Entry # 7
It has been brought to my attention that if (when) completed this may well be the longest continuous freshwater solo sailing journey encompassing all five of the Great Lakes in a single season in the smallest sailing vessel (20′) by the oldest sailor (70). I have three applications pending with Guiness. Hopefully one or more will be accepted. I will be equipped with a Garmin 942 GPS chart plotter and a SPOTX satellite hand-held to aid navigation & communications. These instruments will also serve to validate distances and locations travelled. It was brought to my attention by a member of the SSYC that a member recently completed a 1,200 mile solo in a single season on four of the five Great Lakes. I understood he departed from Chicago sailing the length of Lake Michigan; through the Straits entering Lake Huron sailing down to the St. Claire River, Lake St. Claire and the Detroit River; he then entered Lake Erie sailing its length to the Welland Canal; where he entered Lake Ontario and I believe completed his solo journey crossing Lake Ontario to Toronto. I do not know the time it took.
The planned departure date and itinerary centers on several factors including _
First and foremost, Lake Superior (or Gitchigummee). Everything centers around ‘when’ I will be sailing this freshwater ocean. I’m anticipating it may take up to a month to circumnavigate her. I do not wish to face her fury period but especially before mid-July (cold) or after the first week of September (Edmund Fitzgerald).
Second, I have targeted the end of the first week of May to launch from Lake St. Clair – contingent on boat readiness and weather permitting.
Planned Itinerary
The closer I depart to the May 1st date, the more likely my itinerary will be as follows: head down the Detroit River and follow the northern coastline of Lake Erie east; then into the Welland Canal; west to the northern coastline of Lake Ontario; follow its coastline east; then head west as I cross the St. Lawrence River and follow the southern coastline of Lake Ontario west to the Welland Canal; enter Lake Erie and follow its southern coastline west to the Detroit River. Around June 1st I will be motoring up the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers into Lake Huron sailing north along the Michigan coastline; through the Straits and down Lake Michigans’ eastern coast south to Chicago; then up the Lake Michigan western coastline crossing Sturgeon Bay and follow the southern coastline of the Upper Peninsula east to St. Ignace; north through the (second) St. Mary’s River into the Soo Locks (US side). Entering Lake Superior around July 15th, head west and follow the northern coastline of the Upper Peninsula to Duluth, Minnesota. Follow the Lake Superior western coastline north past Isle Royale; head east along the Ontario coastline to the Soo Locks (Canadian side). Targeting August 15th to enter St. Mary’s River to the North Channel east into Georgian Bay; proceed circumnavigating Georgian Bay and round the Bruce Peninsula to Lake Huron proper; head east along the coastline then south to Port Huron, St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair; end trip docking at JBM around Sept. 15th. There are around 6,800 miles of Great Lakes coastline in total. I’m estimating a complete circumnavigation of all five Great Lakes may realize 4,000 nautical miles and may take up to 150 days.
Third factor – time and progress. I am projecting averaging 45 miles per day (leg) with weekly docking/layover for supplies, pump out, batter(ies) & skipper re-charge (maybe shower:), weather delays and miscellaneous other. By the way, ‘Never Too Late’ has a maximum hull speed of 5 1/2 knots!
Select Direct Course(s) (Options)
Should I fall short of my projected distances travelled or should weather or fatigue cause additional delays potentially risking completion of all five Great Lakes in one season, my re-course will be to shorten distances by taking more direct (plum line) routes. Should I enter the 2019 Trans Superior International Yacht Race, a plum line course will be prioritized.
North Channel and/or Georgian Bay Itinerary (Options)
Should however I make significantly greater distances than anticipated, rather than sit and wait before entering Lake Superior before July 15th, I will consider re-routing at Mackinaw Island to circumnavigate either Georgian Bay and/or the North Channel before entering Lake Superior. Which circumnavigation route will depend on the amount of time on hand.
Never Too Late For 