PureSail

SailMichigan's "Top-10" most-searched lakes for 2016

2017-01-08T21:19:00.001-08:00

Big Portage Lake (Washtenaw/Livingston) - Most searched for 2016

As we look back on 2016, it is time to note which inland lakes garnered the most attention (i.e. visits by SailMichigan.org users) during the year. Our annual website ("top-10") analysis shows that the lakes which were popular in 2015 were still popular in 2016 although the rank order had shuffled. The list is an interesting one including some large, well-known destinations, as well as lakes of regional interest. The name of each lake below is linked to its corresponding SailMichigan information page.

If you are personally familiar with these lakes, you are welcome to include your own impressions through our SailRating feature/button located on each lake page.

Number 10:   Whitmore Lake, Livingston/Washtenaw County
Whitmore Lake is a typical kettle lake found in Southeast Michigan. At 667 acres and a maximum depth of 69 feet, it is in easy driving distance of Ann Arbor, Novi, Howell/Brighton. It is adjacent and supported by the town of Whitmore Lake. Although its waters are open and generally sailable, it does suffer from an undersized DNR ramp. The lake has a SailRating of 3 stars (1 review).

Number 9:      Clark Lake, Jackson County
Clark Lake is a 580 acre kettle lake in Jackson County. Although the public access to this lake is shallow and under-improved, the lake is well supported by the Clark Lake Yacht Club. The club hosts several one-design and open regattas a year. The lake has a SailRating of 3+ stars (2 reviews)

Number 8:     Diamond Lake, Cass County
Diamond Lake is a moderately sized 1041 acre lake with a 43 acre island and a single DNR access point. Serving as the home waters for the Diamond Lake Yacht Club, this lake has a maximum depth of 64 feet and a SailRating of 4 stars (1 review).

Number 7:      Cass Lake, Oakland County
At 1278 acres, Cass Lake is the largest lake in Oakland County. This popular lake serves as the home for the Pontiac Yacht Club and is primarily access through Dodge State Park #4. Public access through this park has recently been upgraded. The PYC reports that it is possible to sail 3/4 mile on most points of sail. The lake is currently un-SailRated.

Number 6:      Lake Charlevoix, Charlevoix County
At over 17,000 acres in size, Lake Charlevoix shows up on many national lists as a sailing destination. As the 4th largest inland lake by area, and a portal to Lake Michigan, it serves has the home waters for both the Charlevoix Yacht Club and the Boyne City Yacht Club. The lake is supported by at least 7 public access points and serves as the site for annual numerous regattas. The lake has a SailRating of 4 stars (1 review).

Number 5:      Crystal Lake, Montcalm County
As the smaller of the two Crystal Lakes in the SailMichigan database, this Crystal Lake is a 760 acre kettle lake with a maximum depth of 70 feet. This clear inland lake is supported by the Crystal Sailing Club which offers a family-focused atmosphere. The lake has a SailRating of 3 stars (3 reviews).

Number 4:      Stony Creek Lake, Macomb County
At only 428 acres (maximum depth of 23 ft), how does this lake come in at number 4? It must be location, location, location. Located near the population centers of Detroit, this lake is located within a popular Metropark and provides a number of amenities. Sailing on the lake is supported by the Creekfleet Sailing Club, which provides open opportunities for mixed-class, fun-focused sailing. The lake has a SailRating of 4 stars (3 reviews).

Number 3:      Muskegon Lake, Muskegon County
On the western side of the state, Muskegon Lake (4231 acre) is a popular lake, which provides direct access to Lake Michigan. As the home of the Harbour Towne Yacht Club and Torresen Marine, this lake is a popular sailing destination and is served by at least 5 public launches. The lake has a SailRating of 4 stars (3 reviews).

Number 2:      Crystal Lake, Benzie County
Although of the same name as number 5, this lake sports a maximum depth of 165 feet and a size of 9854 acres. If the location, size, and beauty of this lake isn't enough, the fact that it's DNR access has been vastly improved should make this lake a destination. This 9th largest Michigan inland lake is supported by the Crystal Lake Yacht Club. Most of the lake's public access points are located on its southern shore. The lake has a SailRating of 4 stars (1 review).

Number 1:      Big Portage Lake, Washtenaw County
As one of at least 5 Michigan lakes bearing the Portage name, this one in Washtenaw/Livingston County is 644 acres in size and is supported by the Portage Yacht Club. Due to the nature of the ramp, public access to this lake can be a little challenging for dinghy sailors. However, those finding their way onto the water, or at a PYC regatta will finding generally open sailing. The lake has a 3 star SailRating (2 reviews).

Okay, there you have it. But what about the Great Lakes? Because of their multiple ramp opportunities, and geographic range, it is harder to nail them down. Based on visits to our summary Great Lakes pages however, Lake Michigan would appear to have the most interest. Suggestions, comments, rebuttals? Please leave us a comment below.

