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“Is that Jaws?” – Possible SHARK spotted at Chicago Yacht Club

For years, there have been rumors of sharks in The Great Lakes with little proof. So, you can imagine the surprise when one Chicago resident filmed a shark that was swimming in the waters at the Chicago Yacht Club. This wasn’t some kind of grainy footage either, as you can easily see the fin sticking out above the water.

And, although this wasn’t the biggest (possible) shark in the world – it was still a notable size. This drew attention on social media, where one Chicagoan even joked, “ Is that Jaws? ” in a nod to the classic shark attack movie.

Shark today at Chicago Yacht Club? by u/beemer789 in chicago

Having said this, not everyone was convinced. According to experts, this was most likely a carp or sturgeon. Apparently, shark fins are made differently and are less floppy than the one pictured. Sadly, for conspiracy fans, this is the most likely outcome, as it makes logical sense that it would be a large fish, as opposed to a shark.

At the same time, it still makes for a cool video and shows the size of some of the fish in Chicago’s local waters. It also didn’t fail to get tongues (and fins) wagging about the possibility of a shark in Chicago. If this was a shark, then you could also argue that it was quite a classy one at that due to being a resident at the yacht club.

5 Replies to ““Is that Jaws?” – Possible SHARK spotted at Chicago Yacht Club”

It’s possibly a large carp, salmon or trout I have been scuba diving Lake Michigan for over 25 yrs and he f seen a shark ! The surface of the water is very warm and it Carp spawn time they in the harbors at Belmont

It is possible for a shark a certain breed than go from salt water to fresh. Years ago a shark came through the St Lawrence Seaway and washed up on the beach in Zion before the nuclear plant was built.

Bull sharks have traveled from the gulf up the Mississippi River.

Bull sharks have made it to the IL River and they tolerate freshwater quite regularly in the Mississippi river so why not.

Why take a chance. Start investigating..before it’s to late for some person or persons.

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113th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac registration now open

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Chicago Yacht Club

chicagoyachtclub.org

400 East Monroe Street

Chicago , IL 60603

(312) 861-7177

Organized in 1875 in the City of Chicago as an association of 37 yachtsmen, the Chicago Yacht Club is one of the oldest clubs in the United States. Known for their commitment to promoting the sport of sailing, the club is host to the venerable Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac. CYC is also a leader in teaching children and adults to sail, having provided sailing lessons for over 85 years.

From the Commodore:

“The Chicago Yacht Club membership is proud to become a founding member of the National Sailing Hall of Fame. Since 1875 our Club has embraced an aggressive racing program, which today includes an average of 100 regattas annually. From our very active junior sailing program to our signature regatta – the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac – our focus is on supporting and growing the sport of sailing. We could not be more pleased to support the Hall of Fame in its effort to honor the achievements of American sailors.”

Joseph S. Haas, Commodore

In 1898 the club hosted the first Chicago-Mackinac Race as an informal contest between five boats. William Cameron’s 64′ fin-keel sloop Vanenna one the race with a time of 51 hours. The 289.4 nautical mile race is now one of the oldest annual freshwater distance races in the world, with more than 355 boats entered and approximately 3,500 crew participating.

Racers who compete in 25 Mackinac Races are invited to join the exclusive “Island Goats Sailing Society,” originally named for the sailors’ appearance, aroma and behavior upon reaching Mackinac Island.

1882 On January 9, 1882, the Club was issued its Certificate of Incorporation under the laws of Illinois. As the Certificate stated, the formation of Chicago Yacht Club was to encourage and promote the sport of yacht sailing and building.

1900 In 1900 with membership numbering 125 and a fleet of 28 yachts, the club obtained the Argo Clubhouse, a 35 x 55 foot boathouse located at the end of the Illinois Central pier #3 at the foot of Randolph Street. It had been the former home of a group of yachtsmen called the Argonauts- a small group of socially oriented yachtsmen. Their yacht, the Argo, had been used in 1893 to carry their guests to the World’s Columbian Exposition held where Jackson Park harbor is today.

1902 A new clubhouse, initiated by Commodore George Warrington, at the foot of Monroe Street, on pilings in the lake, was formally opened on June 28, 1902.

1911 Commodore Baum’s Amorita establishes elapsed time record for the Mackinac race which stood for 76 years.

1920 Chicago Yacht Club and the Lincoln Park Yacht Club combined.

1923 In 1923, the barge and clubhouse at Belmont Harbor replaces the lumber schooner Carrier that had served as the Lincoln Park Yacht Club clubhouse since 1915. Carrier, a 177-ton canaler, was built in Michigan in 1865. In 1923, she sank off Evanston while being towed to Waukegan. Her large wheel has been preserved at the Belmont Station and a mural shows Carrier when she was our Club ship. Our race committee crafts have all been named Carrier in her honor.

