Stee6043
Well-Known Member
I made my way from Grand Haven to Saugatuck on Saturday for an outstanding evening out in Saugatuck without our kids (this was our first adults only boat weekend in 3 years). Had a blast. Got an early start back yesterday knowing they were calling for big waves later in the day. Small Craft Advisory went into affect at 1PM so we were on our way by 9:30AM.
I didn't even get out of the channel in Saugatuck before I stuffed my anchor into a roller. The 2-3's in the forecast were more consistently 4's at 10AM.
I tried to be on-plane for a bit but that got to be unmanageable. A few miles north of Saugatuck and we were seeing pretty regular 6 footers. Whitecaps on all sides, making 8 knots. Very, very uncomfortable. I've been boating Lake Michigan for a lot of years and this is the worst I've been out in for more than a few minutes at a time.
I think the worst part (for me) was knowing that the lake was going to continue to get worse as I was trying to get to Holland. And it did. I was soaked by the time we got to the pier in Holland. 45 minutes in a washing machine to go about 6 miles. And the anticipation of getting broadside into the waves to enter the pier was not pleasant.
We got in safely and found a transient slip at a very nice marina in Holland. Had a couple of beers at their yacht club while we waited for a ride back to Grand Haven.
What a day. I know with absolute certainty I would not have left Saugatuck had we been with our kids. But I still wish I had turned around and stayed. It wasn't worth the stress.
The ole Sea Ray performed like a champ. Though I've never felt like 34' was quite so small before...
I didn't even get out of the channel in Saugatuck before I stuffed my anchor into a roller. The 2-3's in the forecast were more consistently 4's at 10AM.
I tried to be on-plane for a bit but that got to be unmanageable. A few miles north of Saugatuck and we were seeing pretty regular 6 footers. Whitecaps on all sides, making 8 knots. Very, very uncomfortable. I've been boating Lake Michigan for a lot of years and this is the worst I've been out in for more than a few minutes at a time.
I think the worst part (for me) was knowing that the lake was going to continue to get worse as I was trying to get to Holland. And it did. I was soaked by the time we got to the pier in Holland. 45 minutes in a washing machine to go about 6 miles. And the anticipation of getting broadside into the waves to enter the pier was not pleasant.
We got in safely and found a transient slip at a very nice marina in Holland. Had a couple of beers at their yacht club while we waited for a ride back to Grand Haven.
What a day. I know with absolute certainty I would not have left Saugatuck had we been with our kids. But I still wish I had turned around and stayed. It wasn't worth the stress.
The ole Sea Ray performed like a champ. Though I've never felt like 34' was quite so small before...
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