Entry # 8

There may be a caveat that should minimally impact my primary itinerary. This year the 2019 Trans Superior International Yacht Race will be held. This biennial 330 plus mile race is recognized as the longest freshwater race in the world and it is scheduled for August 3rd. The race starts at Whitefish Bay and ends in Duluth. And, this race just happens to follow the southern itinerary of my Lake Superior itinerary! Is it meant to be? We shall see. Though I have not completed registering, ‘Never Too Late’ is currently listed as an entry. (Now how did that happen?) Yes, indeed I’m looking into the feasibility of incorporating this race into my trip but among other things there are a lot of additional equipment requirements I would need to meet. (In all honesty, a couple of years ago I had looked into entering this event in a Nordica sailboat.)

I have to admit having a smile on my face when I think about the possibility. Another caveat should I enter and successfully complete this event includes a potential invitation to the Great Lake Singlehanded Society (GLSS)! Its membership are accomplished sailors who are very knowledgeable and whose advice I respect and continue to greatly appreciate. On any case, I remain focused on achieving my main objective(s). I am still in the research and feasibility stages.

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.

Blog Entry # 6

The work and equipment put into Never Too Late was the collaboration of my own thoughts following evaluating her under sail and the greatly appreciated input from numerous sailors.

Note: Due to budget constraints and where/when feasible, I have acquired needed materials and designed equipment to make and install – eg. zippers, canvas, wood, tiller, hatch, etc. Safety and/or compliance upgrades deemed beyond my skill set – eg. sails, electrical – being purchased and installation(s) contracted. Work arounds continue to play a significant role.

After replacing both batteries, my first priority was to have installed shore power, a new circuit box, two cabin electric outlets, automatic bilge pump and outlet.

I replaced the main and jib sheets, halyards and lazy jacks.

In the cabin, I built a shelf and purchased a Convection Oven.  I selected and installed material and rods for curtains.

I will be providing additional detail on updates later including: new sails, dodger & bimini, new cabin hatch, deck safety nets, bowsprit figure, etc.

Spring projects prior to launch include:

1.I found out that the portable toilette I had purchased (and never used) does not comply with Canadian requirements. So I designed a head system for installation this Spring. I ordered the holding tank and toilette and am awaiting warmer weather.

2.In addition, I ordered a Garmin GPS 942 and transducer for Spring installation as well.

3.I purchased a tiller that will need to be installed. I don’t trust the current one and will keep it as back-up. Additionally, I have ordered a tiller clutch mechanism to hold course in relief for short periods while underway. I plan to install the clutch unto the new tiller.

4.I just completed prepping a line for my radar deflector to be attached to my main halyard when anchored overnight. And, I will be attaching port & starboard harness lines from bow to dodger.

5.Finally, as it relates to upgrading the boat, I acquired a bronze statue of Poseidon with his lance. I am having a bolt welded on and plan to install him to the bow of my boat to ensure safe passage.

Itinerary next….

Blog Entry # 5

A 1979 Pacific Seacraft Flicka

Over the years I’ve sold all my sailboats due to various reasons, including kids tuition, health and age. Now in preparation for my attempt to solo sail all five Great Lakes in a single season I needed to find a seaworthy used boat.

Given I’m living on a pension, in addition to its seaworthiness my priorities in choosing a boat where cost, ease to sail, draft, accommodations and condition. Without going into the details, I finally settled on purchasing a 1979 Pacific Seacraft (Never Too Late) located in Grand Marais, Minnesota. It has a full keel, 20′ deck, 8′ beam and 3′ 3″ draft. It was a freshwater only boat with a hull and Yanmar diesel in good conditions. Everything else was either not there, needed replacement or repair including the trailer. I eventually rented a u-haul and trailered her home in November, 2017. In the spring of 2018 I took her out of storage and docked her for the summer at JBM on Lake St. Clair. My work on the boat began that summer….

Blog Entry # 4

I’ve owned and raced three different types of sailboats:

NACRA Catamarans included 5.2s, a 5.5 (single handle) and 5.8s. Over a decade I had raced my catamarans on Lakes Erie, Huron, Michigan and a number of inland lakes. I also qualified and raced in a number (5) of worlds’ in the Gulf of Mexico, Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic and Pacific Ocean coastlines. My favourite memory was double trapping in the Gulf of Mexico with porpoises alongside my hulls. My worst memory was when my catamaran was sucked up by a water spout (so we were told) and my crew and I dumped into Elk Lake. It was in November, snowing, windy and foggy. It took an eternity before we were found and eventually pulled out of the water.

