Many thanks to those who provided me with insight on cruising Lake Michigan. Especially Skylark who provided me with great intel on Holland, Mi.

I just returned and will provide some details with photos.

Matt

That's great! Can't wait to see some pics and hear about your adventure!

I would like to recommend the follwing sites for prepping a trip...

Wikimaps

Google Earth

Activecaptain.com

Holland, Mi and Lake Macatawa are very nice. Holland is full of public access. That was important to me because I tried to make this short cruise as cost effective as possible. Sort of "commando cruising" if you will.

I crossed at night on 6/23/2010 2100 hours during a Small Craft Adivsory...my objective was to use a strong westerly wind to cross...a cold front had just passed and thunderstorms were bracketing me to the North and South. All went well under deeply reefed main and working jib.

I arrived at 6/24/2010 1500 hours..

I anchored off of Superior Point, Lake Macatawa, approx 1.6 nm east of Holland, MI and Kollen Park.

I dinghied to shore, avoided marinas and walked the city with good tennis shoes and a backpack. I restocked water by 1 gallon jugs, restocked fuel by 1 gallon gas container and bought food at a fantastic farmers market on Sat. am. I highly recommend that one!

I experienced a torn dodger and called Nautical Needles in Holland. I walked the two miles to the shop, saw the town in route and they saw me right away. They repaired the dodger on the spot for 30 bucks. Jill, the manager, was very friendly and helpful with recommendations for the town.

Very Dutch...lots of tall people, great history, great places to visit, lovely parks (Kollen Park is VERY nice) and a cruiser friendly downtown. Nice old architecture, lots of homes very well kept and lots of gardens.

I visited the library 3 times...looked up NOAA website (and my e-mail)...friendly people and nice library.

I sat through two days of on and off again T-storms. Sat. night and Sunday Biggest gust was about 25 mph. I love my 80' of 5/16ths anchor chain and rode. I never felt threatened.

I timed my return with the passing of a cold front from Canada and solid winds from the NW and later, North. I departed on 6/28/2010, 1400 hours. The wind shifted to the north just as I crossed 43 degrees, 00 minutes north at 18:36! Solid winds, avg. speed of boat about 5 knots. Overnight, I sailed on a beam reach, winds 15-20 with rolling waves 4-6 with some big 6-8 footers...I learned to love Nautical Needles and my repaired dodger...in fact I remember kissing it at least 3 times after a big chunk of spray nailed it right in front of my face! My max speed was 9.7 knots under reefed main and working jib.

Between 1836 hours and 0036 hours (6/29) I covered an est. 45 nm. That is a personal best for me. Wind turned more NE and began to go down to 5 mph...waves also calmed down...motored the last 20 miles to Milw because of slatting and banging. Arrived 5 am 6/29

Lessons...
1. I begin to halucinate sometime after 3 or 4 am...any advice?
2. I gotta learn to cross during normal human hours.
3. Secure everything below before passage. My Joy dishwashing detergent emptied on my galley counter, sink and some of my quarterbeth cushions!
4. I towed my Bolger Nymph dinghy all the way! She rolled, juked and jived over all of those rollers just like a duck. Amazing craft...I think I better get used to mounting her on the foredeck because I realized if she swamped, I would have to cut her away.
5. I gotta learn how to cruise effectively with my cruising chute in light winds.

I cannot wait to do this again!
Does anyone cruise in small groups of boats/convoys?

Any advice by anyone is most welcome!








Thanks all!

Are you kidding!

sorry... but my photo posting skills obviously are lacking.

previous phots was my boat anchored off of Superior Point (east side)

This photo shows location of board walk off of Kollen Park. I parked my dinghy under it and locked it to the posts.

Kollen Park old launch area to the east edge of park. Closer to town proper.

Kollen Park Launch ramp, docks and lovely grass and trees.

1. Michigan power boaters on Macatawa who tow skiers or those toys are very inconsiderate...you will be buzzed at close quarters.

2. The Heinz plant has deep subtle hum that is all pervasive.

3. The sounds of high speed props and outboards when you are below in your cabin can be blocked out with ear plugs.

Excellent report!
Re hallucinations...try getting short periods of rest right from the get-go. check out/google "polyphasic sleep." if you can get 20 mins or so of rest/lay down time every three hours, it'll extend your physical stamina and mental clarity a good deal. the trick is to begin the resting cycle right from the start of the crossing and not to wait til you're dead tired.
Also, i've found that if i'm relatively familiar with my destination harbor, it's safer for me to start early in the morning and get there on the same day (michigan side) than to leave in the evening and arrive the next morning. i'm just too tired after sailing alone all night to make good decisions if excitement presents itself.
Again, excellent report...gets me thinking about a crossing..