Planning a town hopping trip up the Eastern Shore of Lake Michigan this summer. (4th of July) What's the longest distance you've sailed in a day? What is your average speed over long distances? I'm confined to a 1000 acre reservoir normally so I do a lot of one end to the other and repeat sailing so I just need to know what sort of distance I can expect to cover in a leisurely day under sail. Our itinery is to put in South of Benton Harbor and pull her out of the water in Muskegon with a couple overnights in between. Excited to hear everyones thoughts.
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speed or leisure?
Well, your top speed in your 240 is about 6.5 knots, so you could theoretically cover 156 miles in 24 hours, but you'd also miss everything, too! You said you wanted to town hop, so assuming you want to make some overnight stops, all of the towns with marinas are all about 20-25 miles apart (Southhaven-Holland-Grandhaven) and all are much quainter than Muskegon or Benton Harbor. Your itinerary will also depend on the weather.
Well, your top speed in your 240 is about 6.5 knots, so you could theoretically cover 156 miles in 24 hours, but you'd also miss everything, too! You said you wanted to town hop, so assuming you want to make some overnight stops, all of the towns with marinas are all about 20-25 miles apart (Southhaven-Holland-Grandhaven) and all are much quainter than Muskegon or Benton Harbor. Your itinerary will also depend on the weather.
Lake Michigan trip
Sound great about your plans to sail Lake Mi. I live in Grand Haven, and would be willing to give you some information if you need. One time you may want to avoid GH is the first week of August. We have a Coast Guard Festival, that bring out too many people that shouldn't be on the water :-> Besides that, it's a wonderful place to sail. Winds are usually light between the first of July to first part of August. A fun place to visit is Sagatuck - 20 miles north of South Haven. Enjoy ...
Sound great about your plans to sail Lake Mi. I live in Grand Haven, and would be willing to give you some information if you need. One time you may want to avoid GH is the first week of August. We have a Coast Guard Festival, that bring out too many people that shouldn't be on the water :-> Besides that, it's a wonderful place to sail. Winds are usually light between the first of July to first part of August. A fun place to visit is Sagatuck - 20 miles north of South Haven. Enjoy ...
.... Smell the Roses
Years ago I worked with another sailor that was about 20 years my senior and we had just bought our H35 so we talked boats a lot. I was planning my vacation trips and trying, like you, to figure out how much ground I could cover. After all, it was all new to me. He gave me an itinerary that allowed for anchoring about two or three days in each spot with not much more than about 20 miles between anchorages. Well, my averages were sometimes in the 70 to 90 miles per day, covered a lot of territory, got a lot of sailing in, but looking back on it, ironically, I really didn't see much. Like the previous posters suggested it could be nicer to take some time and smell the roses. Not only that, but your significant other will probably appreciate it too. Anyway, it sounds like a good plan.
Years ago I worked with another sailor that was about 20 years my senior and we had just bought our H35 so we talked boats a lot. I was planning my vacation trips and trying, like you, to figure out how much ground I could cover. After all, it was all new to me. He gave me an itinerary that allowed for anchoring about two or three days in each spot with not much more than about 20 miles between anchorages. Well, my averages were sometimes in the 70 to 90 miles per day, covered a lot of territory, got a lot of sailing in, but looking back on it, ironically, I really didn't see much. Like the previous posters suggested it could be nicer to take some time and smell the roses. Not only that, but your significant other will probably appreciate it too. Anyway, it sounds like a good plan.
Reply to John
John, We're definitely planning to take our time. I was playing around with the GPS and a way points listing from the Michigan State Parks Dept. (Hey it's been a long tax season for me this year-I'm an accountant) I may have put something into the GPS incorrectly, but I got a reading of six miles from the channel back to the marina at Grand Haven. Does that sound correct? Do any of the Michigan marinas except slip reservations?
John, We're definitely planning to take our time. I was playing around with the GPS and a way points listing from the Michigan State Parks Dept. (Hey it's been a long tax season for me this year-I'm an accountant) I may have put something into the GPS incorrectly, but I got a reading of six miles from the channel back to the marina at Grand Haven. Does that sound correct? Do any of the Michigan marinas except slip reservations?
4 knots, 40 nm's...less is better
Weturn on the "iron genny"if we fallconsistently below 4 knots, and use this figure for planning. We typically average 4 to 5 knots in our '77 h27 (with a hull speed of 6.2 kts.) We plan up to 40 nms to cross the lake, or get to a target (like the islands in the west end of Lake Erie.) But the best cruising is 20 miles or less, with no time pressure. Sounds like a great trip - enjoy yourself! David Lady Lillie
Weturn on the "iron genny"if we fallconsistently below 4 knots, and use this figure for planning. We typically average 4 to 5 knots in our '77 h27 (with a hull speed of 6.2 kts.) We plan up to 40 nms to cross the lake, or get to a target (like the islands in the west end of Lake Erie.) But the best cruising is 20 miles or less, with no time pressure. Sounds like a great trip - enjoy yourself! David Lady Lillie
Reply to David
Lake Erie is on our summer 03 planning schedule. By the GPS it's 166 miles from home to Port Clinton, OH Not as many straight shot highways in that direction as there are north to Lake Michigan.
Lake Erie is on our summer 03 planning schedule. By the GPS it's 166 miles from home to Port Clinton, OH Not as many straight shot highways in that direction as there are north to Lake Michigan.
marinas
Public marinas--those supported by state funds--do not take reservations, they are on first come, first served basis. (rather disheartening when the stink boats are flying by you heading into the channel.) Some private marinas will take phone reservations.
