Two new promotional videos for the GLCC have been produced. A high quality one to be used at presentations and boat shows and a shorter version for the web. Please click here to view our web video.
GLCC News
Bernida was the first yacht to win the Bayview Mackinac in 1925 and again in 1927 before being declared too fast. After a decade long restoration she came back to win again in 2012! The boat has a rich sailing history at Bayview in Detroit as well as racing for more than 60 years on Lake Michigan out of numerous yacht clubs including the Muskegon Yacht Club and Pentwater Yacht Club over her 92 year run. She will be enshrined at her permanent home at the Michigan Maritime Museum on June 15 at a special fundraiser. See flyer for more details or click HERE to link directly to the event and donor information.
Just in time for the summer season, Detroit Public Television and The Nature Conservancy are teaming up again to bring you another Great Lakes Now town hall event, this time on beaches. The special will feature two panel discussions, hosted by veteran journalist Christy McDonald. Panel 1: "How Safe Are Our Beaches" and Panel 2: "Where Is My Lake?" The panel discussions will take place at Detroit Public Television Studios, May 14, 9 AM - 12 N. The public is invited. See flyer for more information.
The Canadian Coast Guard Radio Station in Thunder Bay is slated to close on March 31, 2014, after 104 years of continuous service. It presently serves boaters on Lake Superior, St. Mary’s River, the North Channel, Northern Lake Huron, Georgian Bay, and Lake Winnipeg. Click HERE to read more.
Yesterday, part of the Apostle Island’s commercial fishing fleet was breaking ice in order to leave the port of Bayfield, WI, on Lake Superior. It is attractive for the fishermen to be working right now, because of the substantially higher market prices for their products. At this time (April 4, 2013), the south shore of the western end of Lake Superior is still covered with heavy pack ice. The ice cover appears to extend about 20 miles from the shore.
The current low water levels are raising considerable concern among north channel harbor communities. For an update from GLCC Honorary Member and Little Current Cruiser's Net Moderator Roy Eaton on actions currently underway to help mitigate the situation, click here.
The March 2013 issue of Lifeline includes a recap of the 27th Lake Superior Annual Mid-Winter Regional Dinner meeting, an invitation to join GLCCSchool and the anticipated Harbor Reports Update Package announcement. Information & registration forms for upcoming events are included here (on-line registration forms are also available via the Events page). Also in this issue, a light-hearted look into fellow members’ (Phil and Althea Doolittle) cruising log. Click HERE to read the issue.
The GLCC will again have a booth at Strictly Sail Boat Show - Chicago being held at Navy Pier from Thursday, January 24, 2013 through Sunday, January 27, 2013. This boat show is the nation's largest indoor all-sail boat show featuring hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the latest sail boats, marine accessories, the newest sail boat gear, hardware from the top suppliers and seminar sessions given every hour for sailors of all abilities. Though the show is focused on sailboats, there are some seminars and exhibited equipment that are relevant for powerboats as well. Click HERE to go to event information page.
When planning your 2013 summer cruise, the Green Bay harbors and anchorages provide an excellent opportunity to explore a unique corner of northwestern Lake Michigan, before or after attending the GLCC Rendezvous in Charlevoix (M-6), MI. There are 4th of July and other summer activities in almost every community. For more information, please click on the headline above.
The December Lifeline has the announcements about the 2013 Rendezvous at Charlevoix, MI, Spring Break at Punta Gorda, FL, and the Lake Superior Mid-Winter Dinner at Duluth, MN, as well as news about the GLCCSchool. Also included are the event reports from the Annual Meetings at Chicago, Wilderness Rally, Lake Huron Rally, Lake Superior Rally, and Lake Erie Regional Meeting. Click HERE for to read the issue.
To check out a short article about our Great Lakes Cruising Club School in the November-December issue of Great Lakes Boating, click Great Lakes Boating. Log in if you're already registered, otherwise click register (it's free), and then proceed to view the virtual November-December issue. The GLCCSchool article is on page 49 of the virtual issue (page 47 of the hard copy if you're a subscriber).
As a part of the harbour improvements ongoing in Meldrum Bay, the main dock, which is badly rotten, is going to be rebuilt. Sadly, this involves the demolition of the iconic freight shed, originally built in 1935. Though considered by many as a heritage building, it was deemed too costly a job to try to save it. Click heading to read full story.
