Great Lakes passage

[Bill Baur]

I am considering options for sailing from Holland, MI. to Sandusky, OH. Curious about time allotment needed in late spring (late May to mid-June). 30’ Catalina tall rig. Are there any sections where a mast lowering would be needed?

[GordMay]

“Boating around the mitten” ~ by The Hull Truth
Sandusky to Holland
➥ https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&sourc...Zqeyqa8-KJXv8b

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by Bill Baur

I am considering options for sailing from Holland, MI. to Sandusky, OH. Curious about time allotment needed in late spring (late May to mid-June). 30’ Catalina tall rig. Are there any sections where a mast lowering would be needed?

No lowering at all. This is an easy run, mostly downhill. As you know, there are harbors of refuge all around Michigan. The several with wave expander ponds like Muskegon, Luddington, and several up river entries to safe lakes along the way makes it easy. If you intend to sail by daylight only then probably 30-40 miles is possible. A bit more if you push. Do plan the Detroit River and St Claire in daylight. We anchored in Lake St Claire. I highly recommend you have AIS for the Detroit passage. Keep your head on a swivel. There are a lot of big ships there. Your charts show the shipping channels where the very large ships will be.

The pass between Bever Island and Sturgeon Bay us dredged for the big ships with well noted North South lanes. It is easy to avoid this channel to the east and short cut the navigation channel heading east to the straights. Watch the bombies if you cut close to the abandoned lighthouse. There is an old channel easily figured from the charts, not marked.

In Lake Erie watch for and avoid the floating algae patches.

Lots of shallows at Sandusky. Consider the Erie Islands, especially Put-in Bay.

[skalashn]

It will be very cold out on the water, especially in the north, regardless of what they forecast for the land. I crossed north Lake Huron at night in mid-June and the temps were just above freezing. Fog is also possible.

[kayakerChuck]

I've done pretty much that trip, in an O'Day 30, leaving St Joseph on June 1st, 2021.

The weather can be anything. We were prepared for snow, but we had temperatures in the mid 80's for most of the trip. Mostly, we had either winds of 0-5 knots from astern, or winds over 30. SIX weather days, on trip.

Weather forecasts for the northern lakes are a guess, at best. We were anchored at South Manitou Island in a 20 knot wind, with visibility of about 75 yards through the fog. The weather liar was telling us it was clear skies and light winds in our area.

Many of the marine service places, like marinas and fuel docks, are just coming out of their winter slumber in the first week of June. If leaving earlier, confirm the availability of what you may need.

In the northern lakes, fog can and does appear without much warning, at any time of day.

It's a great trip- lots to see. Take your time if you can.