Captain's Blog

  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...

  TRAVEL DAY 107 - Mackinac Island to Petoskey August 31, 2023 7.7 Hours/58.6 Miles     With high winds predicted for Lake Michigan in a few days, set to last 3 or 4 days and the Labor Day Weekend holiday, we decided to make our way to a safe harbor. A long travel day ahead of us, we steamed out of Mackinac Island Harbor. When I say steamed, the cold air and cool water of Lake Huron provided a steam stream from our exhaust as we traveled through the Straits of Mackinac and over to Mackinac City Marina to fill our fuel tanks. Being out of Canada meant more affordable fuel, and this marina provided the best fuel prices in the area.   Petoskey Municipal Marina     Loaded and ready, we moved under the Mackinac Bridge, into Lake Michigan (the 3rd & last Great Lake of our trip) and around the Waugoshance Lighthouse headed south. This would be an uncharacteristic long travel day for us.   Mackinac Bridge  Waugoshance Lighthouse     Lake Mic...