Isn't it time for Strictly Sail to be in Michigan?

2017-01-06T15:12:00.001-08:00

Next week, the annual "Strictly" Sail event will be conducted with the Chicago Boat and RV show at the McCormick Place complex in Chicago. Although in previous years, Strictly Sail meant only sailboats or sail-powered craft, financial/attendence reasons have caused it to be folded into a show with other attractions, thus no longer "strict". Strictly Sail is actually a regional sailing-themed event, sponsored by Progressive Insurance, held around the country. For some reason, the Midwest offering of this event has been anchored in Chicago.

Having attended the show a couple of times myself, I will go out on a limb here and say enough is enough, it is time for this show to be held in Michigan. The event can be stand-alone or in conjunction with the Detroit Boat Show or other suitable event.

Let's look at it from a Michigan perspective and assuming it would move to Detroit:

Detroit is associated with Great Lake sailing and is home to notable historic yacht clubs. Although Illinois is associated with 1 Great Lake, Michigan is associated with .... hello?.... 4 Great Lakes (with Lake Saint Clair to boot). Detroit is considered to be a burgeoning destination location with new development and vitalization. Chicago is .... well .... hmm ..... just turn on the news. Detroit/Michigan would draw internationally from Canada as well as from other Great Lake states. If that is not enough....

Michigan serves as the destination for two of the longest freshwater sailing races in the world.
Michigan serves as the home to the manufacture of several one-design classes.
Detroit is home to the DN iceboat class.
More Michigan colleges have sailing teams in the Midwest Collegiate Sailing Association than Illinois colleges.
The number of yacht/sail clubs in Michigan outnumber those in Illinois by at least 3:1.
Michigan tourism, supported by the Pure Michigan campaign, is second to none.

And let's face it, if it came down to a battle between the Tall ships in each state...... Michigan wins again! So what do we do about this? Well, SailMichigan can't pull this off (we are but "poor and humble pirates"), but what about Bayview Yacht Club?, the Michigan Boat Industries Association?, Pure Michigan?, the collective voices of collegiate teams and other yacht and sail clubs, the collective voices of boat manufacturers and dealers??

Strictly Sail DETROIT 2018? What do you say?

Planning your Michigan Sailing Vacation

2016-01-17T13:42:00.000-08:00

SailMichigan Summer Sailcation Planning Guide

1959 Interlake "on vacation"

"I have a trailerable sailboat"

For the "have boat, will travel" crowd, SailMichigan can help you in your exploration.

Click the Find a Lake tab on the SailMichigan.org site.
Search for your sailing lake by general location (i.e. city, county or zip code), or lake features (depth, area, keywords, etc). Click Search.
Explore your possible choices to narrow down the lakes, or access points which are most promising.
Click the "Download MDNR or NOAA Map" button to print out a DNR map or NOAA Booklet chart for your chosen lake.
For lodging, click on the VRBO banner in the sidebar of the lake information page. On the VRBO page, enter the name of the lake (or nearest town), Michigan and search.
Click on the "More filters" tab and select "Lakefront or Lake view or Beachfront or Beach view". Then click "Apply filters".
Click on a map region or on the name of the nearest town. Explore the offerings provided.

"I have keelboat which is not easy to trailer"

For those exploring the Great Lakes, we have these suggestions.

Click the "Great Lakes" tab at SailMichigan.org and select your Great Lake of interest.
For Lake Michigan or Lake Huron, click on the "Cruising" link. For other lakes select the link for that lake.
Click on the County which will serve as your home base or destination.
Click the "Download MDNR or NOAA Map" button to print out a NOAA Booklet chart for your chosen access point.
To reserve a slip at a nearby Michigan public marina/harbor, click here.
Explore the additional resources provided on the individual Great Lakes information pages.
If separate lodging is needed, click on the VRBO banner in the sidebar of the lake information page. On the VRBO page enter the lake name (or nearest town), Michigan and search.
Click on the "More filters" tab and select "Lakefront or Lake view or Beachfront or Beach view". Then click "Apply filters".
Click on a map region or on the name of the nearest town. Explore the offerings provided.

"I don't have a boat but I want a sailing experience"

For folks who want sailing as a nice diversion but not the focus.

From April through September there are numerous regattas, races and festivals planned. Many of these are annual occurrences with some occurring every two or so years. Consult the SailMichigan events page to see what sailing events are going on during your planned vacation timeframe (note that many events will not be posted until about April).
Please visit our Tall Ships and Maritime Associations page, as well as our Sailboat Charters page for day-sail or cruise opportunities. These opportunities range from 2 hour cruises on 80' Tall-masted ships to 4 or more hour charters on modern 30-50' sailboats.
Check the nearest Yacht/Sail Club or Community Sail Club to your vacation destination to learn of any opportunities for a daysail or community outreach event.

