[Rhodes22-list] sailing in Grand Traverse Bay in Michigan

Tue Oct 20 21:34:20 EDT 2020

Roger, thanks for the clarification.  I misunderstood the intention and
interpreted the Harbors of Refuge name too narrowly.  As I read more about
it, I can see that it is an impressive system.  You certainly have a lot of
great sailing opportunities in Michigan!

Jesse Shumaker
S/V Zephyr

On Tue, Oct 20, 2020 at 6:08 AM ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com> wrote:

> Jesse,
>
> Harbors of Refuge, there not just any port in a storm!  :<)  But
> seriously, despite the ominous sounding name, they are intended for routine
> use by transient recreational boaters.  As such, they enable folks with
> smaller boats, like you and I, to recreate on the great lakes in ways that
> are not really feasible in other States.  Considering the revenues
> transient boaters bring in to small coastal communities, the program has
> been a tremendous boost to the economies of many Michigan cities and
> towns.  I think it is an example of a very successful government
> infrastructure program.
>
> Anyway, the Harbor of Refuge network cost hundreds of millions of $’s to
> build and maintain.  So, we should all make use of it!
>
> Roger Pihlaja
> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>
> Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
> Windows 10
>
> From: Jesse Shumaker<mailto:jesse.laten.shumaker at gmail.com>
> Sent: Monday, October 19, 2020 1:58 PM
> To: The Rhodes 22 Email List<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] sailing in Grand Traverse Bay in Michigan
>
> Roger, thanks for the detailed explanation.  Yes, it appears that we stayed
> at some "harbors of refuge" after all since a number of the marinas that we
> stayed at were municipal ("city dock") marinas.  We just stayed at those
> marinas as a matter of convenience and since they had availability, rather
> than utilizing them under duress.   The info you provided is very helpful
> for future planning!
>
> Jesse Shumaker
> S/V Zephyr
>
> On Mon, Oct 19, 2020 at 7:13 AM ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Hi Jesse,
> >
> > I was just wondering if you were aware of the Michigan Harbors of Refuge
> > program.  The 3 attached .jpg files are maps that give the locations of
> > Michigan Harbors of Refuge on the east coast, west coast, and the upper
> > peninsula.  You can get more info at www.michigan.gov/harbors<<
> http://www.michigan.gov/harbors%3c>
> > http://www.michigan.gov/harbors> .  The program was created in 1947 with
> > the goal; that, there should be a public harbor of refuge with slips for
> > transient boaters no more than every 15 miles of great lakes coastline
> > apart.  There are still stretches of coastline, particularly in the upper
> > peninsula, wherein they have not yet reached their separation distance
> > goal.  However, the 3 attached maps show how extensive the Harbor of
> Refuge
> > network has become.  The existence of these Harbors of Refuge makes it
> > possible to do multiday cruising in much smaller boats than would
> otherwise
> > be safe.  Since we own 22 ft LOA sailboats, this is obviously a useful
> > program!  Even though it wasn’t an issue on your cruise, in the Grand
> > Traverse Bay area, the following cities have Harbors of Refuge:
> Northport,
> > Leland, Suttons Bay, Greilickville, Traverse City, Elk Rapids, and
> > Charlevoix.  If you stayed at the “Municipal Marina” or “City Dock” in
> any
> > of those places, you probably stayed in a Harbor of Refuge.  Of course,
> in
> > Grand Traverse Bay, you can hardly throw a stick without hitting a
> > privately owned marina.  But, many (most)  locations in Michigan are much
> > more sparsely populated with marinas.
> >
> > By the way, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources publishes a
> > 3-ring binder called the “Michigan Harbors Guide”.  In this guide, each
> > Harbor of Refuge has the front and back of a single page.  There is an
> > aerial photo showing the safe approach, GPS coordinates of the harbor
> > entrance, and any aids &/or hazards to navigation.  There is data like
> the
