Spot's Misadventures in Bayfield 2026

[Spot]

Here, as promised, is a recounting of the events of a week ago in Bayfield, WI August 2026.

I had been looking forward to a week-long trailer sailor getaway to the Apostle Islands of Lake Superior. I had tried to make this trip in 2024 but my boat school trip to Maine prevented me from getting the boat ready. This summer I made lists and scheduled activities to make time to get the boat ready. A couple weeks before the event my crew member got sick but I was determined to go...and did not line up a backup. I was up and down the ladder for days prepping, cleaning, and packing the boat. I can rest on the water, right?

Finally I was off. Stopped for gas, stopped for groceries, stopped for lunch, and then another 4 hours to drive to Bayfield. I got in about 2 hours later than planned. I got the boat launched but missed the skippers' meeting. The organizers' son helped me step the mast and motored with me from the ramp to the marina.  I got the word that the start time next day had also been moved up 2 hours and that it was going to be a long motor sail. I mentioned that I may not be set for fuel and I was spotted a jerry can. It was fully dark so I decided to get up early and finish the rigging in the light. The boat was full of items and it was difficult to crawl in the berth and get some sleep.

My neighbors in a 40+ foot trawler (named after/same as my daughter) motored from their slip at sunrise. I sped off to the gas station to fill the jerry can, secure coffee, and start final prep of the boat. Things were going OK, but slowed down by my stiff knees and back. Radio checks and an announcement that it was time to leave preceded my bending on the mainsail. My other dock-mate launched to join the flotilla of 10 boats. I made haste out of the marina to see the group well off in the distance and set off to catch them. I motor-sailed for a good couple hours, their sails still in sight but I was not really gaining on them.

The catching never happened. My radio stopped working, my one map blew overboard, and my motor started sputtering as sails in the distance rounded an island to disappear from sight. The group leader was aware via cell that my radio was wonky but cell coverage was becoming spotty. Eventually I had the thought to check the fuel level...OK, motor works but primary tank is low. Unknown distance to catch fleet, no way to communicate in real time, and even if I reached them, I would be low to out of fuel for the next several days. I sent them a message of my intent to return. In those same moments I decided to turn around, I also decided not to rejoin the event and to make a plan to enjoy another day or so on the water and return home without buying a new radio or 3 more gas cans.

I began a s-l-o-w downwind run back without the motor. I managed to boot up my old tablet which has a GPS puck and OpenCPN with navigational maps for the area. Its screen is no match for broad daylight so it was difficult to see. After a couple more hours and getting closer to civilization, I put the jerry can's gas into the tank with oil and prepared to cross a ferry lane to dock at Madeline Island's marina. The cell phone went in and out of service and eventually I knew where they were and they knew what I was doing and the marina was expecting me.

The motor started with ease and I made it to the marina on Madeline without incident. I was slipped next to an older open boat which seemed refreshing simple compared to my overstuffed boat including the dinghy in the v-berth which never got inflated. I missed eating lunch in all of the excitement so I settled into a can of ravioli cooked on the Origo watching the sunset. I moved some things around the cabin, took advantage of the marina's showers, and got myself into the open side of the v-berth for the night.

The next morning was a coffee on the boat, a walk up and down the docks to look at boats, and a trip to the marina's ship store to leave the jerry can for the group. I also got a birthday present for my granddaughter, and a laminated map of the islands for myself.

The afternoon was supposed to be a bit rainy so I set sail across the channel to retrieve the boat. All was good until I got to the Bayfield side and could not remember the landmarks for the inlet. The swell was piling up near shore and I only lasted a couple laps motoring in the 'washing machine' that was happening in the small bay before deciding to pull into the siding used by the Coast Guard and a local charter outfit.

As soon as I came in, there were several(!) people in blue uniforms inquiring of my intentions. I explained the situation and after a couple phone calls to the sector chief, the crew formed a plan to reposition my boat as the forecast was not looking to improve for the next 12 hours.  It is my understanding that this is not a typical course of action for them, I am so thankful for their goodwill.  As we went out into the small bay, the waves had indeed lessened and I was was in the correct inlet (a couple hundred feet from where I had been looking) before I knew it. We took a couple pictures, one for their report and one for me to remember them. The rest of the retrieval went fine. As I was finishing up, one of the Coast Guard crew walked up in his street clothes after his shift to see how I was doing. Go Coast Guard!

I sent final word that I was off the water to the flotilla, did a couple 'Bayfield' errands like go the Maritime Museum and get ice cream, then headed home. There was a large thunderstorm on the way home so a couple of the hours driving were white-knuckle.

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Some things I should have considered/done better:

(Sailors, tell your children, not to do what I have done...)

