Big Water Little Boat

[Craig]

OK all you 16 sailors... any of you have your 16 on one of the Great Lakes? Looks like I will have an invite to spend a few days in Michigan and part of that is so we can do some sailing on Lake Michigan.

This will be the biggest body of water I've had my boat on. What tips or cautions do you all have? If this happens I'll post a report.

Craig

[Gil Weiss]

Number 1  -Keep a close eye on the weather reports and actual conditions.

Number 2 - Get a chart and check it out carefully.

Number 3 - Talk to locals if they are available.

Number 4 - HAVE FUN!

[sawyer]

What area will you be sailing???   For the Michigan side of the lake.

If the water is too rough, there are many lakes where the major ports are located that you can sail on.  Holland has Lake Macatawa, Grand Haven has Spring Lake, Muskegon has Muskegon Lake, Whitehall has White lake, (sometimes shallow), Ludington has Hamlin lake, not accessable by  with the mast up. Normally you will need a motor to get onto the big lake, most of the time the wind is right on your nose if entering from west Michigan harbors.  If you are going north, both the East and West bays of Traverse city are great, and somewhat protected.  The great thing about west Michigan harbors is that if the big lake is too rough, you still get the great wind on smaller water for some premier sailing.  I have sailed on the big lake out of Holland, Grand Haven, and a small lake called Pigeon just north of Holland, near the big power plant. and that was all in a 14ft Oday Javelin, (English Channel type day sailor).

If you need a Michigan roadmap, send me your address, I can get one out in Wed  11am mail...........  

Doug,   CP-16   "Yet Un-named"   Newaygo, Michigan........

[Craig]

Doug,

It'll be out of Grand Haven. I will be with an experienced Great Lakes sailor. Not only does he own a cottage on the big lake, but kept his 28 footer on Lake Erie.

Craig

[sawyer]

Grand Haven is great, very busy channel, nice marina and local shops right on the river, they have concerts right on the water quite often.

When I am on the big lake, and the wind is right, which is most of the time, I like to sail close to the shore and drag a fishing line, Steelhead jacks and Brown trout will be in the shallow water, 25 ft or shallower, you won't need a downrigger, just drag a heavy spoon.  They are a great fight and good eating too. With the prevailing west wind you can sail the coast for miles without a tack, same thing on the way back much of the time.

Lots of big power boats, ocean racers and the like, can be a a little rolly at times, better when the wind is blowing and you just blast thru the waves.

Water is colder than normal this year, we have had hot temps but the east wind has been pushing the warm top water to Wisconsin and Illinois.  Lake is very clean however except at the swimming beaches where the big rivers dump in, Grand Haven being one, we have had some high e-coli levels recently.  Do your swimming a couple miles up from the big rivers, watch the way the water turns color at the mouths of the river and it will show you the prevailing currents, swim the other direction from that.

Good sailing, enjoy the big lake..........

Doug   CP-16      (not named yet)

[David Olson]

I have had my 16 on Superior around the Apostle islands.  Wear your life jacket (laek Superior is cold).  Have (at least) a handheld radio.  Watch the weather. Remember big boat can move realy fast - stay out of shipping lanes.  Check you'r motor before you go.


Oh yeah,  have fun!