Do you have an AIS transponder?
Have a great trip, super information here in this thread.
Have a great trip, super information here in this thread.
Sailing to Mackinaw island
- Thread starter flynhi4u
- Start date
Which if was not for the North Channel cruise we would have no need for the hard mount. On our home lake no one uses them. The DNR boat has one but squirrels ate the wiring so it is inop. They just have us call them on their cell. So getting use out of our radio will be another reason we will travel to other lakes to sail as time permits.
Sam
Sam
If you can stay overnight on Mackinaw Sunday night, you'll be able to see the first finishers. It's exciting on the docks, but the best finish line viewing is from the Yacht Club. Monday night, you're not likely to find a place to stay. If you want to stay Sunday, make a reservation now.
I hope you dont mind me butting in and throwing another question out there? Heads up, I dont sail. NOT due to lack of interest but more due to no experience and other desires. KAYAKING. LOVE KAYAKING. I want to kayak from St. Ignas to Mack island. Im having a bear of a time getting ANY info from anywhere. Figured you kindly people probably feel my pain, but hopefully to a lesser degree. I would love to/ need to find information about water currents between Ignas and the island. does it flow South to North? N to S? how many mph does it flow that direction? we've kayaked form Ignas to the bridge, under it and back it wasn't so bad. 2'-3' swells but that was just fun and a bit tiring. I greatly appreciate any advice offered. (other than what I've gotten so far "get lost idiot" (yes, i have literally had 2 people say that to me. NOT appreciated.)
Kevin,
We did not wind up sailing to the island due to boat issues but it is only about 3 1/2 miles from St Ignace to the island. Obviously you would want to pick your conditions and remain clear of the path taken by the ferries running back and forth but we would kayak there if we had our sea yaks there with us. I am assuming you have the appropriate type kayaks, no rec boats as they have no place on the big lake. Full skirts and the Proper PFD's as well. If you stay north of the ferry route and approach Mac from the northern tip you could then paddle down the western shore or continue on around the island and come in from the east timing your arrival to miss the ferries that leave I thin every 15 or 30 mins.
I think the bigger issue might be finding a suitable place to beach. Most of the shoreline is privately owned and rocky. You might give the island tourist peeps a call and see if they can point you in the direction of a more appropriate landing site that is a bit sandier with fewer rocks.
Do you plan on staying on the island or just a day trip there and back. Finding a place to keep the yaks might be the next issue. All things that should be able to be addressed with a few phone calls. They have kayak rental on the island by the horse corral. I would call them and see if they can provide you any more info. Also check out Paddling.net as they would probably be of more help.
Totally doable, assuming you have the right gear and abilities. Have fun and let us know how it goes.
Sam
We did not wind up sailing to the island due to boat issues but it is only about 3 1/2 miles from St Ignace to the island. Obviously you would want to pick your conditions and remain clear of the path taken by the ferries running back and forth but we would kayak there if we had our sea yaks there with us. I am assuming you have the appropriate type kayaks, no rec boats as they have no place on the big lake. Full skirts and the Proper PFD's as well. If you stay north of the ferry route and approach Mac from the northern tip you could then paddle down the western shore or continue on around the island and come in from the east timing your arrival to miss the ferries that leave I thin every 15 or 30 mins.
I think the bigger issue might be finding a suitable place to beach. Most of the shoreline is privately owned and rocky. You might give the island tourist peeps a call and see if they can point you in the direction of a more appropriate landing site that is a bit sandier with fewer rocks.
Do you plan on staying on the island or just a day trip there and back. Finding a place to keep the yaks might be the next issue. All things that should be able to be addressed with a few phone calls. They have kayak rental on the island by the horse corral. I would call them and see if they can provide you any more info. Also check out Paddling.net as they would probably be of more help.
Totally doable, assuming you have the right gear and abilities. Have fun and let us know how it goes.
Sam
Sam,
thank you so much for the reply. First, we have all the gear needed, open water rated kayaks and have been in the big lakes many times before. Just never crossed to the island. We kayaked out to the bridge and under it, which was awesome.
We are launching NORTH of the furthest north ferry and should be well out of their way. (which is Sheplers and they are amazing people. super helpful and a God sent to us)
Since posting this I have found some answers to some of my questions. Water current is negligible, wind can be a serious issue (good for you sailors, bad for us yakers) ?maybe we get some kayak sails??
Storing our kayak has been one of the harder issues. What do we do with them when we get there? We are staying 3 days. and I've emailed/called every hotel/b&b and inn on the island and generated a list of about 8 that will store our kayaks for us. (if any one needs that list, i would be glad to share it. They were super polite and very very helpful. wonderful people).
the last issue is like you mention, where to take out. 90% is private land. But that's nothing new for us. We kayak rivers a lot and ALL the land on either side of the rivers is privately owned and has those gaudy orange "no tress passing" signs every where (really mucks up the scenery). I sympathize with them not wanting trespassers but after seeing 300 of those darn things, we get the point. Sorry, i diverge. ON the island we found 2 places we can take out one is a state park and the other is just land next to the road. We hop out, assemble the cart. put the yaks on the cart and look like idiots pulling two kayaks through the main street.
