From a great lakes canadian sailor - the great lakes are not polluted at all. You could probably drink the water from the middle of l michigan and be fine (i wouldn't try it though). Lots of windsurfers and kiters. Water actually warms up in our summer (july, aug) - boardshorts only on most great lakes except superior. When kai crossed i would guess the water was about 50f in the middle - hence full suit. The lakes are huge but unfortunately the wind is not.
I live in Chicago. Montrose Beach on Lake Michigan is one of our favorite launch sites.
Movies 1 - 3 and the last part of 5 were shot there:
vimeo.com/user8453850/videos
Water temps range from freezing to 21 C on the big lake. Wind here is mostly driven by atmospheric low pressure systems. These are most active in the Spring and Fall. North days are the best when the wind hits Chicago after a 300 mile fetch.
Not really. We had some punks cause trouble at the beginning of last summer... which generated lots of media attention. But, thankfully Chicago's city beaches are once again the territory of corn bread betties from Iowa playing beach volleyball to the delight of off duty windsurfers