> > number of transient slips available, water depth at the dock, services
> like
> > fuel, septic pump out, repairs, water, contact phone numbers, etc.
> Anyone
> > can order a copy for free!  The guide is printed on water resistant
> paper.
> > The Michigan Harbors Guide is an essential resource at S/V dynamic
> > Equilibrium’s nav station.  It also   makes great reading/dreaming
> material
> > over the winter sitting in front of the fireplace!
> >
> > I’ve sailed the great lakes in all the States that have great lakes
> > coastline.  I’ve not found any state with a comparable Harbors of Refuge
> > program.  It’s yet another thing that makes Michigan such a special
> place.
> >
> > [cid:image003.jpg at 01D6A5EF.A5F286F0]
> >
> > [cid:image005.jpg at 01D6A5EF.A5F286F0]
> >
> > [cid:image009.jpg at 01D6A5EF.A5F286F0]
> >
> > Roger Pihlaja
> > S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> >
> > Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
> > Windows 10
> >
> > From: Jesse Shumaker<mailto:jesse.laten.shumaker at gmail.com>
> > Sent: Sunday, October 18, 2020 8:35 PM
> > To: The Rhodes 22 Email List<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] sailing in Grand Traverse Bay in Michigan
> >
> > Roger, good to hear about the enjoyable fall camping trip.  As we're
> > heading into this time of the year, enjoyment outside has a lot to do
> with
> > gear and preparation.
> >
> > Regarding the marinas, we just called the marina on our cell phone when
> we
> > were within sight to check on the availability of transient slips.  If no
> > one answered, then we would hail them on VHF channel 16 and they would
> have
> > us switch to another channel for communication.  That late in the season
> it
> > was easy to get a transient slip.  In the summer, we may have to reserve
> > early.  As you may know (but others on the list may not be aware), any of
> > the marinas that accept Michigan state funding have to keep a certain
> > percentage of slips available as transient slips and you can reserve
> those
> > online.  I think most of the marinas that are designated as harbors of
> > refuge are located in more exposed areas than Grand Traverse Bay, but I
> see
> > that Elk Rapids has that designation.  For those on the list that may not
> > be familiar, the harbor of refuge designation means that staff will not
> > turn you away in emergency situations and when conditions on the water
> are
> > rough.
> >
> > I just found the following link to the list of harbors in Michigan and
> > added this to the travelogue.  There was a printed copy of this onboard
> the
> > charter boat that we would refer to before heading into a marina so we
> > would be familiar with the layout ahead of time.
> >
> >
> https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/Publications/PDFS/RecreationCamping/boating/harbor_guide_small.pdf
> >
> > Jesse Shumaker
> > S/V Zephyr
> >
> >
> > On Sun, Oct 18, 2020 at 4:50 PM ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Hi Jesse,
> > >
> > > I’ve never sailed on Grand Traverse Bay; but, have visited all the
> ports
> > > of call in your story from land.  Did you make use of the Michigan
> Harbor
> > > of Refuge system?
> > >
> > > I’m just getting back from a weekend camping trip with my Boy Scout
> > > troop.  We camped at Trinity Lutheran Church Camp on what used to be
> > Wixom
> > > Lake.  As a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, I have access to the
> camp.
> > > We had access to the lodge to use the bathrooms.  But, otherwise we
> > stayed
> > > outside.  Friday night, we got sleet.  Saturday morning, the zipper on
> my
> > > tent was frozen!  Fortunately, a little pulling and working the zipper
> > back
> > > and forth freed it up.  Saturday night was much warmer, it only got
> down
> > to
> > > about 40 deg F.  We have several crossover Webelos and this was their
> > first
> > > camping trip.  Everyone seemed to be prepared for the conditions and
> > stayed
> > > warm.  I was very proud of them.  We did a lot of Tenderfoot and Second
> > > Class Scout rank advancement stuff.  After the older Scouts finished
> > their
> > > basic classes in knife and axe use and campfire building, I took over
