July 7, 2011
Left St Clair Marina @ 0730. This was a motoring day as we were in the St Clair River with a 2 kt current. There wasn't any wind. St Clair River is beautiful with an aquamarine green color to it. Quite a few fish jumping round and even more fishermen. Made good time and found Gregory Boat Company in Detroit for an overnight tie-up. Detroit is having the America Golden Cup Hydroplane Boat Races Friday, Saturday and Sunday so a good portion of the immediate Detroit River is closed of during most of the day. Gregory was just North of the area so we made arrangements: bare bones facility. We were all fast @ 1400 hrs. The length of trip was 38 nm. Tomorrow we finish off the Detroit River and into Lake Erie. We sail directly for Port Colburne for the lock through into Lake Ontario. Won't be able to post until we reach land again.
Wx forecast for Lake Erie is favorable for the next couple of days: S'ly 10-15 kts.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
PORT SANILAC TO ST CLAIR
July 7, 20011
We left Port Sanilac this morning @ 0700 hrs. Another one of those glorious days on Lake Huron without wind. The Volvo Penta 2003T diesel is working great and hasn't shown a sign of a single leak. I'm taking it easy on the old gal and checking to make sure all here needs are being met. To date the only thing I have had to do was to clean the raw water intake strainer. The algae in some of the marinas gets sucked up into the water intake. I check this almost everyday.
Distance for today's run was about 37 nm. Once we entered the St Clair River we picked up an extra 2 kts of current and were averaging 8.2 kts to our destination at the St Clair/Charles F. Moore Harbor. We were all fast at the marina @1400 hrs. Piloting on Rivers is one of my great enjoyments. It felt like old times seeing the big Great Lakers carrying their cargo North and South. I have installed a system called AIS (Automatic Identification System) onboard "Solstice" so I am sending and receiving information on every ship carrying the same system. On the big freighters it is required. On my charting program, the ship's name, heading, speed over ground, and closest point of approach shown up and help me make decisions on how to arrange a safe passing: great aid to navigation.
Tomorrow we depart St Clair for Detroit. I really look forward to piloting this stretch of water. We will be going into Detroit at a time that the Hydro- Plane Races begin. I have selected a berth just North of the marked area.
We left Port Sanilac this morning @ 0700 hrs. Another one of those glorious days on Lake Huron without wind. The Volvo Penta 2003T diesel is working great and hasn't shown a sign of a single leak. I'm taking it easy on the old gal and checking to make sure all here needs are being met. To date the only thing I have had to do was to clean the raw water intake strainer. The algae in some of the marinas gets sucked up into the water intake. I check this almost everyday.
Distance for today's run was about 37 nm. Once we entered the St Clair River we picked up an extra 2 kts of current and were averaging 8.2 kts to our destination at the St Clair/Charles F. Moore Harbor. We were all fast at the marina @1400 hrs. Piloting on Rivers is one of my great enjoyments. It felt like old times seeing the big Great Lakers carrying their cargo North and South. I have installed a system called AIS (Automatic Identification System) onboard "Solstice" so I am sending and receiving information on every ship carrying the same system. On the big freighters it is required. On my charting program, the ship's name, heading, speed over ground, and closest point of approach shown up and help me make decisions on how to arrange a safe passing: great aid to navigation.
Tomorrow we depart St Clair for Detroit. I really look forward to piloting this stretch of water. We will be going into Detroit at a time that the Hydro- Plane Races begin. I have selected a berth just North of the marked area.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
PORT AUSTIN TO PORT SIMILAC
Left Port Austin @ 0745 this morning. In the harbor, on our way out, we hit an underwater object that was, most likely, a rock: shook the boat but no apparent damage was done. We're still floating!! Very light winds out of the S to W. We had 56 nm to make so tried sailing and then motored the rest of the way. Port Similac is a very wide and spacious harbor. Easy to access and the docks are straight forward without any twisting and turning involved. The harbor is wide enough to anchor if necessary, however, like other Michigan State Operated harbors the prices are very reasonable
Tomorrow we sail for Port Huron. I have been told that the St. Clair River has a current from 4 to 6 kts. Wonderful!! it's going our way!! We plan to be through Detroit and into Lake Erie on Saturday afternoon. We'll sail 24/7 in Lake Erie until we reach Port Colburne and lock through the Welland Canal.
