Day 22 - plan B

Sometimes you just have to resort to plan B. Our plan to cruise to White Lake was dashed when Tom from Misty mentioned the White Lake Yacht Club was hosting a major regatta this weekend and all the docking was reserved for racers. A quick review of options on our Navionics app showed we could cross the lake to Sheboygan. A mere 55 miles. Now we are on the west side of the lake and all the drama of waiting for a weather window to cross is over. It was a nearly flat calm crossing. We hit some fog a few miles out and fired up the radar. With the combination of radar and AIS we feel quite safe out in the middle of Lake Michigan. We know where the lakers (lake freighters) are and they know where we are.

It may be subliminal but we have come to realize we have been selecting marinas based on the quality of their swimming pool and hot tub. The Harbor Centre marina in Sheboygan has a heated pool and very hot, hot tub. All is good there. Even when a cool wind is blowing off the lake the tall hedges around the pool area keep the breeze out.

As we approached Sheboygan Harbor we observed a major regatta hosted by the Sheboygan Yacht Club. There was a fleet of at least 60 Thistles ( a small sailboat ) racing in the Thistle Nationals. The SYC also has a robust youth sailing program. It is nice to see that sailing and sailboat racing is alive and well in Sheboygan.

Before we departed Ludington the SS Badger had already returned from her crossing the night before. How many tons of coal ash had she dumped in the lake since we had last seen her.

One of the advantages of having a washer/dryer on board, even if the washer does not currently work, is we do not look like boat full of gypsies with laundry hanging off every life line. We can dry our towels and swim suits in the dryer and keep our boat looking yar. Thursten and Lovey Howell would be proud (Gilligan’s Island).

There is a basketball tournament going on in the marina parking lot. The parking lot is several acres and this is a major tournament. There are a least 40 hoops set up for the event.

With a fleet of 60 boats and a crew of three in each boat that is 180 sailors plus sailor trailers. Sailor trailers are those family members that travel with and follow the sailors, I wonder if we should have tried to make a reservation at one of the two nearby restaurants?

Friday is a 43 mile cruise to Milwaukee to meet up with Gene and the admiral at the McKinley marina. From Milwaukee it is only 40 miles to Waukegan. We have a favorable weather forecast for the next several days so we should arrive back in Waukegan on Saturday as planned. Our cruise of over 1,000 miles will soon come to an end.

Photo – this is a screen shot of the White Lake Yacht Club race invitation.

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