> and
> > > instructed them all in building a fire with soaking wet firewood.  I
> > showed
> > > them how to find dry wood even though it had rained/sleeted the night
> > > before.  I showed them how to use the hatchet to cut into the dry heart
> > > wood on a piece of wet wood and chip off slivers of dry tinder and
> > > kindling.  Then, we had the new Scouts build a campfire with this wet
> > > wood.  Even my senior Scouts were impressed with how easy it was to
> get a
> > > fire going in these conditions.  I think they all learned a useful life
> > > skill.  Now, I’m back home and all my camping gear is drying in the
> > > basement.
> > >
> > > Life is good!
> > >
> > > Roger Pihlaja
> > > S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> > >
> > > Sent from my iPhone
> > >
> > > > On Oct 18, 2020, at 10:49 AM, Jesse Shumaker <
> > > jesse.laten.shumaker at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I put together a recap and some highlight photos of our sailing trip
> > in
> > > > Grand Traverse Bay at the link below.
> > > >
> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-XPDLxAJcuzvKa_3MJ7rwJ9JBhtzb8L_/view
> > > >
> > > > I included links in that document to resources for anyone that might
> > want
> > > > to plan a trip in the area.  After reading the accounts of the
> > adventures
> > > > of others on this list, it inspired me to capture and share my trips.
> > > Even
> > > > if it's just me who looks at this in the future, I'll have something
> to
> > > > look back on later and relive the trip on cold winter days :)
> > > >
> > > > This trip was on a charter boat, but this area can be sailed by a R22
> > as
> > > > well.  If you make it to the end of the document, a R22 does make an
> > > > appearance.
> > > >
> > > > <
> > >
> >
> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-XPDLxAJcuzvKa_3MJ7rwJ9JBhtzb8L_/view?usp=sharing
> > > >
> > > > Jesse Shumaker
> > > > S/V Zephyr
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >> On Sun, Sep 13, 2020 at 6:05 PM Jesse Shumaker <
> > > >> jesse.laten.shumaker at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > >>
> > > >> My wife and I had sailing plans out west, but that has been
> > rescheduled
> > > >> due to the wildfires and resulting air quality.  I really feel bad
> for
> > > >> everyone affected by that on top of everything else delivered by
> this
> > > crazy
> > > >> year of 2020.
> > > >>
> > > >> We swiftly changed plans and will be chartering a sailboat out of
> > > Traverse
> > > >> City, Michigan
> > > >> later this month.  We're actually going to be up there again in the
> > > middle
> > > >> of next summer.  We have some family nearby that will be joining us
> on
> > > >> board for part of the trip.  For this round we plan on spending most
> > of
> > > the
> > > >> time within Grand Traverse Bay and going as far North as Charlevoix
> or
> > > >> possibly Harbor Point in Little Traverse Bay.  Next summer we would
> > > like to
> > > >> make it over to Beaver Island if weather permits.
> > > >>
> > > >> For the first day, we're going to hire a captain and practice
> docking
> > > and
> > > >> other boat handling since this will be a bigger boat for us.  We had
> > to
> > > go
> > > >> with what was available on short notice but end of season discounts
> > > help.
> > > >> It has IMF so it will be interesting to try that on a bigger boat.
> > > >>
> > > >> Tentative plan:
> > > >> Thursday  9/24 1 Captain - spend the night at Elmwood Marina in
> > Traverse
> > > >> City
> > > >> Friday    9/25 2 Power Island & Sutton's Bay
> > > >> Saturday  9/26 3 Northport / Old Mission Bay
> > > >> Sunday    9/27 4 Charleviox / Harbor Point in Little Traverse Bay
> > > >> Monday    9/28 5 Omena Bay / Ingalls Bay
> > > >> Tuesday   9/29 6 Elk Rapids / Old Mission
> > > >> Wednesday 9/30 7 Return to Traverse City
> > > >>
> > > >> Would anyone on the list happen to be familiar with the area and
> have
> > > any
> > > >> recommendations?
> > > >>
> > > >> Thanks,
> > > >> Jesse Shumaker
> > > >> S/V Zephyr
> > > >>
> > >
> >
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