Heading West if the Winds Will Cooperate

As planned headed out on Monday morning to join CLASS ACT and FAIRY TALE at Aikens Island -- my first time in this anchorage which is just east of John Island and south of the Whales Back Channel (15.67 nautical miles).  It is open to the south east, but a pleasant place to sit for a couple of days and explore the area.  We dinghied into Moiles Harbor which is just around the corner, a beautiful location but notorious for the number of dead heads which are lying in wait to snag an anchor and chain.  NO THANK YOU -- I did that two years ago and don't need to go through that again. First evening happy hour on FAIRY TALE, second on SONADOR.  

Then on Wednesday, August 9th, we lifted anchor to begin heading west with our destination being Long Point Cove.  High winds were predicted for the next couple of days, and it is well protected.  Ran south of John Island to a passage north near La Seur Island, and then into Long Point Cove (11.89 nautical miles)  FAIRY TALE hosted happy hour for several GLCC boats in the harbor, and then had to pull up anchor the next morning to head back toward Little Current (their home port.)  CLASS ACT and SONADOR stayed one more day, hoping to stretch it to two -- but the weather promised to get nasty.

So, on Friday morning we raised anchor to begin the 40 nautical mile trek to Thessalon Marina.  Now, the winds were supposed to be light out of the north west.  They were, in fact, strong out of the east -- and, since we're heading west we were "thrilled" to have following seas.  NOT!  I traveled the most erratic route possible, surfing off one wave to the south, then wallowing up the next to the north.  For two plus hours I had to hand steer standing at the helm.  At least Sophie seemed to be satisfied, for she stayed plastered to the bed the whole way.  A little over half way there, the waves settled down somewhat, the winds definitely quieted down, and we were treated to an auto pilot ride into Thessalon harbor.  Had dinner in the marina lounge (cooked by CLASS ACT and SONADOR) and planned on leaving the next morning after breakfast.

Met the most interesting Australian man at Thessalon -- single handing the Loop in an Island Packet (mast was stepped in NY and shipped to Mobile, AL).  After getting to the east coast of Florida next spring, he's shipping the boat to the Med where he will take the rivers and canals of Europe for two years up through France, to Paris, onto Amsterdam, then east and south on the Rhine and Danube and ending up in the Black Sea.  Then, undaunted he plans to sail to the coast of Africa, cross the Atlantic, through the Panama Canal, and back to Australia.  Now that is an ADVENTURE!!

We departed Thessalon as planned on Friday the 11th heading west toward St. Joseph's Island and the harbor of Hilton Beach (about 16 nautical miles).  The winds were gusty but on the forward quarter and bow, so SONADOR had a very smooth ride all the way in.  Friends on BASIC BOAT live in the community, so we wanted to visit with Ann and Jorma (who a week ago had a knee replaced) and I had never been to this side of the island.  This is a very nice marina and small community.  Staying here until Monday (at least that's the plan now) when the winds are supposed to calm down for a couple of days.  Then, I'll head to DeTour to make the jump back across Lake Huron and into Cheboygan.