1925 Monroe St. Clubhouse moved to the present site to make room for the outer drive’s construction.

1930 The depression of the 1930’s put an end to the elaborate plans for the $3,000,000 eight story clubhouse at Chicago Harbor.

1935 The second Chicago Harbor Clubhouse, which had been a display called “The House of Tomorrow” at the Century of Progress Exhibition, was moved to the site in 1935 as a temporary building.

1955 Construction of the first section of the present Monroe St. Clubhouse

1975 1975 marked the celebration of the Club’s 100 year Anniversary and a new high in activity for the Club. Countless hours of effort by hundreds of loyal members went into the celebration. Recognition flowed from many sources including Illinois Governor Walker, Chicago Mayor Daley and President Gerald Ford. The latter two even enjoyed dinner at the Chicago Yacht Club.

1985 Chicago Yacht Club participates in sponsorship of Heart of America of America’s Cup.

1992 Chicago Yacht Club Foundation was founded by then-Commodore Joseph Wright, Jr., Kurt Stocker, and Dick Wharton. A member can now give something back to the community while supporting the Club’s nautical educational activities.

1998 CYC celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the first Race to Mackinac. The multihull record in the Race to Mackinac is established at 18 hours 50 minutes and 32 seconds by Steve Fossett on Stars and Stripes; the catamaran previously sailed by Dennis Conner in the Americas Cup.

2004 Belmont Station barge is relocated to the south east end of the Belmont Harbor.

2005 Chicago Yacht Club adds new Sailing Activities Center barge adjacent to Belmont Station.

2008 2008 marked the 100th running of the “Mac Race,” with a record entry of 460 boats and 100% of the fleet was tracked by GPS transponder.

Quick Links

Getting Here

The Sailing Museum & Hall of Fame

365 Thames Street

Newport, RI 02840

401.324.5761

[email protected]

Chicago Yacht Club

Review Highlights

“ I cannot be happier with our choice of having the reception here, except for a small snafu. ” in 4 reviews

“ The view of the dock where all the boats are located is very nice and the appetizers they serve are very tasty, especially the beef wellington. ” in 2 reviews

“ Went with my cousin who is a member, and enjoyed the buffet a lot. ” in 2 reviews

Location & Hours

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400 E Monroe St

Chicago, IL 60603

Harbor Dr & United States Highway 41

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Amenities and More

About the business.

Chicago Yacht Club is a private club founded in 1875 with the goal of advancing the community's knowledge, enjoyment and participation in boating and the nautical arts. Chicago Yacht Club has two clubouse locations in Monroe Harbor and Belmont Harbor and is a preeminent organizer and host of regattas, races and predicted log contests in the United States. Chicago Yacht Club has an award winning sailing school that offers classes for children from age 5 up to adults. The club also offers an array of spectacular off-the-water amenities such as fine dining and full-service catering at both clubhouses -- Monroe Station and Belmont Station. …

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I do not own a boat, but a friend sent me a link for free admission to a TECH and BOAT Show, where vendors would sell, among other things, boats and accessories. Light snacks and 1 drink ticket were available. Across the hall the food for Members was available (fruit, dessert, carving station). Luckily I saved myself embarrassment and avoided those areas. The area was so nice, right on the water of course. A live band and outdoor seating (member seating separate) on a warm early evening made for a great atmosphere. There were vendors inside and outside, from car companies, boat accessories, and private plane sales. The dock allowed for boats to be visited, but none were going out at the time. My favorite accessory was the 'Seakeeper', a heavy object that keeps boats from rocking. Good idea! The area and service were great but I can't speak to the members.

See all photos from Jacqueline B. for Chicago Yacht Club

Well I don't own a Yacht/Boat neither my friends do.+1 for a annual member ship event and this is a great place to be.Similar to lake shore walk but just a place where you can Dine In makes this place different. Can't comment on the food as this is "Members only Club". Pros: Amazing View of the Lake. Great spot to host events/weddings Pretty Good staff

See all photos from Harish V. for Chicago Yacht Club

I attended a friends wedding here who got married later in life - I'll never forget his 90 year old Dad saying he didn't think he would live long enough to see his boy get married! The food at the reception was really good, servers refilled often and you had exceptional views of the lake - what's not to love?!

