@@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop We traveled down to Michigan City leaving South Haven. So, glad you posted videos of you traveling up through Illinois. Your Channel is very helpful. We just left Biloxi heading west to Texas. Our daughter will be getting married in the spring so we decided to skip going back to Key West (what were thinking it's cold here) and stay close to home. Then we will go back up the Rivers next summer hanging out exploring the Lakes, Tennessee and the Cumberland. Wake Crossing planned for December 2025.
@@UnderwayDriftingNDreaming Great! Where do you cross your wake? I'm glad the river videos were helpful. Hopefully we will run into each other again! Happy Boating!
Great subject, Ed. Things can change so suddenly on the lakes. Like you showed, one moment it is clear skies and idyllic... and then in 30-40 minutes the sky turns dark gray followed by gale conditions. I loved the way you showed the approaching storm on your onboard radar system. These storms pop up out of nowhere and you may need advanced warning to get to safe harbor. As long as you're at the helm, all is accounted for. But let's say you anchored out for the afternoon and you're not watching the radar in the area. Next thing you know, it's on top of you with little time to out run it. I watched an interesting video of a convoy of 40' yachts that got caught in a localized gale on their way back from the Bahamas. The tactic the lead pilot used to navigate the storm was great. He needed to cross through the storm with the least impact on his vessel and passengers. He changed headings so that he rode the storm at an angle, going with the swells as quickly as conditions and his vessel would permit. He did this for over an hour until he managed to push through into calmer waters and then changed his heading back toward his destination. There are some vessels that are more designed and equipped to handle these conditions. Express cruisers with a SeaKeeper that have ample power to go 60+ in good conditions, can often cut through the big swells at an angle and ride mostly the tops going 35-40. Of course, it just depends on how big the swells are. But at the right speed, with the right angle of attack, a good gyro system, and not too big swells... it's amazing what can be done that other vessels simply can't handle. They are left behind bobbling and taking on water from the constant dunking and spray... and likely suffering from sea sick symptoms after too much exposure. I grew up in Cleveland, OH and remember the warnings and reports of people and pleasure boats going down from these instant storms on Lake Erie... Which is a more shallow lake, capable of generating treacherous swells. Gord
Hi Gord! We were glad that we were safely in port that day. The Great Lakes are nothing to mess with. We always have an eye on the weather and stay another day if it doesn't look promising. Take care! Ed and Maureen
Sorry, we missed you up in Muskegon.
Maybe we will get by Muskegon next summer. Thanks for watching our videos. 🛥️
Hope you enjoyed S Haven, our home port (SHYC)
We LOVE South Haven! We went twice last year. Will be back this spring!
We cruised by you on that day. Tied up just in time for the storm. ⛈️
MV Cetus
We remember you coming by. Later in the week, when large swells rolled of the lake, we envyed the more protected spot you had. Where are you now?
@@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop We traveled down to Michigan City leaving South Haven. So, glad you posted videos of you traveling up through Illinois. Your Channel is very helpful.
We just left Biloxi heading west to Texas. Our daughter will be getting married in the spring so we decided to skip going back to Key West (what were thinking it's cold here) and stay close to home. Then we will go back up the Rivers next summer hanging out exploring the Lakes, Tennessee and the Cumberland. Wake Crossing planned for December 2025.
@@UnderwayDriftingNDreaming Great! Where do you cross your wake? I'm glad the river videos were helpful. Hopefully we will run into each other again! Happy Boating!
@@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop we will cross in Key West next December. Then off to the Bahamas in April 2026. Hope to see you on our travels
Great subject, Ed. Things can change so suddenly on the lakes.
Like you showed, one moment it is clear skies and idyllic... and then in 30-40 minutes the sky turns dark gray followed by gale conditions.
I loved the way you showed the approaching storm on your onboard radar system. These storms pop up out of nowhere and you may need advanced warning to get to safe harbor.
As long as you're at the helm, all is accounted for. But let's say you anchored out for the afternoon and you're not watching the radar in the area.
Next thing you know, it's on top of you with little time to out run it.
I watched an interesting video of a convoy of 40' yachts that got caught in a localized gale on their way back from the Bahamas.
The tactic the lead pilot used to navigate the storm was great. He needed to cross through the storm with the least impact on his vessel and passengers.
He changed headings so that he rode the storm at an angle, going with the swells as quickly as conditions and his vessel would permit.
He did this for over an hour until he managed to push through into calmer waters and then changed his heading back toward his destination.
There are some vessels that are more designed and equipped to handle these conditions.
Express cruisers with a SeaKeeper that have ample power to go 60+ in good conditions, can often cut through the big swells at an angle and ride mostly the tops going 35-40.
Of course, it just depends on how big the swells are. But at the right speed, with the right angle of attack, a good gyro system, and not too big swells... it's amazing what can be done that other vessels simply can't handle.
They are left behind bobbling and taking on water from the constant dunking and spray... and likely suffering from sea sick symptoms after too much exposure.
I grew up in Cleveland, OH and remember the warnings and reports of people and pleasure boats going down from these instant storms on Lake Erie... Which is a more shallow lake, capable of generating treacherous swells.
Gord
Hi Gord! We were glad that we were safely in port that day. The Great Lakes are nothing to mess with. We always have an eye on the weather and stay another day if it doesn't look promising. Take care! Ed and Maureen
@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop Great advice. Thanks.
Gord