3rd Coast Cruising

I’ve been sailing with 3^rd Coast for a little over a year now, and think it is a fantastic way to get out on Lake Michigan.
The team at 3^rd Coast offers a wide range of options… from relaxing social cruises and concert cruises, to beginner sailing lessons and more technical/​advanced sailing instruction, they have it all.
I did a package of sailing lessons for 2015 (a better deal than single purchases if you’re planning to go out more than just a few times). Sailing lessons last 3 hrs and are very easy to schedule via their online portal. Weekend morning & afternoon and weeknights are the typical time slots, and aside from a few super busy weeks in mid-​August, I was able to get out whenever I wanted. Most days they have multiple sailboats out on the lake, which allows Captain Jim to match different skill levels and personalities on each boat. He and the other captains do a great job of making sure everyone is participating and learning — whether it’s your first sail or you’ve been out on the lake a dozen times. The folks who lead the lessons have a range of experience, and I pretty quickly figured out who my favorite captains were and scheduled with them. I think the team is particularly good at helping folks who are new to sailing understand the fundamentals and build confidence on the water.
The boats are older and by the end of the summer can get pretty beat up (hundreds of hours of beginner sailors will do that…). If you’re looking for a luxury cruise, you may be disappointed. The upside here is that there are lots of opportunities to learn how to fix components that get broken during lessons — which is particularly useful if you’re interested in eventually owning a boat.
Overall, a really fun way to learn how to both sail and own/​maintain a boat. If you’re living in Chicago, this should definitely be on your summer bucket list.

Best experience ever! Totally worth every penny! I was short notice ordering the cruise but they were able to accommodate everything! Will be a return client!

I’ve been sailing with 3^rd Coast for the past year and a half and have fallen in love with the sport and the amazing community fostered by the school and the «club» atmosphere it has generated. While each sail is unique, the sport also provides a great venue to learn with and meet new people while honing your skills and enjoying an unmatched view of our amazing city.
I didn’t know I could love it any more than I already do until last night — when my company went out for a two-​boat regatta led by Captain Jim and his crew. Such an amazing time led by some fantastic hosts!
The experience is definitely dominating the watercooler and email convos today. To quote a team member, «Last night was so fun, and what a great team building activity encouraging communication, trust, submitting to direction, learning to trust your own intuition, learning about your colleagues and all the incredible variables that surround the act of riding the wind. I had such a great time.»
I highly recommend the sailing lessons and special events alike! My colleagues (and I) can’t wait to get out there again soon!

I have lived in Chicago for over 8 years, and our cruise with Captain Jim and his crew is my favorite memory to date.
My bridesmaids planned the trip with 3^rd Coast as a surprise for my bachelorette party! I couldn’t have asked for anything more perfect — Boat, friends, and lots of beer. We took two boats out with Captain Jim and had the time of our lives while they manned the boats. The guys were super fun and friendly, and we had an absolute blast.
Thank you so much Captain Jim — you’ll definitely have us out there with you again!

I was debating on leaving a Unilocal review because I feel like the best kept secret in all of Chicago is going to be out but because I love Captain Jim and his crew so much, I’m doing it anyways.
Unlike the others reviewers here, we actually had a boat charted for a concert at the northerly islands/​fireworks and not the lessons. Here’s the deal: you bring your own food and drinks, your finest sailing gear, and 5 of your most awesome friends, and captain jim and co. will take you out for an insanely good time. You’ll go out to the northerly island, listen to the jams, watch the sunset, see fireworks at navy pier, and sail back with a view of the skyline that’s unreal.
Now, this sounds great but what you’re really thinking is how much is this going to set me back? I mean, this sounds like something rich people do, right? Not the case. You can do all this for probably less than the price of the concert ticket. And did I mean how awesome Jim and his mates are? They seriously made the experience and were so much fun. Want proof? See picture of Jim grilling asparagus like a boss. Need I say more?
The only problem I have now is knowing I can’t do this every weekend. It’s a ridiculous fun time — you won’t regret booking this!

If you want to learn how to sail or just want to go sailing, look no further. After years of procrastinating about refining my sailing skills, I finally decided to take my passion to a new level. Through a referral, I was introduced to Captain Jim and 3^rd Coast. After signing up for their unlimited sailing program, my only disappointment was that I did not join earlier. As the company is ran more like a club, it is also a great place to meet new people. 3^rd Coast will teach you everything you need to know about sailing. I feel fortunate to have found 3^rd Coast and I encourage others to give it a try and see if sailing is for you. I know people that never sailed before joining the club and 3 months later are advanced sailors. The unique training method employed by the club allows people of all sailing backgrounds to learn. Their all day social sails are great way to enjoy the summer and all Lake Michigan has to offer. If you want to have a good time this summer, give Jim a call and start sailing with 3^rd Coast. When the weather gets warm, there is nothing better the being on the lake.