1. Arrive in time to rig, attend meetings, and organize before leaving to reduce stress
2A. Bring the Garmin GPS/depth finder instead of the faint-screen GPS tablet and bring real waterproof charts attached to boat instead of loose sheets of office paper.
2B. Have separate/detailed charts for any tricky launching and landing sites and remember the  adjacent landmarks.
3. Know the boat + motor's range as found (loaded, motor-sailing) and have more-than-adequate reserves.
4. Learn that volume and squelch are the same button on this VHF radio before sailing and how to re-set the squelch (radio issue was operator error). I did not find this out until I was home.
5. Do not overpack and do not have your first overnight ever on the boat be the first overnight of a long trip.
6. Fix that confounded mast gate, the current homemade one still fails more than it works.
7. Test other gear (dinghy, boarding ladder) before the trip

The two times when things seemed 'bad' so to speak, I did not find myself too worked up emotionally.  On the other hand, it did take me longer than normal to process things like the motor simply being out of gas or to go use the tablet for a chart or to check the squelch on the radio. These were learned the hard way so perhaps they will be recalled faster the next time.

I had a de-brief with the organizer last night. He was encouraging. He mentioned that the other solo boats also had some challenges but I think I was the only DNF (did not finish) in the fleet.

Thanks for being part of the processing process!

[Riley Smith]

Ah, so you're telling me you launched, ran the motor, spent the night, had breakfast on the water, watched the sun rise, met new people, had some difficulties, and some adventure, and it was bad?
Nah, it just didn't meet your visions; it was STILL an adventure! And you are MUCH more attuned than you were BEFORE. I can't comment on an extended time on the water because I day sail almost exclusively and I do not consider myself some expert at it. But it wasn't a DNF the set course, it was a FIRST PLACE in yours!!!

 It's all perspective...

[Doug SC]

I agree with Riley. Not the adventure you planned but time on the water just the same. You didn't even capsize! I have found that if I haven't been sailing in a while I tend to forget simple stuff. The move sailing time I put in the better I do. The sailing club has been a big benefit as it gets me to sail more often.

You have the lay of the land for your next trip and practical experience on what you now will put into practice. I feel like my mistakes reinforced my memory!! Anyway what I have left of it.

[Wolverine]

Reads like a typical small boat adventure to me. Spring of '25 I broke my thumb in 3 places 10 days into a 4 week sail. Then in June I tore my calf muscle installing the outboard for a week long sail. This past January the 2nd week in of a 5 week sail in the keys, my friends mast base deteriorated and the mast sunk 4". Both my trailer fenders came off while driving 95 outside Miami.
There is reason I named my Compac 19 "Miss Adventure".

Don't be discouraged, there will be more adventures that go as planned than those that don't, but the ones where things go awry are the memorable ones.

[Charles Brennan]

Spot, Yeah, but did you SINK!?!?!? 
Count your lucky stars, that your mast and centerboard, never changed places! 
I'd have been HAPPY, with a voyage like that, last weekend!! 
Charles Brennan

[Spot]

Thanks for the encouragement Everyone!

Spot, Yeah, but did you SINK!?!?!? 

I did not sink the boat, you got me on that one!

[Charles Brennan]

Spot, OK, now that I got all the silliness out of my system . . . .

Thanks for posting about your sailing trip, warts and all.
We all learn different things and get different take-aways, from posted TSBB stories.
All of us introspective types tend to be a little self-critical, although you certainly have a highly organized critique/list! 

I would also be interested in knowing which parts of the trip, brought you joy, not just the sunrises and ravioli, but also what things on the boat worked really well, what things surprised you; since we already know about the things you want to fix.  I know you had made a lot of modifications during your recent refit/restore, so what mods pleased you most?
Having been recently down-graded from micro-cruiser, to day sailor status, (until I get a lot of electrical stuff repaired/replaced) I will be living vicariously, off other people's cruising stories.
Like yours.

Thanks,
Charles Brennan

[Spot]

I would also be interested in knowing which parts of the trip, brought you joy, not just the sunrises and ravioli, but also what things on the boat worked really well, what things surprised you; since we already know about the things you want to fix.  I know you had made a lot of modifications during your recent refit/restore, so what mods pleased you most?

Very good questions Charles!

One modification that worked well was the weighted rudder blade. It makes the assembly a bit heftier to hoist into place but I had zero issues with the blade not being down. The helm still feels heavy, it would be fun to experiment with a balanced rudder and the like once things like better mast gates are completed.

The cushions that were made years previous also worked well, I did not feel like I was bottoming out on the plywood berth tops. The one side berth has a loose brace that would clunk if I rolled over.

The galley cabinets with fiddles and sink were quite useful as a place to put things.  They were also the first project to get stain and varnish and nicer hardware.  I ended up moving the Origo single-burner outside to cook to keep the boat cooler and enjoy the elbow room.

