Where it all started

ByArnie Hammerman
Poseidon, Pete Koukos' Lido 14
Poseidon, Pete Koukos’ Lido 14

Early sailing days in Lake Michigan off the North Shore Yacht Club in Highland Park, IL, sailing Lido 14s.

This photo was taken by my father Herb Hammerman from the decks of “Five The Fun Of It,” the sailboat that started all of this. The picture is of “Poseidon” Lido 14 #1830 owned by my father’s dear friend and sailing companion Pete Koukos, Sr. Along with Pete aboard “Poseidon” that day are his wife Peggy Koukos, and son Chris who you can barely see because his back is turned, and he is wearing a hoody. I remain friends with the Koukos’ to this day. Chris is one of my oldest friends and we still keep in touch regularly and visit with each other when I am in the Chicago area. Sailing and boating bonds us together.

Pete was born on August 19th, 1931, so today in 2025 is his 94th birthday. Happy Birthday Pete and thank you for sending the picture of the Lido taken in the late 1960s!

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Arnie Hammerman Publisher
Boats and the ocean define my life. From teaching sailing to captaining yachts, marine publishing, and marketing, I’ve spent decades sharing seafaring tales. At Best4Boats, adventure awaits—welcome aboard!
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