Come sail away

Experience the tranquil sights and sounds of Lake Michigan aboard the Tall Ship Adventures fleet

You don’t have to listen to Captain Bruce Randall long to sense the unbridled enthusiasm he has for sailing. A few minutes, if that.

As the owner of Tall Ship Adventures and resident captain of the fleet of three sailboats, Randall is a third generation sailor. To say it’s in his blood and that he longs for the weather to break over Lake Michigan each spring would be like saying the pizza and potholes are pretty big in Chicago.

The aspect he cherishes most when out on his sailboats is the solitude on the water.

Unlike other boat cruises in the city that rely on engines and a set course that doesn’t stray from last week’s — or even last year’s — on the Tall Ship Windy and his other vessels, you go where the wind takes you, making each voyage truly unique. The captain and crew set the course based on Mother Nature and little else. And the serenity. Oh, the serenity.

“We have a great atmosphere on our boats, and the lack of engine sounds creates a lot of it,” Randall says. “When you get out there, it’s truly just the sounds of the water and waves, and the conversations of the people on board. It’s a quiet venue with great views, all without being distracted.

“It’s a very relaxing experience to take the time to go out and enjoy a sail. It’s one of the very few places you can go to enjoy the views of the city without the sounds of the city. Just the waves, the sounds of the sails and the rigging — and occasionally a bird flying by.”

Tall Ship Adventures can handle up to 150 guests for private charters, catering to parties, weddings, corporate functions, educational programs and any other reason for a gathering on the lake.

Individual tickets for the 60- and 75-minute daily cruises are also a hot commodity, with prices ranging from $24-$30 for adults and $13-$20 for kids 12 and under. Students and seniors receive discounts, and rates for private charters vary.

Randall and his crew welcomed some 8,000 students aboard in 2008 for focused educational programs, teaching children of all ages about the life of a sailor, our ecological impact on the lake, the maritime history of Chicago, true stories of pirates on the Great Lakes and more. And they’ve been known to let guests help hoist sails and even take a turn at the wheel.

“I grew up in a maritime sailing family, and so did my father and my grandfather,” Randall says. “Three generations that I know of. I started teaching sailing here in 1993, and I would love bringing people along. To share something that you really love and are so passionate about, it makes you feel really good.”

Like I said, sensing the enthusiasm takes but a few minutes, if that.

For more information on Tall Ship Adventures, located on Navy Pier, call 312-595-555 or log on to www.TallShipWindy.com.

Trent Modglin
Publisher
The Real Chicago
Trent@TheRealChicago.org

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