I am not a member of Chicago Yacht Club but I have attending many events at both Monroe and Belmont locations for years. The Monroe locations is well decorated and has a beautiful view of the lake and city. It's great for lunch during the summer and there is parking on site. I obviously can't speak regarding member benefits or services but overall the staff is friendly and helpful. I attended a recent event here for an awards ceremony & dinner. The food was fantastic with a wide range of options from a carving station, sushi, salads, ribs, mac & cheese, soup and more. Everything I tried was delicious but it was a little difficult to eat as it was a standing dinner and there were not a lot of counter space to put your place on. The bar selection was extensive and you received two drink tickets with your ticket. There was a heated tent set up outside for dancing after the ceremony. The awards ceremony itself was very rushed. There was only a notice given a couples minutes prior that it was going to start and there were few seats available for those who needed them. I would have appreciated a 20 and 10 minute heads up for the awards presentation as it was taking place at one end of the building and people were spread out along multiple rooms. I know they were limited to the number of people who could attend based on the space of their facility but it was for an event that hundreds of people participated and the event was sold out rather quickly and it was a little cramped. Regardless, everyone in my party had a fantastic time but we all agreed that some things could have been improved.

This place is very nice and fancy plain and simple. My cousin had his wedding and reception here. Everything from the ambiance, the atmosphere, the décor, the service and the food all scream elegant. The view of the dock where all the boats are located is very nice and the appetizers they serve are very tasty, especially the beef wellington. If you're looking to host some type of event here be ready to shell out some serious paper because this place is far from cheap. However you get what you pay for and here you pay for top notch service with delicious food and appetizers with a great view of the ocean. I'm not a member of the Chicago Yacht Club but if a friend or family member ever has an event here; I will definitely attend.

Roasted chicken with herbs, spinach ravioli with a cream sauce and green beans with toasted almonds. The flower is a nice touch as well.

Amazing outside view of the boats and the ocean from the patio. Very serene.

I have receptacle privileges here and took advantage of it for lunch. The afternoon was a perfect Chicago day We sat outside with the best view in Chicago. The atmosphere was amazing and the staff could not have been friendlier. You couldn't tell i was not a full member. We ended up having salads and two bottles of wine. They were a light Sauvignon blanc, but the day was so nice we didn't want to leave. So we sat for a couple of hours. Just an amazing experience.....if i owned a boat, i would truly consider a membership Highly recommend

My boss is a super-regular member of a certain age (old school is putting it mildly.) And, while I have no prior experience with yacht clubs because I'm a mere working class peon (with nary a yacht in my possession...,) I can only speak to my experience at my company's private event there (at the insistence of aforementioned boss.) First, it truly feels old school. Very masculine and likely quite fashionable a few decades back (that's not saying it's a bad place, just not very modern-feeling.) The room in which we held our event was quite nice, open and airy with high ceilings and floor to ceiling windows overlooking the harbor. Can't beat that view! The staff was very pleasant. It was incredibly easy to work with the event coordinator and the bartenders and servers were lovely when we had to make a few last-minute adjustments during the event. All in all, a lovely place to hold a private event!

A rich 143 year history along a breathtaking view of Chicago's skyline and lakefront. I was impressed with the service as well as the food. I dined on the stuffed Pork Chop as it was succulent and well seasoned. I finished the evening with a warm Peach Cobbler with ice cream that was not too sweet and hit the spot.

Really cool establishment, retro old school feel. Well maintained & very clean. The food was phenomenal. I had a lobster roll with homemade chips. Very tasty & nice presentation. The view is beautiful & despite a ton of people at millennium park, it was really quite quaint. Will definitely come again, or possibly even join. Loved it!

Seems like a nice enough place. But the GM...a jerk. I am a 53 year old well-educated upper-middle-class white female, and was dressed the part yesterday evening. Was waiting for my friend to valet the car. General manager came out and asked me why I was there, who I was with and why I was standing in his parking lot. Not an impressive way to greet a first-time guest. I told him whose boat I was going out on and he continued to indicate to me that I could not park in the lot. Since I was standing outside the car and was clearly not the car's driver, I'm not sure what effect he thought I could have on the parking situation. But I do hate the way he treated me and the way he accused me of not belonging. It definitely made me hesitant to return. What a jerk. Wondering how he treats people of different races or different socioeconomic statuses. Charming.

5 other reviews that are not currently recommended

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Yachtapalooza Sets Sail This Weekend, Aiming To Get South Siders Excited About Boating

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EAST SIDE — A day-long open house for local boaters of all experience levels this weekend in East Side aims to be an accessible, fun draw for newbies to the nautical world, organizers said.

