Any one interested in joining us for a cruise in the Apostle Islands this fall? Im helping the Catalina 22 National Assiociation host the cruise but all trailer sailor boats are welcome. That is provided that you can handle camping onboard and sailing between islands. If your interested check out the details at:
https://catalina22.org/index.php/1162-adventure-awaits-apostle-islands-cruise-august-12-to-17
Hope to see some of you on the water this year!
Thank you for extending the invite.Several years back Tom Parrent and myself charted a 36' Jeanneau . We left out of Bayfield . What a truly great place to sail.
It is a fun time for sure. I organized a similar cruise on 2022 and we had a great time. Im just hoping and praying for good weather for the trip. Exploring the Apostles in a small boat is so much different. You can anchor closer to shore, have different challenges with meals and things and get to enjoy time making new friends.
Are you thinking of joining us?
Looking forward to it!
Spot you coming along this time around? It would be great to have you.
Marked my calendar and will converse with the admiral.
Quote from: LakeShark on Mar 15, 2024, 11:55 AMSpot you coming along this time around? It would be great to have you.
I would like to very much, thanks.
After checking our calendars, I registered to attend. This will be great. I'm waiting for new sails to arrive and then the 2024 adventures will begin with the 1st sail to Shackleford Banks, Florida 120 in May, CLR in June, and then the Apostle Islands.
Awesome welcome to the cruise! Spot it's time. We missed you last time. So far we have 7 confirmed boats in only 6 days of registration. There's another 5 possibles so it is shaping up to be a great trip.
I forwarded the info to a friend who sails a Compac Suncat. He is very interested, but left this morning for a Caribbean cruise. Hopefully there is still space left when he returns. The info mentions using dinghies instead of swimming to shore because of the water temperature. Great point. I'll look for a cheap blowup raft or consider bringing my kayak.
Quote from: Wolverine on Mar 16, 2024, 02:49 PMI forwarded the info to a friend who sails a Compac Suncat. He is very interested, but left this morning for a Caribbean cruise. Hopefully there is still space left when he returns. The info mentions using dinghies instead of swimming to shore because of the water temperature. Great point. I'll look for a cheap blowup raft or consider bringing my kayak.
I need to arrange a tender too. I have half a mind (not sure about the other half ;) )to make one of these:
https://hvartial.kapsi.fi/dinghy1/simboii.htm (https://hvartial.kapsi.fi/dinghy1/simboii.htm)
(https://hvartial.kapsi.fi/dinghy1/simboi19.jpg)
Yeah a dingy whether in the form of a kayak, boat, or board will be necessary. The water at the warmest location will be around 70. Most of the lake the water in August will be in the 50-60 deg range. Makes for great sleeping but brief pierods of swimming for sure. wading in is not so bad off one of the sandy beaches since you're not completely submerged.
A timely post for cold water from an associate on WBF:
mmd
Senior Member
BROTM Word-of-the-Day
03-20-2024, 07:49 AM
curglaff - The shock felt in bathing when one first plunges into the cold water.
- Rev. John Jamison's Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language, 1808
Registration submitted!
Welcome aboard! Looking forward to it. If you still need a dingy here looks to be a good one up in the twin cities.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/923686229459712/
Home is just outside of Bayfield, but home marina is the Washburn Marina.
Now that I have a proper anchor I just need to figure out how to use it. Seriously. I have set an overnight anchor just once in my life. Vela only had a #2 Mantus dinghy anchor until last season. #2 works nice for an emergency brake and lunch hook. But considering how things rapidly change on L. Superior. No way for overnight anchoring.
August isn't really Fall/Autumn. Mid-Sept to early October is the beginning of Autumn sailing. The Apostle Is.biting black flies could be intense in August. Choices could be fly attack or anchor on the onshore side and hope things stay quiet during the night.
Quote from: noelH on Apr 10, 2024, 06:00 PMHome is just outside of Bayfield, but home marina is the Washburn Marina.
Now that I have a proper anchor I just need to figure out how to use it. Seriously. I have set an overnight anchor just once in my life. Vela only had a #2 Mantus dinghy anchor until last season. #2 works nice for an emergency brake and lunch hook. But considering how things rapidly change on L. Superior. No way for overnight anchoring.
August isn't really Fall/Autumn. Mid-Sept to early October is the beginning of Autumn sailing. The Apostle Is.biting black flies could be intense in August. Choices could be fly attack or anchor on the onshore side and hope things stay quiet during the night.
