From the Navigation Station:
January 2009 marks the fifth anniversary of the Black Chicago Sailors' web site.
Since our inception, we have had over 7000 visitors, like yourself from all over the US and abroad.
It is one of our goals to keep this site current with updated information.
Our "Sailors" section is updated on an annual basis. If there are captains you don't see listed, please feel free to contact us at:
FOR PRESS RELEASE - Click Here
Two African American Ships Participate in the
100th Chicago - Mackinaw Race from Jackson ParkCHICAGO, IL --This year marks the 100th year of the Chicago Yacht Club's Chicago-Mackinaw Race. Over 400 boats will participate this year. The Chicago - Mackinaw Race is the longest fresh water race that covers over 333 miles. Some of the most competitive skippers and crew come from around the world to compete. This year, the race has an innovative tracking system that will allow each boat to be tracked throughout the race.
There has always been Black sailors particpating in the Chicago-Mackinaw Race, in some capacity. The first recorded African American crew was captained by Dave Mayberry in 1965. Mayberry was a fireman and engineer from Burham Harbor. In 1994, the first African American crew of both men and women, captained by Bill Pinkney raced the Upanayana. The owner of Upanayana, was David Blackwell, and all of the crew were skippers-Nate Morgan, Ted Graves, Lance Lovely, Pam Rice, Yvonne Nelson, Wesley Smith and Robert Bassett.
This year, there are two ships, DeDa's Toy, captained by Theodore Graves and Unknown Lady, captained by David Ward.
Graves has participated ten times in this race, taking his ship five of them. For Ward, this will be his first.
Graves an experienced racer, has received several racing awards throughout the years and has participated in several Chicago - Mackinaw races, Tri-State, and Bennett Cup/South Lake Series races, to name a few. The crew of De Da's Toy are Dennis Hansen, Johann Hudson, Stanley Hill, John Hansen, and Marlon Harvey, all are skippers of their own boats.
Ward has been sailing for over 40 years and has raced Tri-State Races, the Bennett Cup/South Lake Series and MORF races. The crew of Unknown Lady are Ken Harris, Scott Roberts, David Dobbs, Scott Morris and Igor.
Stan Bailey, a skipper from Monroe harbor is racing his 43-foot Tripp, Raven. Bailey has been racing for many years. Among his crew, Stanley Hill, Jr., son of Jackson Park Harbor's immediate past commodore, Stan Hill, Sr. Hill, Sr. is crew on DeDa's Toy.
Captain Ted Graves and crew of DeDa's Toy
Captain David Ward and crew of Unknown Lady
Captain Ward's Unknown Lady, a 30 foot Newport
Captain Stan Bailey and crew of Raven
The Raven and its crew. Captain Stan Bailey at the horseshoe. Captain Stan Bailey's Raven, a 43 foot Tripp
Skipper David Ward (Unknown Lady) is MORF Captain of Section 9
Who are we?: MORF is a voluntary organization of individuals interested in sailboat racing. MORF is an "on-the-water" organization; we have no club house or shore-side presence. Our focus is entirely on organizing and running races for small and medium sized racer/cruiser type sail boats.
MORF was founded in 1959. 2008 will be our 50th season. MORF is a member organization of the following organizations:
· US Sailing - the national governing body of the sport of sailing in the United States.
· Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation (LMSRF Area III)
· Lake Michigan PHRF (LMPHRF)
Past JPYC Commodore Stanley Hill is now the new Secretary of the Chicago Yachting Assocation Stan is skipper of "Simple Justice"
24" x 30"- Oil
"The Pirate" was commissioned by sailor and past "Yachtsman of The Year" of Jackson Park Yacht Club, Alpha Ray Thompson.The painting, a portrait of Thompson, was unveiled on September 22, 2007. 24 x 36" Framed Posters (right) are available for ONLY $130. Frames are available in Gold, Silver, or Black metal and may vary slightly in style shown. Posters are signed by the artist, Pam Rice. Contact:
Captain Jack Lyle (Skipper of Nightwatch) Recieves the Congressional Medal - 2007
Jack Lyle, back row off center, with Senator Obama to left and Sentor Durbin to right. Photo taken in Washington, DC
On March 29th, 2007. Captain Jack Lyle and other Tuskegee Airmen were recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal in a ceremony in the U.S. Capital Rotunda. The Congressional Medal-the highest civilian award bestowed by Congress-had previously been awarded only 133 times in its 230 year history. Jack served as part of the Tuskegee Airmen from 1943 through 1945, flying 26 combat missions from their base in Ramitelli, Italy.
