Chicago air show august 19, 20

chicago_air_and_watershow.html
Hey everyone just throwing it out there that can make the drive and watch the wave heights etc.
I know many @Shelbyville were interested.

If coming from the south i would recommend Hammond marina in Indiana and drive the boat a little ways up to Chicago. Be sure to have a full tank as it CAN get choppy and you may need to keep the bow up.
Basically you will see lots of boats anchored up outside of north avenue beach. That's where you want to be! Bring a really good sand anchor! I have learned that Lake Michigan is not a place to tie up together either. It's kinda every man for himself or perhaps tie to one other boat.
We will probably put in at Portage marina, chill on the beach and just head in closer time of the show, watch from a distance and then head back to Portage for the amazing beaches. This requires a lot of fuel as well but keeps me out of the way!
Another way to come in is from the river and through the locks by Navy Pier. Quite a cool thing to see Chicago if you haven't done it before!
I will do my best to update here with wave reports but assume yachts throwing 2-3 footers anywhere around the show.

The planes will literally fly right over the boats and the blue Angels usually get straight up right by the boats to where u can see right up the burners!

I'm up for this @Speedling. I like your idea of starting and returning to portage and watching from a distance. After talking with you about this. I'm really not interested in being in the middle of the crowd.

From portage to where you would get good viewing is like 40 miles. At 30 mph thats.. a loooong drive!

We have always launched in Waukegan and did s little boat ride to north avenue beach. Also awesome and great time.

If you hang out on the north side of the show. The jets come right over you , real low, as they turn around for another pass.

Should be a great year for it with the lake michigan water at 75 degrees. We were out off Waukegan last weekend surfing

Not going this year. Planned a motorcycle trip that weekend to Minnesota and Canada.

@dan144k is that about an hour ride from Waukegan down to where you can see the planes on the north side of the show? My boat is slipped up on the chain, but on a calm day, I would love to put it on the big lake. Waukegan would be relatively short trailer haul for me from where my boat is slipped on the chain. What kills me is I live in Highland Park and have a launch 10 minutes from my home. But in HP, they only allow launching with a season pass. no dailys.

@BobJohnson
It all depends on wind direction and speed. I have done the trip in 30 minutes on a clear flat water day, and have done it in 2 hours with 2 to 3 foot waves. Just depends on the wave size and wave direction. Also depends on your crew so choose wisely.

For example we last week wind was 9 mph from the east, waves were less than I expected, 1 to 2 foot, we were able to be driving around at 30 mph between surfing.

Looking a long ways ahead yet but winds look decent and there is a small chance of a thunderstorm Saturday night.
We may bring a couple friends on our boat and may just do the run from Hammond up to the show and back. Much easier and safer than trying to do a run from Portage and back.

Well, it looks like it happened again. I'm afraid we wont be able to come up this weekend, we have a family event to go to.

One of these days my friend, one of these days.

I'm interested in trying to take mine out on Lake Michigan for the air and water show, however have the fear cause its only a 21ft and have spend my whole life on the chain and I have no clue about navigating around the city and Lake Michigan.

When I bought my boat, the sales guy was telling me not even to think about taking it out on Lake Michigan, but then again I have a friend that put his 17' 1992 Star Craft out there all the time from Diversey Harbor. He said you just have to watch the wind report and if its anything higher than 5mph just wait for another day.

NickF said:

I'm interested in trying to take mine out on Lake Michigan for the air and water show, however have the fear cause its only a 21ft and have spend my whole life on the chain and I have no clue about navigating around the city and Lake Michigan.

When I bought my boat, the sales guy was telling me not even to think about taking it out on Lake Michigan, but then again I have a friend that put his 17' 1992 Star Craft out there all the time from Diversey Harbor. He said you just have to watch the wind report and if its anything higher than 5mph just wait for another day.

Click to expand...

5 mph? ha! It all depends on where you are going and where the wind is coming from. I am always on the south side near Portage and we have no problems as long as the wind is generally out of the south. A forcast of 1-3 footers is doable and 2-4's we have done but certainly try not to. So far the forcast is low wind coming from the west and then picking up to about 8 mph around noon. The show starts at 10 and it will be fine getting there from Hammond, IN. which will allow you to go WITH the wind on the way back. Another solution is Calumet Harbor, or doing the locks but they will be insane on that day.
I am looking at Saturday btw.
And a 21 footer is great for a quick run on Lake Michigan as long as you know what you are doing. @NickF the day of I will post weather and wave reports and let you know for sure. If you want I can give you my number or we can start a chat.

Waves for saturday morning 1 foot or less! Never see that guys!
Sadly i may have to work won't know until friday night.

I am not working!
Waves to be 1 foot or less, clear sky and warm temps!
Up to load boat now.
Wind shifts to come from north around 1 pm and we will probably head in shortly after to make it to a dinner date.
That means wind to our backs and should be an awesome day!
Launching from Hammond marina if anyone is interested

It was NOT 1' or less. On the way there we got air every 3rd wave. Parked just north for the majority of the show but me and two of my kids felt sick from the bad rocking. We were late so we werefurther out and the big boats were throwing huge waves at us because we were basically between the pier and the show area which meant everyone had to pass by. After a bit i got smart and went just south of the pier and watched from there which was far better! Everything was able to be seen except the beach full of people! Blue angels overhead crossing right over navy pier was actually really cool and they are freaking loud!

Filled camera with pics and video and check my facebook for an awesome live i did

Waves on the way back to hammond much easier. Probably because we beat all the yachts throwing wakes that are the size of my boat

Lol my father in law says the waves in morning were 3-5 footers. I dunno about that but i know we were getting air and stuffed it twice! It was awesome! My kids just sit up front and try to get air. We have to literally stop and pull them back because it's a roller coaster ride for them!
It was probably worse right by the marina due to boat wakes crashing on breaker walls and being on south end of lake. Wasn't bad for me but my wife wasn't having fun.

It was such a nice day yesterday... I wish I could have been out on the lake too. I'll definately try and plan for it next year!

Speedling said:

Filled camera with pics and video and check my facebook for an awesome live i did

Click to expand...

If your FB video is "Public" you should be able to get the URL and link it here....

I love the Chicago Air and Water show!