True there can be biting flies and they are a nuance. But they also die rather quickly with a wack from a flipflop! When it comes to weather we do our best and plan the days destination based upon the wind and weather once we arrive. I have anchored many times in the apostles and it's amazing just how calm the lee side of the islands can be. Particularly in a trailer boat with a shallow draft we can often tuck within talking distance to the shore in just a few feet of water so the water can be very calm.
Stockton provides about the closets thing to a "harbor" on the islands and Madelyn has a good marina as well should weather arrive. Then there is always the option of running for Bayfield or one of the other marinas along the mainland to keep everyone safe. While the Lake can be dangerous and the water cold it can also be a very enjoyable time with the proper precautions taken. Are you going to come along this year?
How much 'hook' are the C22's using in the Apostles?
I Use a standard danforth for my C22. Nothing super large. Standard 5 or 7 to 1 scope but I do like about a boat length of chain. That part may be a bit overkill. Most anchorages are in about 5 feet or so.
Quote from: LakeShark on Apr 11, 2024, 12:08 PMQuote from: noelH on Apr 10, 2024, 06:00 PMHome is just outside of Bayfield, but home marina is the Washburn Marina.
Now that I have a proper anchor I just need to figure out how to use it. Seriously. I have set an overnight anchor just once in my life. Vela only had a #2 Mantus dinghy anchor until last season. #2 works nice for an emergency brake and lunch hook. But considering how things rapidly change on L. Superior. No way for overnight anchoring.
August isn't really Fall/Autumn. Mid-Sept to early October is the beginning of Autumn sailing. The Apostle Is.biting black flies could be intense in August. Choices could be fly attack or anchor on the onshore side and hope things stay quiet during the night.
True there can be biting flies and they are a nuance. But they also die rather quickly with a wack from a flipflop! When it comes to weather we do our best and plan the days destination based upon the wind and weather once we arrive. I have anchored many times in the apostles and it's amazing just how calm the lee side of the islands can be. Particularly in a trailer boat with a shallow draft we can often tuck within talking distance to the shore in just a few feet of water so the water can be very calm.
Stockton provides about the closets thing to a "harbor" on the islands and Madelyn has a good marina as well should weather arrive. Then there is always the option of running for Bayfield or one of the other marinas along the mainland to keep everyone safe. While the Lake can be dangerous and the water cold it can also be a very enjoyable time with the proper precautions taken. Are you going to come along this year?
Probably not. There is a reason I prefer single-handed sailing ;D. Normally sail between 30 to 50 days a season and windsurf another 16-24 days on L.Superior. Last year was pathetic. Late start and early end. Only 14 days of sailable wind from mid-May to mid-Sept and IIRC we went windsurf foiling (F3-4 days) or windsurfing (solid F4 or greater) maybe 14 days. Not sure if the Canadian forest fires created some unusual weather fronts. Nothing is "normal" anymore. Normal August winds use to trend to be inconsistent. With the exception of last season. August has delivered some of our best windsurfing sessions. Only one "epic" day last August. Solid E/SE F6 day created some nice launch ramps.
Pop up summer thunderstorms can catch you. My bare pole knockdown experience was a bit more than "interesting". Neighbor has a 49 footer. Similar event but anchored off Cat Is.when he saw the clouds develop. Set the "storm" anchor, but didn't have time to do more much more. His tender with I think a 5hp Honda and a reserve gas can was rag dolled at the end of its line and flipped. Both of us were out on days without any forecasted bad weather. Nearshore marine forecast tend to be iffy. Heard the emergency marine notice, but it was for the Northshore. Then saw the clouds suddenly appear overland to the NW. Just slightly into the West Channel. Came about and headed home. Just in case. IIRC less than 1nm from Washburn Marina, sunny but the bad feeling. Looked W. Just enough time to drop and lash down the sails and hook in. Not a pleasant sight to see the tops of the waves shear off into a white mist. Off course behind the wall of wind was zero wind, sunny sky. 2nd time in my life experiencing straight line wind on L. Superior.
More than flip flops needed to deal with the flies if a hatching occurs. Only thing I have found effective. Picardin if you use 20% strength. Or hope for days like today. F5 built to F7 NE. Forecast was correct.
Thanks. I have a Danforth with a short bit of stout chain and an oversized rope rode.