SailMichigan's Top 10 "most searched" lakes for 2015

2015-12-22T07:04:00.000-08:00

As 2015 comes to a close, it is time to see which inland lakes garnered the most attention (i.e. visits) by SailMichigan users during the year. The list is an interesting one including some large, well-known destinations as well as lakes of regional interest. Each lake below is linked to its corresponding SailMichigan information page. If you are personally familiar with these lakes, you are welcome to include your own impressions through our SailRating feature/button located on each lake page.

Number 10:     Diamond Lake, Cass County
Diamond Lake is a moderately sized 1041 acre lake with a 43 acre island and a single DNR access point. Serving as the home waters for the Diamond Lake Yacht Club, this lake has a maximum depth of 64 feet and a SailRating of 4 stars (1 review).

Number 9:      Whitmore Lake, Livingston/Washtenaw County
Whitmore Lake is a typical kettle lake found in Southeast Michigan. At 667 acres and a maximum depth of 69 feet, it is in easy driving distance of Ann Arbor, Novi, Howell/Brighton. It is adjacent and supported by the town of Whitmore Lake. Although its waters are open and generally sailable, it does suffer from an undersized DNR ramp. The lake has a SailRating of 3 stars (1 review).

Number 8:      Muskegon Lake, Muskegon County
Muskegon Lake is large (4231 acre) popular lake, which provides direct access to Lake Michigan. As the home of the Harbour Towne Yacht Club and Torresen Marine, this lake is a popular sailing destination and is served by at least 5 public launches. The lake has a SailRating of 4 stars (3 reviews).

Number 7:      Clark Lake, Jackson County
Clark Lake is a 580 acre kettle lake in Jackson County. Although the public access to this lake is shallow and under-improved, the lake is well supported by the Clark Lake Yacht Club. The club hosts several one-design and open regattas a year. The lake has a SailRating of 3+ stars (2 reviews)

Number 6:      Cass Lake, Oakland County
At 1278 acres, Cass Lake is the largest lake in Oakland County. This popular lake serves as the home for the Pontiac Yacht Club and is primarily access through Dodge State Park #4. Public access through this park has recently been upgraded. The PYC reports that it is possible to sail 3/4 mile on most points of sail. The lake is currently un-SailRated.

Number 5:      Lake Charlevoix, Charlevoix County
At over 17,000 acres in size, Lake Charlevoix shows up on many national lists as a sailing destination. As the 4th largest inland lake by area, and a portal to Lake Michigan, it serves has the home waters for both the Charlevoix Yacht Club and the Boyne City Yacht Club. The lake is supported by at least 7 public access points and serves as the site for numerous regattas. The lake has a SailRating of 4 stars (1 review).

Number 4:      Crystal Lake, Montcalm County
As the smaller of the two Crystal Lakes in the SailMichigan database, this Crystal Lake is a 760 acre kettle lake with a maximum depth of 70 feet. This clear inland lake is supported by the Crystal Sailing Club which offers a family atmosphere. The lake has a SailRating of 3 stars (3 reviews).

Number 3:      Stony Creek Lake, Macomb County
At only 428 acres (maximum depth of 23 ft), how does this lake come in at number 3? It must be location, location, location. Located near the population centers of Detroit, this lake is located within a popular Metropark and provides a number of amenities. Sailing on the lake is supported by the Creekfleet Sailing Club, which provides open opportunities for mixed-class, fun-focused sailing. The lake has a SailRating of 4 stars (3 reviews).

Number 2:      Crystal Lake, Benzie County
Although of the same name as number 4, this lake sports a maximum depth of 165 feet and a size of 9854 acres. If the location, size, and beauty of this lake isn't enough, the fact that it's DNR access has been vastly improved should make this lake a destination. This 9th largest Michigan inland lake is supported by the Crystal Lake Yacht Club. Most of the lake's public access points are located on its southern shore. The lake has a SailRating of 4 stars (1 review).

Number 1:      Big Portage Lake, Washtenaw County
As one of at least 5 Michigan lakes bearing the Portage name, this one in Washtenaw/Livingston County is 644 acres in size and is supported by the Portage Yacht Club. Due to the nature of the ramp, public access to this lake can be difficult for dinghy sailors. However those finding their way onto the water, or at a PYC regatta will finding generally open sailing. The lake has a 3 star SailRating (2 reviews).

Okay, there you have it. But what about the Great Lakes? Because of their multiple ramp opportunities, and geographic range, it is harder to nail them down. Based on visits to our summary Great Lakes pages however, Lake Michigan would appear to have the most interest. Suggestions, comments, rebuttals? Please leave us a comment below.

Local Ultimate 20 team seeks your support

2015-08-25T04:34:00.000-07:00

Ultimate 20 - Photo from Ultimate 20 Class Association

Although I don't personally know him, Spencer reached out to SailMichigan yesterday to seek help in sponsoring a bid at the Ultimate 20 Nationals next month. Unfortunately the SailMichigan coffers are bare, however I told him that I would post his story to see if other private or corporate sponsors could step in. Please read on and see if you can help this young team.

