Calling Lake Michigan sailors

[kwaltersmi]

Does the following seem like a reasonable itinerary for an August 2008 trip from Grand Haven to Charlevoix? We'll be sailing our Helms 25 sloop and would like to keep our travel to about 8 hours per day. I created the itinerary assuming a conservative average of about 3 knots speed, which equates to about 28 statute miles per day given 8 hour sails.

Here's the itinerary:

Day 1: Grand Haven to White Lake (~25 miles)
Day 2: White Lake to Pentwater (~32 miles)
Day 3: Pentwater to Manistee (~38 miles)
Day 4: Manistee to Frankfort (~27 miles)
Day 5: Frankfort to Leland (~40 miles)
Day 6: Leland to Charlevoix (~35 miles)

Any thoughts?

[sailortjk1]

Your itinerary looks good.
You have some of our favorite's on your list.

Best part of that trip for me was the Manitou Passage.
Sleeping Bear on one side and the Manitou Islands on the other.
Its very pretty up there. (Its also where most of the Commercial Traffic gets funneled into a narrow area; Keep a sharp look out)

One thing to mention, The GH to White Lake leg: it might be 25 miles to the channel entrance, (I have not double checked your milage) but unless you are anchoring out, which is a possiblilty, it is another 4 miles or so to the transient dock areas on WL. The Municipal Marina is at the opposite end of the Lake. If your planning on staying up the way, you'll have to add some more mileage to your log. (Unless of course you already knew that)

Be careful of the currents in Manistee.
My experience is that being a Lake Sailor, I was not very fimiliar with docking in currents. I found out the hard way about the current up there. (St. Joes is another one) Manistee Municipal Marina is right on the River Front area, its a small River Channel which does have about a 3 - 4 knot current if I remember.

Not sure how you came up with 30-40 miles a day?
If I do the math......3 knots x 8 hours = (to me) 24 miles a day.

[kwaltersmi]

Thanks for the input. I corrected the math...3 knots times 8 hours equates to about 28 statute miles.

Looking at the trip on paper, it looks doable but I'm a little concerned about a few of the longer stretches and the lack of ports in between if the weather turns rotten, the wind dies or we have to sail to winward.

I'm not too concerned about the overall duration of the roundtrip. We've alotted 3 weeks total time, assuming we spend 2+ days at the family cottage on Lake Charelvoix.

[sailortjk1]

Originally Posted by kwaltersmi

Looking at the trip on paper, it looks doable but I'm a little concerned about a few of the longer stretches and the lack of ports in between if the weather turns rotten, the wind dies or we have to sail to winward.

Oh you can guarantee that the winds will be out of the North the whole time until you reach Charlevoix, than they will turn and go South as soon as you start to head home. Hey, Thats what cruising is all about.

A couple of places to drop the hook if you are concerned;
Portage Lake & South Manitou.

You have skipped over a couple of ports: Arcadia & Ludington.
If you are concerned, you can always stop in there.

I used to Cruise on our Cal 25 II. It was just me and my wife, no Auto Pilot. Our longest leg was Chicago to Holland. (85 NM's) If your not at the helm, make sure you are resting and getting plenty to eat and that you are keeping hydrated. I like to drink Gatorade.

[tommyt]

Posted on this but it seems to have gone into the other world someplace.
Leland and Charlevoix can be a problem in July and August because they are so popular. Sounds like you are covered in L. Charlevoix, and Leland will have to let you in as they are a port of refuge. Lots of rafting in the high season.

Careful of the smaller areas such as Arcadia. Not sure what you draw, but some of the less populated areas have not been dredged for a while. Federal funding has been an issue.Check with the Coast Guard prior to your trip to see where your options may be.

Last year a Mac boat checked with a local inn keeper about depth in one of the channels into a smaller area. He was told no problem. The big lake was a mess, so he went in. No lives lost, but the boat was a total loss. Charts are not accurate when these entries shoal.