JCYC Chicago
Joseph Conrad Yacht Club
Contact details
942 W. Montrose
Chicago, IL 60613
Tel: (847) 287-2168
Fax: (847) 295-0195
E-mail: contact@jcycchicago.com
Website administrator: info@webskidesign.com
Our story begins with another wave of Polish pilgrims - this time in the late sixties of XX century who chose Chicago as their new home.In 1968 few of them - students of University of Illinois gathered around Henry Luber who owned a small sailing boat named „Kormoran“ . This boat gave them a chance to carry on with their passion from the old country: cruising and racing using the magic of wind power - this time on a beautiful lake Michigan.
The first meeting took place in 1968 at the Yacht Yard at Damen and Elston in Chicago. Ireneusz Gieblewicz - a sailor from Szczecin - has become another soul and force behind emergence of JCYC - platform for Polish young immigrants to share experiences, views and great time doing what they all loved - sailing. Officially - JCYC came into existence on November 2nd, 1969 during a meeting at an apartment of Zygmunt Maliszewski at 2206 N. Le Claire. Henry Luber became the very first Commandore of JCYC : its main objective - purchase of a sailing boat for the club Today JCYC has hundreds of sympathizers some with experience in Atlantic crossing on monohulls, others spoiled by catamaran charter companies from Bora Bora to Caribbean Sea. Please feel free to join us on facebook.
Joseph Conrad was born Józef Teodor Konrad Nałęcz Korzeniowski in Berdyczów, formerly in the Commonwealth of Poland, on December 3, 1857. Polish born, he would become one of the greatest novelists and prose stylists of English literature, an enormous achievement considering that he mastered English as his fourth language at the age of twenty. His father, Apollo Korzeniowski, was a translator of English and French literature, and so Joseph, while still a boy, had significant exposure to English, French, and Polish literature.
In 1862, Joseph’s family was exiled to northern Russia as a result of his father’s political activities. In 1865, his mother Ewelina died of tuberculosis. In 1886, Apollo Korzeniowski was permitted to return from exile and, together with his son, settled in Lvov. The next year they moved to Cracow. In 1869, after Apollo’s death, Joseph’s maternal uncle, Tadeusz Bobrowski, took charge of the boy’s education and upbringing.
In 1872, Joseph surprised his family by expressing his desire to go to sea. Despite the many attempts to dissuade him from his decision, he left Poland in 1874 for Marseilles, France where he began his career as a sailor. While working on ships, Korzeniowski made numerous voyages in and around Europe as well as to the Caribbean. In 1878, he joined the British merchant marine where he swiftly rose in rank.
In 1886, he earned a Master Mariner certificate and became a naturalized British citizen. It was at this time that he officially changed his name to “Joseph Conrad”. As a British mariner, he spent many years sailing all over the world. These experiences provided him with material for the exotic locations of many of his novels.
Conrad traveled to Australia, to various islands in the Indian Ocean and in the South Pacific, to South America, and he even sailed up the Congo River in Africa. While sailing to Australia, he took his first command (1888), of the ship Otago. In 1894, at the age of 36, after twenty years at sea, Conrad finally left the sea behind and settled down in England. Two years later he married an Englishwoman by the name of Jessie George. The couple had two sons.
Conrad still occasionally traveled, but most of his time was spent writing his novels. His first, Almayer’s Folly, appeared in print in 1899. Lord Jim came in 1900 and Nostromo in 1904. Conrad continued to write until his death. His last novel, Suspense, published posthumously in 1925, remained unfinished.
In 1923, the year before his death, Conrad, who possessed a hereditary Polish coat-of-arms, declined the offer of British knighthood which was not hereditary. Conrad died on August 3, 1924 and was interred at Canterbury Cemetery, Canterbury, England under the name of Korzeniowski.
Conrad is regarded as a forerunner of modernism. His narrative style and existential, anti-heroic characters influenced many writers including Ernest Hemingway, D.H. Lawrence, Graham Greene, and Joseph Heller, as well as provided inspiration for the film Apocalypse Now (which drew from Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness”). To commemorate the 150th anniversary of Conrad’s birth, UNESCO and the Polish government respectively recognized and designated the year 2007 as “Conrad in the World” year.