Tomorrow we sail for Port Huron. I have been told that the St. Clair River has a current from 4 to 6 kts. Wonderful!! it's going our way!! We plan to be through Detroit and into Lake Erie on Saturday afternoon. We'll sail 24/7 in Lake Erie until we reach Port Colburne and lock through the Welland Canal.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
HARRISVILLE TO PORT AUSTIN - LAKE HURON
Left Harrisville@ 0715this morning. We said our farewells to our nephew Robbie and hope to see him onboard at some time in the future. The winds started off light @ 5 kts out of the South but the further offshore we sailed the more wind we had. In the end we had a good 15 kt breeze out of the South and were able to make 7 kts to Port Austin.
Had a problem bringing in the jib with the furling line. It appears it got tangled up on the furling spool: may have to keep more tension on it when letting it out and bringing it in. Really enjoyed the sail today and hope that tomorrow brings the same. We will be sailing to Port Sanilac tomorrow: about 55 nm. Need a good breeze.
Had a problem bringing in the jib with the furling line. It appears it got tangled up on the furling spool: may have to keep more tension on it when letting it out and bringing it in. Really enjoyed the sail today and hope that tomorrow brings the same. We will be sailing to Port Sanilac tomorrow: about 55 nm. Need a good breeze.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Alpena to Harrisville
July 3, 2011
Left Alpena Thunder Bay Marina @ 0740 hrs and motored out 2 miles to good water. Winds were light out of the NW but we set the Main and Jenny (135%) jib. Winds were fluky all day long but we only had 36 mile to cover so we enjoyed the scenery and calm waters. Entered the breakwater of Harrisville Marina @ 1354 and were made fast to berth #4 @ 1436.
We have our nephew Robbie and his wife Kelly in the area so we decided to stay another day to, hopefully, go sailing with them.
July 4, 2011
W spent the day with Robbie, Kelly and their daughter Brin. They took us to Lumbertown which is a monument to the Lake Huron loggers and located on the Oscoda River. In days of old, log rafts were floated down the river to mills and ships. That is all gone and the Oscoda River no longer has any commerce. Also, we went to Lake Iargo Springs: a small waterfall and bubbling spring emptying into the Oscoda. Place is surrounded in Native American legend who were displaced by Loggers. Today the Spring has reverted back to the pristine place it once was. One has to descend about 300 stairs to get to the bottom.
The Holding Tank overflowed this morning so I had to crank up the engine and move over to the pump-out dock. Will have to be more careful in attending to it in the future. It takes very little imagination to guess the foul smell of raw sewage. It only holds 15 gallons. I'll be happy when we get out of the Lakes and back to sea where we can discharge raw sewage after 3 miles offshore. Nevertheless, I support the use of them and trying to keep the Lakes as clean as possible.
There are so many foreign marine life and algae that have come into the Lakes on commercial vessels that one wonders what the future holds for many of the native species.
Tomorrow we sail for Port Austin which is on the tip of the thumb at the top of Saginaw Bay.
Left Alpena Thunder Bay Marina @ 0740 hrs and motored out 2 miles to good water. Winds were light out of the NW but we set the Main and Jenny (135%) jib. Winds were fluky all day long but we only had 36 mile to cover so we enjoyed the scenery and calm waters. Entered the breakwater of Harrisville Marina @ 1354 and were made fast to berth #4 @ 1436.
We have our nephew Robbie and his wife Kelly in the area so we decided to stay another day to, hopefully, go sailing with them.
