Capt. Norm Zable

Tel: 312-543-9634
Email: nczltd12@yahoo.com

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Certificates and Interests:

• OUPV & Master 50 Ton License with Auxiliary Sail and Assistance Towing endorsements
• FCC Marine Radio Operators Permit (MROP)
• Transportation Workers Identification Card (TWIC)
• National Safety Council: First Aid, CPR and AED Certificates

I began sailing as a teenager at the Chicago Park District's Rainbow Fleet. The curriculum included: rigging, launching, and required that each student teach someone else, the skills they had just learned. The social/team teaching aspects of the course were instrumental in my becoming a skilled sailor. Through high school and college (summer breaks) I continued to sail at the Rainbow Fleet.

When I relocated to Florida (early 1970's) for my career, sailing was no longer limited to summers. I was able to spend a large part of my spare time on my Dutch Craft sailboat, hosting friends on day sails in the Gulf of Mexico.

In 1991 my wife and I moved to Chicago, and although we were “boat-less”, we knew that locating ourselves within walking distance of a Chicago harbor was a priority. During my first sailing season in Chicago, I crewed on several racing sailboats at the Corinthian Yacht Club (Montrose Harbor). That experience as a freelance crew member helped hone my racing skills on several boat types and lengths. Additionally, on non-race days, I acted as an “able bodied crew” for the Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Squadron.

By my second summer, I had gravitated to a 30' Hunter with a dedicated crew and legally blind skipper. Ironically the name of the boat was “Adventurous”. I continued to race on Adventurous for the next 10 years. We were challenged in all types of weather, and always enjoyed sharing our knowledge with new crew- members that came and went. The skipper's declining health finally forced him to sell his boat in 2003.

In 2004 two fellow “Adventurous” sailors and I, purchased “Kinship”, a 30' O'Day sailboat. She is docked at Belmont Harbor, and we've spent our summers cruising along the shores of Lake Michigan, often for a week (or more) at a time. I particularly enjoy introducing novices to the sport as well as helping my inexperienced friends/family improve their skills.


My goal is to parlay my business and sailing experience into a fulfilling career on the water; chartering, teaching and delivering boats.