Behind the Scenes: Captain Nick Fugate and Yacht-A-Palooza 2025!

We’re counting the days until Yacht-A-Palooza 2025 at Crowley’s Yacht Yard! This year, we’re giving you a glimpse into the heart of the event, the man who makes it all happen: Captain Nicholas Fugate, Purchasing Manager at Crowley’s Yacht Yard Lakeside, LLC.

For Nick, Yacht-A-Palooza signals the exciting start of spring and the boating season. It’s a culmination of months of hard work, coordinating speakers, vendors, and the marketing that brings it all together.

Nick isn’t just an organizer; he’s a USCG 50-ton licensed Master Captain with 18 years of experience at Crowley’s. After graduating with a BA in Economics from Lake Forest College, he began his career as a Delivery Captain for boats on Lake Maxinkuckee in Indiana, ultimately finding his home at Crowley’s.

“I like the freedom Grant (Grant Crowley, owner of Crowley’s Yacht Yard) gives us to take time off to enjoy the sport,” Nick explains. “From doing the Mackinac Race in July and other regattas throughout the summer, he wants us to learn and grow. Our saying goes – For Sailors…By Sailors. We are not just employees for a company; we are representatives of Crowley’s Yacht Yard.”

And Nick truly loves sailing. His favorite pastime? A relaxing day cruise in fair weather. “I love going out on the lake, putting the sails up, turning off the engine, and enjoying the calm of the water.”

Because Nick is so involved in the organization of Yacht-A-Palooza, he doesn’t get to enjoy the seminars himself. However, if he could, he’d be torn between Mark Stevens‘ “Navy Pier Marina” seminar at noon in the Rigging Shop and “From Lockdown to Liveaboard: How one Family Sailed Through the Pandemic” at 10:30 am in Building D.

Nick also appreciates Crowley’s Yacht Yard’s unique location on the Calumet River. “It is great watching tugs and barges run up and down the river on a daily basis. Big ships are fun to look at.”

When asked about his favorite local restaurant, we expected him to say nearby Calumet Fisheries. Nick surprised us by recommending Heinie’s Shrimp House, located at 10359 South Torrence Avenue. Nick raves about their delicious chicken and fried seafood. We tried Heinie’s on Nick’s recommendation- and we agree! Fantastic!

Date: March 22, 2025

Location: Crowley’s Yacht Yard, 3434 E. 95th Street

Nautical Donations: Open on Friday, March 21, from 10 am to 5 pm and Saturday, March 22, from 8 am to 5 pm.

Complete Event Schedule: Check out the Yacht-A-Palooza website for a full list of events and speakers.

Boaters Closet: Shop online at www.boaterscloset.com

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#YachtAPalooza #CrowleysYachtYard #Sailing #Boating #CalumetRiver #ChicagoEvents #BoatShow #NickFugate #HeinesShrimpHouse #LakeMichigan