At the start I must confess that I am not a sailing fanatic. I married into the boat building obsession. I should have seen it coming though since Andy built his first sailboat before graduating high school. Andy began building Philsboat 2 years ago and finished the final 70% in about 3 months. With the boat mostly complete, he proceeded with “sea trials“. That amounted to half an hour one evening in light winds on the Chequamegon Bay of Lake Superior.

Andy began building Philsboat 2 years ago and finished the final 70% in about 3 months. click images to enlarge

After a frenzy of last minute boat building we finally left home 4 hours late. With the maiden voyage only 4 days hence we were embarking on a 450 mile journey to the Spanish River on Lake Huron’s North Channel for a few days of sailing and camping. Excited for an adventure and with the weather forecasted to be sunny with light winds it seemed we would have a pleasant voyage. Actually it turned out that 3 days and 2 nights of this “vacation” was all we could take. After leaving our children, Amy (8) and David (5) with Grandpa and Grandma we were ready to begin. The car trip was uneventful - the boat managed to stay on the trailer. It only took 3 stops to find a place to launch. We went to the public marina first, but the ramp was so steep it would have launched not only the boat but our car also. The second ramp was unattended and we just didn’t feel right about leaving our car and trailer parked on the grass in front of the office for an indeterminate period of time. The third stop had the best of both - the ramp was okay and somebody was available to take our money.

With everything looking up, it only took FOREVER to rig the boat and stow our camping gear. Finally at 2 pm we were ready to roll.

With everything looking up, it only took FOREVER to rig the boat and stow our camping gear. Finally at 2 pm we were ready to roll. The first 5 minutes after launching were packed with excitement. The launch was in a narrow channel and the wind gusty and contrary. Andy had to tack back and forth to leave the channel. After one tack we smashed into a rock cliff. I was screaming "we're going to hit the rock" and he was screaming "no we're not". Then we hit the rock. I don't remember exactly what happened next because I was crying and scared but eventually we ended up wedged in some reeds. Andy got out into the mush (yuk) and tried to walk the boat down the river. Eventually he decided to beach in the swamp and wait for the wind to die down. Adding to our humiliation several boats stopped to see if we needed help. Andy kept them at bay by smiling and waving as if to say “no we don’t need help, we really want to be stuck in these reeds within sight of the boat ramp“. So, there we were sitting in the boat: me crying and him all depressed. All in the first half hour.

Andy had to tack back and forth to leave the channel. After one tack we smashed into this rock cliff. I was screaming "we're going to hit the rock" and he was screaming "no we're not". Then we hit the rock.

Next came a thunder storm. The forecast predicted sun and light winds. Weathermen are liars. Andy frantically snapped the ‘roof’ on and beat the rain. We remained dry. The sky looked stormy for the rest of the afternoon but he decided to move on anyway. Andy rowed to a small cove off of the channel. We walked around and saw some animal excrement we couldn't identify so left for an island a little further on. It was at this time Andy discovered that his sail was rigged backwards. Please don't think he is an idiot, it was only the second time out with the boat. By the time we landed on the island it was almost dark but light enough to spot goose poop everywhere. Two steps in any direction promised a squishy, stinky shoe. We had eaten lunch 9 to 10 hours ago so Andy set about cooking dinner. I was frustrated and didn't want to bother with food. I tried to set up the boat for sleeping. However, since this was the first time I didn't know how to put the roof on, the screens in, and organize the stuff so that we would have enough room to sleep. The bugs were awful. Really bad. We are used to camping with mosquitoes but these were thick. You couldn't stand still and even when walking had to constantly swat mosquitoes. I had to pace an island littered with goose droppings, in the dark, swatting mosquitoes while Andy cooked and ate dinner, listening to me complain.

Next came a thunder storm. The forecast predicted sun and light winds. Weathermen are liars. Andy frantically snapped the ‘roof’ on and beat the rain. We remained dry.

Did I mention that it was hot and humid. We quickly learned that Lake Huron is not at all like Lake Superior. The water was brown and the rocks so slimy it was treacherous to try and wade out into the water. We used the bailing bucket to dump water on each other to cool down. Eventually the boat was buttoned up and cozy and the bugs were dead.

Eventually the boat was buttoned up and cozy and the bugs were dead.

Day 2 was hot with light winds. Andy fixed the sail so it was on the right way. The boat sailed much better responding the way he knew it should. We sailed a little way and played with his new GPS. We had all manner of navigational aids - charts, binoculars, GPS - never mind we were continually in sight of the launch. When we decided to stop we landed in some more reeds. Not so good at stopping and starting and reeds are soft. We hiked over this island (scratched and clawed through the bush) to check for better spots to camp because marshy reeds breed mosquitoes. Didn't find any.

When we decided to stop we landed in some more reeds. Not so good at stopping and starting and reeds are soft.

The afternoon was long and hot with not much to do. We expected to be able to go swimming and actually brought snorkeling gear and an underwater camera. We did wade out to our ankles to dump brown stagnant water over our heads with the bailing bucket. Best piece of equipment we brought, that bailing bucket. The night was much better though, because we ate dinner and got things organized and ready for sleeping in the daylight. The bugs were much better also. I was trying not to pee all night to avoid the bugs so of course I had to go three times.

The second night was much better. The bugs were much better also. I was trying not to pee all night to avoid the bugs so of course I had to go three times.

Day 3 we sailed back to the launch. The wind was favorable and we weren’t taking any chances! Scornfully we watched all of the other sailboats pass by motoring and not sailing. This time we were smarter and ran aground into reeds before attempting to dock. Andy lowered the sail and then rowed up to the ramp, instructing me what to do should we crash into pilings or someone else‘s boat. We landed without incident and packed up (it takes forever and longer to pack up a sailboat). We then set off to find some fresh, clean, freezing Lake Superior water to swim in. That was beach cruising.

Day 3 we sailed back to the launch. The wind was favorable and we weren’t taking any chances! Scornfully we watched all of the other sailboats pass by motoring and not sailing.