Small boat sailing in Chicago in the fall?

September 14, 2008 9:56 AM

Is mid-September through the end of October a good time for small boat (16'-22') sailing in Lake Michigan at Chicago? Wind speeds, air and water temperature, rain, etc.?
posted by Jackson to sports, hobbies, & recreation (2 comments total)

Generally, not as good as summer would be. But if you choose a day with good weather and keep updated on any approaching storms, there shouldn't be any reason to worry.
posted by gjc at 10:41 AM on September 14, 2008

I've never been that far south on Michigan, but it should probably be okay most of the time, if you are confident in your sailing ability. Chicago apparently isn't all that windy most of the time. If by some chance it's at all similar to Lake Huron which I know better, wind above 25kts would be unusual outside of the occasional thunderstorm of which you would no doubt see a few. Be prepared for below-freezing air temperature at night. I know that lake gets warmer as you go south, so the water should still be relatively warm that far south, somewhere above 60 degrees F at a guess, which is still cold enough, especially if you're from Florida...

There's a rather big difference between the typical 16' boot compared to 22', though. Personally, I'd be very reluctant to go all that far from shore in a light 16-foot sailboat anywhere on the Great Lakes in October.
posted by sfenders at 1:28 PM on September 14, 2008