Built a DN Ice Yacht (US 4122) and raced for a number of years. Why you ask? I found several of my catamaran competitors raced DNs during the winter and were in mid-season form in the spring. Most favourite memory – anytime sailing my DN period! I have very few bad memories in my DN. One was in the DN World’s on Lake St. Clair as a ‘B’ Fleeter. A coast guard helicopter flew over during a heat and announced that the ice had broken off – get to shore. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it trying to jump sail 5 ‘ over open water with my DN. Thank goodness for my screw drivers! Selling my DN was another bad day.

Over the years, I had experienced sailing a few different sailboats (Pearson 28, Tartan 10, Hunter 34) before purchasing my Freedom 28 – Jonathon Livingston Seagull. JLS was a pleasure single handling and accommodated my family comfortably as well. (Loved the ease of the T-bone spinnaker.) My most favourite memory was sailing with my three young children through Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie through the Welland Canal to Toronto. My wife followed along the coastline in our van with our golden retriever. Then she returned home with the children while I remained to launch a new vehicle. Living on the boat during the week and taking the train home every other weekend went a great experience. One season I bit my tongue making the decision to withdraw from a Port Huron-Mackinaw Yacht Race (I believe) the morning of the third day especially when informed that we were two hours ahead of the second place boat in our fleet. I had under-estimated the time it would take to complete the race in light winds and I and my catamaran experienced crew had to be back to the office!

Blog Entry # 3: And Now Drawn to Sailing the Great Lakes

In the fall of 2017 I had just completed my trip to Peru. At the time, it was a trip of a lifetime. My itinerary included: Inca trail hikes through the Andes visiting Sacsayuaman; trekking the Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo, Winay Wayna and Machu Picchu – among other Inca sites; white water rafting the Urubamba River; and, canoeing portions of the Amazon River. I found the people of Peru (particularly those with Inca heritage) have a wonderful living motto _ Never lie; Never steal; and, Never sit still. I could live in Peru.

When I returned from my trip to Peru, I began the process to address the other tug in my soul. Since I can remember there was something that has touched my heart and tugged at my soul…sailing and more specifically, to sail extensively in each of the Great Lakes.

Many, many years ago – last century in fact (I’m a 49er), when I was 29 while walking along the shores of Metro Beach, Lake St.Clair, Michigan my eyes caught sight of a white hulled beach catamaran. It was just sitting there like a sultry women. Not knowing how to sail or for that matter, anything about boat design, I concluded THIS cats’ design was right. It was Germanic. Designed with clarity and purpose. Not unlike a Porsche 911. It also had the sultry lines of a 1966 Jaguar XKE. It was right and beautiful and I was (still am) in love. I read NACRA 5.2 on the side of its hull. If I ever owned a boat this was the one – NACRA. On the day of my 30th birthday, I finally came to realize my dream of sailing….

I have acquired some sailing skills over the years. And some 40 years later I still feel the same with regard to my tug to sail and now to circumnavigate the Great Lakes.

Blog Entry #2: The Attempt & My Reasons For _

Though out my life, I have been fascinated by the sea and sailing. The sense of fulfillment continues to give me a greater sense of fulfillment than in any other endeavour I have experienced – whether it be hiking, kayaking, bicycling, running or numerous team sports.   Now at 70 years of age, I am looking forward to my next experience and the challenges to be presented.

My blog (NeverTooLateFor.org) will allow me to share with you my experiences and challenges I will be enduring as I attempt to both sail in and circumnavigate all five (5) Great Lakes single-handedly in a 40 year old sloop (Never Too Late).   I am told it has never been done in a single season.  I am dedicating my journey to Cameron (my nephew) who is battling survival due to having been hit with an incurable illness – Dermatomyositis, a Rheumatoid disease.  Hopefully in addition to contributing to my otherwise modest legacy, this blog will help serve to create a greater awareness on his horrible disease.  

With all that said, thank you in advance for being a part of my journey and, please be patient with this old farts’ technology (blog) challenges.  May the winds be true and on my back. Do enjoy _

Blog Entry #1

My attempt to sail in and to circumnavigate all five (5) Great Lakes singlehanded in a single season in my 20′ vessel.  For the next three plus months ‘Never Too Late’ (a Pacific Seacraft Flicka) will serve as my home, my transport and my companion.  Welcome aboard as I share my journey… John Lecznar

“All of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea – whether it is to sail or to watch it – we are going back from whence we came.” ― John F. Kennedy