Yachtapalooza takes place 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at Crowley’s Yacht Yard , 3434 E. 95th St.

The free, indoor event celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. It features free seminars and demonstrations, a pig roast, live music, a flea market Friday and Saturday and a three-day sale on nautical items from Boater’s Closet Friday-Sunday.

Organizers hope to draw 1,000 current and future mariners out to this year’s event, said Nick Fugate, sales manager at Crowley’s Yacht Yard.

Yachtapalooza will also include a boat showcase by Nautical Donations , Crowley’s charitable arm, featuring several rehabbed, budget-friendly boats for sale.

Proceeds from the boat sales will support nonprofits like the Chicago Maritime Society and the Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Foundation, Fugate said.

The Chicago Boat Show dropped its sailing portion in recent years and is planning a move to the suburbs next year , so this weekend “is probably the closest thing to a sailboat show that we’ve got in Chicago,” said Charles Szymanski, a Yachtapalooza organizer and president of the nonprofit Rainbow Races .

With a few dozen vendors and free seminars on topics like marine pumps and toilets, splicing line and rope, and applying epoxy and varnish, Yachtapalooza offers “anything you would need” to maintain a boat, Fugate said.

The seminars give attendees “the chance to use the products, put their hands on them and feel them, and learn a little more than watching a powerpoint on a screen,” he said.

The event is “the perfect opportunity for anyone looking to get into sailing, [with] questions about sailing or [wanting] to check out a sailboat for the first time,” Szymanski said.

Rainbow Races is one of Yachtapalooza’s featured vendors, and its members will host one of the day’s seminars. The group aims to erase barriers marginalized groups may face in getting into sailing, Szymanski said.

It’s the only U.S. Sailing-sanctioned, LGBTQ+ sailing school in the country, and the only LGBTQ+ sailing organization in the Midwest, he said.

Rainbow Races’ first day of sailing school begins May 18. The group is offering a $50 early-bird discount on sailing classes through the end of April with the discount code “hydra50.” To register, click here .

The sailing world struggles with homophobia, misogyny, elitism and other forms of discrimination prevalent in other sports, Szymanski said. Rainbow Races creates a safe community around the sport which tries to counter those problems, he said.

Despite its issues, due to the collaborative nature of sailing, it’s also “probably the most friendly sports arena I’ve experienced,” Szymanski said.

“Sailing is a true team sport,” he said. “You have to trust your crewmates with your life, and you also have to support each other.

“Sailors are aware if we don’t evolve, we die … If the wind changes, you have to change with it.”

Chicago’s sailing community is robust, particularly with groups like the Park District, local yacht clubs and Rainbow Races encouraging new people to explore the sport, Fugate said.

But with a massive lake as Chicago’s backyard and “a very strong maritime history” in the city, the community could definitely stand to grow, Szymanski said.

Yachtapalooza is a free “casual meeting of the minds” that can help spread the joy of sailing and boating and change a misperception that the community is only for the ultra-rich, Szymanski said.

Million-dollar yachts “are great to look at and to dream about, but when you get down to it, Chicago is a blue-collar city,” Szymanski said. “A lot of the folks trying to buy boats are probably younger and more [budget-conscious]. It makes this a really unique opportunity to bring people in, in a very casual, unencumbered way.”

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Restaurant Tours: Shark Bar’s new-wave soul

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The press release heralding the opening of the Shark Bar, apparently written by some white-bread tyro who’s never dined south of Chinatown, begins, “Soul food and southern hospitality have found their way to the City of Big Shoulders.” Really. Tell that to Leon or Gladys or Army and Lou–some of the classic soul restaurateurs who have been feeding Chicago for most of the century. Fortunately, the guys who cloned Manhattan’s Shark Bar, one of several upscale soul eateries that draw a cosmopolitan racial mix, are better cooks and restaurateurs than they are fact checkers–and they are genuinely hospitable.

After seven years of success on lively Amsterdam Avenue on the Upper West Side, a strip with an amazingly high restaurant mortality rate, partners Stephen Gobourne and Andre Suite decided it was time to go national. Gobourne’s college roommate, Paul Wilkinson, suggested Chicago as their first outpost and became a partner here. He extols the virtues of the location: a spacious, nicely appointed loft building in River West that formerly housed the ill-fated Affair restaurant. The main-floor dining room, with its white columns and painted brick walls, seats 125 with room to spare.

“This is definitely a destination spot. You just can’t get this kind of space in the Loop. It’s great overlooking the river and watching the lights of the Loop from the second floor or from the roof-deck bar,” Wilkinson says. “Pretty soon we’re going to have jazz and world-beat music, probably some blues, upstairs. There’s really nothing like it in town.”

