Kenosha Yacht Club
Sturgeon Bay, MI
Hard @ work
Keith, Jen & You know who
White Pelicans on Green Bay
Fayette, MI
Bill + Jo = Dolly
Mackinaw City, MI is home for today. It is 5 miles from our destination, the Nordic Tug rendezvous in St. Ignace. The Mackinaw Bridge is visible from our salon window. The weather’s been un-settled with numerous severe thunderstorms and we have had to rush to stay ahead of them. As I write another rip-snorting T-storm has just blown through.
Chicago to Sturgeon Bay took four days, an ambitious passage. Kenosha, Port Washington and Manitowoc were our stopping off points. In Kenosha we visited with the ex-commodore of our yacht club who has moved up north and a colleague of Charlotte’s from her Baxter days. In Sturgeon Bay we tied to the Great Lakes Yacht Services (formerly Palmer Johnson) wall, and had the propane system connected (finally) and the generator maintained.
Jen and Keith came calling in Sturgeon Bay. I, or I should say, Jen made my acquaintance one day at the medical school. I had seen her around but didn’t really know her when she came up to me and said, “Raffaelli you build boats don’t you.” I replied yes. To which she said, “Can I build a kayak in your basement?” and the rest is history.
Fish Creek was next on the agenda to meet up with friends Bill and Jo on Dolly. The first attempt was abortive due to some very deep, steep, closely packed bay waves. It was a day when I know to ignore the official weather broadcast (I think none of them have ever been in a boat) and stay in port. This is especially true when the lack of local knowledge puts me at a disadvantage. But off we went only to return an hour later a little bruised. Doing this used to cause me trepidation, but no longer. It is part of cruising . . . knowing when to run for cover that is!
Dolly and Carrie Rose had a lumpy ride north to Fayette, MI passing multiple islands, the biggest of which is Washington Island, and the infamous Porte Des Morts Passage or Death’s Door. The wind and the waves changed continually as we passed Plum, Washington, Rock, St. Martin, Poverty, Summer (okay, I’ll stop) Islands.
Fayette reminded me of Pompeii. It is a beautifully restored iron-smelting town from the late 1800’s. There is a single dock with no facilities and not a light to be seen. So as not to get trapped there for a week due to, what else, weather we quickly left for Beaver Island because of a very confusing mix of weather reports on channels 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7. Trepidation returned as we were not sure of what to expect on the lake but after the 70 nautical miles and 8 hours it took to get there it was a comfortable ride.
Again the weather beckoned, and the next day we crossed the rest of the lake and the Straits of Mackinac for Mackinaw City. This was not before Carrie Rose ran aground in the soft sand that makes up most of St. James Harbor in Beaver Island. The Harbor Master—quite the character—gave us detailed instructions on the radio for how to approach his marina. Of course I interpreted “stay within 25 feet of the far north piling and take a sharp turn into the channel” as to stay 25 feet from the northern piling and take a leisurely turn in.
He knew I was aground before I did. Quietly he instructed me to take the boat out of gear so as not to further dig in, straighten my rudder and give it full throttle in reverse. Feeling the boat shudder I reached for the throttle, but he anticipated this and gently said, “Okay captain your doing well and don’t touch that throttle!” She eased off and I was guided in.
A one-night layover was decided even though we all wanted to stay longer. Best to head to Mackinaw City and considering what had blown through here it was a wise choice. The next day August Windy, Jenny Jo and Sir Tugley Blue showed up and so we are having a mini rendezvous.
Wednesday we will cross to St Ignace for the remainder of the week. We have traveled more that 300 miles and put 50+ hours on the engine so far and it is only 17 June. Looking forward to the North Channel and some relaxed anchoring.
