Page 40 - 2012 Lake St. Clair Guide

The Marine
Engine
Service
Specialists
Our "Year Round" & "Manufacturers' Authorized"
Service Includes Certified Mechanics for
MERCURY, MERCRUISER, YAMAHA, VOLVO
Bring your boat to us on the Clinton River
or schedule one of our 3 Mobile Marine Trucks
Engine Diagnostics Trans. & Stern Drives
Engine Surveys Generator Serv. & Install.
Engine Rebuild Inboard Propulsion Systems
Electrical/Electronics Install. Drive Train & Drive Line spotty, you can all of the awards are flags, so that they
Prop & Shaft Service Outdrive Service
Impellers Insurance Work
Winterization/Shrinkwrap 35/75 Ton Travel Lift Hoists
(586)469-4131
email: bayviewyachtcrafters@comcast.net
31785 S. River Road, Harrison Township, MI 48045
Located at Sun Dog Marina
The Pickle Boat ..... several minor tion that you go, so I typically choose a
Continued from page 36
with one, and we had two handhelds
as backups. Also as long as you are
close enough to shore, there are gener-
ally landmarks along the way that help
you to know where you are at any given
time. We also had printed charts on
board that could be used in the event
that we had issues with the electronic
navigation systems.
Sailing strategy is actually
quite simple in theory. You want to get
to a specific location in the shortest dis-
tance possible. However being powered
by the wind, it does indeed add a level of
complexity to the strategy. It is also im-
portant to know that the winds are often
changing in speed and direction along
the way. The boat is equipped with a
wind indicator, so we always knew the
speed
and
direc-
tion
of the
wind.
Ty p i - from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, and avoid danger,
cally
what
The author, publisher, or seller assumes no liability with respect to the use of information contained herein. Page 40
you do is choose (Wavelength, owned by Jeff Conrad,
a point of sail that coincidently, the only other boat out of
keeps you closest Lexington) as it was approaching the
to your desired island. However, and unfortunately
direction with the this last boat went aground about three
least amount of hundred yards before the finish line.
tacking and jib- The boat needed assistance to get back
ing. into deeper water so had to drop out of
As for phone the race, hence the pickle boat award
reception in the defaulted to Rhumb Runner! The good
lake it varies. news is that the boat that went aground
When we were was not damaged and no one was in-
in and near Port jured.
Huron we had no Well into the race it was obvious
problems. Some to us that we were not going to make it
of us were tak- to the island and place within our class.
ing pictures and However, it was important to us to fin-
texting them to ish the race, regardless of how long it
friends and rela- took. We accept the Pickle Boat with
tives, and even humor, and it just adds to our overall
making posts on experience. Something to laugh about
Facebook. As you until the 2012 race! Also, the Pickle
go north it became Boat Award is a flag, not a trophy. But
get some recep- can be raised on the boats that earned
tion when you are them.
near most of the A little extra about the experi-
towns. However ence from my perspective....It is impor-
this assumes you tant to know that there are two types
are staying near of sailors, cruisers and racers. I have
shore, which at been ASA certified through Bare Boat,
one point we were and have a fair amount of experience
just too far in the as a cruising sailor. As a cruiser I typi-
lake to get any cell cally go out for day sails with my wife
reception. and/or friends. When you are day sail-
There were ing you really do not care which direc-
things that may have added a small point of sail that is easy and offers a safe
amount of time for us,
but in my opinion the
biggest contributing fac-
tor was a tactical error
on our part. Once we
cleared the Saginaw Bay
we opted to go further out
in the lake searching for
bigger winds. This error
took us further into the
lake than intended and
added many miles onto
our course. In retrospect
I think that keeping the Resting in Mackinac Harbor before
course as short as pos- the voyage back home
sible is critical. Going
out of your way to get an
extra knot or two in speed
just does not pay off. Certainly a valu- and comfortable sail for the people on
able lesson learned, at least for me. board. Occasionally we may take a lon-
We arrived at Mackinac Island ger voyage to places like Sarnia (about
at 9:28 a.m. Tuesday, but there was one four hours) or Bayfield, Canada (about
boat behind us by about five hours. It 8 hours). However, if wind directions
was a boat from the double handed are not favorable for the direction I
class that had run into many problems need to go, I have no problem whatso-
along the way, but were stiffing it out ever firing up my engine and motoring
(like we did), and was going to finish a straight line toward my destination.
the race. The awards ceremony was Also as a cruiser I go to great lengths to
the last award that they present is the
Pickle Boat Award. The award was ac- CONTINUED ON PAGE 43 ...
tually presented to this boat behind us