I had a little sailing experience with my uncle and decided to give it a try on my own and meet some new folks. I came across 3^rd Coast Cruising via Groupon and can’t wait to go out again.
I say 5 stars because the team is knowledgable, the equipment and boats are well managed and all of my instructors had an A+ attitude. Captain Jim is even quick to respond via email or phone with questions and concerns. I like the system and how you can work your way up the ladder to 3^rd, 2^nd and 1^st Mate with a hat to prove it.
If you are looking for a relaxing time on the water and afraid of getting dirty, this is not for you. When you are on the water, you are put to the test in understanding knot tying, the wind patterns and all sailing terms. You are put on the helm and on rope detail without notice and constantly quizzed. So it’s safe to say, this company is turning out tomorrows best Captains.
Afterwards, I even felt like hanging out on the boat and wrapping the ropes while having a few laughs and few frosty libations. I would recommend this company to anyone that loves to sail or wants so badly to learn.

This is my first summer sailing with 3^rd Coast, and I’ve been out on the water with them almost a dozen times. I have had an absolute blast! I’ve completely fallen in love with the sport. And there is no better place in the city to view the skyline, the sunset, or the Wed/​Fri fireworks than from a sailboat.
I’ve learned a surprising amount very quickly and seemingly without effort. And, most importantly, I have made great friends. The instructors are all very friendly, down-​to-​earth and laid back, while demonstrating a high level of skill and professionalism. Captain Jim (owner) has formidable people skills, and five minutes talking to him is enough to see his great passion for sailing and for making it available to his customers. I have invited many of my friends to sail with 3^rd Coast and will continue to do so without hesitation.

I have sailed small boats (16ft) for over 15 years but wanted to get experience on bigger boats and big water. 3^rd Coast was exactly what I needed. This is my 3^rd season with 3^rd coast, and while I am by no means a novice to the theories of sailing, I love going out on 30 foot plus boats on Lake Michigan because there isn’t any way to learn larger boat handling, or sailing in all conditions without actually getting out there and doing it. I learn something new every time I go out with these people.
Many sailing schools claim that you can be «certified» in 5 days, but what does that really mean. There isn’t anything that can substitute for experience, and the only way you can get that is to sail in different conditions. If you don’t get 30 knot winds, or 10 foot seas in your 5 day course, then you very likely may get caught in conditions in which you have no experience. When you experience challenging conditions in a controlled environment, you handle them successfully with the help of a seasoned instructor, and you have the confidence to sail, knowing that you have met the challenge and you can handle it.
3^rd Coast is much more than a sailing school, it is also a very social organization. The instructors are very knowledgeable and fun. If you sail with them frequently you will very likely sail with people that you have already been out with and friendships are easy to form. I especially like evening sails during the week. There isn’t much that is prettier than the skyline of Chicago on a summer evening as you sailing toward the entrance to Monroe Harbor. Once tied up, there is no hurry to leave, and a friendly beer or two with the night skyline of Chicago in the background is about as good as it gets.
My only problem is that damn work gets in the way otherwise I’d be out there with these guys everyday. (Summer is only so long, you have to make the best of what we have).
If you want to learn how to sail or sharpen your skill and have a great time while you are doing it, go out with the guys and girls from 3^rd Coast.

I met Jim and 3^rd Coast Cruising at Strictly Sail Chicago in January 2012 when I was looking for a sailing expedition for my 40^th later that year. I was so impressed on their program especially the part where they don’t let you progress until you can teach someone what you’ve learned. The whole premise of you know something when you can teach it has been a premise I go by in my work as well. They have some great packages for depending on how much you want (or I should say can) sail throughout the season. Since I was planning a lengthy spring trip that year, I opted to try them out with a two lesson plan instead of one of their unlimited monthly or season packages. My first sail was with Captain Jim and there were all levels of students on board. Some that were teaching us newer ones. My second sail was late in the season and afforded some great night sailing.
Their teaching methods are fantastic. Before we set sail they ask what you want to learn that evening. The learning begins as you prepare to leave dock and they tell you what needs to be done. If you’re unsure what they are asking you to do, they’ll provide additional details. It’s a great way for them to see your level of sailing knowledge. Other times they’ll tell you what they are doing and then later ask you to do the same to test how well you’ve learned. They explain the reason why they are doing something which is great because it brings it full circle and provided a better basis for understanding. The whole time flies by because it’s a blast and you don’t even realize that you’re learning.
At the end of both of my sessions, I hung around the dock and made friends with some of my fellow sailors. It was a great time and I learned a lot.
I can’t for the day when I can sign up for a full season or even a monthly plan with them!

