Seasoned Sailors at Last!

As the 'see-ya-later' tends to always feel like a goodbye, we eventually detached Zephyrus from the comforts of the mooring in front of the cottage and headed north.  Anchoring in Sutton's Bay, we were immediately picked up and brought back to his cottage [via car] and enjoyed one last evening of family and fires on the beach.  Corey's Uncle Ed and his three daughters {whom he rarely gets to see} had just arrived giving us all the more reason to go back to further extend our "goodbyes."

Motor once we did not, and it feels good! The next day we woke to dark clouds forming with an intense unpredictably in the South, so we decided to take advantage of the southerly winds to make further progress north.  As we approached Omena Bay, the pre-winds and sprinkles began.  Such a familiar story and we had anticipated this happening.  We set anchor near shore and waited out the heavy winds, blinding lightning and a soaking downpour. Our Danforth prevails yet again!

 

[My family bought us a handheld radio for my birthday, so much easier to keep track of the weather] [Anchored we were actually able to enjoy the downpour, including scrubbing the deck and bobbling around in the waves.]

After the storm passed, we waited until the sky cleared.  My parents brought us a storm jib and it was absolutely necessary with winds gusting in the upper teens.  I jiffy-rigged the main sail in order to maintain our momentum, although it looked pretty horrendous for a reefed sail, we were flying at top speed breaking 5 knots!   It was such a pleasure sailing in heavy winds and not getting knocked down with every gust.  For once, slamming into head waves became gentle and even enjoyable! 

We majestically entered Northport Bay flying under full sail in intense winds.  I felt absolutely euphoric with the accomplishments since leaving the cottage, not to mention the accomplishments of our entire summer. First off, not many 20-year-olds actually buy a boat and live 100% of their time aboard AND travel three of the five Great Lakes.  We set large goals as pinpoints on a map and all of the sudden those lines on a map are now the paths and memories we've created.  Since the moment we entered Grand Traverse Bay, the motor was only a weight in the boat and an absolutely unnecessary piece of equipment.  For a sailor, that feels GOOD.  Each bit of trial-and-error has brought us our seasoning as sailors.  We look at each others wild sun-bleached hair, callused hands and tanned skin...and just laugh at those distant memories of running aground in Big Bay and the recklessness of spring on Superior.     

Now we are tucked into Northport waiting out the ever intensifying winds.  We feel at home as this bay is full of sailboats, little Zephyrus is nestled in among them.  Last night the wind howled through the stays and a few intense showers kept us tossing and turning all night.  Our plan is to head to Beaver Island when the wind isn't from the North, then back into Huron and meeting my parents on Outlandish in the North Channel by the end of the week!
-Megan