Fellow sailors, I plan to spend the second and third weeks of July in the North Channel/Georgian Bay on Lake Huron aboard my H40.5 CATALYST. Those of you that have cruised the area may be able to help me prep for the trip. A few points I am trying to work out: 1) I'd love to borrow or rent a C-Map of area; Lake Huron. We have a Raymarine RC320 chart plotter, it takes the small and thin black rectangle cards (I think all CMAP cards are like this). 2) We draw 5' and would like to anchor as well as dock at a few marinas along the way. We're coming from Toledo Beach Marina in La Salle, MI/Lake Erie. I know of nice places from my marina to Port Huron, but north of there is a mystery to me. 3) Where should we go? I've seen a few pictures of nice, pristine areas in the N.C, but don't know where they are. Any good web sites? 4) Is anyone heading that way? I know it's a popular time to cruise up there. We'd like to find another boat to go with. 5) From Port Huron, is there a preferred route? Any reason not to sail through the night? From prior experience, how many days from Port Huron until I get to see some rugged but beautiful places? 6) Anyone know of cheap mooring around Port Huron (say within 40 miles of there)? We're thinking of staging the boat there a week before we take the trip, so we can enjoy more time in the N.C, rather than transiting. Feel free to reply here or email us at sailcatalyst@excite.com Thanks yall! Fair Winds, s/v CATALYST
North Channel - Lake Huron
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North chanel
Best to stay at sarnia bay or bridgeview Lexinton is 18 miles north and port sanilac @28 best is to go to bayfield, kincardin, then tobemory check out port sanilac and click on barkshanty sail club good info. have fun an remember the Mac race starts on the 23rd. Craig
Best to stay at sarnia bay or bridgeview Lexinton is 18 miles north and port sanilac @28 best is to go to bayfield, kincardin, then tobemory check out port sanilac and click on barkshanty sail club good info. have fun an remember the Mac race starts on the 23rd. Craig
Some North Channel Thoughts
Sarnia Bay Marina is a super stop. There is a city park/waterfront area that wraps around the bay, with many shops and restaurants. That marina is a little tricky to enter. After taking the east channel of the river, hug the east side of the channel staying close to the seawall until you get parallel with the marina entrance, then a hard turn to port while staying between the bouys. Once you have done it once it is not a big deal but the first time is a little intimidating. If we are not pushed for time we like to stop at Maitland Valley marina (see Jan) at Goderich, then Kincardin, Port Elgin, Tobermory, and then head for the North Channel. Must see's include Little Current, Gore Bay,Meldrum Bay, and a lot of anchorages in between. If you like a thrill, go through Little Detroit. It is very cool. In the past we have essentially circled Manitoulin Island with our return trip coming south along the Michigan shore. We particularily like Rogers City and Presque Isle. For most of this trip the depth is sufficient but be very careful when you are in the North Channel. There are lots of rocks that are just below the surface. ALWAYS know exactly where you are at, no sailing towards a location without first carefully looking over the charts. Night sailing is fun but there is always a concern about fishing nets. For the most part we stay in the shipping channels at night or at least in water so deep that the commercial fishermen don't set nets. Last year we left Sandusky at midnight so that we would get to Detroit River at daylight. By evening we were at Port Huron/Sarnia and we then went an additional 24 hours, finally stopping at Rogers City. 42 hours, non-stop except for fuel at Sarnia Bay Marina. I don't know the motoring speed of your boat but we make about 7.4 knots which takes us up the rivers in about 18 hours. Remember the current, about 1.5 knots in the Detroit River and about 2.5 in the St. Clair River. I would recommend doing the Detroit River in daylight. There are too many shore lights at night which hinder your search for the lighted bouys. We are leaving Sandusky next Friday morning (24th) for a two night stop in Leamington, then leaving early on Sunday morning (2am) and will run to Presque Isle non-stop. From there to DeTour, Sault St. Marie, and then westbound in Lake Superior. Apostle Islands and Isle Royale, here we come. New horizons to conquer!! Enjoy your cruise!!!
Sarnia Bay Marina is a super stop. There is a city park/waterfront area that wraps around the bay, with many shops and restaurants. That marina is a little tricky to enter. After taking the east channel of the river, hug the east side of the channel staying close to the seawall until you get parallel with the marina entrance, then a hard turn to port while staying between the bouys. Once you have done it once it is not a big deal but the first time is a little intimidating. If we are not pushed for time we like to stop at Maitland Valley marina (see Jan) at Goderich, then Kincardin, Port Elgin, Tobermory, and then head for the North Channel. Must see's include Little Current, Gore Bay,Meldrum Bay, and a lot of anchorages in between. If you like a thrill, go through Little Detroit. It is very cool. In the past we have essentially circled Manitoulin Island with our return trip coming south along the Michigan shore. We particularily like Rogers City and Presque Isle. For most of this trip the depth is sufficient but be very careful when you are in the North Channel. There are lots of rocks that are just below the surface. ALWAYS know exactly where you are at, no sailing towards a location without first carefully looking over the charts. Night sailing is fun but there is always a concern about fishing nets. For the most part we stay in the shipping channels at night or at least in water so deep that the commercial fishermen don't set nets. Last year we left Sandusky at midnight so that we would get to Detroit River at daylight. By evening we were at Port Huron/Sarnia and we then went an additional 24 hours, finally stopping at Rogers City. 42 hours, non-stop except for fuel at Sarnia Bay Marina. I don't know the motoring speed of your boat but we make about 7.4 knots which takes us up the rivers in about 18 hours. Remember the current, about 1.5 knots in the Detroit River and about 2.5 in the St. Clair River. I would recommend doing the Detroit River in daylight. There are too many shore lights at night which hinder your search for the lighted bouys. We are leaving Sandusky next Friday morning (24th) for a two night stop in Leamington, then leaving early on Sunday morning (2am) and will run to Presque Isle non-stop. From there to DeTour, Sault St. Marie, and then westbound in Lake Superior. Apostle Islands and Isle Royale, here we come. New horizons to conquer!! Enjoy your cruise!!!
North Channel
You won't be disappointed, I am heading to the North Channel next week. One of the best websites I have found is www.continuouswave.com from a fellow sailor that used to charter in the NC. I also highly recommend getting a PORTS cruising guide for Georgian Bay and the North Channel. Besides marinas it gives detailed description of all the best anchorages and gives detailed descriptions of how to avoid the hidden rocks. Have a great time Doug s/v Air Play
You won't be disappointed, I am heading to the North Channel next week. One of the best websites I have found is www.continuouswave.com from a fellow sailor that used to charter in the NC. I also highly recommend getting a PORTS cruising guide for Georgian Bay and the North Channel. Besides marinas it gives detailed description of all the best anchorages and gives detailed descriptions of how to avoid the hidden rocks. Have a great time Doug s/v Air Play
NC departure = July 1
You will have great fun - i am leaving July 1 for 3 weeks sailing H410 "Good Faith²" - email me directly if you want more info - The link included will give you lots of ideas. As far as the chart chips -- there are also two NC channel chips == East and West which have lots more detail. best way to get all of the paper charts is to buy Richardson's Lake Huron chart set. Ports cruising guide is excellant too! Bill Murray Good Faith²
You will have great fun - i am leaving July 1 for 3 weeks sailing H410 "Good Faith²" - email me directly if you want more info - The link included will give you lots of ideas. As far as the chart chips -- there are also two NC channel chips == East and West which have lots more detail. best way to get all of the paper charts is to buy Richardson's Lake Huron chart set. Ports cruising guide is excellant too! Bill Murray Good Faith²
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