The Great Lakes Cruising Club School today announced the start of its 2012-13 curriculum year. Eight classes are already open for registration, with over thirty more planned between now and May. Also announced were new cooperative education agreements with both the United States Power Squadrons and the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons. The roughly 50,000 USPS and CPS members will now enjoy the same GLCCSchool discounts as GLCC members. Watch for upcoming information on reciprocal USPS and CPS course discounts for GLCC members. Click here for details on these exciting new announcements. We hope to see you in class soon!
This September issue of the Lifeline has the event reports from the 2012 Rendezvous at Parry Sound; the Leamington Rally, the Sarnia Meeting; registration information about the Annual Meeting at Chicago; and announcements about the 2013 Rendezvous at Charlevoix and 2013 Spring Break at Punta Gorda, FL. Also included is information about the Great Lakes Foundation’s award to Grand Marais, MI, breakwater project. Unfortunately, due to space constraints, the publication of the final installment of Aluva Adventures log (Winner of the 2011 Founders’ Award) has been delayed until December. Please CLICK HERE to read the latest Lifeline.
The funding for construction of new breakwater at Grand Marais, Michigan (Grand Marais, Michigan) July [11], 2012 - The Great Lakes Foundation today presented a check for $10,000 to Burt Township Supervisor Jack Hubbard. This grant by the Foundation represents partial funding for the construction of a new breakwater for the Grand Marais Harbor of Refuge. This much needed project has been in the planning and fundraising stages for over five years and construction will be completed this fall.
Wings was hit by lightening while underway on Lake St Clair on July 4th. We got caught in one of those bad squalls that was not predicted, but came up very suddenly. Do you know where your manual bilge pump handle is located on your boat? Click on title above for the full story.
The recent heavy rains, which caused widespread and serious damage along Lake Superior's West End, has impacted the big lake. It can be seen on satellite photos. For a news story about the runoff and its implications, please CLICK HERE to read the Minneapolis Star Tribune's article.
Please CLICK HERE to read the stories about the GLCC’s Spring Break adventures at Charlotte Harbor, FL; the continuing success of the GLCCSchool; the plans for the Wilderness Rally, Lake Superior Rally, Lake Huron Rally, and Lake Erie events; as well as well as the third installment of Aluva Adventures (Winner of the 2011 Founders’ Award).
This is Toronto Brigantines 50th anniversary year & they really want to fill the boats for this 2012 Summer Season. Please help them spread the news of this unique program for teenagers age 13 to 18 (sailors and non-sailors alike. - No sailing experience needed) that are looking for a unique tall ship sail training adventure this summer. Click here for more information www.torontobrigantine.org
If you would like someone from Toronto Brigantine to come and make a presentation about the sailing adventures of the crew of Pathfinder and Playf
There is a new effort to build a tall ship for Lake Superior. They are looking for people who would be willing to serve as board members, as well as financial contributions. Check out their website at https://sites.google.com/site/lakesuperiortallships/
The GLCC again participated the 2012 Toronto International Boat Show. To read Commodore J.E. Fordyce's report, please click here.
Nearly 100 GLCC members and guests attended the 2012 Lake Superior Mid-Winter Dinner in St. Paul, MN.
This brochure provides simple instructions on the requirements to enable boaters and mariners to be compliant with
We are sorry to report
Port-Captain Bruce Arthur came across a group of great photos of waves hitting lighthouses, including a number of Great-Lakes lights.
A memorial tribute—to commemorate the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975—is set for Thursday, November 10, 7 pm, at the Whitefish Point museum, north of Sault Ste. Marie.
A 23-foot wave was recorded by Lake Michigan's mid-lake southern buoy on Friday—the highest since readings began in 1981.
The North-Channel Cruisers' Net performs valuable service for cruisers. Here are two tales of recoveries from 2011...
As most members know, GLCC Commodore J.E. Fordyce and Michèle had planned to head south on Adagio I.
From the Ninth-District weekly notice to mariners:
On Sunday 8/22, in only a few short minutes, a tornado had ravaged parts of this lakeside town, which calls itself "the prettiest town in Canada." It is now in a s