Andrew Sadock is preparing for the 2013 sailing season, but he won't have the lesbian anchors that he's relied on for the past two years while serving as the on-boat captain for Red Witch, the only commercial wooden sailboat in Chicago.
Lauren Lindeman and her wife, Lynn Randall, managed the boat's administrative functions in 2011, while Lindeman handled the duties solo in 2012.
"Unfortunately, Lauren contracted a serious illness and, although serving as a consultant through the transition of hiring another office manager, [she] will not be returning to work for Red Witch in the foreseeable future," said Sadock, who previously served as a holistic healing practitioner in which he worked with many from the LGBT community either in a peer-capacity or in a healer-healee capacity.
Sadock, 54, who lives in Chicago's Jefferson Park neighborhood, is now in his third season as the owner and president of Red Witch. The 2013 season sails from early May through September.
Sadock, who is straight, previously ran a Chicago architecture boat for eight years, "but it just got to the point where I wanted my own boat," he said.
He bought the Red Witch business Lindeman and Randall's son. Sadock is a licensed U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton master captain. His experience includes senior captain of the Bright Star, then-flagship of the Shoreline sightseeing fleet, an architectural tour boat. He has piloted large sailboats in San Francisco and Chicago since 1988.
Red Witch has been voted "Best Tour and Charter Boat" for three of the past four years in Chicago by Illinois Meetings & Events, and is Chicago's only wooden tall ship.
"It's an amazing experience and I get to meet some of the most incredible people," said Sadock, who singled out a group of 49 African-American lesbians who sail on Red Witch annually around Chicago's Gay Pride Parade.
"They are the most congenial, fun group that we serve every season," Sadock said.
Red Witch is available for day sails, evening cruises and special events. Private parties and corporate events also are held on the boat, which is docked at Burnham Harbor. It was named after the epic sea story, Wake of the Red Witch, by Garland Roark. Red Witch, built in 1986, is made of mahogany over oak frames, Sadock said. The boat has previously sailed in Hawaii and San Diego, moving to the Great Lakes about 10 years ago. Red Witch has been a registered Exhibition Tall Ship, Sadock said.
Red Witch was a participant in the Chicago Tall Ship Festival in 2003, 2006 and 2010.
"Red Witch is an incredible boat, an amazing vessel," Sadock said.
The boat sails up to five times daily during the summer, with each tour running up to three hours. Private cruises can accommodate up to 49 people, and about 6,000 annually sail onboard.
"Sailing on Red Witch is truly an unforgettable experience," Sadock said.
For more information on Red Witch, or to book a cruise or private event, visit www.redwitch.com .
