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LAKE HURON
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LAKE HURON
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Now imagine exploring this rich landscape aboard a premium sailboat fully equipped and impeccably maintained. We have reserved three boats from Canadian Yacht Charters, a Jeanneau 49, a Hunter 426 and a Hunter 386. All have three cabins and come with an inflatable zodiac dinghy with an outboard motor. For pictures and boat information see www.cycnorth.com. The North Channel and Manitoulin Island are very special places. In addition to the wonderfully clear water, the unspoiled air and the rugged scenery, the island is a source of spiritual energy that refreshes and renews its summertime visitors. Our homeport will be Gore Bay, Ontario. We might gather for dinner at the Twin Bluffs Bar and Grill. It has a very good reputation. There is a good market in town, which will deliver to our boats. We expect to sail some 15-17 miles on our first day, to either Benjamin or Croker Islands depending on the wind direction. Prevailing winds in the North Channel are from the Southwest but that can change, as we all know. On our second day, we will sail some 17 miles to Little Current, Ontario where we can tie up and go ashore. Little Current is located on the northeastern shore of Manitoulin where the island makes its closest approach to the Ontario mainland. Manitoulin Island is, by the way, the largest freshwater island in the world. We might eat at the Anchor Bar and Grill which has been around since 1888. For a view from their portcam go to www.anchorgrill.com. The chefs serve great Canadian food specializing in fresh fish from the lake’s cold waters. The next day we will go some 22 miles to a fjord – Baie Fine. We may, lake height permitting, go all the way to The Pool to anchor. The Pool is a must-see and hugely popular. The great blueberry picking and a spectacular hilltop view outweigh the grassy bottom - an anchoring challenge. If we don’t get there, we can anchor in Mary Ann cove and go up Baie Fine in the zodiacs. It’s maybe an 11-12 mile run from the anchorage. We have left some flexibility in our plan so that we can stop a day somewhere if we like or skip a planned anchorage if it is too crowded. There are lots of places to go. On the way back to Gore Bay we can stop in Little Current again (the current is not so little, by the way) or go on to Kagawong. To get to Gore Bay by car, go to Tobermory, Ontario and catch a passenger and car ferry to South Baymouth, Ontario. Tobermory is about a 250-mile drive rom Buffalo, NY, and Baymouth is maybe 50-60 miles from Gore Bay. Buffalo is about 400 miles from central New Jersey. Carpooling is definitely an option, or you can fly to Sudbury, Ontario and rent a car for a 2-hour drive to Gore Bay. Again, carpooling cuts the cost. A great website (from which, along with the CYC site I have borrowed liberally) is www.continuouswave.com/north-channel/manitoulin.html. Check out the Native American references. The ferry’s name is Chi-Cheemaun, which in Ojibwe means “Long Canoe”. There is plenty of room for sightseeing on this trip, and a lot of wilderness sailing in beautiful places during High Season. This is a really first class adventure. We will have large, uncrowded, completely equipped boats, but room for only 18 people so sign up soon. We look forward to seeing you there. The cost of the trip is $1,200.00 per person (Skippers - $652.00). This price covers charter fees, insurance, slip fees for two nights and one group dinner. Food, fuel, and other incidental expenses are additional and will be handled by each boat’s crew. A $200.00 deposit is required to hold your position. Please make your check payable to The Sailing Club, Inc. and mail it, along with your completed reservation form, to Jack Buckley at the address below. Reservations will be processed beginning April 14, 2006 with a random draw of those received by that date. All reservations received after that date are on a first-come, first-served basis. The balance of $1,000.00 will be due as follows:
A pre-trip meeting will be held at a time and place to be announced. All crewmembers should make every effort to attend in order to meet your crewmates, plan your meals, and make travel plans.
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Let us paint you a picture. Imagine pink granite islands, millions
of years old, covered with windswept pines and scattered throughout a
120-mile expanse of the bluest freshwater in the world. Dozens of untainted
anchorages, secret gunk holes and quaint harbor towns fill the canvas with
endless possibilities.