Apostle Islands/Lake Superior Picture Thread

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May 25, 2004
958
Hunter 260 Pepin, WI
At anchor in which bay?

Had dinner with the northern lights in the sky.
Sept Sail 054sm.jpg

Hint, view across to the closest island
Sept Sail 073sm.jpg

Wind gets stiff when funneled between islands.
Sept Sail 090 heelsm.jpg
 

Squidd

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Sep 26, 2011
890
AMF Alcort Paceship PY26 Washburn Wi. Apostle Islands
Is there any "bad" weather out there..?

I mean I saw the start of the race from the Duluth/Superior side with 6'-8' waves, but does it get like that in the Bay and around the AI...?
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Is there any "bad" weather out there..?

I mean I saw the start of the race from the Duluth/Superior side with 6'-8' waves, but does it get like that in the Bay and around the AI...?
Waves like that can easily be in the Apostles. It depends on wind direction and speed. But it the great thing about the islands, it's very easy to be in the lee of one or more of them, and then the wave action is reduced. But with the right NE wind, the huge fetch of water in the North Channel, and bingo; 6 foot waves. NOAA weather radio is your best friend. And keep an eye on the horizon..
 

DannyS

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May 27, 2004
933
Beneteau 393 Bayfield, Wi
Actually, the start of the race from the Bayfield side ran straight into 4-5 footers heading NE up the North Channel. It can get wild but like JD said, the beauty of the islands is that it doesn't take long to get into the lee of something. It actually allows you to test your own personal limits without an all or nothing attitude. When it's piping up, you can ease your way into it and if it's too much, turn tail and run for cover.
 

Squidd

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Sep 26, 2011
890
AMF Alcort Paceship PY26 Washburn Wi. Apostle Islands
Those were only 4'-5'ers..?

Man I'm wimping.. I have a 26' boat like the yellow one..
 

DannyS

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May 27, 2004
933
Beneteau 393 Bayfield, Wi
Those were only 4'-5'ers..?

Man I'm wimping.. I have a 26' boat like the yellow one..
That video was from Duluth, I started out of Bayfield. I don't know how big those waves were in Duluth but you have to realize that they were motoring directly into the waves just to get outside the breakwall. Once actually sailing they'd be cracked off 30 to 45 degrees to the waves. Still big and punishing but not like what you're seeing in the video.
 

DannyS

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May 27, 2004
933
Beneteau 393 Bayfield, Wi
Those were only 4'-5'ers..?

Man I'm wimping.. I have a 26' boat like the yellow one..
My first boat was a Cal 20 and I sailed it all over the Islands. Then I bought an O'day 27 and sailed it everywhere including a crossing to Grand Marais, MN. The trip home saw 6 footers out of the NE which helped push us all the way home. It was a blast!
You'll be fine, and you'll never regret bringing your boat up there.
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Danny's right Squidd, just keep your head in the game and you be fine.

And another tip, watch what other boats are doing; staying on anchor, reefing, heading for home, getting into a lee, moving anchorages. There are so many sailboats in the area you'll see trends.
 

Squidd

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Sep 26, 2011
890
AMF Alcort Paceship PY26 Washburn Wi. Apostle Islands
That video was from Duluth, I started out of Bayfield. I don't know how big those waves were in Duluth but you have to realize that they were motoring directly into the waves just to get outside the breakwall. Once actually sailing they'd be cracked off 30 to 45 degrees to the waves. Still big and punishing but not like what you're seeing in the video.
OK I missunderstood.... Thought they were bigger than 4'-5' ers in the video...

I'll be OK then.. Actually got a buddy on the Ontanogon side that is going to let me crew with him this spring (till I get my boat finished and in) said we "could" go out in 8'-10'ers if we want...If I can handle that on his boat...4'-5'ers will be speed bumps in mine...
 

DannyS

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May 27, 2004
933
Beneteau 393 Bayfield, Wi
Squidd, another thing to remember about wave size is the period in between the crests. If a wicked storm kicks up real quick and whips up 2-3 footers that are really close together, it can seem much worse than 5-6 or even 8 to 10's if they're spaced far apart. I've never been in anything that big and really don't want to, but I have seen 6's with enough separation that it was just alot of fun.
 

Squidd

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Sep 26, 2011
890
AMF Alcort Paceship PY26 Washburn Wi. Apostle Islands
And I suppose wind speed plays a roll too.. On the shallow lake I sail my cat on, takes 20-25mph with gusts to 30 to make 1'ers... But they're a blast hanging on one hull..

But back to the pics..
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
I know it's popular, but 23 boats??? Come on!

 

DannyS

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May 27, 2004
933
Beneteau 393 Bayfield, Wi
I'm thinking Princess is right but it could also be Presque Isle. I've counted 40+ there, you could almost walk from deck to deck to dock!
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Is that Julian Bay? If it is there was a night last summer I counted over 30 boats!
Correct! And it may have been the same night. We were by the wreck, and that's how many boats were to the south of us!
 
Jun 9, 2008
1,792
- -- -Bayfield
That looks like it is off the flats at Devil's Island about where you anchor sits on the bottom unattached to a boat. Ah, charterer's!
 
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