Captain's Blog

  TRAVEL DAY 116 - Saugatuck to South Haven September 20, 2023 3.05 Hours/ 22.9 Miles     We pulled the hook in our quiet anchorage and headed back out of the Kalamazoo River to the lake. The ride out of Saugatuck today was a stark difference to what we experienced the day before. All it took was a change in wind direction. I turned the boat south again and we made an easy transit past more sand dunes on the coast of Michigan and into the inlet of South Haven. The Crew     Our marina at South Haven was filling up today with Loopers all heading for the transit through the Illinois River and the end of Lake Michigan. A Zoom meeting with the AGLCA (America's Great Loop Cruisers Association) was scheduled for 8 pm that night as a briefing about what we were to expect on this part of the journey. Shorebilly Too, Last Arrow & Pau Hana     In the meantime, we spent a few hours doing some paperwork for our rentals back home. Later we took a stroll with som...

  TRAVEL DAY 113 - Pentwater to Grand Haven September 11, 2023 7.06 Hours/ 56.5 Miles     I awoke knowing that first light wasn't far off. The water in Pentwater harbor was still and I took that as a good sign. Our group plan was to head out at daybreak to take advantage of the 6 to 7 hour weather window and beat the high winds forecast for this portion of Lake Michigan. If the weather were to turn bad we had bail out points at Sylvan Beach and again at Muskegon. I knew some rain was on the way.   At least it's flat   All electronics going     The boats cruised along like a convoy of truckers, chatting on the VHF about breakfast and other silliness as we settled into our desired speed in an easy swell of fresh water and light rain. At this point in the Loop we are about half way down the western coast of Michigan.    Our Convoy     4 hours in, we made our first bailout point and thankfully the seas and wind held, so we cruised on. A...

  TRAVEL DAY 110 - Leland to Frankfort September 8, 2023 4.8 Hours/ 41.5 Miles     The wind blew virtually all night and I had to get up once to adjust a fender that squeaked constantly, keeping me awake. In the morning, 2 boats were untying and headed south. This was our plan as well, but we wanted to wait an hour or so to make sure.  I do my best to try and decipher the weather forecast and most times I get it right. The problem comes when your judgement becomes clouded by your motives, and today our motive was to leave.  Michigan Coast Sand Dunes     The forecast was less than stellar, but I saw improving conditions. I was wrong. It wasn't horrible, but it certainly wasn't ideal. A schedule is the absolutely wrong thing to have on this adventure. A plan is OK, but a schedule is bad. You need multiple plans and don't marry any of them.     It wasn't until later in the day's trip, when we rounded Point Betsie Lighthouse did the seas start to...