CHICAGO — The Coast Guard will establish a safety zone area in Lake Michigan around Navy Pier in Chicago for the America’s Cup World Series races Friday through Sunday.
The Coast Guard safety zone will be in effect from noon until 4 p.m. daily Friday through Sunday to protect vessels and people from the potential hazards associated with a sailing competition.
The zone runs from Navy Pier on the north to the Monroe Harbor Entrance on the south, all inside the outer Chicago Harbor break wall. Vessels will not be allowed to enter, transit through, or anchor within this safety zone without the permission of the Coast Guard captain of the port or a designated representative.
Specifically, the safety zone will encompass all waters of Lake Michigan and the Chicago Harbor bounded by a line drawn from the east side of the Jardine Water Filtration Plant, then east to the Chicago Harbor break wall, then south along the break wall, then west to 41°52.184’ N, 87°36.390’ W, then north to 41°53.132’ N, 87°36.398’ W, then northeast to 41°53.206’ N, 87°36.110’ W, then northeast to 41°53.314’ N, 87°35.978’ W, then back to the point of origin at 41°53.693’ N, 87°36.141’ W (NAD 83).
More information on viewing the race from a boat is available in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series On-Water Guide.
People who plan to watch the America’s Cup races from the water are reminded to wear proper fitting life jackets and carry all required safety gear. In 2015, 85 percent of all fatal boating accident victims were not wearing a proper life jacket.
Alcohol is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents. Operating a vessel with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher is illegal in Illinois. The Coast Guard reminds all boaters to exercise extreme caution when consuming alcohol on the water by designating a sober driver and drinking responsibly. All boaters are reminded to maintain full situational awareness throughout the event.
In the event of an emergency the Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan Command Center can be reached on VHF-FM channel 16 or at 414-747-7190.
The race area will be within the safety zone defined by the stake boats, and vessels may not enter the race area.
The race area is not fixed and will be adjusted within the safety zone based on the wind conditions for that day’s race. The stake boats will adjust to mark the boundaries of the race area and vessels are allowed to watch the race along the boundary. America’s Cup will provide race-related information and commentary on VHF-FM channel 83A.
More information:
Local Notice to Mariners
Broadcast to Mariners on VHF-FM channel 22A
Media interested in covering Coast Guard operations or related stories during the America’s Cup races should contact Ens. Zach Hall at 414-410- 9899, or at zachary.t.hall@uscg.mil, at least 24 hours prior to the request deadline. All America’s Cup race and event general inquires should be directed to Laura Muma at 773-960-3960, or at media@acwsChicago.com.