The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of African Americans trained at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama to become fighter pilots during World War II. They became one of the most successful fighter squadrons in American Military history, fighting both the enemy overseas and discrimination at home.
Jack was also honored with an Honorary Degree from Tuskegee University last spring.
Written by Steve Pittman
Solo-circumnavigator Bill Pinkney's new book arrives!
As Long As It Takes is about life, achievement, and sailing. It is about growing up and finding goals; about staying the course and minding the heading, and about arriving at places one had only dreamed about.
This book is about the making of Captain William "Bill" Pinkney, about his friends and family, and about his boats, especially Comittment.
She took him round the world via the five great capes. He was only the 4th of five Americans, and one of 128 individuals to have done so world wide.
Purchase it Today!
Click on the book for link to publisher!
Immediate Past Commodore Stan Hill Interviewed on The News Hour with Jim Lehrer concerning Live-Fire Drills on Lake Michigan
Skippers Enjoy Skiing the Holidays at Winter Park, CO - 2006
JPYC Commodore, Wanda Robertson (Snowboard) "My Tyme II", Angelo Braxton, "My Tyme II"; Alpha Ray Thompson, " Alpha Rays"; Joli Thompson Chandler, "Ketch Yawl Later"; Pam Rice, "Purple Reigns"; Vonnie Nelson, "Alpha Rays"
Summer is more than cruising....Ben Lovely, windsurfs as Alpha Ray Thompson, sails.
Captain Pam Rice - Exhibit 2007
Take a look at the exhibit...
http://www.pamricedesign.com/upload2007/Gallery.htm
Other links: http://www.pamricedesign.com/SummerNews/SummerNews.htm
http://www.pamricedesign.com/PHILANT/Pam_Rice_Philant.htm
Eunice Jackson-Lyle is Awarded The "Yachtsman of The Year Award - 2006
Flanked by Commodore Stanley Hill and Past Commodore David Dobbs, Eunice Jackson-Lyle receives Jackson Park Yacht Club's 'Yachtsman of The Year Award' for the 2005 season on January 2006.
In 2005, Alpha Ray Thompson was voted JPYC's "Yachtsman of the Year" (Jackson Park Yacht Club)
Presented at the Annual Dinner Dance and Awards Banquet by Commodore Stanley Hill(left),
Alpha Ray Thompson (center) with Past Commodore David Dobbs on the right.
January15, 2005
QuickTime movies of BCS Sailing!
Download NOW - "Sailing with Captain Graves" Produced by Pam Rice
Coming Mar. '07- "Sailing with Captain Jack Lyle"
Feb. '06 - "Sailing with Captain Stan Hill"
Download NOW - Produced by Pam Rice
Captain William "Bill" Pinkney Honored by Chicago Yachting for "Lifetime Achievement"
Captain Bill Pinkney and JPYC Commodore, Stanley Hill. (Right) Commodore Stan Hill, Captain Bill Pinkney and JPYC's Rear Commodore, Mary Avellone.
IN THE PAST NEWS:The 2004 August 27 - 29th weekend issue of the Chicago Defender featured
Captain Ted Graves and Captain Pam Rice on the cover. The story titled"Sea of Love" ,
written by staff writer Karen Pride, also talks about Skippers Alpha Thompson and Stan Bailey.
A reprint is available in the "News" section.
On September the 10th, 2004, Black Chicago Sailors were featured on Cable Station CAN-10.
Host, Gwendolyn Peace, conversed with Captains: Frank Garner, Ted Graves, Yvonne Nelson,
Wanda Robertson, Pam Rice and Alpha Thompson.
May your upcoming season be prosperous and may your sail through it be smooth.
Pam Rice
Founder/Editor
Black Chicago Sailors
