Family and i are headed out from south east ohio early july for a week of vacation which includes dragging along our venture 224 and wanna keep it within a days drive to allow more time for vacation. My first 4 choices are lake erie, kentucky lake, lake norman and smith mountain lake. Any thoughts on these 4 or something better! We'll be leasing a house, hotel or something
Where to go in july?
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If you decide to go to SML, I can give you a lot of local scoop. I'd add Lake Champlain to that list. It is in Vermont and runs north south so .... most of the time the wind is out of the west and you would be on a reach the entire length.
Vermont does sound appealing because ive never been that far north-east but 12hrs on the road with a 6 and 12 year old might put me over the edge. We was especially thinking SML do to my sister only lives 3 hr south of there. How is it over the 4th of july as far as sailing goes and what would be the best area to stay in as far keeping the boat in the water? There seems to be alot of long coves, its hard to tell how long and big they are by a map.
Vermont does sound appealing because ive never been that far north-east but 12hrs on the road with a 6 and 12 year old might put me over the edge. We was especially thinking SML do to my sister only lives 3 hr south of there. How is it over the 4th of july as far as sailing goes and what would be the best area to stay in as far keeping the boat in the water? There seems to be alot of long coves, its hard to tell how long and big they are by a map.
SML has 500 miles of shore line. The long fingers makes for nice exploring... but it is easy to get lost on SML if you are unfamiliar and don't have a chart. SML was made by a dam constructed where three rivers met. The largest river being the Roanoke river... so the navigation mark closest to the damn is R1. As you go upstream along the Roanoke river the marks go R2, R3, etc. When you get to the former mouths of the tributaries you see marks like C1 (Craddick Creek) and if you go up stream from along Craddick you see C2, C3 etc. So if you know the scheme and have a chart, it is easy to get around.
BTW: I think you are looking at 6 to 7 hours to get to SML from Athens OH. You could get to Annapolis in the same amount of time... and then you have the entire Chesapeake Bay to play in. You could arrange transient slips each about a 4 hour sail apart and stay in different places each night... there are so many really nice marinas in the Bay. You can check them out on ActiveCaptain.com and get all of the contact info you need right there...or day sail out of one of the really nice marinas and make it home base get a hot shower and crab cakes for dinner each nice and once the kids fall asleep hit the Tikki bar.... Many marinas also have hotel rooms so if you don't want to sleep on the boat, that is also a realistic option.....
From Annapolis you can hit St. Micheal (maritime marina is there), Tangier Island, ... heck... if you decide to go that way, start a new thread asking for favorite spots to go in the Bay... that thread will hit 12 pages for sure....
BTW: I think you are looking at 6 to 7 hours to get to SML from Athens OH. You could get to Annapolis in the same amount of time... and then you have the entire Chesapeake Bay to play in. You could arrange transient slips each about a 4 hour sail apart and stay in different places each night... there are so many really nice marinas in the Bay. You can check them out on ActiveCaptain.com and get all of the contact info you need right there...or day sail out of one of the really nice marinas and make it home base get a hot shower and crab cakes for dinner each nice and once the kids fall asleep hit the Tikki bar.... Many marinas also have hotel rooms so if you don't want to sleep on the boat, that is also a realistic option.....
From Annapolis you can hit St. Micheal (maritime marina is there), Tangier Island, ... heck... if you decide to go that way, start a new thread asking for favorite spots to go in the Bay... that thread will hit 12 pages for sure....
I may be bias'd but, the West coast of Lake Michigan is amazing, many places to see and stop and the sailing is superb
Note taken! With my lack of knowledge of spending hours or days bad weather was not really in my thought process, Thanks
Great suggestions so far. Since you're planning to go in the heat of summer you might also consider the North Channel. Lots of trailer sailors have written blogs that you can check out. They say it's quite beautiful. As I remember a pump out fitting is required for that area which is why I got an MSD type when I upgraded my potti. Not sure I'll ever get there but who knows.
Looks like a place where you can never see the same twice but it might be a bit far of a drive, out of couriousity are passports needed to cross the canadian line by boat!
Nope, but some type of citizenship ID is encouraged.
The passport is most handy for re-entering the US.
If entering by vessel you may want to check on the regulations, it does get a bit touchy that is for sure it is easiest if captain and all passengers have I-68 forms completed and issued, it pays to know the procedure link attached, same goes for reentering the USA.
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/pb-pp-eng.html
BUT
Visiting the North Channel is absolutely worth the effort.........
