Great Lakes Sailors?

[irwinsailor]

Man, Gord it has to be FREEZING up there now! You must be one tough sailor!

[GordMay]

It still freezes most nights, and warms to highs of between 35 - 45 deg. F.
Not tough - I'm a wimp; and not looking forward to the trip at all.
After all this time ashore, I cannot even claim to be a sailor.

[Connemara]

Gorgeous....new awlgrip?


Have a nice trip to TB and bundle up warm. We're launching tomorrow in TO and while the weather looks OK, it won't be balmy. I expect it will be worse on Superior.

Connemara

[waveman]

Hi All,

We went in the water April 24th, at Perry's Landing in Erie.

Been out on Presque Isle Bay 4 times so far, in an S2 8.5m named "Dolce Vita".

Say hi if you see us...

Dave

[nesscapade]

Hi,
Lake Erie just north of the Mi/Oh border. Just had a fantastic day on the water in Maumee bay.

[hvolkhart]

We are tailoring our MacGregor 26M mostly to Winthrop Harbor. Our destinations from there are Chicago and up to Milwaukee. For weeklong trips we went up to Door County, Mackinaw Island, North Channel Sandusky (Lake Erie Islands), Lake Geneva WI, Lake Shelbyville IL. In one week we are leaving to the Apostle Islands (Lake Superior). The Pictured Rocks (Lake Superior) we discovered with our previous 16’ RIB.

[charlesmoore03]

Hi Gunner. We are laying at Douglas, MI and a Young Sun 35 with 5.5' draft. This year has been more kind than last where the depth guage showed 5'2" and we are at 6'2" now. I am a liveaboard May to October and would enjoy sailing with anyone in the area almost any time.

[nautical62]

I spent my first summer of boat ownership (Westerly Centaur) crusing Lake Superior, with a lot of time in the Apostle Islands. A later trip was from Milwaukee on Michigan back to western L. Superior. At times I miss the fresh water. I never miss the flies.

[S/V Romp]

We are from Cape Cod and are planning an extended cruise on the Great Lakes. Recently we heard that bugs can be a problem. Can anyone elaborate on this for us? We are thinking of transiting the Erie Canal and then cruising through Lakes Erie, Huron & Michigan and then back thru Lake Ontario, the St Lawrence and then down thru Lake Champlain to the Hudson. Thanks

[irwinsailor]

The black flies can get to you on a calm day.

[Divecoz]

Originally Posted by hvolkhart

We are tailoring our MacGregor 26M mostly to Winthrop Harbor. Our destinations from there are Chicago and up to Milwaukee. For weeklong trips we went up to Door County, Mackinaw Island, North Channel Sandusky (Lake Erie Islands), Lake Geneva WI, Lake Shelbyville IL. In one week we are leaving to the Apostle Islands (Lake Superior). The Pictured Rocks (Lake Superior) we discovered with our previous 16’ RIB.

Hans please contact me on the Mac Site I got the pictures you sent via your friend at WH but I need pictures of the galley and inside of your boat ... I am BTW heading to Florida for about 3 months 1/2 Dec,Jan,Feb and 1.2 of March... YT
Richard and Audrey

[Joli]

It is much more then just black flies. Get screens if you can, when you hit the bugs you'll be happy you have them. Wind lines bring swarms that can be very aggravating.

[Dave the Canuck]

Originally Posted by S/V Romp

We are from Cape Cod and are planning an extended cruise on the Great Lakes. Recently we heard that bugs can be a problem. Can anyone elaborate on this for us? We are thinking of transiting the Erie Canal and then cruising through Lakes Erie, Huron & Michigan and then back thru Lake Ontario, the St Lawrence and then down thru Lake Champlain to the Hudson. Thanks

Black flies are generally done by early to mid-June so aren't really an issue during our sadly short cruising season. Mosquitoes can be a problem at dusk for an hour or two. We generally close the boat up during that time and light a bug repellant coil. We stay topside and enjoy the beauty of the surroundings. A good insect spray with DEET is a must. House/horse/deer flies are a daytime issue in remote anchorages. We tow our dinghy and keep our garbage in it which reduces their numbers. Bring a fly swatter. The bugs can be managed with these few simple steps.

Hope to see you here next summer! I'll be the guy on the foredeck watching the sunset with a glass of wine and a stupid grin.

[Paul Ouellette]

Romp :

We have a full enclosure for the sake of the bugs...& we just love to watch them as they sit on the outside of it.

Also, bear in mind that in lakes Ont, Erie, St Clair & Huron...it can (& does) often thunderstorm in the late afternoons...so it's wise to be in port when they roll though.

On the positive side...it's some of the best sailing, nicest people & greatest ports anywhere to be found.

You're gonna have the time of your life discovering why these lakes are so great !!

[LakeSuperior]

On calm July days, off of the Upper Peninsula on Lake Superior, stable flies (houseflys that bite) can cover your boat, chew your ankles, and make you insane. They bite through blue jeans and socks and are typically too fast to swat with your hand. They last through August while gradually diminishing to zero at the first frost.