My wife got me a pair of lessons from 3CC on LivingSocial for my birthday last July. I lucked out with a great class and a perfect summer day. The instructor was great — very knowledgeable but also really engaging and fun («Why do we have special names for things on a boat?» «So others know exactly what you mean?» «No. To sound snobby.») By the end of the day I’d had at least one turn at every station on the boat, and started to get the hang of things. By the second lesson I had a new hobby and ended up coming out twice a week for the rest of the summer.
You can learn as much as you want as fast as you can handle it. All the instructors I’ve been out with are very qualified and like to see students take on as much responsibility as they are comfortable with. But because it’s not a formal teaching setting and everyone likes to have fun out on the lake, you can make it as casual or serious as you want — and there’s always people looking to hang around and talk over a beer afterwards.
I can’t speak for the 2010 reviews, but since 2012 you can’t go wrong with this place — this is one of the best things I’ve done since coming to Chicago!

While looking for a way to get out on the water, to enjoy the Chicago Air and Water show 2 years ago, I ran into 3^rd coast… and I am glad I did! Just about everything is better, when you are doing it on the water. I brought out my family and friends, and we had a fantastic time. We chartered a boat, and crew. When they took us out, we could relax, get goofy or learn how to sail… the choice was ours. We chose all three. We first did a short cruise out to show center to enjoy all of the wonders that the Chicago air and water show provides. We swam, wondered at screaming jets flying overhead and ate and drank to our hearts content. After the show, we sailed up and down the coast… taking in all of Chicago’s skyline beauty. The crew was awesome, the boat was great and the experience was unforgettable.
Since then I have met other sailors through 3^rd coast, been out with a group for last years air and water show and I just returned from an Antiguan sailing excursion with the group, that I am still reeling over. A few of which, I might dare to call a friend. I am looking forward to sailing with 3^rd coast to become a better sailor, and hang out with a great bunch of new friends!

I ran into Captain Jim a year ago at the Strictly Sail Boat Show at Navy Pier looking for a good sailing school to learn how to sail on much bigger boats than i had been used too. I originally started with the month unlimited pack, and spent most of that month every night being out on the water learning more and more how to sail. The club has numerous great instructors that rotate around, and you could sail with somebody different each night of the week. I think this is great because everybody has a different teaching style and you will always learn something new or in a new way. Being a student now for the last year, I’ve been able to meet a lot of people and have made some good friends, sailing around the shores, grilling off the back of the boat and enjoying a beverage or two.
One thing I’ve learned is there really isn’t a right way to do something, as long as you don’t hit anything and nothing breaks, you are in the clear. «Learn one, do one, teach one» One of the benefits of the school is they teach the students how to do something, let them practice it, and then have them help out other students to really make sure they understand what they are doing. Makes learning it that much simpler.
Getting back to the review though, you can’t learn sailing overnight. it’s one of those things where you are always learning something new every time you go out. Being a student of the school now for about a year, still learning things. Whether I’m going out for a cruising lesson, racing, crossing the lake, or even going on one of their great winter Caribbean trips, something always comes up and is a great learning opportunity. I’m signed up for another year with Captain Jim and can’t wait for the boats to be in the water.

My wife and I joined 3^rd Coast Cruising for a fun day at the Chicago Boat Show last year. It was a lot of fun. Jim and his team are very laid back and allow inexperienced sailors to really learn how to do things the right way, while having fun. We live in Cincinnati but anytime we head to Chicago — I always reach out to Jim and his team when we want to get out on the water.
If you are just wanting to get into sailing, as an novice sailor — I would highly suggest working with Third Coast Cruising to learn the finer points of sailing and of course have fun along the way.

Only reason they’re getting 4 instead of 5 is because I have no basis of comparison. I’ve been thinking about learning to sail for a while, so when a friend asked if I wanted to purchase the 2 lesson Living Social deal, I jumped at the chance. Yesterday was the first lesson, and here is what I learned:
Holy crap is there a lot to learn.
You learn knots, knots, more knots, then the windy type of knots (a bit), a ton of terminology, and safety. Afterwards you go sailing. Our instructor, Kevin, was great. He was confident and encouraging, allowing everyone to take turns doing everything so that we all got a feel for the various positions and responsibilities, including taking the helm.
I will definitely be signing up for more lessons.

