Great Loop Day 027 Sept 24, 2016, Pentwater to Muskegon, Michigan

Pentwater to Muskegon, Michigan

Dec 19, 2022

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Day 27 Saturday, Sept 24, 2016. Was a bit of a disappointing day. However, also a good day. I didn't make the mileage intended. Came up a bit short at 44.8 miles for the day. Expected to make Grand Haven at 55 miles. Here is the dilemma. Getting 50+ miles gets me to a marina after 5 pm. Most municipal marinas close at 4 pm. I'm not comfortable leaving without paying so that gives me a late start for the next day. Disappointed the winds weren't helpful with the jib flying. Everything was prepared. The jib lying on the deck was ready to boost into action the moment the right wind appeared. Carefully watched my wind vane on top of the mast for that time the wind would pick up and the vane would turn pointing to my left, right into the easterly wind that was predicted. I watched and watched. I felt the wind picking up speed but the wind vane remained pointing forward which means the only wind I have is the one I create by going forward.

As the morning wore on the sunshine made her appearance thru the morning overcast. What I didn't see earlier in the dawning sky the sunshine made it painfully aware was that the wind vane was hampered by spider webs, lots of spider webs. It was stuck wiggling in the forward position when it should have turned to the left facing East. By now I was passing the Little Sable Point Lighthouse and needed to navigate further southward. Normally heading south with easterlies would pose no problem. I'd be on a reach the fastest point of sailing. However, the course I needed to keep was deviating to the southeast. Needless to say, I raised the jib halyard. Tightened the starboard jib sheet around the winch. The winds tugged hard, and it was time to reach for the winch handle which gives me a mechanical advantage in trimming the headsail. The wind vane was uselessly entangled with spider webs. The most useful indicator for a seasoned sailor is feeling the wind on your face. That experience comes naturally over a long time at sea. Having a piece of yarn tied to the shroud is another quick and reliable wind indicator as well. Mine wwas pretty beatenup after many seasons on Lake Erie.

So that left me with watching the sail tics on the jib. A sail tic is a short length of fabric, plastic, or string in a contrasting color to the sail attached to the jib at or near the front leading edge of the luff of a sail. They are in pairs one on each side. Usually, 2 pairs are used, one pair near the center of the luff and a pair higher near the head. Tremendous help in determining the trim of a sail. A properly trimmed sail will have both the port and starboard tics flying straight. Any disturbance in airflow will deviate the tic to fly up or down. Trimming the sail requires pulling in or letting out the jib sheet. The object is to keep the tics flying straight. There are other factors to consider such as boat speed, true wind, and apparent wind. True wind is easy, it's the direction of the wind you feel when standing still. When you start moving the wind changes angle and is referred to as apparent wind. The faster you go, the further forward you feel the apparent wind. You trim your sails to the apparent wind. I'm not going to get into much detail here but if interested please Google for the apparent wind, sailing, and vectors. TSome sites willexplain the mathematics behind this.

Ok, jib up, wind from the East going about 10mph. Traveling south at 6.5mph with the outboard on low throttle we gain about 0.3 to 0.5 mph. But now I needed to go southeast following the shoreline to my destination. The further southeast I navigated the apparent wind would go more to the front of the sail losing the advantage of more speed. Several times the sail would backwind. Just wasn't going to be as effective today. Down came the headsail and we motored the rest of the way to Muskegon harbor.

We found a nice little marina tucked away called Towne Harbour Marina. I knew Sea Marie liked it for it had many sailboats docked there. I had the pleasure of meeting 2 wonderful sailors Bob and Judy Henson on their 30 ft Catalina Indigo docked next to me. Enjoyed their company as they shared pizza and beer with me and Mickey grew very fond of Judy. Thank you for the hospitality!

Tomorrow will try to get in 58 or so miles in going to South Haven but things can change. Stay tuned.

Comments from 2916:

Pogo Bob Even though you didn't get as far as you wanted, you're doing great! It took us a month to get down to Lake Michigan and we started about a week sooner. We hit Chicago about Oct 1. I think you're gonna make that!
- Henry Krzemien RN Thanks, Pogo Bob, dawn is yet to break here as I prepare my navigation equipment. On my 2nd cup of coffee and the sky is brightening to the East. Mickey's up and about still exploring any movement on the dark dock. On to check the weather before departure.
Judy Henson Wishing you smooth sailing! It was a pleasure meeting you and Mickey!

Sandy Ujczo Durbin Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival every year end of July/beginning of August!!!
- Henry Krzemien RN Didn't know that Sandy, I've seen more Coast Guard personnel on this part of Lake Michigan than on all of Lake Erie.
Sandy Ujczo Durbin Every year well except for this past August we go to the Grand Haven area for the Coast Guard Festival!!! We love it there! I'd move there but they get more (sn....sn...you know that darned white winter stuff) of that stuff than we do!!!
- Henry Krzemien RN You're quite the traveler Sandy, my first time to this neck of the woods. The travel ads on tv are pretty much on the spot. My daughter informs me our platinum Cedar Point passes are good for Michigan Adventure, just North of Muskegon. Unfortunately, they are closed for the season. Next year for sure. And catch these port towns as well.
- Sandy Ujczo Durbin My boys have gone to Michigan Adventure.... they liked it!!!

Above we see another example of a town named after its water tower. Here is the water tower in Pentwater.

Stately homes leaving Pentwater

More dunes to impress.

House on a hill with its own beachfront steps. That would be quite a workout climbing those steps.

A small community of homes with great views of Lake Michigan.

One of the pastimes residents enjoy is kiteboarding.

Cutting an edge on the board.

Little Sable Point Lighthouse. Being a lighthouse it is best seen at night.

Wave spray, clean deck.

Coming into Muskegon Channel on the tail of a Catalina.

A good example of a roller furling in action.

Entering the Muskegon Channel you are greeted by the South Pierhead Lighthouse. Just behind and on the left is the Coast Guard Station Muskegon.

Muskegon is also the home of the USS Silverside (SS - 236) WWII Submarine and the museum. The submarine was commissioned on December 15, 1941, shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. She embarked on her first war patrol in April 1942 and went on to complete 14 war patrols in the Pacific during WWII. She transited the Panama Canal in September 1945 on her way to New York and was decommissioned in April 1946. She then became a stationary training ship in Chicago until 1969. After retiring from service, she spent time in Chicago as a museum ship, moving to Navy Pier in 1979. In 1987, the USS Silversides was towed across Lake Michigan to become part of the Great Lakes Naval and Memorial Museum