[mustangchef]

Finally launched my Laser at Belle Isle. There is a small beach adjacent the Detroit Yacht Club at the west end of the little water way that separates it from Belle Isle. I had to quickly pull my car along side the curb and lift the boat off on to the grass bank. Then pull into the parking lot directly across from it and start to haul the parts over to the boat.Dragged the boat down to the water and I was gone. It was a beautiful day with just enough wind to keep from being pulled down stream . Sailed up and over the northeast point of the Island towards Canada. It was cool seeing the freighters and everything else from the little sailboat. may not seem like much , but to me it was the cumulation of three years of study ,practice and restoring.
I've had the big blue book,Chapmans' "Piloting"at my beds' night stand for winter reading. Learned to read, and studied the nautical charts. Restored, busted and rebuilt my Laser several times.Then finally made the jump from the little inland lakes...into the Detroit River/StClair. I gave up a lot of other activities to do this ,Triathlon, fishing, etc....but it was all worth it.
It is an eighty mile road trip to Detroit for me , but I'll be back. I want to sail up and around Peche island and back.Need to get my self bailer working better first. Hah

 

[nolatom]

Laser exploring? Sounds like big fun, and welcome to sailing, a lifetime pleasure (so also is the Laser, sail it well and you can sail anything well).

Waterproof portable VHF and waterproof envelope for your cell phone a useful precaution. Learn the local bridge-to-bridge radio channel for ship traffic just in case you need to talk to them, and the protocol for Channel 16.

And if anything on the boat ever comes loose that's hard to reach (outhaul, halyard knot, masthead) an intentional capsize and a brief tactical swim makes it all accessible.

 

[mustangchef]

Laser exploring? Sounds like big fun, and welcome to sailing, a lifetime pleasure (so also is the Laser, sail it well and you can sail anything well).

Waterproof portable VHF and waterproof envelope for your cell phone a useful precaution. Learn the local bridge-to-bridge radio channel for ship traffic just in case you need to talk to them, and the protocol for Channel 16.

And if anything on the boat ever comes loose that's hard to reach (outhaul, halyard knot, masthead) an intentional capsize and a brief tactical swim makes it all accessible.

Yes , Laser exploring..you got it...I do carry a deck mounted paddle.
Interesting. Thank you. VHF?Very high frequency? for what? I don't carry a cell phone. Should I ? I could get a track phone .

 

[nolatom]

Correct on VHF, your basic marine radio. Handheld one will work for you, not too expensive. Let's say it goes flat-ass calm and you want to make sure that big lake ore carrier, squinting into the sun or into fog, sees you? Your radio just paid for itself. And also has the marine NOAA weather channel.

Channel 16 is the "distress and calling frequency", if you ever had to call a Mayday or relay one for someone else. Also for initially calling another vessel then switching to another channel for the conversation so as to leave 16 clear for distress calls.

Cell phone just for general comms or reassuring someone ashore in case you stay out late. Also for weather radar and other web stuff, you're a singlehander so having comms is a good hole card, just in case.

 

[mustangchef]

Correct on VHF, your basic marine radio. Handheld one will work for you, not too expensive. Let's say it goes flat-ass calm and you want to make sure that big lake ore carrier, squinting into the sun or into fog, sees you? Your radio just paid for itself. And also has the marine NOAA weather channel.

Channel 16 is the "distress and calling frequency", if you ever had to call a Mayday or relay one for someone else. Also for initially calling another vessel then switching to another channel for the conversation so as to leave 16 clear for distress calls.

Cell phone just for general comms or reassuring someone ashore in case you stay out late. Also for weather radar and other web stuff, you're a singlehander so having comms is a good hole card, just in case.

got it! putting a VHF in a dry bag I just installed aft the cockpit this week. Thanks

 

[ajoliver]

I'd like to invite you to visit the Sandusky Sailing Club on our easy-to-sail Bay. Just tell 'em past commodore Skip sent ya. We have members from Ann Arbor, Cincinnati & Pittsburgh - among other places - because the sailing is so good here . .

 

[mustangchef]

I'd like to invite you to visit the Sandusky Sailing Club on our easy-to-sail Bay. Just tell 'em past commodore Skip sent ya. We have members from Ann Arbor, Cincinnati & Pittsburgh - among other places - because the sailing is so good here . .

I'll google map it and check it out , Thanks...maybe I'll get the boys together and bring the Lightning...sounds cool.