Kathryn’s Voyage Blog

Publish Date: Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Location: Lake Huron, Michigan & Canada
With very mixed emotions we bid Harsens Island good-bye. If we hope to complete the “Down East

Circle” cruise this summer it’s time to get moving. Due to less than ideal weather and our delay on Harsens Island, we decided to go straight to Mackinac Island, and give up our trip to the Western side of Michigan.

To pick up a little time, we decided to make this as a straight run, predicting about a 35 hour passage. Upon setting out, we knew that a low pressure system was expected to stall over Lake Huron and provide some unsettled weather—nothing dangerous, but potentially uncomfortable. We were right! The first fourteen hours were fine, but as night fell the wind and waves picked up. The wind was blowing out of the northwest, which just happened to be the direction we were heading. The next twenty-six hours were spent “hobby-horsing” through 3 to 4 waves with practically no period between them. Although, not a “sweet ride” in any sense, it did give us some great experience. We’ve had such good passage-making weather, that I realized I need to plan better for meals when you can’t cook, or even open the refrigerator for that matter. Thank goodness for granola bars, nuts, pretzels and cookies.

Because of the wind, waves and some unexpected current in the lake, our passage took just over 40

hours, and had us arriving at Mackinac Island in the dark around midnight. Entering a new harbor at dark is always interesting, but as usual Dave had the right charts and info, and we arrived safe and sound with no problems. It’s just a good reminder to always be prepared for things not to go exactly according to plan.