Chambers Island, Green Bay

Entry #84:  N45.10.436, W87.22.039

Sunday, July 21st (Day 76) – I must have been exhausted because I slept through the second storm and awoke to a beautiful morning.  The second storm was significantly less severe and the anchor held.

It was 9 am before I departed Sawyers’ Bay heading unto Green Bay.  The forecast called for 6 to 9 knot winds from the north.  It was going to be a beat but at least the winds would be moderate and no rain or storms were forecast.

I decided to go west across the Bay and sail north along the coast hoping to realize a shoreline buffer against the moderate north winds and seas.  I called into Cedar River to reserve a slip for the night.  Given the current winds, my GPS was  projecting a doable 6 pm arrival.  Though I had a good nights’ sleep last night, I was still exhausted and aching from the challenges of the previous three days of challenges.  The three previous days were difficult with little sleep and what seemed endless physical and mental challenges.  The weather presented fog, numerous T-storms and high winds (including a tornado with 90 +mph) and high seas.  The accumulation of the challenges presented by the weather through the course of my journey were finally beginning to take a toll.  In addition to my aching muscles, my skin was becoming raw from exposure and I was experiencing difficulty finding any position without being brought to tears from the constant pain in my lower back and disk.    My age had caught up to me and my stamina was not what it was at the beginning of my journey.  I could no longer go three or four or five days fighting Mother Nature without needing a few days of recovery.   Cedar River offered the security of a slip where NTL would not be rocking and rolling in seas and where I would not have to be concerned about anchorage slipping or breaking.   Where I could get out and walk even if painful to stretch my muscles and loosen my bones.  But it was not to be.

Beginning in the early afternoon, the winds and seas began to slowly build.  When the head winds slowly began to increase slowing my progress to a crawl.   Winds now had doubled the forecast to well over 20 knots and the seas were now consistently over 7 to 9 feet!  The current conditions resulted in a new projected arrival time of 2 am!  I was fatigued both mentally and physically.  And even if I was willing to overcome the physical challenges I began to question my mental ability to handle the helm for 10 more hours!  A quick check confirmed there was no potential safe harbors before Cedar River.  I took a 360 visual assessment and saw Chambers Island about six miles to the east of my position.  If I could get to the lee side of the island I might be able to anchor in calm waters.  I brought the helm hard left and power sailed east towards the island.  Two hours later, I arrived, found anchor and crashed exhausted without eating.