Midwest Rendevous?

[TroyVB]

Hey Folks,

I am wondering if any Com Pac sailors would be interested in trying to put together a gathering somewhere on Lake Michigan.  I was thinking one of the larger sailing lakes with access to the big lake.  Maybe even Door Co. WI or we could sail to Macinac Island or in Grand Traverse bay around Mission Point.

I thought it would be fun to spend a long weekend together just sailing.  I'm not a racer but maybe we could even organize a few of those.  Let me know what the interest is and what part of the summer or early fall would work best.

If there seems to be interest I will do what I can to organize, but I may need some help from someone who has done something like this before.

[sawyer]

Troy;
What a great idea, count me in, if I have that weekend off, I would love to....... Door Co is a long way around, but Les Cheneaux Islands,  Grand Traverse Bays, Saginaw bay, West end of Lake Erie, Big/Little Bay-de-Nocs .  I'll drag it to sail with Com-Pac owners...........

                                                    Doug/Merry
                                                    Newaygo, Mi.
                                                    CP-16II   "Yet Un-Named"

[TroyVB]

I'm not familiar with Les Cheneaux Islands.  Where are they?  Sure sounds like a cool place to sail.  What's the water like?

I would love to see at least 5 or 6 boats get together to do this, more if they are willing and able.  I have been enjoying the online community and thought it might be fun to sail together.  Do you think it would be better to base ourselves in one spot or cruise from place to place?  The cruising would add some work to the organization by that I mean lining up slips or campgrounds.  Maybe we could stay on the hook, not a problem for the larger ones but my family of three would be tight on a CP16 for a weekend overnight.

Maybe this is even a one day event with a barbecue in the evening or something like that.  Let me know your thoughts

[sawyer]

The islands are just north of St Ignace north of the Mackinac Bridge and then east on hwy 134 toward Drummond Island, really on north shore of lake Huron.  Google it, some nice coves and protected sailing especially right next to the BIG lake.  Merry does not want to overnight on the boat, but we would pull north with the pickup with the camper on it. I would like to try to overnight in one of the small protected coves.  It is about a 4 to 4.5 hr drive, a ways for just one night.  I don't know how many are willing to drive that distance. Usually the UP can be heavy with black fly populations before July, after that they die off and just have to deal with mosquitos..  If  you look on the Michigan map you can see the launch areas.  On another note, sounds like you got a great deal on your sail.
Did you get both a Main and Jib?                
                                                                   Doug
                                                                    CP-16

[TroyVB]

I'll take a look at the area it sounds great my family would probably camp as well rather than stay on the boat.

I bought only the main but I may look at a jib at some point because the two that I have feel like an old cotton t-shirt.

[mgoller]

Hi Troy and sailors,
Great idea!  Lake Michigan can get nasty, you might consider Grand Traverse bay.  There are many little harbors with half day sails between, vineyards, New England style shops, dunes, motels, Lighthouses etc.  There is even a haunted mansion.  The brave could venture out on the big Lake.
But I will be there.  I am fortunately very flexible so whenever.  The season gets pretty busy July, August and September and it may be tough to find slips and rooms for the wife etc..  My guess is June would be ideal with cozy temperatures at night and less possibility of severe storms in the day hours.
Keep me posted and I'll let the 19ers know in our forum.
Bye,

[TroyVB]

Hi Marcus,

I like the idea of Grand Traverse Bay.  I was just checking it out on the charts the other day and thought it looked like a fun cruising grounds for our boats.  

Have you sailed there before and if so where do you think we should try to base our operations from?  

I am willing to keep working on this and I am open as well for whatever time works best.  June would be fine I'm looking forward to sailing with other Com-Pacs.  The weather today has made we want to go splash the boat somewhere, but every lake that I passed coming back to the office was solid.  Maybe planning a Com Pac Rendevous will keep me going for a few more months.

Stay in touch.

[mgg]

I "plan" to get up to the Door county area some time this summer.  It would be great to hang out with other com-pacs.

[sawyer]

That is a great area, lots of coves as Marcus said, I have stink-boated the area years ago.  Finding a place to stay can be tough however and even with the shallow drafts of the 16 and 19 the water is low and there is a long walk from shore to anchor in a lot of areas.  There is some seriously shallow rock area on the north end of Old Mission Penninsula.
If anyone is interested in sunken ships, there is the skeleton of an old lumber ship, about 75' long as I recall, in about 18' of water south of the point of the penninsula, and just north of where the east shore bends into the west to form anchorage at the burg of Old Mission.  I had heard that it was salvaged for the lumber and a barn was built on the hill next to the shore.  I think it is about 200 yards from shore, and an easy snorkle if you are comfortable in the water.  I don't know about campgrounds except for the state park, but there is a great launch at the south end of the west bay on M22 just north of the city with great parking.  I don't know how protected however.  I personally tend to shy away from marinas, too noisy and to much partying for me, but that is just a preference.  I'm in, if it fits my schedule.

Doug/Merry
1987 CP-16-II
"Siskiwit"

[Craig]

Depending on what weekend in June. It's already full, but if I'm open I'd like to come.

Craig

[TroyVB]

There are 4 or 5 that have weighed anchor on the Rendevous and it looks to me like we should try for a weekend in June.  If you could let me know the weekends that you have open in June I will try to set this thing up on that weekend.  Once we have a date set I have a feeling we may get more on board.

I believe that this will be a whole lot of fun.  Location will be Grand Traverse Bay and sailing around Mission Point I will try to get info on campgrounds and a location to have a picnic or cookout all together, near the ramp preferably.

Remember all are welcome and the more we have the more fun it will be.

[mgoller]

Sailors,
Here is a great story from Dick Harrington about his sail around Grand Traverse Bay in 1997.  Since then Michigan has spent millions improving harbors for sailors and to improve tourism.  Here is the link to the story.  In addition to providing a good glimpse of the area it is a good read.  It provides insight into the scale of the area as well for those thinking it may be too small.  There are several good places to put in.
http://www.uswayfarer.org/cruising_logs/grand/grand.html
bye

[mgoller]

Here's another nice overview of the area.
http://www.boatingamerica.com/tc/tc.html

[sawyer]

It looks like my projected schedule June 2006 off duty weekends are.

June 2/3/4   Fri Sat Sun

or

June 16/17/18  Fri Sat Sun


Whoever is doing the co-ordinating, it would be great if it did fall on either of those June weekends.     Thanks...

Doug/Merry
1987 CP-16 II
"SISKIWIT"

[sawyer]

For anyone looking at the Midwest Rendezvous in June (I think): Try this link:     http://www.nauticalcharts.gov/viewer/GreatLakesTable.htm


Charts 14912 and 14913 are the Grand Traverse Bay area.

Doug/Merry
1987 CP-16 II
"Siskiwit"[/b]