Joseph Conrad Jozef Konrad Korzeniowski Znany czlowiek morza a pozniej pisarz angielski polskiego pochodzenia. Wywodzil sie ze szlacheckiej rodziny. Korzeniowski urodzil sie na ziemiach polskich, bedacych pod zaborem rosyjskim, Byl synem pisarza i dzialacza-patrioty - Apollo Nalecza Korzeniowskiego. Wlasnie za zaangazowanie w dzialalnosc zmierzajaca do odzyskania przez Polske niepodleglosci, ojciec Konrada zoslany zostal do Rosji. Towarzyszyla mu zona i syn. Matka Konrada umarla gdy mial 7 lat, ojciec w cztery lata pozniej. Jego wuj Tadeusz Bobrowski zdolal go wowczas sciagnac z Rosji do Krakowa, gdzie przyszly pisarz wychowal sie pod jego opieka.
Jako dziecko, przepadal za czytaniem ksiazek, w szkole jednak nudzil sie, marzac o dalekich podrozach, zwlaszca na Daleki Wschod.
W roku 1874 przy pomocy wujka udalo mu sie wyemigrowac do Marsylii, gdzie rozpoczal marynarska sluzbe na statkach francyskich. Jako obywatel rosyjski nie czul sie jednak pewnie, totez wuj przekonal go by przyjal obywatelstwo brytyjskie. Zaangazowal sie zatem na statek "Mavis" i w roku 1878 wyladowal w Anglii. Mial 21 lat gdy zaczal uczyc sie jezyka angielskiego, przejawiajac niezwykle zdolnosci w tym kierunku, potwierdzone pozniej w ksiazkach opisanych i wydawanych w tym jezyku. W roku 1879 poplynal do Austarlii, pozniej plywal po Morzu Srodziemnym i do Indii Zachodnich. Wkrotce zdal w Londynie egzamin na mlodszego oficera i jako taki poplynal w 1881 do Australii. Szcegolnie czesto plywal do archipelagu Wysp Malajskich, Byl drugim oficeren na statku "Palestine" (425 ton wypornosci) przewozacym wegiel. Gdy statek na Sumatrze, w drodze do Bangkoku zapalil sie, musial zostac porzucony przez zaloge. Korzeniowski wrocil z Singapuru do Londynu jako pasazer parowcem.
W 1884 roku otrzymal dyplom pierwszego oficera, a w dwa lata pozniej przyjal obywatelstwo brytyjskei i zdal egzamin na kapitana. Mial wowczas zaledwie 29 lat.
W 1888 roku objal dowodztwo statku "Otago", ktory plywal miedzy Australia a wyspa Mauritius. Stalo sie to w dosc niecodziennych okolicznosciach. Oto w czasie jednej z podrozy zmarl nagle kapitan statku i Korzeniowski w trybie awaryjnym objal dowodztwo. "Rosyjski ksiaze" bo taki przydomek zyskal sobie od zalogi, byl zachwycony zwinnym statkiem. Plywanie na "Otago" urzeklo go. Zalety tej jednostki opisal pozniej w "Zwierciadle Morza". Statek byl malym, australijskim barkiem, o wypornosci 345 ton. Korzeniowski pisal ze "Otaga" wyglada niczym piekny rumak pomiedzy stadem koni pociagowych. Przygoda na "Otago" trwala 14 miesiecy.
1969-1973 Henry Luber
1973-1977 Izydor Ryzak
1977-1979 Dr. Jerzy Krzaczynski
1979-1983 Miroslaw Niedzinski
1983-1987 Wojciech Niedzinski
1987-1991 Andrzej Piotrowski
1991-1993 Jerzy Kalinski
1993-1995 Stanislaw Paskiewicz
1995-1997 Kazimierz Potocki
1997-2001 Izydor Ryzak
2001-2003 Janusz Ciurla
2003-2005 Wojciech Niedzinski
2005-2007 Casimer Chlebek
2007-2008 Jarek Fin Finowicki
2008-2011 Krzysztof Kaminski
2011- present Walter Kotaba
"The true peace of God begins at any point 1,000 miles from the nearest land." — Joseph Conrad
For over 41 years, the Joseph Conrad Yacht Club (JCYC) has followed the same passion for sailing as their namesake, famed Polish-born novelist and captain, Joseph Conrad. Founded on November 2, 1969, by a young group of Polish-American sailing enthusiasts, notably; Albert Lada, Ireneusz Geblewicz, Isidore Ryzak, Henry Luber, and Mark and Anna Sokolowski, JCYC became the first Polish sailing club outside of Poland, quickly establishing itself as a model for future clubs around the US and throughout the world.