July 4, 2011
W spent the day with Robbie, Kelly and their daughter Brin. They took us to Lumbertown which is a monument to the Lake Huron loggers and located on the Oscoda River. In days of old, log rafts were floated down the river to mills and ships. That is all gone and the Oscoda River no longer has any commerce. Also, we went to Lake Iargo Springs: a small waterfall and bubbling spring emptying into the Oscoda. Place is surrounded in Native American legend who were displaced by Loggers. Today the Spring has reverted back to the pristine place it once was. One has to descend about 300 stairs to get to the bottom.
The Holding Tank overflowed this morning so I had to crank up the engine and move over to the pump-out dock. Will have to be more careful in attending to it in the future. It takes very little imagination to guess the foul smell of raw sewage. It only holds 15 gallons. I'll be happy when we get out of the Lakes and back to sea where we can discharge raw sewage after 3 miles offshore. Nevertheless, I support the use of them and trying to keep the Lakes as clean as possible.
There are so many foreign marine life and algae that have come into the Lakes on commercial vessels that one wonders what the future holds for many of the native species.
Tomorrow we sail for Port Austin which is on the tip of the thumb at the top of Saginaw Bay.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Rogers City Marina To Alpena, MI
July 2, 2011
Left Rogers City dock @ 0740 this morning. Once again, we had light winds or calms so we had to motor all the way. Towards the later part of the afternoon the wind shifted to the NW but, by then, it was too late to think about raising all the sails. We were secure at the dock @ 1715 hrs.
Today we found out why so many of the boats on the Lakes have enclosed cockpits - the insects and flies are something to behold. We are hitting waves of them. We have to keep on long pants so they can't bite through. We've been in many buggy places in our travels but the Lakes takes the prize.
Left Rogers City dock @ 0740 this morning. Once again, we had light winds or calms so we had to motor all the way. Towards the later part of the afternoon the wind shifted to the NW but, by then, it was too late to think about raising all the sails. We were secure at the dock @ 1715 hrs.
Today we found out why so many of the boats on the Lakes have enclosed cockpits - the insects and flies are something to behold. We are hitting waves of them. We have to keep on long pants so they can't bite through. We've been in many buggy places in our travels but the Lakes takes the prize.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Mackinac City to Rogers City Marina - Lake Huron
July 1, 2011
Left Mackinac City Municipal Marina this morning @ 0730. The winds were out of the SE @ 5-10 knots - just the direction we were going. We tried tacking back and forth across the track line but so little progress was made that we decided to motor sail and wait for a more favorable wind shift - it never happened. Our goal is to make miles and get out of the Great Lakes and the Canadian Maritimes buy September so we'll do whatever it takes to accomplish it. Once we know that we are below the "freeze line", we won't be concerned with speed and time.
When the wind is blowing across the water it's chilly. On the beach it's warm. Out on the Lakes one runs into hoards of hatching mayflies and the regular black flies. The boat has been so covered with them that we have to wash it down after docking. Never have we seen such a mass of insects out on the water and several miles offshore - short breeding season so they have to make the most of it!!
We were all fast at Rogers City Marina @ 1800 hrs. took on 15 gal. diesel.
Left Mackinac City Municipal Marina this morning @ 0730. The winds were out of the SE @ 5-10 knots - just the direction we were going. We tried tacking back and forth across the track line but so little progress was made that we decided to motor sail and wait for a more favorable wind shift - it never happened. Our goal is to make miles and get out of the Great Lakes and the Canadian Maritimes buy September so we'll do whatever it takes to accomplish it. Once we know that we are below the "freeze line", we won't be concerned with speed and time.
When the wind is blowing across the water it's chilly. On the beach it's warm. Out on the Lakes one runs into hoards of hatching mayflies and the regular black flies. The boat has been so covered with them that we have to wash it down after docking. Never have we seen such a mass of insects out on the water and several miles offshore - short breeding season so they have to make the most of it!!
We were all fast at Rogers City Marina @ 1800 hrs. took on 15 gal. diesel.
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