New Rear Commodore from Kansas prefers Lakes sailing

By Vice Commodore Craig Shantz

The Club welcomes to the GLCC Board Larry Hunter-Blank as a new Rear Commodore for Region 21. 

Larry Hunter-Blank and his wife, Elizabeth, have sailed out of Belmont Harbor in Chicago for nearly 25 years aboard QEII, their 2001 Catalina 380, despite living in a suburb of Kansas City. As Larry explains, the sailing in Chicago is far superior to that found in Kansas.

They recently concluded a journey, spanning three years, sailing from Chicago along the US shoreline of lakes Michigan, Huron and Erie before crossing to Toronto and traversing the Canadian shore to the Thousand Islands. They then turned west and concluded their first year in Rochester, NY.

Their second summer was spent traveling out the St. Lawrence Seaway into the Atlantic where they navigated around the Canadian Maritimes and New England before transiting Long Island Sound into New York City. They headed north on the Hudson before stepping their mast and motoring along the Erie Canal, returning to Rochester for a second winter having completed the Down East Loop.

This past summer, they resumed their travels sailing along the Canadian shore of Lake Erie, Georgian Bay and North Channel before heading into Lake Superior. They returned to their home waters of Lake Michigan and “Sweet Home Chicago” shortly after Labor Day.

Their journey recently earned them the Admiral Bayfield Award. Larry, a retired insurance executive, also holds a Masters Captains License. Larry and Elizabeth also have been recognized by the GLCC as recipients of the Founders Award in 2021 and the Commodores Trophy in 2023.

People can read more about their travels on their website, The Voyages of QE II – The Sailing Adventures of QE II with Larry and Elizabeth Hunter-Blank or on their YouTube Channel at The Voyages of QEII - YouTube.