Edit:
I am now wondering what the procedure is if you cross the border by car towing the boat and then launch the boat from the Canadian side? I would bet that when crossing the border by car one could let the Canadian immigration know of your intentions and they would issue an temporary operating permit for Canadian waters, will have to look into that to satisfy my own curiosity.
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How did we ever get along before the internet? In the Information Age, ignorance is a choice.
A lot of great suggestions so far. +1 on the suggestions of North Channel and Lake Champlain (2 of our favorite places). I'd also add the northeast corner of Lake Ontario to your list. Lots of great cruising destinations there. Also, New York's Fingerlakes region has some good sailing, state parks, great cycling, wineries, etc.
Concerning travel to Canada, passports make it easiest. By water, you need to check in at the first opportunity after crossing to Canadian waters, and vice versa when you return. If travelling by land, you can ask the border agent to stamp your passport as proof you crossed by land if anyone checks you on the water.
Acceptable forms of id here:
http://www.peacebridge.com/index.php/commercial-vehicles/id-requirements
Concerning travel to Canada, passports make it easiest. By water, you need to check in at the first opportunity after crossing to Canadian waters, and vice versa when you return. If travelling by land, you can ask the border agent to stamp your passport as proof you crossed by land if anyone checks you on the water.
Acceptable forms of id here:
http://www.peacebridge.com/index.php/commercial-vehicles/id-requirements
I get the driving with youngsters thing. One word; Benadryl. Safe. Effective. Legal. That said, we've made thad drive a couple of times. It's not fun but doable.
To all
Of all the sailing you can do on the east coast, maybe anywhere, the most enjoyable by far is Penobscot Bay. Maine has 5500 miles of coastline (per satellite imagery) , probably 1000 miles in Penobscot, Blue Hill and Frenchmans Bays, the three more or less connected around Deer Isle. You sail for a few hours in any direction and pull into a pristine cove, walk the trails, fish, kick back. For us trailer sailors, Rockland town launch is awesome with plenty of parking and a long (though a bit shallow at low) tarred ramp. 20 minutes of sailing past schooner and lobstermen and you enter the open bay. Must sees: Perrys Creek, Seal Cove, Pulpit Harbor, Bucks Harbor, Buckle Harbor, Hell's Half Acre, Turtle Head Cove, Hurricane Island, Duck Harbor, Burnt Coat Harbor. The list goes on and on.
To all
Of all the sailing you can do on the east coast, maybe anywhere, the most enjoyable by far is Penobscot Bay. Maine has 5500 miles of coastline (per satellite imagery) , probably 1000 miles in Penobscot, Blue Hill and Frenchmans Bays, the three more or less connected around Deer Isle. You sail for a few hours in any direction and pull into a pristine cove, walk the trails, fish, kick back. For us trailer sailors, Rockland town launch is awesome with plenty of parking and a long (though a bit shallow at low) tarred ramp. 20 minutes of sailing past schooner and lobstermen and you enter the open bay. Must sees: Perrys Creek, Seal Cove, Pulpit Harbor, Bucks Harbor, Buckle Harbor, Hell's Half Acre, Turtle Head Cove, Hurricane Island, Duck Harbor, Burnt Coat Harbor. The list goes on and on.
That's in our plans for late this coming summer. Can't wait. I have a feeling that area will move up to the top of our list of favorite places.
The North Channel is the best fresh water cruising in the world, especially in July. However, it might be out of your range with the kids (probably a 1 1/2 day drive each way--too far for a week vacation) and you may want to choose a destination that means less driving and more sailing. In any case, I would head north rather than south in July. If crossing into Canada by boat, you must phone in once you reach your first Canadian port of entry. Crossing by car/trailer is no different than crossing without the boat. In either case, you must have a passport for each person. The Thousand Islands area might be the best compromise given all considerations--I haven't been there but I've head good reports on the cruising in the area. The Pelee Island area in Lake Erie would be a closer option, but I would expect it to be a zoo during 4th of July.
Winds on a lot of inland lakes within driving distance (which may include my reservoir) tend to be pretty calm during July. Our boat becomes a swim platform; others switch to kayaking on the large, shallow feeder branches where they can view osprey and bald eagles. It's not that the winds cease completely, but it is conceivable that you may end up during a period when there is little except for the occasional puff.
Just something to consider. I've never sailed on Lake Erie or Lake Michigan, but if the Summer winds there are more reliable, and if sailing rather than floating were my goal, I'd lean toward those options.
Just something to consider. I've never sailed on Lake Erie or Lake Michigan, but if the Summer winds there are more reliable, and if sailing rather than floating were my goal, I'd lean toward those options.