While I appreciate someone at 3^rd Coast addressing my complaints (albeit a bit late), I stand by my original review. My intent is not to ruin the reputation of a business, but merely to share my experience. I specifically state that I sailed with 3^rd Coast once (for a 3-​hour sail) and readers can take my review for what it’s worth – one experience with your business. This one experience was disappointing as a result of the lack of knowledge and people skills of your instructors. I’m glad to hear that you have since changed your standards for hiring instructors. I’m also glad to hear that you’ve improved your booking process.
To address the other issues – I know you don’t have control over the weather, I just thought it might have been useful info for you to impart to first-​time customers that they should dress warmly and in layers, I don’t think people realize just how cold it gets out on the water. I was initially taken aback by your «beer in lieu of tip» comment because it sounded «obligatory» and to be given to the crew or captain, rather than shared in a friendly BYOB gathering. And lastly, I did not expect to learn how to sail in 3 hours, I just wanted to learn one or two things about sailing – which I did not, which is why I was so disappointed. The instructors on that night were bad at teaching and there was no effort made to actually teach, I did not know what it was that I was supposed to be doing. The atmosphere on the boat was chaotic and I felt like I was in the way rather than actually doing my part in helping to sail the boat.
Thank you for reaching out and making improvements as a result of my review.

I initially signed up for 3^rd Coast Cruising through a ‘Living Social’ promotion. I’ve always wanted to learn how to sail and this particular deal came up at the perfect time. In my typical fashion I waited until the very last minute to actually book my lessons so I had to pack both of them into one weekend.
After a good amount of waiting my first lesson was eventually cancelled, BUT only because of some inclement weather that had rolled in that day. I have to say that Russell, our instructor, definitely made the best of a bad situation. I learned an insane amount of terminology and knots during the hour or so that we waited for the storm to pass. In the end we had to call it because there was a lot of lightning. However, the owner of the school was kind enough to offer a credit for the session — a testament to how fair and understanding these guys are.
The next day (Sunday) was amazing. The weather was clear and the wind was super strong. We were out on six foot swells and pulling eight knots but I was comfortable the whole time under the Captain’s direction. It seriously ROCKED! The other student and I were taking turns on the sails and then the helm. The whole experience was really hectic but very exciting at the same time. I will definitely NEVER forget my first time behind the helm of a sail boat.
I enjoyed my two lessons so much that I chartered a boat the following week. My employer and his brother were in from the UK so we took some mutual friends out on a sunset cruise. Our experience was perfect in my eyes. The two person crew was amazing. The captain was kind enough to let my girlfriend steer the boat for most of the trip and she got a serious kick out of the whole experience. In fact, she went from poking fun of me for taking sailing lessons to wondering when we were going out on the boat again!
‘3^rd Coast’ is completely made up of people with a passion to sail and their enthusiasm is contagious. Be prepared for a life changing experience and that is seriously no exaggeration. They will make you feel right at home and that is exactly what I needed in this situation.

3-​Hour Sailing Lessons… I just have to say it was a great telling my fam and friends that I sailed on one of the Great Lakes! What a wonderful experience! :)

I purchased a Swoop last year for 1 sailing class but due to weather cancellations, I was unable to use. However, 3^rd Coast said they would honor it for this year. So, about 3 weeks ago I went out for a sail.
In my twenties, a friend had a friend with a sail boat that we would cruise around on, so I was familiar with sail boats. However, I did not know how to do much. The Sunday that I went out was amazing weather. I got the helm the boat for the first time ever. It was so much fun. I learn how to tie a couple of knots, how to raise a sail, how to tack, etc. It was a great day and the group from 3^rd Coast was great.
Since that first Sunday, I have signed up for more classes. All the leads that I have sailed with, Jim, Gene, Russell and Rick, make the classes fun, safe and challenging. Everyone I have met so far has been friendly and make you feel at home.
If you are interested in learning to sail, or just want to give it a try, I highly recommend going out with 3^rd Coast.

I made the mistake of taking classes at another north side school last year and was absolutely disappointed. My wife bought me a couple of gift certificates for 3^rd Coast classes last Christmas and I was amazed at the difference this Spring. These people are really serious about making sure that you actually know how to sail. Not the usual Gold Coast cheese, cracker, and chardonnay boat ride nonsense. They really are very gifted teachers. You’re not going out on 19 foot dinks with teachers who are only interested in hearing the sound of their own voices, and selling you a large block of lessons.
There’s a real sense of sailing culture in what these people do. The continuity. The Brotherhood. The biggest thing that I was worried about before was what would happen if I was out on my own when Lake Michigan got really rough. Anyone born in this town has seen it go from dead calm to ten footers in the space of half an hour. Jim Miranda and his staff do an excellent job of teaching you, safely I might add, how to deal with Mother Nature when she doesn’t want to cooperate. They instill confidence by consistently teaching you what needs to be done in difficult situations.
Sailing is a lifestyle. A calling. Something that chooses you. Not the other way around. If this is indeed something that you feel in your bones, then give 3^rd Coast a call. You won’t find better. You will be prepared.
If you’re ready to begin, adventure awaits…