Sunday, July 28, 2013

As by now you have gathered, everything is dependent upon the weather and the first thing we do each morning and the last thing at night is to check the weather. I have three weather books aboard and hope to learn more so we can better understand what to expect from the various weather patterns each day.

The forecast for Sunday was not perfect but we planned a 44 mile open water cruise followed by the protected canal cut to Sturgeon Bay. We like to get an early start when traveling since generally the wind diminishes each night as the land temperature cools. The daily heating and cooling of the land mass creates wind patterns, that coupled with the movements of the high and low pressure areas create our weather.

Manitowoc Lighthouse Early Morning

We like to get up about 6:00, get ready for the day, and leave the dock about 6:30. Since we can do most activities while cruising we only do the necessities prior to departure. Today, both Carol and I were awake by 5:30 and decided to get an even earlier start. NW winds 5-10 knots temperature at 6:00 a chilly 53 degrees and a promised high of 60. Scattered rain showers throughout the day with a 50% chance of precipitation. Sea state about 1 ft. and winds shifting to the west. Because we are not staying in a specific location we check the weather over the entire route we expect to cover during the day.

Rawley Point Lighthouse

Nice cruise start with partly sunny skies, as we rounded the Rawley point lighthouse just north of Two Rivers and Point Beach State Park. Both Carol and I have had camping adventures at Point Beach and the comment was it always rains there. 

It was quite chilly at the upper helm so we decided to move inside for a bit. The first time we have driven the boat from the lower helm, quite nice and much warmer. The sun came out, Carol took a mid-morning nap and I went back to the upper helm. When Carol came up to the bridge we checked the radar for rain events and noticed the UP was getting quite a rain storm, further is was headed straight south and directly for the Sturgeon Bay Canal. After our adventure on Friday, we learned we should install the upper helm curtains before the storm hit. At the start of the day we did hang the windshield, but we also have 4 additional windows we can put up around the upper helm. Standing on the captain chair with

Upper Helm Windshield and Curtains

one foot wrapped around the safety bar at the helm I began to hang the curtains. We were experiencing a 15 knot NW wind plus our 7 knot forward progress produced 20 knots of air flow pushing me and the curtains aft. Twenty minutes later the 4 curtains were in place and I rolled down the center windshield. That greatly reduced the air flow at the helm and we were ready for the downpour we expected in an hour or so. The wave heights increased to two feet on our beam and the boat rocks and rolls a bit. We know that it was warmer in the cabin and that since the cabin is closer to the water it moves much less than the upper helm, so back to the cabin and more comfortable cruising.

As we approached the eastern entrance to the canal, I checked the radar expecting to see the storm looming ahead but to my amazement it just disappeared from the radar. It seemed to have dissipated as it reached Green Bay, Great!!!!  We began our trip up the channel and of course it began to rain, the storm had dissipated but the moisture was still in the air and a light rain began to fall as we contacted Harbor Club Marina our chosen destination. They were ready for us and provided our slip assignment and information about the Michigan Street bridge openings, we would call them back after clearing the bridge. We followed a tour boat/fireboat through the bridge and the two guys from the marina helped us land the boat, of course in the rain. Still raining but we are safe and dry in our cozy home about 3:00. Time for lunch and a quick nap.

Michigan Street Bridge, Sturgeon Bay