My Sailing Vacation
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:27 am
My girlfriend Kristi and I spent a wonderful week aboard Copacetic in Racine, WI. We sailed some of the time and just hung out at the dock some of the time.
With breezes off the lake temps were quite comfortable on the water, except for July 4 when wind came from the west (land).
I think the highlight of our week was watching the fireworks and then sailing by the light of the full moon to Winthrop Harbor. Wind was light, water was smooth and it was a fine reach all the way. After suffering through the heat of the day, we found we needed hoodies and jackets 2 miles out.
We did have a strange wind anomaly. Under clear skies the wind very suddenly picked up from 10 to about 20. At one point the flags at the top of the mast and the tell tales on the shrouds were showing wind direction 90 degrees apart and I saw my jib was blowing to port at the bottom and starboard at the top at one time. It was all over in just a few minutes, and everything returned to the way it was, as if nothing had happened.
We arrived about 4am and got checked into North Point Marina (biggest on Lake Michigan) by security. We spent a day and night there, with a lot of time spent at the nearby dog friendly beach.
Due to very light north wind, we ended up motoring most of the way back to Racine. Of course right after we got to the dock the wind shifted to the south and picked up. Such is the sailing life.
We both agreed we could really get used to this.
With breezes off the lake temps were quite comfortable on the water, except for July 4 when wind came from the west (land).
I think the highlight of our week was watching the fireworks and then sailing by the light of the full moon to Winthrop Harbor. Wind was light, water was smooth and it was a fine reach all the way. After suffering through the heat of the day, we found we needed hoodies and jackets 2 miles out.
We did have a strange wind anomaly. Under clear skies the wind very suddenly picked up from 10 to about 20. At one point the flags at the top of the mast and the tell tales on the shrouds were showing wind direction 90 degrees apart and I saw my jib was blowing to port at the bottom and starboard at the top at one time. It was all over in just a few minutes, and everything returned to the way it was, as if nothing had happened.
We arrived about 4am and got checked into North Point Marina (biggest on Lake Michigan) by security. We spent a day and night there, with a lot of time spent at the nearby dog friendly beach.
Due to very light north wind, we ended up motoring most of the way back to Racine. Of course right after we got to the dock the wind shifted to the south and picked up. Such is the sailing life.
We both agreed we could really get used to this.
) painting and putting up stair rails for the inlaws. Unfortunately the 20 didn't make it up 'cause I haven't gotten to the keel cable yet, but that's why I kept the Daysailer 
. A little more work keeping this boat on an even keel for the wifey and the puggle, but over all the winds were light and it was wonderful afternoon.. and week.
