Gale Force Joins CYCF’s Growing Fleet

by Annie Thompson

May 11, 2026

When Gale Force arrives at Monroe Station this week, she will bring more than another sailboat to the Chicago Yacht Club Foundation’s fleet. The J/100 is the latest gift from Captain Dave’s Foundation. Gale Force joins Charlotte Ann, a J/100, and M/V Intrigue, a coachboat, as the foundation's third vessel given to CYCF. It is extraordinary generosity, and CYCF is grateful. Robert Bied, president of Captain Dave’s Foundation and a member of CYCF’s board of directors, has led the acquisitions. Under his leadership, Captain Dave’s Foundation purchased Gale Force and Charlotte Ann, and commissioned M/V Intrigue, a custom inflatable 19-ft coachboat built specifically to support CYCF’s Monroe Community Sailing Initiative.

“The work of the Chicago Yacht Club Foundation was deeply important to Captain Dave Truitt,” Bied said. “To ensure that his philanthropic vision would continue into the future, Dave established the Captain Dave’s Foundation.” Captain Dave passed away before Captain Dave’s Foundation acquired Charlotte Ann. “I am honored that Captain Dave entrusted me with carrying forward his vision,” Bied said. Kurt Anderson, newly elected to CYCF’s board, also serves as secretary for Captain Dave’s Foundation. For Anderson, it is more than a title: Dave Truitt was one of his mentors. The two organizations have a shared vision.

Captain Dave believed deeply in the power of hands-on sailing. He put it plainly:

“We need to have opportunities for youth and families to be at sea where they can be crew, not just passengers,” he said. “That will change their life!”

Gale Force makes that experience possible for more sailors participating in CYCF’s Monroe Community Sailing Initiative. The program will continue to serve about twenty sailors each week, roughly two hundred across the summer, with additional youth participating in one-day introductory excursions on the water. With three J/100s instead of two, our sailors will be able to get more deeply involved in trimming sails and taking turns at the helm.

”S/V Gale Force was already the name of our newly acquired J/100, and we chose to retain that name,” Bied said. “It is a name that conveys strength, determination, and purpose. I believe Captain Dave would agree that this strong name should remain in place—a strong name for a strong mission.” Captain Dave once said, “If we don’t do this, it doesn’t get done.”

At Monroe this summer, that call to action takes a practical form: a young sailor trimming a sail, taking the helm, and discovering that they are not just along for the ride. They are part of the crew.