Spencer's story: My team and I have been racing the Ultimate 20's for the better part of the past decade, in both One Design and International Match Racing events. We found out last minute that our schedules opened up and allowed us to take a chance at competing in this years North American Championship, something that we have been working towards winning since we have stepped foot in the boats years ago. The event will be held on September 17th-20th, 2015 on Lake St. Clair, out of Bayview Yacht Club in Detroit.

Our team is made from three of the best young sailors in the Detroit area. Leading the team at the helm is Matt Graham. Matt is finishing his PhD in Naval Architecture and is returning from Bermuda, where he spent the summer working for Oracle Team USA designs team for the next Americas Cup. While studying at Michigan, Matt honed his skills at a helmsman both on the Collegiate Racing field and Match Racing against some of the best sailors from around the world. Spencer Colpaert takes on the role as trimmer and tactician while on the race course. Spencer has spent the past eight years focused on Match Racing to get a personal best ranking of #1 in the Country and #26 in the world. Apart from Match Racing Spencer has also raced in some of the top classes in the world such as Maxi's, TP52, Farr 40, Melges 32 and 24. Our bowman and forward trimmer is Alex Hume, Alex grew up racing in the Detroit area where he has spent the last seven years working on some of the greatest racing yachts on the lakes. Alex has also been racing in the 470 and 49er Olympic classes for the past six years on his quest for gold. He currently campaigns in the 49er class with our skipper Matt Graham towards reaching the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

To compete we need some assistance with our entry and charter fee totaling $560. It isn't an extraordinary amount, but we could use any help that we can get to not only make it to the starting line but across the finish in first. All of our hard work has been bringing us closer to our goal of winning our first major championship, and competing to win the trophy on our home waters of Lake St. Clair makes this year all the more reason to do everything we can to make it to the starting line.

Anyone with interest in helping fund our campaign to win the 2015 Ultimate 20 North American Championship should contact Spencer Colpaert (313)4020527 or email scolpaert91@gmail.com.

Planning your summer vacation - Don't forget your boat

2015-03-28T05:59:00.006-07:00

Awaiting her crew on Grand Traverse Bay

One reason SailMichigan was built was to provide an opportunity for recreational sailors to maximize their sailing time and fun. One time consuming task is to find a suitable lake or launch venue when on vacation. This may not be as much of an issue if you are going to be in a coastal town like Port Sanilac or Holland or Algonac, but what if you are camping or staying more inland? Or what if you want to sail from destination to destination along the coast? Simply search your destination, and your choice of distance radius, and see what pops up? If you have a large boat, you can customize your search further to include lake size and depth. If you have a sailing kayak, you can customize your search for river impoundments or lake chains.

As an example, let's say you want to camp or stay in Interlochen, Michigan. The name Interlochen tells you that there are lakes nearby, but not all ramps and not all lakes are equal. Using the site, you can actually locate a campsite in Interlochen State Park which is right next to the boat ramp.

Although I do my best to provide as much useful detail as possible, some lakes/ramps have more detail than others. All will have the basics: location, depth, orientation, ramp location, wind forecast and DNR map (where available). Others will have a more extensive narrative and/or ratings from other sailors. If you visit a location this summer, please consider rating the lake yourself when you get back home (or from your mobile phone). Do this even if the lake has already been rated. Multiple ratings or points of view are very important and give a truer picture of the sailing experience.

More importantly, take your boat with you this summer. Find the best spot, the best day for weather, have some fun, take some pictures, and tell us about it. To borrow from a popular phrase - Your journey begins at SailMichigan.org

In honor of Saint Patrick's Day - A chance to "wet your Thistle"

2015-03-17T03:26:00.000-07:00

Okay, maybe a Thistle is Scottish, but I use what I have to work with. Regardless, fresh on Craigslist is a 1966 Douglas McLeod built Thistle. She appears to be well-cared for, and for being nearly 50 years old, is still being enjoyed on the water. Nearly 4000 Thistles have been built since 1945 and the Thistle class is an active one. Thistles have an LOA of 17', a displacement of 515 lbs and generally have a racing crew of 3. What are some other Celtic-themed classes : Highlander, Flying Scot, Tartan . . . . . .

Paid Postions Available on Friends Good Will

2015-03-14T19:21:00.000-07:00

Friends Good Will Ship Positions Available

Deckhand: Friends Good Will is looking for deckhands for the 2015 sailing season. Duties include sailing Friends Good Will for education sails, public day sails, and private charters, vessel maintenance, and short shifts in the museum gift shop. Pay is hourly and depends on experience. This is not a liveaboard position. The season runs from May-September.