As for the kayak rental places. They can be hit or miss. They are super helpful as they are kayakers and love the sport or they are just in it for the money. The one on the island ?great turtle? wont even give us the time of day. I called them, "NO we wont store them (didnt ask them to), and ill find out about letting you take out at our dock" - no response from them.
Thanks for your input.
Kevin
thank you so much for the reply. First, we have all the gear needed, open water rated kayaks and have been in the big lakes many times before. Just never crossed to the island. We kayaked out to the bridge and under it, which was awesome.
We are launching NORTH of the furthest north ferry and should be well out of their way. (which is Sheplers and they are amazing people. super helpful and a God sent to us)
Since posting this I have found some answers to some of my questions. Water current is negligible, wind can be a serious issue (good for you sailors, bad for us yakers) ?maybe we get some kayak sails??
Storing our kayak has been one of the harder issues. What do we do with them when we get there? We are staying 3 days. and I've emailed/called every hotel/b&b and inn on the island and generated a list of about 8 that will store our kayaks for us. (if any one needs that list, i would be glad to share it. They were super polite and very very helpful. wonderful people).
the last issue is like you mention, where to take out. 90% is private land. But that's nothing new for us. We kayak rivers a lot and ALL the land on either side of the rivers is privately owned and has those gaudy orange "no tress passing" signs every where (really mucks up the scenery). I sympathize with them not wanting trespassers but after seeing 300 of those darn things, we get the point. Sorry, i diverge. ON the island we found 2 places we can take out one is a state park and the other is just land next to the road. We hop out, assemble the cart. put the yaks on the cart and look like idiots pulling two kayaks through the main street.
As for the kayak rental places. They can be hit or miss. They are super helpful as they are kayakers and love the sport or they are just in it for the money. The one on the island ?great turtle? wont even give us the time of day. I called them, "NO we wont store them (didnt ask them to), and ill find out about letting you take out at our dock" - no response from them.
Thanks for your input.
Kevin
Kevin,
No problem. Sounds like a fun paddle. Glad you were able to find some info. That might be something we do ourselves someday. My only suggestion might be that you add a fourth day to your schedule just incase you wake up the 3rd day and the wind is howling and the waves are ripping. Sailing a smaller boat we know all too well that not everyday the wind blows is going to be a good day for us to sail. Kayaking is much the same way.
Good luck and have fun
Sam
No problem. Sounds like a fun paddle. Glad you were able to find some info. That might be something we do ourselves someday. My only suggestion might be that you add a fourth day to your schedule just incase you wake up the 3rd day and the wind is howling and the waves are ripping. Sailing a smaller boat we know all too well that not everyday the wind blows is going to be a good day for us to sail. Kayaking is much the same way.
Good luck and have fun
Sam
It's crazy the amount of people kayaking this summer in the Great Lakes who have had to rescued by the Coast Guard and 3 didn't make it. Stay safe!
yup. thats why were taking this serious and have been practicing, prepping and are geared up. thanks for the concern.
we will have radios. gps. phones. locators and we are going NORTH of the ferry lanes.
wow. rude. kayaked the by the mack bridge traffic wasnt much of an issue then. but thanks for the concern. i wont tell you about our plans that this is just the build up for then. you would try to have me committed.
whoo hooo! NOW your talking. what a rush.
we have a rapids on a river by us that falls 12 in like a 20 run. its a riot. we hit that and its all i can do to keep my boys from dragging their kayaks around to the top and doing it again and again.
we have a rapids on a river by us that falls 12 in like a 20 run. its a riot. we hit that and its all i can do to keep my boys from dragging their kayaks around to the top and doing it again and again.
NOT to offend any of you. but this isnt my first kayak trip. First to Mack island via kayak but hardly new to kayaking. been doing this for over a decade and this trip is happening. Looking for advice about water currents/wind /traffic in that specific area from those who go out there regularly or know the area well.
As for sanity? THAT is very very relative term. I think sky divers are insane. coworkers think im insane for kayaking class II rapids. i think my co worker is insane for spending $1000 for 18 holes on some golf course down south. our route across is 3.5 miles. weve done 6 Miles in lake Superior that after lunch cause we were bored. thats not even enough to get comfortable in our seats.
If you decide to make a comment please be polite or productive about it.
As for sanity? THAT is very very relative term. I think sky divers are insane. coworkers think im insane for kayaking class II rapids. i think my co worker is insane for spending $1000 for 18 holes on some golf course down south. our route across is 3.5 miles. weve done 6 Miles in lake Superior that after lunch cause we were bored. thats not even enough to get comfortable in our seats.
If you decide to make a comment please be polite or productive about it.
thanks all. got the info i needed.
Rock on.
moving on from this thread unless some one has some useful info. Greatly appreciate everyone's fee back.
Rock on.
moving on from this thread unless some one has some useful info. Greatly appreciate everyone's fee back.
quite a bit longer kayak. but will give it serious consideration. looks nice. Never been to Hessel.
thank you.