[Public-List] Great Lakes Sailing

[David Van Denburgh]

I'd be interested in the write-up about the 80kt winds too.  If this was during the summer of 2007, we were tied up in Frankfort, Michigan, when the storm blew through.  We were planning on sailing across the lake to Green Bay that day, but decided to heed NOAA's forecast of severe thunderstorms, damaging hail, and lightning.  I'm glad we did.  That was a nasty storm.  A couple aboard a 38-foot sailboat came in a few minutes after the storm passed, looking more than a little flustered.  Their bimini had taken a beating and dangled in shreds.  After tying up they began hauling blankets, cushions, and clothing out from below to hang on the lines and dry out.  Apparently, the storm had caught them unaware, their hatches and ports wide open.

Here's a link to video footage I shot during the Frankfort storm: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0Es2t18oss

This link is video of the second thunderstorm we encountered during a month-long cruise on Lake Michigan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj82DkR0FVE

Regarding the comment about the Great Lakes as "offshore sailing," I don't know that I'd say that.  That isn't to say that the Great Lakes aren't challenging - in many ways they're very challenging, just in different ways - but there's a world of difference between coastal sailing (Great Lakes sailing) and offshore/blue water sailing.

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