CRUISING SHOT OF THE WEEK

Thanks to Hans Kampers for this beautiful shot of Mareka and others anchored between Iles des Lerin, close to Cannes, France!

Thanks to Hans Kampers for this beautiful shot of Mareka and others anchored between Iles des Lerin, close to Cannes, France!


BROAD REACHING with Andrew Cross

Fleet Feet 

One by one we began to see spinnakers popping up on the horizon. Some were so far away that the color was barely distinguishable, others were closer and the boats underneath them were moving quickly in the building southwesterly breeze. At one point I counted 16 in total, but we knew there were more out there. Many more. And they were all heading some version of north.

 

We were just forty-five minutes outside the channel that takes mariners into the charming, picturesque village of Pentwater, Michigan and our crew — family members ranging from 11 to 80 plus years old –grew excited as we approached the fleet. Of course, we knew these were boats sailing in the annual Chicago to Mackinac Island race, which covers 289.4 nautical miles, and I felt like a spectator going out in front of my house to watch marathoners run by. Except that in this case, I wanted to jump in with the flow of boats and continue sailing north. But the truth is, that, growing up sailing on Lake Michigan has always made me want to do this race, so it was a lot of fun to see it actually happening.

 

Enjoy this week’s edition. 

 

 


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