Team Spitfire
Donation protected
Ten Minutes. To some it’s nothing but to me it’s an impactful amount of time that caused me and my team the pride of a first place finish. In a 333 mile, 68 hour race, consisting of changing winds, unpredictable weather and a hot beating sun, 10 minutes was the difference imprinted in all of our memories of what could have been.
When I was 2 weeks old my parents, who were avid sailors, strapped my car seat in the cockpit of their boat. I was born to be a sailor. My parents docked their boat in Waukegan Harbor. I learned to sail there. When I was about 10 years old and a junior sailor at the yacht club, my parents introduced me to their friend Jim who owned Spitifre, a Franklin 40 One Ton. Everything I learned about racing big boats I learned from Jim. In 2001, after years of convincing and begging, my mom finally approved of me going on my first Chicago Mac Race. I was only 15, my parents were nervous but knew I was in good hands. We placed third that year and I was hooked on Macs.
In 2005, my girlfriend Lindsey came to Chicago and Mackinac Island to support my passion. She joined the Spitfire shore team and has come every year since. I knew I was a lucky man to have someone so supportive of my passion. So in 2009 we rode our bikes out to the finish line and I asked her to marry me. The next day the whole Spitfire team was there to celebrate with us.
Spitfire’s legacy has always been that she is able to keep pushing forward. Hundreds of sailors over the last 30 years have carried the legacy of Spitfire with them. Jim was always willing to let newbies come aboard and share our love for sailing. Each of us recruited more friends to learn and sail on Spitfire and we became a family. It’s an addiction; one we thought would never be taken from us as we continuously thrived to give Jim one last 1st place finish. Unfortunately the end of the line came quicker than we all expected.
I received a phone call from Jim during the winter of 2013 telling me that he was ending the racing program. I was devastated. I couldn't imagine racing on any other boat with any other crew. By summer 2014 I was lucky enough to find a position on another great boat. We had some amazing races and I made lifelong friendships. I was only able to race one season on that boat.
In Spring of 2015 I was in a bad accident and shattered my left leg. Lindsey always tells people that I can sail better than I can walk and for a while that became true. It was the worst summer of my life. I couldn’t sail and spent months in physical therapy trying to get my leg healed enough so I wouldn’t miss the Mac. By July, I was out of my cast but still in a boot and couldn’t walk without crutches. My 15th Mac would have to wait. My dream of completing 50 consecutive Macs was over. I can still become a “Master Mariner” but I can never get back the 2015 Mac race.
It’s been a year and a half since I have raced on a sailboat. During that time all I could think about was racing on Spitfire again. Jim has retired from being captain but has allowed me to continue the Spitfire legacy. This is where you come in. The family is back together, but with limited funds. Spitfire needs some upgrades to be safe and race worthy again. Your support will help us cover the expenses to keep the race program alive for future generations!
On behalf of the entire team we cannot thank you enough for your consideration and support! Follow us on Facebook to learn more about our team, get updates about our progress and details about the live race tracking! You will be able watch our performance in the race.
NO DONATION IS TOO LITTLE. This season will be dedicated to each and every person that helps keep Spitfire alive. She has given us everything she has and now needs us more than ever. If you donate $300 or more we will make sure you get a 2016 Team Spitfire Crew Shirt and a chance to race with us during the summer!!
With Love and always respect of your generosity, the hopeful 2016 Spitfire crew:
Jonathan
Chuck
James
Alex
Blake
Max
Mike
Steve
When I was 2 weeks old my parents, who were avid sailors, strapped my car seat in the cockpit of their boat. I was born to be a sailor. My parents docked their boat in Waukegan Harbor. I learned to sail there. When I was about 10 years old and a junior sailor at the yacht club, my parents introduced me to their friend Jim who owned Spitifre, a Franklin 40 One Ton. Everything I learned about racing big boats I learned from Jim. In 2001, after years of convincing and begging, my mom finally approved of me going on my first Chicago Mac Race. I was only 15, my parents were nervous but knew I was in good hands. We placed third that year and I was hooked on Macs.
In 2005, my girlfriend Lindsey came to Chicago and Mackinac Island to support my passion. She joined the Spitfire shore team and has come every year since. I knew I was a lucky man to have someone so supportive of my passion. So in 2009 we rode our bikes out to the finish line and I asked her to marry me. The next day the whole Spitfire team was there to celebrate with us.
Spitfire’s legacy has always been that she is able to keep pushing forward. Hundreds of sailors over the last 30 years have carried the legacy of Spitfire with them. Jim was always willing to let newbies come aboard and share our love for sailing. Each of us recruited more friends to learn and sail on Spitfire and we became a family. It’s an addiction; one we thought would never be taken from us as we continuously thrived to give Jim one last 1st place finish. Unfortunately the end of the line came quicker than we all expected.
I received a phone call from Jim during the winter of 2013 telling me that he was ending the racing program. I was devastated. I couldn't imagine racing on any other boat with any other crew. By summer 2014 I was lucky enough to find a position on another great boat. We had some amazing races and I made lifelong friendships. I was only able to race one season on that boat.
In Spring of 2015 I was in a bad accident and shattered my left leg. Lindsey always tells people that I can sail better than I can walk and for a while that became true. It was the worst summer of my life. I couldn’t sail and spent months in physical therapy trying to get my leg healed enough so I wouldn’t miss the Mac. By July, I was out of my cast but still in a boot and couldn’t walk without crutches. My 15th Mac would have to wait. My dream of completing 50 consecutive Macs was over. I can still become a “Master Mariner” but I can never get back the 2015 Mac race.
It’s been a year and a half since I have raced on a sailboat. During that time all I could think about was racing on Spitfire again. Jim has retired from being captain but has allowed me to continue the Spitfire legacy. This is where you come in. The family is back together, but with limited funds. Spitfire needs some upgrades to be safe and race worthy again. Your support will help us cover the expenses to keep the race program alive for future generations!
On behalf of the entire team we cannot thank you enough for your consideration and support! Follow us on Facebook to learn more about our team, get updates about our progress and details about the live race tracking! You will be able watch our performance in the race.
NO DONATION IS TOO LITTLE. This season will be dedicated to each and every person that helps keep Spitfire alive. She has given us everything she has and now needs us more than ever. If you donate $300 or more we will make sure you get a 2016 Team Spitfire Crew Shirt and a chance to race with us during the summer!!
With Love and always respect of your generosity, the hopeful 2016 Spitfire crew:
Jonathan
Chuck
James
Alex
Blake
Max
Mike
Steve
Organizer
Jonathan Burba
Organizer
Chicago, IL
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