Lake Michigan and Other Poems, by Jared Smith

The Sailing Club will be revisiting Lake Michigan to further explore one of nature’s greatest wonders. Lake Michigan, the only Great Lake that does not border Canada, is one of the two that borders four states. We will be visiting two of them, starting in Traverse City, Michigan, and sailing across the lake to Wisconsin – a first for the Club – and the mouth of Green Bay. We will spend nine days sailing over 200 miles, but with enough time ashore to observe and absorb the local culture. Our journey starts at Bay Breeze Yacht Charters in Traverse City. Two spacious three cabin, two head boats have been reserved, including dinghies and barbeques, with the possibility of a third boat. We’ll board these lovely vessels on Friday afternoon, July 20. After stowing gear, and checking out the boats, we’ll head into Traverse City for dinner and exploring the historic Old City.

We set sail on Saturday morning, after final boat checkouts and provisioning runs, for a 25 mile sail north to the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula. Our anchorage for the night, Northport, is a very historic town. The first white settlers arrived in 1849, and by 1859, with 400 inhabitants it was the largest community in northwest Michigan. Alas, it hasn’t grown much since. There will be plenty of time for a walking tour of the town. This far north, the sun doesn’t set until after 9 PM!

Our next destination is South Manitou Island, about forty miles away. We will exit Grand Traverse Bay and make a hard left turn into the open waters of Lake Michigan. Keep a sharp lookout, as the Chicago to Mackinaw Race should be passing through the area about that time. We’ll thread our way past Manitou Shoal and into Manitou Passage, anchoring off the southeast corner of the island. Mantiou is an Algonguin term referring to the interconnection and balance of nature and life. We will attempt our own manitou at this unspoiled wilderness island park, with nothing but birdsongs to break the silence of our island explorations. The Valley of the Giants is accessible by a 6.9 mile trail hike where you will see white cedars that are over 100 feet tall.

On Monday, it’s an early start for the first of two long sails – forty-five miles across the lake to the mouth of Green Bay. We’ll pull in to Detroit Harbor on Washington Island where we have slips reserved for two nights. Washington Island is part of Door County, Wisconsin. It is also well known for some of the most treacherous water conditions on Lake Michigan. Hundreds of wooden shipwrecks are located here and the passage to the island goes through “Death’s Door,” which gives the county its name.

Tuesday will be a layover day to explore all that this cozy island has to offer, including the Jackson Harbor Maritime Museum, Rock Island State Park, the Art and Nature Center, and the Mountain Park Lookout Tower for some great views. To see all these wonderful sites, a moped rental may be in order.

After a leisurely breakfast on Wednesday, we’ll head out and sail the main part of Green Bay in order to get a glimpse of some limestone outcroppings known as the Niagara Escarpment, before making our way back through Death’s Door to Bailey’s Harbor on the tip of the Door Peninsula. Bailey’s Harbor will be our port of call for two nights, where we again have slips reserved. This will provide an opportunity for some land exploration of the four lighthouses, the Ridges Nature Sanctuary, or just doing a bit of shopping. Bailey’s Harbor Yacht Club, where we will be docked, is about a mile and a half from town, and they rent bikes and cars. These might come in handy if some provisioning is needed.

Alas, come Friday, it’s time to make our way back across the lake with another long sail. If we are lucky enough to get away early, have decent winds, and a good point of sail, we will try for the town of Leland, on Michigan’s western shore. Leland is a cozy, yet festive, little town, where the main attraction is watching the sunset from the seawall. Fishtown, Leland’s historic district, has rustic shanties and docks that provide a glimpse of what commercial fishing was like a hundred years ago. Of course, the buildings have all been converted to shops and restaurants. If we are unable to make it to Leland, we will set anchors back at South Manitou Island. Either way, it should be a great crossing.

Regardless of our port of call on Friday night, we will weigh anchor in the morning and sail back around the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula, enter Grand Traverse Bay, and head for Suttons Bay, a little town on the west side of the peninsula. Here we’ll raft up and have a must-go party, unless we’re out of food, in which case we’ll dinghy into town for dinner.

On Sunday, it’s a short sail down to Traverse City, where we return the boats by 4:00 PM, and then head for home

GETTING THERE AND AWAY
Traverse City is not as remote as you may think. It is easily accessible by plane to Cherry Capital Airport (TVC). It is served by several major airlines. From Newark airport, Delta (via Detroit) and United (via Chicago) offer several departures. The Traverse City Airport is very close to downtown, and is a very short taxi ride to the charter base.

The cost of the trip is $1,250.00 per person (Skippers - $667.00). This price covers charter fees, insurance, dinghies with motors, fuel, final pump-out, and four nights’ slip fees (Detroit and Bailey’s Harbors). Airfare, food, and other incidental expenses are additional and will be handled by each boat’s crew. A $250.00 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 Steve Krakauer at the address below. Reservations will be processed beginning April 13, 2012 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 Club’s standard cancellation policy applies for this event.

Progress payments are as follows:   May 1    $500.00      June 1    $500.00

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.

Please note that sailing conditions are dynamic, that your safety, and that of your crewmates, depends on your good physical health and agility.

Trip Leader

Assistant Trip Leader