Senior Deckhand/ Relief Captain: Friends Good Will is looking for a Senior Deckhand/ Relief Captain for the 2015 sailing season. Duties include sailing as Senior Deckhand for public sails, vessel maintenance, occasional short shifts in the museum gift shop, and serving as Relief Captain for two days a week during the mid-summer. Requires a 100 Ton Great Lakes Master. Must have previous leadership experience as a mate or watch leader on similar size vessels. Pay is hourly and depends on experience. This is not a liveaboard position. The season runs from May-September.

Shipboard Education Coordinator/Deckhand: Friends Good Will is seeking a Shipboard Education Coordinator/Deckhand for the 2015 sailing season. Duties include working with the Captain and Museum Director of Education to coordinate shipboard education programs and volunteer educators/crew, coordinating children's themed sails during the summer months, and performing regular deckhand duties as assigned by the captain. Previous shipboard or outdoor education experience is required. Pay is hourly and depends on experience. This is not a liveaboard position. The season runs from May-September.

Please email Captain Corey Young at captain@michiganmaritimemuseum.org for more information on applying.

Learn How to Sail on the Friends Good Will!

2015-03-11T17:54:00.001-07:00

Friends Good Will - Courtesy of Michigan.org

Having taken an excursion on the Friends Good Will, I can tell you she is a beautiful and interesting ship with heritage which ties her to both Michigan and the War of 1812. She is a unique member of the fleet of Tall Ships which encircle Michigan. The Michigan Maritime Museum (MMM) owns and operates Friends Good Will as an educational and historic ambassador. Starting March 28, you have an opportunity to learn, train and possibly sail on this ship. The information below was provided by the MMM and is an open invitation to those who wish to experience 19th century sailing.

The Michigan Maritime Museum is offering Basic Seamanship classes aboard their replica tallship Friends Good Will, beginning on March 28, 2015. Basic Seamanship Sail Training Program is open to all (14 year old minimum) regardless of experience. You’ll find that Friends Good Will draws crew from all of West Michigan, Northern Indiana and Illinois, and parts of Wisconsin as well as all walks of life.

Sailing a traditionally rigged vessel is hugely rewarding. As Crew, we help to teach 4^th and 5^th graders history, team building and self reliance. Watching youth work, again and again to set the mainsail as a team, then seeing the smiles on their faces as they get it. How rewarding is that? We do the same for employees of businesses and corporations. As Friends Good Will takes the Museum’s visitors out on day sails, an extraordinary world is opened up for them. And, because we teach, we also learn, and grow, to our own benefit.

Each time volunteer Marcia Flynn is asked when she will buy her own boat, she responds, “Why? I can sail aboard a tallship and a champion (the Museum’s racing yacht Bernida) any time I like.” And let’s face it, you just can’t beat the beauty of a sunset when viewed from the deck of a tallship.

Basic Seamanship is taught in four parts, with Part I held on Saturday, March 28, at 1:00 pm. Part II is May 2^nd, Part III May 9^th, and the final session Part IV is on May 16^th. Completing all four Basic Seamanship classes allows you the opportunity to become part of the Ship’s Company. You must be a Museum member to crew Friends Good Will. All courses are free to Museum members. Membership in the Michigan Maritime Museum also gives you free access to the Museum and to all kinds of events and classes, including courses on April 26^th that include Sail Theory and Sailing Vintage Sailboats, and much more! Why wait? To register, and for more information, call 1-800-747-3810, or email volunteer@michiganmaritimemuseum.org.

Traverse Area Community Sailing named 2014 Outstanding Program

2015-03-10T20:36:00.001-07:00

Although belated, Congratulations to Traverse Area Community Sailing for being named as the 2014 award recipient for Outstanding Community Sailing Program. The award was announced by U.S. Sailing at the National Sailing Programs Symposium held Jan 21-24 in New Orleans. TACS was established in 1994 and over the 20 year period has continually expanded in scope and outreach to include community sailing, adaptive sailing, high school sailing, dinghy and keelboat programs. The organization has an established location at the Cornwell Family Sailing Center located on Boardman Lake in Traverse City. TACS has supported its growth through effective fundraising, grantsmanship, and public/private partnerships. To learn more about this organization visit: www.tacsailing.org

Sailing Instructor Wanted for Summer Camp

2015-02-26T04:55:00.000-08:00

SAILING INSTRUCTOR WANTED:

From time to time, we receive requests looking for sailing instructors for summer camps and programs. Below is a request from YMCA Storer Camps. Here is an opportunity for summer employment as a sailing instructor. Any questions should be directed to Abimbola. Fajobi directly. They will start the hiring process in Mid-March.

YMCA Storer Camps is looking for a U.S. Sailing Certified Sailing Instructor or comparable sailing skills to teach sailing to camper aged 7 to 17 year olds. They are located on a 240-acre lake in Jackson Michigan and host approximately 1600 children over the summer, with 60-70 will desire to learn sailing over the summer. Candidates must be child focused, self-starting, hardworking and enjoy working with a team while supporting the YMCA Storer Camps summer program .