But the Shark Bar is not simply another trendy New York transplant, thanks to executive chef Michael Franklin, part of the original New York culinary team and a 14-year veteran of soul kitchens.

“This isn’t your regular soul food,” he insists. “This is new-wave soul. It’s not the usual bland stuff. I’ve eaten in a lot of Chicago southern-style and soul restaurants, and I find it bland. This has got flavor. Not heat. Flavor. It comes from everywhere, like the Caribbean, not just the south. There’s no boundaries, no rules.” He’s so effusive it’s difficult to concentrate on the food and listen at the same time.

“This is healthy food,” he goes on. “I don’t use lard. I use smoked turkey in place of pork–except for the pork chops or the ribs. I use a lot of seafood. In some ways this is almost a seafood restaurant. Hey, try the catfish. All the different kinds. Try the shrimp. Try the crab cake. Hey–did you get a crab cake?”

Yes, the crab cakes ($6.95) really are first-rate–crisp, full of sweet crab flavor, put together with a minimum of filler, just enough to hold them together. Tartar sauce and hot sauce come on the side, but you don’t need either.

One of Franklin’s original creations is the soul wrap, a tortilla filled with shredded chicken, collard greens, black-eyed peas, and rice ($4.95)–the essence of his crossover cooking. On a subtler level, the grilled oysters on the half shell ($6.95) emerge plump and tasty in a licorice-tinged Pernod butter. Speaking of healthy, the meat loaf is made with smoked turkey ($11.95). It’s spiced so nicely you’ll never miss the beef.

Somehow we manage to work our way through three or four platters heaped with samples–almost the whole menu. We try the catfish, which comes both fried and blackened ($13.95). It’s got real catfish flavor, that earthy taste so many farm-raised cats lack. The same good flavor comes through in the mix of catfish and shellfish in the thick, full-bodied gumbo ($16.95).

The fried chicken has a zippy crust ($12.95), but even more interesting is the jerked Cornish hen ($13.95), a mild but savory version of the Jamaican chicken barbecue paired with fresh pineapple salsa. An incendiary Jamaican jerk sauce comes on the side if you’re a fan of the authentic sensation–but be forewarned.

Shrimp come in a rich, classic, mahogany-colored etouffee, or in an assertive but not overheated Caribbean-style curry sauce, which I preferred ($15.95). A similar curry sauce lends a touch of magic to baked short ribs, one of the most flavorful but underappreciated cuts of beef ($14.95).

But as a fan of true south-side Chicago-style barbecued ribs, I must say I prefer the local version to the Shark Bar’s ($14.95). The meat is good, but the Savannah-style sauce, heavy on the honey, is too sweet for my taste, and the ribs are cooked close to the falling-off-the-bone stage. I prefer a bit more vigor and a bit more gnaw–a la Leon’s. Well, New York was never known for its ribs.

You get a duet of soul classics as side dishes, drawn from a list that includes slightly sweetened collard greens, black-eyed peas, corn on the cob, red beans and rice, macaroni and cheese, potato salad, and such–or you can order a vegetarian entree composed of four sides for $11.95.

There’s also a basket of mixed rolls, including moist, sweet corn bread and very interesting sweet potato biscuits with an almost molasses flavor. But my favorites are the simple baking powder biscuits–mellow and flaky enough to eat without butter. Desserts include a very chocolaty brownie, excellent sweet potato pie, moist carrot cake, and key lime pie ($4.95 each).

Apart from its many virtues as a restaurant and watering hole, this may be the first downtown restaurant to really crack Chicago’s subtle color line, both in ownership and clientele. “Chicago really doesn’t have a downtown restaurant where upscale blacks can feel at home and whites can enjoy comfortably as well–the way people can mix at a blues or music club,” says Gobourne. “At lunchtime I would say our crowd is 50-50, black and white. At dinner it’s about 65 percent black–about what the mix is in New York.”

“It’s a neutral location for everyone, black or white,” says Wilkinson. “Just look around!”

The Shark Bar, 212 N. Canal, serves lunch from 11:30 to 2:30 Monday through Friday. Dinner is from 5:30 to 11 Sunday through Wednesday, to midnight Thursday, and to 2 AM Friday and Saturday. A gospel buffet brunch is served from 11:30 to 3 Sunday. Call 312-559-9057. –Don Rose

Art accompanying story in printed newspaper (not available in this archive): Paul Wilkinson, Michael Franklin, Stephen Gobourne photo by J.B. Spector.