime way.

So, next time you see a bunch of "decorative" flags in a line, take some time to look-up the International Code of Signals flags and see if they spell something special.  Fair warning: sailors being sailors, you might be surprised by what you find! ;-)

Watch for additional posts about our logo's meaning.

Check out our T-Shirt Pre-Order page if you would like pre-order one or would like to know more about the story behind our new hemp based t-shirts.

See you on the water,

Capt. Mike

We are very excited to start pre-order sales of our new T-shirts.  We did a lot of research to make sure that our new t-shirts would be as sustainable and friendly to the environment as possible!  We are very proud of the results.  AND they are sooo comfortable!  Check out the details and the story.

To our sailing friends and family,

I hope this message finds you healthy and as happy as possible.  The cabin fever is starting to get to us and we are anxious to get out on the water and begin our sailing season!

Unfortunately, we will have to wait just a little longer.  Today we are forced to announce the postponement of our sailing season to an undetermined future date.

On Thursday April 23, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced an extension of the current stay-at-home order until May 30.  In addition, the Chicago Park District announced yesterday that the Chicago Harbors will remain closed until further notice.

While the actual start date of our season remains fluid, we know it will be no earlier than Sunday, May 31, 2020.  So until we have more clarity around our start date, customers will be allowed to book charters for Sunday, May 31 and beyond.

In the meantime, please consider supporting our small, family owned business with the purchase of a t-shirt, sticker, gift certificate, etc.  Watch for updates on how to purchase these items coming soon!

​Capt. Mike

First, I would like to say THANK YOU to all of our loyal customers for their support throughout the years.  I certainly look forward to sailing with all of you again as soon as possible.  In the meantime, I want to welcome everyone to continue scheduling charters and purchasing gift certificates as you would normally.  Obviously, this is going to be a very challenging year for us.  While the COVID-19 pandemic is bad for everyone and we wish there was no pandemic at all, the timing of it could be particularly devastating to our business.  We rely very heavily on the months of June, July, and August for the majority of our revenue.

Secondly, whether you are new to our business or a customer that has sailed with us previously, please consider supporting our business through any of the following actions:

• Purchase a Gift Certificates - All gift certificates will be valid for at least two years from purchase.
• Purchase a T-Shirt or other Merchandise -  We will be posting new merchandise to our website on a regular basis.  Be sure to check our website frequently for new arrivals.
• Book Charters - The entire 2020 season is now open and available for bookings.  We sail through Columbus Day in October.

One last bit of fun and intrigue in a word...Klabautermann.  Who or what is a Klabautermann?  Is there a Klabautermann aboard our sailboats?  Why does it matter?  Stay tuned and watch for updates about Klabautermenn on our website.

​SAILING STARTS

FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2020
This date is subject to change dependent on situations arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ok, maybe that's not the question we should be asking our charter guests.  But, we ARE asking our guests if they would like us to provide a bag of ice for their charter instead of just assuming that they do and automatically providing one for them.  The new default will be to NOT provide a bag of ice unless a guest says "Yes" to this question.  Why?  Because we are making an effort to reduce our impact on the environment.  It's a bit of a buzz kill for us if, at the end of the day, we have a bunch of bags of ice that will simply melt away unused and wasted.

Just think about the amount of energy and resources that go into providing a single bag of ice.

• Fresh water
• Energy to convert the water to ice
• A plastic bag to store the ice
• A metal or plastic closure for the bag
• Energy to transport the bag of ice
• Energy to store the bag of ice until its use
• Energy to recycling/dispose, as appropriate, of the plastic bag and closure.

Listen, we're not saying that people shouldn't enjoy the luxury of an iced beverage while sailing on a beautiful summer day.  Quite the contrary.  Chartering a sailboat for a private and relaxing sail on Lake Michigan in Chicago is a luxurious activity that should, by all means, include iced beverages.  That said, if we can avoid providing a bag of ice to a guest that has no intention of using it, then we can avoid wasting all of that energy and all of those resources that would have gone into providing that one bag of ice.  One bag may not make that big of a difference, but every little bit helps.  Added together over time, it will make a difference regardless how small.  And as someone who relies on natural resources, like our beautiful ​Lake Michigan, for their livelihood, I think that's a good thing.

- Capt. Mike

Less than a week to go in our sailing season. Our last regularly scheduled charter for the season will be the Sunset Sail on Monday, Oct. 8th. But such is sailing in Chicago. We get just a short amount of time each year to sail as furiously as possible before pulling the boats out for winter storage.  The end of the season is always bittersweet for me.  While I look forward to catching my breath and kicking off my winter projects, I am going to miss the gorgeous sunsets, the spectacular views of Chicago that can only be seen from Lake Michigan, my fun loving customers that sail with me, and of course the sailing.  I will particularly miss that moment of anticipation as the wind catches the sails, the boat begins its roll on to a heel, and you know you are about to take off sailing.  The thought alone has me already looking forward to next year.  In the meantime, there are still a few opportunities for sailing this year. So click on our Book Now page to schedule your private sailing charter before it's too late!  See you on the water!  Capt. Mike