The latest electrical mods (accessory charging ports, LED steaming and anchor light) performed well. I was short the right USB cord to charge the tablet, the marina let me plug it in at the clubhouse.

The motor did surprisingly well too...when supplied with fuel.

The bug screen on the front hatch worked good too. I did not end up using the new 12v clamp-on variable speed fans during the trip. They were very useful while laboring in the boat on hot days. I had plans to install opening port lights and make some sort of screen for the companionway but did not get that far and now wonder if it all is even needed.

With a 5 hour drive one-way, the nuts on the binding post of the battery worked loose along with a couple of the pins for the quick releases on the rigging.  One side of a turnbuckles for the lifelines also backed out. I will need to balance the threads and add stainless safety wire.

Hoping you can get back on the water soon CB!

[noelH]

Did you launch from BlackHawk in Bayfield?  The City of Bayfield ramp and marina south of the main marina and USCG Station?  Entry is a bit hidden if unfamiliar with the area.  Easy not to spot.

Lake Superior sailing.  I don't plan on a specific destination, conditions, wind.... Motor sailing is out with the limited range and no way of "refueling" the Torqueedo 1030. I do carry a spare battery, but a PITA to exchange unless the seas are calm. Also, now have a EPropulsion eLite for backup.  But it is too wimpy and low capacity for more than emergency motoring in and out of the marina. Just hoist the sails and hope for the best.  But be prepared for the worst.  And enjoy the moments.  Laugh at yourself for the moments you feel like a chump. Vela is a simple, small boat.  Easy and minimal things to maintain. Easy to sail. Just slow in terms of absolute SOG.  I feel your pain when it comes to slow drift sailing.  Especially the day a very large cruising trimaran passed in extremely light winds moving more than double my SOG. Passing the Captain was kind.  "Nice little boat". Could have said "dragging your anchor". 

August usually has been so iffy for wind.  Too many blocking fronts or fast incoming fronts and now maybe the influences of the heat domes and wildfires.  Maybe one day sailing this August where I didn't need to set a reef, shake out a reef, set a reef routine. I do remember the day I had to set the 2nd reef and just sail laps outside of the marina waiting for the winds to settle down enough to safely pull into the marina.  Missed the special marine warning to seek harbor.  Radio volume too low to hear for the conditions. Dolt me. Unlike the larger sailboats that took shelter outside the marina and dropped anchor.

August near shore (within 5nm of shore) winds tend to be so up and down in a given day. Even when easterly.  Not good for windsurfing.  Lulls too low. Gusts too high. With moments of sweet wind.  So we windsurf or wing foil. Foil size for the lulls and sail size for the gusts keeps you flying.  Sailing equivalent would have been reef in, reef out, reef in.....heave to.... Oh poo....

[Spot]

Thanks Noel, great local insight as always. I 'chumped' this one for sure! 

Yes, from the public ramp. I made this map to help me remember for next time:

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The yellow line is how we all put in to start the trip, after the first overnight in the marina. The marina arranged parking for us for the week as the ramp is only 3 days I think.

In retrospect, I should have motored in a 360 and took a look and a picture of the inlet from the lake before heading to the marina and then looked at it before crossing from Madeline. It was a little boisterous in the bay by the Statue of Liberty (about 5 feet tall and leaning like the tower of Pisa) with the wind blowing onshore.

 

[noelH]

BlackHawk (aka the city ramp lot) has for years only allowed 3 days parking.  Add that most of public parking from free to paid lots have short time limits.  Sometimes just a couple hours.  Early Spring when the Bay still has slush ice the BlackHawk ramp lot and streets parking for a few blocks are packed with fish boat trailers and vehicles. Not a good time to try to launch a trailer sailboat. 

Washburn Marina allows for longer trailer parking.  Crane to assist stepping the mast if needed. Marina staff to help raise your mast if needed.   5 or more temporary slips that can be reserved for a day to a month or sometimes longer. Plus any other vacant slips and areas on the inside of the break walls to tie off.

In a direct line from the Washburn Marina.  ~4nm run to Houghton Pt, ~2nm more to Long Is. Pt across the mouth of the Bay to enter the South Channel. Or head N ~1.5nm across the S Channelto Grants Pt off the southern tip of Madeline Is and continue N to cruise the inner islands.   If leaving the Bay unless light winds I prefer heading up the S. Channel.  Wide open feel of L. Superior as Madeline Is veer NW and Long Is. veers SE.  Michigan Is in the distance. Porkies Mts to the far E might be visible.  Most sailboats leaving Port Superior, Pikes, Madeline, Bayfield seem to head up towards the W or N Channel.  Makes sense if cruising the inner islands.