The weather was near perfect so we sailed directly to the island and did the same on the return. 22 hrs there and 24 hrs on the return.
We had a few last minute dropouts as schedules conflicted but still have a nice crew of Susan and I and Bud and Diane our sailing friends from Ashland / Hayward.
Bud and Diane spend a great deal of time on Bud's boat so we felt seasickness would not be an issue. This allowed us plan a route directly across the lake not stopping at a port just in case someone could not make the full trip.
As I said from day one, weather had to be right or we simply would not go. I watched the weather starting a week out looking for any major weather patterns. None were in the forecast. Next Priority was avoiding fog as much as possible. This was more for enjoyment as who needs to look at a fog bank for 24 hrs. Very little fog was forecasted and the forecast lived up to expectations as we ran into just a few patches.
We saw a nice light show from thunderstorms on the Minnesota north shore. These storms where forecasted so we could enjoy the show knowing they were not going to cause us problems.
I think we had what is called a waning crescent moon until early morning so we had a chance to experience the milky way at it's finest once the moon set.
We saw no shipping on the way out as we crossed the shipping channel quickly. (Not one boat seen in 22 hrs) We sailed in or near the shipping channel on the return trip so we saw 4 or five ships that appeared on our instruments well before we could see them.
We have now sailed Panta Rhei over five hundred miles. We have a very high confidence level in the boat so we see no limits planning future trips. We intend to hang out in Ashland a few more years sailing among the islands as our dog Seeley will stay on shore in her old age. Again invites are open to anyone wanting join us using the boat as an RV while we hike and Kayak the Apostle Islands. We may sail again to Isle Royal but the challenge of long distance sailing is now behind us.
Our plans to head out through the great lakes and out to sea and parts unknown will resume soon. For now, we will enjoy our walks with Seeley here in Lake Mills just a bit slower each year as we all age.
Susan and I will be heading to Cuba this winter. It may be the final destination for Panta Rhei.
We had a few last minute dropouts as schedules conflicted but still have a nice crew of Susan and I and Bud and Diane our sailing friends from Ashland / Hayward.
Bud and Diane spend a great deal of time on Bud's boat so we felt seasickness would not be an issue. This allowed us plan a route directly across the lake not stopping at a port just in case someone could not make the full trip.
As I said from day one, weather had to be right or we simply would not go. I watched the weather starting a week out looking for any major weather patterns. None were in the forecast. Next Priority was avoiding fog as much as possible. This was more for enjoyment as who needs to look at a fog bank for 24 hrs. Very little fog was forecasted and the forecast lived up to expectations as we ran into just a few patches.
We saw a nice light show from thunderstorms on the Minnesota north shore. These storms where forecasted so we could enjoy the show knowing they were not going to cause us problems.
I think we had what is called a waning crescent moon until early morning so we had a chance to experience the milky way at it's finest once the moon set.
We saw no shipping on the way out as we crossed the shipping channel quickly. (Not one boat seen in 22 hrs) We sailed in or near the shipping channel on the return trip so we saw 4 or five ships that appeared on our instruments well before we could see them.
We have now sailed Panta Rhei over five hundred miles. We have a very high confidence level in the boat so we see no limits planning future trips. We intend to hang out in Ashland a few more years sailing among the islands as our dog Seeley will stay on shore in her old age. Again invites are open to anyone wanting join us using the boat as an RV while we hike and Kayak the Apostle Islands. We may sail again to Isle Royal but the challenge of long distance sailing is now behind us.
Our plans to head out through the great lakes and out to sea and parts unknown will resume soon. For now, we will enjoy our walks with Seeley here in Lake Mills just a bit slower each year as we all age.
Susan and I will be heading to Cuba this winter. It may be the final destination for Panta Rhei.