Great Loop Day 005 Sept 2, 2016, William C Milliken State Park and Marina to Lake St Clair Marina Metro Beach
Hitting the first big waves
I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving: To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it - but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor. -Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
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Day 5 Friday, Sept 2, 2016. What a day on the water! Motored 25.3 miles in 6:32 hrs. Most of that was right into a 15 - 18 mile-an-hour headwind and waves running two to four feet.
Leaving Milliken State Park Marina and it’s 9:22 am. Didn't feel like getting up with the alarm set for 6 am. Chilly start and I don't think the temp went above 75 degrees F. With the steady wind, it felt like it was in the 60s. Folded up my bimini on this run due to the high winds so there was no shade from the sun which was on my face even while wearing sunglasses and a hat. Feeling the windburn on my face now.
Good Bye Detroit!
Looking over to the Canadian shoreline they like to show off a series of these water displays.
Just prior to this freighter course change she was bearing right down my butt. I must have been in the right part of the channel.
Going upriver 4 miles to Lake St. Clair was flat but fighting 2 - 3 miles an hour current. As I entered Lake St Clair the waves started out around 2 feet then increased to 3 to 4 feet, 10 miles out and I still had 11 miles to go. The big waves hit me in a series of 3 so thinking they were boat wakes that were built up by the northern wind. I noticed water puddles below in the V berth up front that came thru the forward hatch I left opened just an inch for ventilation. No doubt the waves were crashing over the bow and made their way in the hatch. Lucky for me I removed the V-berth cushions and had my daughter hang on to them back at Cedar Point Marina.
I tried to get a video of the waves during the roughest part but the tiller needed all my attention. We were getting beat up so I gave the autopilot a rest.
Lake chops are more difficult to navigate than ocean waves in that they have a shorter period between crests. The bigger waves here on the lake have a deeper trough behind them and hitting them straight on results in the bow slapping down hard into the bottom of the trough. The next wave is sliced by the bow as most of the water ends up on the forward deck and then moves back to me in the cockpit. I spent the worst part of the day steering to hit them at a 45-degree angle allowing the bow to settle into the trough more gently. So the last 10 miles I was zig-zagging playing the entry into the troughs. That was enjoyable trying to figure out which wave to turn on.
Sailing Tech Talk
This would be a good time to talk about the rotational forces applied to a boat. The smaller the boat the more you can experience the effects. You have Roll, Pitch, and Yaw to deal with in a rough sea. Roll is much like asking your pet dog to roll over. He/she lays on his/her side and continues to roll over. Or imagine a giant BBQ rotisserie skewer inserted in the Bow and pushed all the way to the Stern or back of the boat. The boat will roll back and forth.
When a boat is Pitching the bow comes up and the Stern goes down. Your BBQ skewer gets pushed through the side to the other side at the midship. Like a teeter-totter or seesaw, you go up and the bow goes down, and visa versa.
In Yaw, if you can imagine has the mast pushed all the way through the bottom of the keel and the boat rotates on this axis. The bow goes right and the stern goes left and back again.
Throw some clothes in a bucket of soapy water then hit these waves just right and your clothes come out clean being agitated in the process. Not very efficient and you can come out with nasty bruises on your body if you are not careful. I always keep this in mind when moving or placing items below in the cabin. If not secure it will find its way to the lowest part of the cabin. When a sailor says he/she just came out of a washing machine that is what was happening. Feels like living in a snow globe with an exuberant child who refuses to put you down.
Roll, pitch, and yaw are what the boat does in rough water but what about the sailor or his cat below? Glad you asked.
Well, there are 3 degrees of translation, surge, sway, and heave.
When the boat accelerates going down the back of a large wave or when turning the throttle up you feel the surge.
With the boat rolling you are going to feel yourself swaying trying to keep your balance.
When the boat is pitching, going up and down we call that heaving. Like a shovel full of dirt you ‘heave’ it on top of the pile.
Electrical Problem
There was this one time that was a cause for concern. While watching my Lowrance Hook 4 Chartplotter in the middle of this turbulent lake for some unknown reason it went dead. Zilch, nada, black screen. Traced the problem to a possible wiring connector. Some adjustments and I was back in business. Onboard I have 2 other handheld GPS as backups and my phone has an app for navigation I am still trying to figure out all the bells and whistles. I love redundancy when safety is concerned. If you don’t, you should.
Inside the channel, some good-sized fish showed up on the depth finder.
Mickey, my intrepid sea cat, is doing a magnificent job protecting my food storage bins below. Not that it needs protecting but it gives him an excuse for not taking watch duty during the day.
In Lake St Clair the shallows can be problematic. There are other sailboats much larger than mine and have deeper keels passing me by. I'm assuming they have local knowledge of a safe course so I follow them closely. Watching for any course changes they make. Takes me back to my racing days at Edgewater Yacht Club. Skills you can’t practice in class or from a book but must be experienced with your hands on the tiller.
It is always a pleasant sight to see the opening of a channel leading to a marina. With all that rough water behind me, I can feel the Sea Marie sigh in relief as she gently glides over the calm waters of the inlet up to the gas dock and gets tied off.
Finally entering Metro Beach Marina
This open kayak with pontoons had a double Hobie drive that pedals
After we get our ‘well’ assignment and tie off. I check below for any damage or destruction to our provisions or supplies and all were free of breaks and bruises.
Another good reason for bringing that Afghan. Sticks to the Velcro hooks like magic. Doubles as a sunshade and windbreak.
Mickey always finds a nice soft spot to weather any rough sea. I notice he has made his safe space out nearer the center, under the companionway, and as low as possible in the boat. Any sailor being out to sea knows that is the sweetest spot to be. Mickey is learning.
So until tomorrow, fair winds and gentle seas.
Comments from 2016:
Juan Rivera I am so enjoying following your adventure reports. Thanks and safe travels!
Bronwen Somerset Tc, sending hugs
Bev Smith You are so brave and a great sailor.
Henry Krzemien RN Thanks, Bev Learning as I go and keeping my nose clean.
Ed Krzemien if it"s that cold in the morning u might want to keep your nose dry.
Henry Krzemien RN Will do!
Sherry Thaler That was awesome. Glad to see (or so it seems) that Mickey is becoming a loyal seafaring companion.
Debbie Allgire Pretty cat! How's he doing on the trip? You're making some progress Henry. Great pictures.JerryS/V Lady Jane.
Henry Krzemien RN Mickey's doing great. Looks confused at every new marina but only for a moment. Gets his bearings and wants to explore the docks.