Great Lakes sailor new to forum

[cygnussailor]

My name is Gary Harkins. I joined the forum today and am enjoying cruising through the various topics. I own a 1998 Catalina C400 which I bought new in March of 1998. I've sailed extensively in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. This summer I intend to circumnavigate Lake Superior. I'm interested in getting some bluewater experience to decide if that is something I might like to pursue. I practice celestial navigation extensively while on the boat, but it is not the same as it would be on a true bluewater passage.

Gary

[RolfP]

Gary -- Welcome to the Lake. I particularly have enjoyed: Isle Royale, Bayfield, WI (Home port) and the Apostle Islands, Houghten Peninsula (outside and inside), Grand Marias, MN, Duluth/Superior. I am told the Canadian Coast is spectacular and plan to visit. Watch for the fetch, as I'm sure you are aware on Michigan and Huron, where it is long and you are downwind the seas get big and short. Though I've seen larger on the ocean, L. Superior is deadly cold in the main, though often swim-able in the anchorages, and so, so, so very clean! -- Rolf

[Stu Jackson]

Gary,

I've sailed on Lake Michigan, and from what I could see, it sure is big enough to provide an adequate "horizon!"

Nice boat, good luck. Thee are many Lake Superior sailors here, so there's archived material available with a search, as well as asking specific questions.

Welcome aboard.

[cygnussailor]

Thanks for the welcome messages I'm looking forward to making use of this forum.

It is practical to practice celestial on any of the Great Lakes, and it certainly could help if you were to loose all other forms of navigation. I have used it with the GPS turned off to sail to Port Washington, Wisconsin just for practice and it worked perfectly. I used an old mariners trick of intentionally arriving on the Wisconsin shoreline north of my destination by enough that I was sure it was south of me...turned to port, kept the shoreline in sight, end of story! In fact it was so good that I could have sailed directly into Port Washington without using any tricks!

Gary

[Joel E Felt]

Hello everyone, I am relatively new to this forum also. Have some experience, but must confess still pretty green. Bought a nice Laguna swing keel, and look forward to seeing some of the places written about here. So far I am eating this up. I GOT THE BUG BAD!
joel e felt