Wednesday, 18 September 2025: Lake Michigan

We left our slip about 5:30pm. After numerous delays, and final safety checks, we were on our way. I made a hurried trip to West Marine to buy flares and updated charts.  I even learned about filing a sail plan with the Coast Guard.  Steven was going to join us but then baled. Curtis and Louie were going to join us but they hit glitches in the airport.   Justin said he’d always wanted to cross the lake alone and that he’d go by himself. I didn’t want to go but even more, I didn’t want him to go alone.  So here we are — on our way. 

 

The navigation and the autopilot worked just fine; we had no problems with the engine. We had no problems at all. 

The night skies were illuminated by a brilliant Super Moon and the waters were ultra calm. It was amazing!  Somewhere around 1am Justin asked me to take the helm. He really needed some sleep. He said just one hour. Four hours later I woke him up.   It was quite rewarding to be out there all by myself. It was great. 

Watching the sun come up over Lake Michigan was stunning. And, no, I don’t often see sunrises.  Words just don’t do justice.  

GPS, or rather Navionics, had us arriving in Sturgeon Bay well before noon. I’m not sure if it has already adjusted for the time change though. 

We passed the Sturgeon Bay light house about 9:30am and pulled up to the gas dock at Wave Point Marina 1:22 pm. 

WE DID IT!!!

After our crossing we spent two nights at Wave Point; one night at anchor off Little Tail and Sunday morning we pulled into The Boat Yard for the end of the season.   Full disclosure, we did have one casualty on our trip: a blue plastic bucket. I was at the helm and Justin had the bucket overboard to get some water to clean the deck. I went too fast and the handle broke. If you find that bucket bobbing around, we have the handle.