One of the highlights of the presentations made during the Annual Meeting Dinner are the awards given to our members for outstanding contributions to the GLCC.  This year, the award recipients are Past Commodore Niels and Vicki Jensen (Founders Award), Port Captains Sandi & Bill Matley (Award of Merit), and Port Captain Cynthia Sunstrum (Kivell Award). Click here to review the purpose of the awards. Other presentations made at the dinner were Awards of Appreciation to retiring Board members Rear Commodores Roger Hankle and Bob Ogur and Director Vern Meyer. Jim Ehrman was presented his burgee for being elected Rear Commodore, Region 53. Picture is of Port Captain Cynthia Sunstum receiving her award from Commodore Rich Barzyk.

     Stephanie and Paul Carrico have been connected to the Northern Michigan (Oscoda to Alpena) area for the last decade, having met in Alpena prior to getting married. They currently reside in Oscoda during the summer months. Please welcome them as newly appointed Port Captains for Oscoda (AuSable River) (H-64), Harrisville (H-64.5) & Alpena (H-66), Mich.
     Paul has been boating his whole life, primarily on powerboats, but has some sailboat racing experience. Stephanie came to boating through sailing, racing Hobie Cats in the Pacific while attending high school. Please click here to read further.

Let’s welcome (M-14) Leland, Michigan’s new Port Captain Dan Cline! Dan has enjoyed cruising Lake Michigan with his wife Linda on their Island Packet 320 sailboat since 2004. They recently moved to Traverse City & their boat Wildwood berths close by at Betsie Bay Marina in Frankfort (M-16), where Linda holds her Port Captain title. Both are devoting time to exploring northern Lake Michigan, Green Bay, and the Great Lakes. Dan serves as a Director on the GLCC Board and is currently the Chair of the GLCCSchool committee, and previously served on the Club's Website committee. Click here to read more.

     Let's welcome Bill Bailey as the newly appointed Port Captain for Elk Rapids, Mich. (M-7)!
     Bill is a retired teacher who spends his summers onboard Cavalier in Elk Rapids while not cruising to the many harbors, and his winters skiing.
     He started sailing over 30 years ago on a Hobie 16 and enjoyed competing in CRAM (Catamaran Racing Association of Michigan) races for a few years. His current boat is Cavalier, a Freedom 32 that he purchased in Huntington, N.Y. He sailed her from Long Island to Bay City, Mich., and has been cruising the Great Lakes ever since, having sailed all except Superior. Please click here to read more.

Charles' Final Journey (video courtesy of Adam Mastis):  Friends and loved ones gather for the release of GLCC Past Commodore Charles W. Brittan Jr's ashes off the bow of fellow Past Commodore James C. Achesons' boat Lady J. GLCC Chaplain Nelson Stone presided with a commending eulogy. Charles served the Great Lakes Cruising Club membership for 17 years, from 1963 until 1984, as a Director, Treasurer, Rear Commodore, Vice Commodore, Commodore (1980-1981), and finally again as Director as well as Past Commodore in 1982-1984. He was a long-time resident of Illinois and retired to Belleview, Fla., where he resided with Sue Meyer. Please click here to view the video on YouTube.

Fall Lifeline — it's here once again, commencing the official end of summer. Soon we'll be stashing our boats and making preparations for the coming of winter. This fall issue of the Lifeline promises some good reads while looking back at the wonderful memories we've made around our Great Lakes. After the Rendezvous article and centerfold, Lifeline boasts the conclusion of Dave & Colleen Wray's Founders Award log. Port Captain Pat Somers wrote an informative book review on The Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egan. Remember to check out the 2019 Boat Show Schedule on p. 4 and a few save the dates — some fun events to look forward to in the non-boating months! Click here to access the 2018 fall Lifeline magazine, and here for updates and information on GLCC Events.

The Best Great Lakes Anchorages: Five seasoned boaters from the Great Lakes Cruising Club share their favorite getaway spots in this scenic cruiser's paradise. Niels Jensen: When my European friends and family ask me why I sail the Great Lakes — and Lake Superior in particular — I often say that Superior is the size of Austria, and there's nothing like the Great Lakes in the world. They are truly unique. Long recognized as an arm of the ocean, the Great Lakes cover about 95,000 square miles and have enough combined shoreline to span nearly halfway around the world. They can be rough, challenging, and are never to be taken lightly. However, as those of us who are out there know, they provide an enticing playground for summertime boating adventures, provided you keep a close eye on the weather, have a suitable boat for where you plan to go, and know what you're doing. Click here to continue reading at the BoatUS.com.

     Patricia (Pat) Somers has been boating with her husband Brad Somers, Rear Commodore SW Ontario (Ret.) and Port Captain for Amherstburg (D-82) and Bob Lo Island (D-86), Ont. since the early 1980s. Now that she is a retired (sort of) health care executive, Brad and she look forward to spending July and August on Somerscape their 37-foot cruiser traveling the Great Lakes. Pat continues to consult internationally for Accreditation Canada (a Canadian health care regulatory body), but is adamant about keeping July and August devoted to their boating passion. Please click here to read more!

An extensive fire in the Perry Sound area of Georgian Bay, Ontario (Parry Sound 33 fire) has grown to over 11,000 hectare (27,000 acres) as of 8/3/2018 and has caused the closing of the Small Craft Route north of Britt/Byng Inlet.  Boaters must travel outside of the restriced area beween Byng Inlet and Beaverstone Bay outside the Bustards.  Also there is no fuel available between Killarney and Byng Inlet.  Please refer to Harbor Reports for Byng Inlet to the Bustards .and Bad River to Killarney.

Val-Le Fuehrer received her 50 year Member Burgee at the Wilderness Rally held at Keyhole Island this July.  Val-le and her husband Milt joined the GLCC when their children were very young.  Taking them to many Rendezvous and exploring the North Channel, they ventured to many new places during their years of cruising in UGOTABKIDDIN (first a 26ft cabin cruiser then a 37ft sail boat).  Val-le appreciates the many lifelong friends she made during those years and continues to cruise with several of them.  She currently resides in Basalt, CO where she is an active downhill skier during the winter.  Congratulations Val-le on your 50 years as a member of GLCC!