Public marinas--those supported by state funds--do not take reservations, they are on first come, first served basis. (rather disheartening when the stink boats are flying by you heading into the channel.) Some private marinas will take phone reservations.
Your Lake Michigan Trip
As you can tell I am fortunate to live on the east coast of Lake Michigan. I have stayed in each of the ports you are thinking of visiting: New Buffalo, St. Joseph, South Haven, Saugatuck/Douglas, Holland, and Grand Haven. Each port has its own character and I have enjoyed my stay in each port. Each port is about 20nm from each other, except Saugatuck-Holland that are only 10nm apart. You should check with each marina to determine if they will take reservations. Please note that each of these communities have several major festivals during the summer that will make find a slip difficult if not imposible. Enjoy your trip.
As you can tell I am fortunate to live on the east coast of Lake Michigan. I have stayed in each of the ports you are thinking of visiting: New Buffalo, St. Joseph, South Haven, Saugatuck/Douglas, Holland, and Grand Haven. Each port has its own character and I have enjoyed my stay in each port. Each port is about 20nm from each other, except Saugatuck-Holland that are only 10nm apart. You should check with each marina to determine if they will take reservations. Please note that each of these communities have several major festivals during the summer that will make find a slip difficult if not imposible. Enjoy your trip.
Our Lake Michigan Cruise
We sailed our Hunter 26 from Manitowoc to Door County last summer. We put 131 miles under the keel and that was for a full week of sailing. The 51 miles from Manitowoc to Sturgeon bay took a good 10-11 hours, most under power as the wind was on the nose and we were on a tight schedule. It would be best to limit your daily trips to 25 miles, which will allow for plenty of recreation and a happier crew. My teenagers were ready to mutiny after 4 hours at sea. Mike Pajewski H26 "Loon"
We sailed our Hunter 26 from Manitowoc to Door County last summer. We put 131 miles under the keel and that was for a full week of sailing. The 51 miles from Manitowoc to Sturgeon bay took a good 10-11 hours, most under power as the wind was on the nose and we were on a tight schedule. It would be best to limit your daily trips to 25 miles, which will allow for plenty of recreation and a happier crew. My teenagers were ready to mutiny after 4 hours at sea. Mike Pajewski H26 "Loon"
Ken
In response to you question, 6 miles sound incorrect. From the mouth of the inlet channel, it's maybe 3/4 to 1 mile to the slips. You can travel further up the channel which would take you into Spring Lake. There you can find some resturants that you can sail up to: Jacks (at Holiday Inn), Old Dog's micro-brewery, Fudruckers. In response to an earlier post, I believe you can reserve slips on line, or over the phone up to 1 week in advance. I know you can do that with Parks in Michigan. I do know that you can do the transiet tie up to the board walk in GH. If you need GPS coordinates to GH, let me know.
In response to you question, 6 miles sound incorrect. From the mouth of the inlet channel, it's maybe 3/4 to 1 mile to the slips. You can travel further up the channel which would take you into Spring Lake. There you can find some resturants that you can sail up to: Jacks (at Holiday Inn), Old Dog's micro-brewery, Fudruckers. In response to an earlier post, I believe you can reserve slips on line, or over the phone up to 1 week in advance. I know you can do that with Parks in Michigan. I do know that you can do the transiet tie up to the board walk in GH. If you need GPS coordinates to GH, let me know.
Forum article Smaller Boats
Of course, the answer depends on the air. If you sail for 10 hours strait at around 4 knots, you'll make 40 nautical miles...probably close to 46 statute miles. However, 10 hours of sailing strait is hardly a liesurely pace. I like to start after a good breakfast, bring lunch and heave-to to eat, maybe stop somewhere along the way to explore, and arrive at destination well enough before dinner to clean up the boad, insure that that the boat is secured properly, and find some dinner. For me, I generally end up making 10-20 miles on my H22 at a relaxing pace--but math tells me that over 10 hours, I can probably do 40 miles, and if I have enough crew to sail 24 hours I can probably do 100. Good luck, and enjoy!
Of course, the answer depends on the air. If you sail for 10 hours strait at around 4 knots, you'll make 40 nautical miles...probably close to 46 statute miles. However, 10 hours of sailing strait is hardly a liesurely pace. I like to start after a good breakfast, bring lunch and heave-to to eat, maybe stop somewhere along the way to explore, and arrive at destination well enough before dinner to clean up the boad, insure that that the boat is secured properly, and find some dinner. For me, I generally end up making 10-20 miles on my H22 at a relaxing pace--but math tells me that over 10 hours, I can probably do 40 miles, and if I have enough crew to sail 24 hours I can probably do 100. Good luck, and enjoy!
TAKE YOUR TIME
You could put in at St Joe /Benton Harbor.and sail to South Haven on the first day, about 20 miles. South Haven would be a good place to spend the night.It,s a fun town .Most of the time you can find a slip if you arive around 3 pm.even on a busy day.Make sure you have fuel in case the winds are light. I have a hunter 23.5 and sale out of ST.Joe I plan a trip to South Haven about that time. I would not put in at New BUFFALO . It,s about 35 miles to ST.Joe . Look for Orion!s Lady ,she is the only 23.5 out of ST Joe
You could put in at St Joe /Benton Harbor.and sail to South Haven on the first day, about 20 miles. South Haven would be a good place to spend the night.It,s a fun town .Most of the time you can find a slip if you arive around 3 pm.even on a busy day.Make sure you have fuel in case the winds are light. I have a hunter 23.5 and sale out of ST.Joe I plan a trip to South Haven about that time. I would not put in at New BUFFALO . It,s about 35 miles to ST.Joe . Look for Orion!s Lady ,she is the only 23.5 out of ST Joe
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