The salary for this position begins at $250 to $400 per week, depending on certification and experience, with room and board included. Please send your completed application (found at ymcastorercamps.org), along with a cover letter and resume to the address below.

Abimbola Fajobi
Program Executive
YMCA STORER CAMPS
6941 Stony Lake Road, Jackson, MI 49201
(P) 517 536 8607 ( C) 517 795 9015 (F) 517-536-4922
(E)afajobi@ymcastorercamps.org (W) ymcastorercamps.org

Apply-named Ice Boat available for the now frozen Grand Traverse Bay

2015-02-17T04:46:00.000-08:00

Now that Grand Traverse Bay is completely frozen, you have started looking for something to enjoy. Enter "Sweet Cherry-OT" on Craigslist. This boat has been available, but the owner had just indicated a price reduction. Although I don't know any more about her than the ad states, I felt that such a beautiful boat deserves to be mentioned on PureSail. If your curiosity is peaked, and your wallet fat, you can find the Craigslist entry here.

Grab your platform shoes and disco pants, it's boating from the 1970s on Craigslist

2015-02-13T19:56:00.000-08:00

Courtesy of Retrowaste.com

Sometimes things just strike you as being strongly coincidental. Maybe boats (or their owners) have a 40 year itch? But for some reason, it's the 1970s on the Michigan Craigslist. How do I mean? The following have appeared within the past week:

1972 Columbia MKII 26'
1974 C&C Mark II 35.5'
1974 Columbia 23'
1975 O'Day 20'
1977 Pearson 30'
1977 O'Day 20'
1978 Irwin Citation 30'
1978 Hunter 25'

Climb aboard and reminisce about Nixon, Ford and Carter.

So, if you are looking for some classic plastic, look no farther than the SailMichigan Craigslist Search feature. Let us know if you think there is a "life after 40" for these cruisers.

From the pages of Craigslist

2015-02-08T07:25:00.000-08:00

This 1975 O'Day 20 appears to be well cared for and enjoyed by her owners. Originally posted on Craigslist on 2/4/15, the boat is available in Laingsburg, MI. The entire listing is available here. To search for other boats go here.

Note: SailMichigan will occasionally post Michigan Craigslist entries that we find interesting and have clear and useful pictures. Posting of such pictures does not constitute any additional knowledge or endorsement of what is being advertised.

Should raising your mast be this hard?

2015-01-31T08:30:00.000-08:00

Credit: Tourism Frederickton, CA

Okay, you're right. The guy on the left isn't hoisting a mast, he's hoisting a caber (a Scottish kind of thing), but am I really that far off? Doesn't raising your mast at local ramp seem to be every bit as difficult, and rather tenuous? Imagine how it is for the new sailor with the spouse and/or kids watching? How many of us have had that "Oh, ?#%$" moment when the wind catches the mast or a line/shroud gets tangled half way up?

My point is that this simple process could be holding folks back from enjoying the sport, especially the new sailor, senior sailor, those less muscularly gifted, or those with difficult masts. Now, imagine pulling into your favorite ramp and finding a dedicated parking space with a mast-raising tower/station at the ready! And why not? At area ramps there are fish-cleaning stations, handicap kayak hoists, and other specialized amenities, but not for the sailing public. SailMichigan is on a mission to find one pubic ramp willing to serve as a model for such a system. We've made an outreach to the Huron/ Clinton Metroparks system due to their desirability with area sailors.

Credit: Runners-world.pl

While we are waiting to hear back from them, I want to be proactive in getting feedback from you folks. First and foremost, do you have a story to share regarding a hair-raising, mast-raising experience, where such a system would have helped? Have you gone home in frustration (or seen someone leave in frustration) due to a problem with raising a mast? Or, have you encountered a mast-raising tower/station at a public (DNR or municipal) boat ramp? If so, where, and how useful was it? How was it designed?

And speaking of the latter, do you have a suggestion for a design for a mast raising tower which would accommodate a variety of designs (i.e. hinged steps, inset steps, masts with or without stays, and masts up to 30'). This type of system would be applicable to trailerable- boats under 26' (which is the vast majority of registered sailboats).

And finally, is this a cause worth pursuing???

SailMichigan Midwest College Sailing Fall 2014 Rankings

2014-12-07T08:53:00.000-08:00

Here are the SailMichigan collegiate rankings for Fall 2014. As a reminder these are not sanctioned by the ICSA or MCSA but are generated to engage discussion and excellence in Midwest collegiate sailing. Although "unofficial", these rankings and the process used, should be attributed to SailMichigan if reported elsewhere.

The separate national collegiate rankings produced by Sailing World magazine are the result of a coach's poll which inherently places Midwest teams at a disadvantage. Teams from smaller Midwest colleges in particular, may not have professional coaches and are likely to be club-status teams. As a consequence, the voices for these teams are absent. SailMichigan rankings are performance based and reflect competition in the Midwest specifically.

