(Above) Navy Pier on August 16 with Navy Pier Marina on the right. Photo provided by Navy Pier Marina. (Click on image to view larger version.)

By Steven Dahlman

Nov. 18, 2025 – The founder of Navy Pier Marina has been named the 2025 “Yachtsperson of the Year” by the Chicago Yachting Association.

Randy Podolsky (left) received the award on October 19 at the organization’s annual meeting. The award, says the association, “recognizes exceptional efforts and endeavors to enhance the boating experience for recreational boaters on Lake Michigan and beyond.”

Navy Pier Marina opened on June 13, allowing boaters to dock in Chicago at a more central location. The privately-funded marina offers transient docking for recreational and commercial boats, both local and visiting, accommodating vessels up to 183 feet in length.

Chicago Yachting Association called Navy Pier Marina “a major stopover point for transient vessels and Loopers,” referring to recreational mariners who travel a continuous waterway that includes the Great Lakes.

Podolsky has been an active member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary since 1991. He has been working on the development of Navy Pier Marina since 2016.