This weekend was the Chicago Air and Water Show, our annual installment of aeronautical goodness that attracts something like 2.1 million people on the shore and on boats and probably pads the wallets of the local chiropractors due to the whole neck-straining issue. A north wind had been blowing for a couple days, so our little inland sea was up in arms a bit, but the marine forecast called for the lake to lay down to less than 1 foot near shore by Saturday, so we decided to make a run to the city for the show. I met Team Synergy (Todd and Amy) at East Chicago, and we ran in some nice 2-3 foot swells for the 17 mile trip...it was quite fun. We idled into the massive expanse of boats already riding on anchor and enjoying the show, and found a suitable unoccupied area in which to drop our own hooks. The "less than 1 foot" forecast was clearly not happening...we were dealing with 1-3 footers...and trying to anchor in that water isn't necessarily the easiest thing. Our first attempt failed, resulting in me trying to keep my engines running, not hit anyone, and pull the anchor back into the boat. The second attempt didn't work either...but by the third time, we finally got the anchor to grab. Just as I feel the line tension, I hear a horn blowing and some yelling. I jump back into the cockpit and shut the motors down...only to hear more yelling and...applause. I sheepishly bowed, thinking people were just making fun...but then I heard the yelling and saw where it was coming from...a sailboat that was riding on anchor about 50 feet from us. And they weren't making fun...they were serious...berating me for leaving my engines run until I knew I was hooked. Apparently, they had a problem with my exhaust noise, and felt I should know about it...even though we'd be neighbors for the next couple hours. Well...my response was not a kind one (it involved words that children probably shouldn't hear), additionally I told them their snobbish, elitist attitude was why WE hated them. Our verbal exchange ended, and I just turned away and enjoyed the show.

LOl thats about what I woulda said and also added that blowboats are slow...

I would rather count a million dollars in pennys then go on a sailboat... riding in dads sea ray is bad enough!

good job Bubba!!!!!

ehh, never let Muffy and Theodore under your skin, smile back and wave friendly will usually drive them BONKERS

In the meantime, Todd and Amy had hooked their boat and heard the exchange...we made a few comments back and forth about how rude some people could be...but here's where it gets good. About 1/2 hour later, our friend Joe (Mild Thunder here on OSO) shows up. Now, my boat has 540 naturals with dry exhaust and is kinda loud...Joe's boat is REAL snorty, with dry exhaust on blower motors, with a nice surge thrown in. He knows nothing of the snottypants sailboater, but spends EASILY 10 minutes trying to get his anchor to hold. We are looking over at the sailboat and laughing HYSTERICALLY. There is no secret that they are not enjoying this particular scene. Oh well! Poor babies. Well...Joe gives up after a while and motors away, and I'm sure Mr. Sailor thought the adventure was over. Lo and behold, another 1/2 hour goes by, and our buddy Bob (BZ on OSO) shows up with his 42 Fountain w/525s. He anchors within 30 feet of the sailboat, motors running nice and loud, and just after he gets hooked, ANOTHER friend shows up with his 42 Outerlimits with triple 525s...and spends another 10 minutes trying to hook. I'm sure this was probably one of the worst days of the sailboater's life...but we thought it was positively brilliant how it worked out. Between the 4 boats that stayed, a bit of rough math put this smartmouth rag-bagger floating in the middle of approximately 5000 horsepower. We were nice and didn't all fire up at once, and he left very quickly when the show was over. I simply yelled "Have a nice 3 hour journey back to wherever you are going."

I am guessing they were also offended by jets flying overhead in full afterburner?

That IS funny...cuz an F-18 went directly over us with the afterburners lit...as it passed I yelled "Is that too loud for you guys?" Hahahahahahaha.

I have agree with Mike on this one! Having known what was instore for me when I arrived I did my best to get nice and close .... but not to close to our new best friends in the sail boat! If I had a buck for every time she checked to see how close we were I would be rich right now....LOL It kinda made the whole show more fun......you should of seen here face when she left...priceless

Love it! I am a Chicago native and an F18 driver.

Great story!