The following was considered for the rankings:

Race results from 13 Midwest regattas were considered (2 promotional, 4 Interconference, and 7 In-conference).
Race results were taken directly from the Inter-Collegate Sailing Association website (official results). Regattas not reported through this source were not considered.
Single-sex regattas (Men only, Women only) were not considered.
Collegiate teams must have competed in at least 3 regattas to be considered. The average attendance for competing colleges in Fall 2014 was 3.2 regattas/college.
Among those that competed in more that 3 regattas, the best 3 performances were considered
Individual regatta performance was determined by the highest place a college team finished divided by the square of the total number of colleges (not teams) participating in that regatta. This gives more weight to teams placing well in large competitive regattas and does not bias for those colleges competing with more than one boat/team in a given regatta.

Trends in the rankings

As is consistent with previous years, collegiate performance can be seen as stratifying into tiers. Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota consistently appear in the highest tier and generally represent the most competitive programs. Wisconsin, in particular, occasionally shows up in the Sailing World national rankings. In this particular season, Michigan Tech, Western Michigan, Michigan State and Northwestern are appearing in tier 2. Ohio State and University of Illinois - Chicago cluster together with the remaining programs filling out the list. Of note, Hope College is demonstrating good effort clustering well among much larger schools.

Results for Fall 2014

Rank	School	Score
1	University of Michigan	3.2
2	University of Wisconsin	6.3
3	University of Minnesota	9.1
4	Michigan Technological University	10.3
5	Western Michigan University	10.9
6	Northwestern University	11.2
7	Michigan State University	11.6
8	Ohio State University	15.8
9	University of Illinois - Chicago	16.7
10	University of Notre Dame	18.3
11	Hope College	18.7
12	University of Illinois	18.9
13	Miami University	19.2
14	Grand Valley State University	19.6
15	Denison University	20.3
16	Washington University	23.7
17	Northern Michigan University	25.4
18	Marquette University	25.8
19	University of Chicago	33.7

102nd Anniversay of the loss of the Christmas Tree Ship

2014-11-23T07:01:00.001-08:00

Captain Herman Schuenemann (center)
Photo - Chicago History Museum

November 23 is the anniversary of the loss of the Rouse Simmons (Chicago's Christmas Tree Ship) off of Two River's Point in Lake Michigan. Enroute from the U.P. of Michigan to Chicago, the ship sank in 1912, as a result of a powerful storm. The ship was rediscovered in 1971 in 172 feet of water with Christmas trees still in her hold. The ship was one of several Great Lake Schooners who made annual pilgrimages from the forests of Michigan/Wisconsin. Her loss heralded the decline of the practice by sailing vessel, which by the late 1920s, had all but ended. More information.

Hard water sailors to rejoice this winter season?

2014-11-01T12:27:00.002-07:00

Will there be hard water sailing this winter? According to NOAA, most of Michigan is in the "equal chances" area regarding temperatures and has a higher than 50:50 chance to be drier than normal this winter season. This suggests that temps will be near normal, but not as much snow. The exception is in the UP and upper edge of the LP, where the odds tilt for temps to be above normal. What does this really mean, not a whole lot in that predictions were similar for last year (and we know how that turned out). To hear the prediction from the horse's mouth, click below:

For those optimists that feel that snow-free, clear and thick ice is coming to a lake near them, there is a nice two-seater ice-boat just made available on Craigslist.

It's Halloween - Time for an old spooky Lake Michigan story?

2014-10-31T05:40:00.000-07:00

Mysterious fogs on Lake Michigan, lost time, spinning yachts - Flash back to a Discovery Channel "Weird or What" episode from 2011. Is there a "Great Lakes triangle"? Only the shadow knows. Happy Halloween!

High School Sailing Championships in Traverse City

2014-10-02T03:34:00.000-07:00

In my opinion, Traverse Area Community Sailing (TACS) and the Grand Traverse Yacht Club, are at the forefront of high school sailing in Michigan. This is evident not only by the number of high school teams and workshops they support, but also in that they hosted the Chubb Championships this past August. The video below is one of several well-produced ones about this event. As the weather turns colder (49 for a high this Saturday), it is a great diversion to generate thoughts for next year.

TACS turns 20 this year and is having a fundraising Gala on October 4th. It would be a 4 hour trek for me, but for others who are a bit closer, this would be a worthwhile event.

Things I've learned from Ebay & Craigslist

2014-09-14T06:25:00.000-07:00

I frequently search Ebay and the Michigan Craigslists to see what is out there (and to dream about what I could have with infinite money and space). This is the first installment of a series that I will call "Things I've learned from Ebay and Craigslist". Both of today's "things" are in Michigan.

Thing 1 - The Grumman Aircraft Engine Company actually made sailing dinghies in the 1950-60s. Designed by Phillip Rhodes, these 8.5' aluminum dinghies are popular with collectors. The dinghy in the picture is available in Michigan (via Ebay). I don't know how many of these were produced. I know that Grumman made a variety of canoes and other boats.