The initial fleet included sailboats, “AEOLUS”, “FREJA”, “KAROLINKA”, “KORMORAN”, “RASCAL”, “SEAHAWK”, “STAR”, and “VELA”, but soon began to grow as word of the new club spread with the help of public events like the first yachting ball and Polish Constitution Day Parade in the spring of 1970.
In 1988, JCYC expanded from a mainly social club into the sport of competitive sailboat racing with Andrzej Piotrowski’s sloop, “SOLIDARITY”, participating in that year’s MAC Race. Much how the “Solidarity Movement” brought new life in their native Poland, “SOLIDARITY” changed the face of the club forever. The club held its first official club race in 1994, “Regatta for the Golden Button of the Commodore”, igniting a tradition of racing that carries on to this day.
In 2000 the JCYC joined the Chicago yachting Association (CYA), becoming the 12th official member of the CYA sailing community. Boats like “PINBALL WIZARD”- Leszek Ziolkowski and “LIGHTNING”- Kris Kaminski have become known throughout the Chicago sailing community for their racing prowess. “PINBALL WIZARD” successfully competing in the MAC, Verve, Tri State, and JCYC regattas. But perhaps most notable is Kris Kaminski’s “LIGHTNING” taking the Theodore M. Dunlop trophy at the 2003 MAC Race. The club continues to blend both social and competitive sailing events, embodying the sailing spirit.
2011 marked a distinctly new chapter in the club’s existence, as committee elections held early in the year brought a new group of board members to the helm, with Walter Kotaba (Commodore), Gregory Golabek (Vice-Commodore), Romuald Poplawski (Rear- Commodore) Jolanta Santocka (Secretary), and Albert Nidzinski (Treasurer) taking positions. The focus for 2011 has been one of resurgence, as the club looks to increase its membership and solidify its presence in the Chicago sailing scene through the use of social and traditional media. In addition to the JCYC website and Facebook page, Vice-Commodore Gregory Golabek promoted the club’s “Annual Regatta” on both Polish radio station 1030 AM and the POLVISION television channel.
The JCYC prides itself as a social organization dedicated to Chicago’s Polish community, holding several sailing events, seminars, and picnics throughout the season for club members and anyone interested in the sport of sailing. In fact, two JCYC sponsored regattas were held this season; “The JCYC Annual Regatta” on July 9th, with first division winner “YELLOW MELLOW”- Waldemar Emmerich taking top honors, followed by “GRYTVIKEN”- Piotr Madrzyk and “ERIZO DE MAR”- Antoni Czupryna. “ULLNAS” Jerzy Ocytko finished first in the second division followed by “KAROLYNKA”- Andrzej Suchodolski and “SOMEWHERE IN TIME”- Michal Golabek. The second race of the season, “The Commodore’s Cup Regatta” was held on August 27th, with “GRYTVIKEN” placing first in the first division, followed by “GLASS SLIPPER”- Marek Bakowski, and “ERIZO DE MAR”. Once again, we saw “ULLNAS” clinching the second division honors, with “MONIKA”- Witek Nowicki, and “KAROLINKA”- Andrzej Suchodolski following across the finish. Four JCYC skippered sailboats also successfully competed in the 103rd Race to Mackinac; “ERIZO DE MAR”- Antoni Czupryna, “FORTE SEA”- Gregory Golabek, “GRYTVIKEN”- Piotr Madrzyk, and “KOKO LOKO”- Tomek Kokocinski all finishing in their respected divisions. After a fulfilling sailing season, the club looks forward to hosting its annual JCYC Gala, where members and guests can end the year with dinner and dancing, while recounting the many experiences and achievements they shared over the course of the 2011 season — But most importantly, plan for an even better 2012!
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Special thanks to Babiracki Images and Krzysztof Babiracki for providing photography |
Joseph Conrad Yacht Club
Contact details
942 W. Montrose
Chicago, IL 60613
Tel: (847) 287-2168
Fax: (847) 295-0195
E-mail: contact@jcycchicago.com
Website administrator: info@webskidesign.com
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