Find a fresh wake on familiar waters

As we enter a new year, the turning of the calendar feels much like easing out of the harbor at first light: The shoreline looks familiar, the waters are the same Great Lakes we love, yet something is undeniably new. A fresh wake forms behind us, marking not just where we’ve been, but where we’re trusting ourselves to go.

January invites us to pause before the engines fully engage; to reflect, to breathe, and to set our bearings. The Great Lakes remind us that beginnings do not require perfection, only intention. Even the calmest morning carries a hint of uncertainty, but it is in that uncertainty that growth, discovery, and quiet confidence are born.

The Great Lakes Cruising Club has always been more than a collection of boats and routes. It is a fellowship of people who understand that the journey itself shapes us. We learn patience in the locks, humility in changing weather, and gratitude in safe harbors. These lessons carry beyond the water and into the way we live, lead, and care for one another.

As 2026 unfolds, may you cruise with openness—to new perspectives, deeper friendships, and moments of stillness that speak louder than words. May you honor the wisdom gained from past seasons while welcoming the promise of what lies ahead. And may you remember that no matter the destination, we move forward together, guided by shared respect, quiet courage, and an enduring love for these waters.

Here’s to a new year, a steady course, and the grace found in every mile between departure and arrival.

— Chaplain Eric D. Tucker, Great Lakes Cruising Club