Thing 2 - There is actually a boat class named "Megabyte". Designed by Farr Yachts, this composite boat is 14.3' overall and weighs 130 lbs. With its two-part carbon fiber mast and Mylar sail, the Megabyte is designed to sail with 1-2 people. It looks to be a lightweight, stable, but "techy" racing dinghy.

Two great passions in one - Excellent!

2014-08-30T05:39:00.001-07:00

This JY-15 is for sale on Craigslist (https://holland.craigslist.org/boa/4643582484.html). Nice looking boat, but that's not what caught our attention. Now here is a guy thinking outside the box and looking to maximize his sailing time. Hats off to you sir! You can't do that with any fat pontoon or outboard-dragging speedboat. One assumes you don't back this down the ramp, or do you?

Labor Day Weekend - What now?

2014-08-29T16:52:00.000-07:00

It's Labor Day weekend. The marinas and dockyards will be busy soon; hoisting and storing. Too bad. Some of the best winds will be in September and October. Heck, High school and Collegiate sailing will just be starting up. On the SailMichigan calendar we see about 10 more events for the year, not including a host of club specific events to finish out the season. I personally like the Clark Lake Fall Regatta in late September. The Clark Lake Yacht Club is a friendly bunch and the event is usually attended by multiple dinghy classes. Of course, the weather is always a role of the dice. Some of the most beautiful sailing is in late September, but also the possibility for 40 degree morning temps. We also have mixed allegiances during this time of year; College and Pro ball is starting and I don't get good reception of the game while hiking out!

So, get out and make this holiday weekend a good one. Enjoy the breezes that September has to offer before packing it in for the season. As for you hard-water sailors, your turn is coming up!

Please support SailMichigan and help raise the Mutineer mainsail!

2014-08-23T18:23:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the first annual, SailMichigan pledge drive - Woo Hoo! Okay, as a business model this is not the best, but it is becoming a necessity. Why now? Simple, Labor Day is a week away, and for many, shrinkwrap may shortly follow. This is our last chance to capture the summer dreamers as vacations, championship regattas, and weekly racing series begin winding up. Raising funds now will help save SailMichigan from being shrinkwrapped itself.

First and foremost, thank you to our advertisers and those who click and view them. This helps and will continue to be a source of needed revenue. The reality however is that our hosting costs are doubling and the coffers for substantial programing upgrades are bare. No fat-cat salaries here (that would be nice) as our contributors and myself don't receive any pay.

So what is there to do? Well, if you have either found the information on this site to be helpful, or if your business has benefitted by being listed on SailMichigan (and you are not a defacto advertiser), then quantify that in some way. Buy us a Starbucks coffee ($2.50-5.00) or a beer ($3.00-$5.00). Perhaps treat us to a fast-food meal ($5.00-$7.00) or a nice tavern meal ($10) or a steak dinner ($20). The choice is yours, and you surely can get more creative with higher amounts (pay for our therapist sessions $50, mole removal $75, or lobotomy $200 - your price may vary). It all adds up. Simply click the button below and fill in the amount.

Our goal is "modest" this year - $1000. If we go over, GREAT. If we are under, you still have our thanks. Our progress will be measured by raising the mainsail on our old Mutineer. If we go over $1000, then you will get to see the jib unfurl as well. What greater joy is there??

Is this considered a "charitable donation" - yes and no. It is charitable for us, but not in the eyes of the IRS - we are not a 501c3 corporation. So think of it as a meal between friends or the mole removal for a buddy - not a business meal.

In seriousness, we hate the fundraising approach and we will work to make SailMichigan a profitable venture. But without subscriptions, this is one way to help balance the books. Thanks for your contributions (in both currency and content) to the effort. - Mike

Every Boat Has a Story

2014-08-22T05:20:00.000-07:00

I had to say goodbye to an old friend this past weekend. This old '73 Fireball was the boat that got me interested in sailing. It is not mine, but was owned by my best friend Rich. We didn't race her, but simply goofed around, trying to make her go, keep her vertical, and keep our heads out of the boom. Rich died of a heart attack in May and I took it as my task to find this (and all of Rich's boats) a good home. She sits here, awaiting a ride on the Badger to take her to her new home in Wisconsin. Her new owner will use her to get involved in the Fireball class. She may be parted out, she may not, but at least she won't rot on a trailer or blocks. Some form of useful life awaits.

It was hard to say goodbye to her. I actually hadn't been on her in years (I have my own boats now), but she represented another piece of my friend, an extension of him, which I had to let go. I brought my 9 year old daughter with me for the drop-off and was touched as she put her head on the bow to say goodbye (and she had never been on the boat). It amazing how a boat, more so than other "artifacts" of one's existence, can embody the personality of the individual. We laugh on boats, swear on boats, learn on boats, teach on boats, or simply communicate and bond on them.

They say every boat has a story. May yours be full and meaningful. Feel free to share it as well.