Lake Michigan Eastern Shore

[Ken Koons]

I'm planning my first big water sail for this coming summer. I will be trailering my H240 from Indianapolis to Southwest Michigan and putting the boat in Lake Michigan somewhere south of Benton Harbor. I then plan to take three or four days to sail up the Eastern shore and pull the boat out of the water somewhere around Muskegon. With my father in law driving the trailer up north.What month can I expect the best weather? What should I expect "out there" wave and windwise?Any must stop places enroute?Any ideas on where to take the boat out of the water near Muskegon?

 

[Bruce Hill]

Expect a really fun trip!!

A lot more sailors will have a lot to add for some of the questions as I have only made the trip once. It was a blast. We went at night in July, had good winds the whole trip-15-20 kts. Good waves, all fun!Each town on the lake in Western MI has a municipal marina, clean, friendly, good rates. Would suggest staying in those. Check the internet for a the facilities you need to haul out...there shoud be one in Muskegon.

 

[Steve O.]

Lake MI

Late July or early August would be your best bet. Preevailing winds would be SW, of course, but you could get anything from near calm and fog to 30 kn and 6-8 footers. 2-4 ft seas would be about average. Ports of call would be St. Joseph, South Haven, Holland, Grand Haven, Muskegon, and Whitehall, in that order. (MI Maritime Museum is located on the water at South Haven) Torresen's at Muskegon are full-service sailboat specialists and have travel lift, dockage and a launch ramp. MI Dept. Natural Resorces publishes a MI Harbor Guide, check their web site.