WORD!

 It's been a while since I posted anything, so now it's time to start updating the site. You'll start seeing some updates soon.

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

 

 

Waves and Wind

 Pretty amazing weather about to hit the Great Lakes. Below is the NOAA forecast for Lake Michigan December 22 -24, 2022. Lots of wind and HUGE waves along with freezing temperatures. The lake hasn't frozen yet, but this has to be horrible on shipping.

.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds to 30 kt increasing to gales to
45 kt. Freezing spray. Snow. Waves 7 to 10 ft occasionally to
13 ft building to 14 to 18 ft occasionally to 23 ft.

 .FRIDAY...Northwest storm force winds to 50 kt (57.539 mph). Freezing spray.
Snow. Waves 18 to 23 ft occasionally to 30 ft.

 .SATURDAY...Northwest gales to 45 kt diminishing to gales to
40 kt. Freezing spray. Chance of snow. Waves 14 to 18 ft
occasionally to 23 ft.

Yep.....sounds about right

 And the absolute best rum is Smooth Sailing. ( https://smoothsailingrum.com/ )

Winter Cover Is Finally On

 The winter cover is on. Thanks go to Jim and Janet S. for helping repair some tears.

 

 

Why We Pull Our Boats During the Winter!!

 This is for the northern half of Lake Michigan, November 4 - 6

.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 15 to 25 kt increasing to 30 kt after
midnight, then becoming east gales to 35 kt late. Rain showers
and slight chance of thunderstorms. Waves 4 to 7 ft occasionally
to 9 ft building to 5 to 8 ft occasionally to 10 ft.

 .SATURDAY...Southeast gales to 45 kt becoming south storm force
winds to 50 kt. Showers in the morning, then chance of showers in
the afternoon. Waves 8 to 12 ft occasionally to 16 ft building to
15 to 20 ft occasionally to 26 ft.

 .SATURDAY NIGHT...Southwest storm force winds to 55 kt
diminishing to storm force winds to 50 kt. Waves 18 to 23 ft
occasionally to 30 ft.

 .SUNDAY...Southwest winds to 30 kt increasing to gales to 35 kt.
Waves 8 to 11 ft occasionally to 14 ft.

2022 HOOK Pictures

I was a half hour late to my start due to autopilot issues. I started with a main only to avoid getting into a tacking match with a fully crewed boat. As soon as I crossed the line I unfurled the headsail.

Some of the best sailors around. Standing next to me is Steve G, the owner of Split Pearsonality. The first place finisher in his section.

I was the ninth boat to cross the finish line despite starting late.

Before the start. The boat next to Bootlegger, Flying Circus, is the same Flying Circus that I did my first Chicago - Mac Race in 1979. This time she was entered in the solo class.