The famous freighter Arthur M. Anderson finally made it into port for winter lay-up on March 4.  It's month-long futile slog from Indiana to Ohio to pick up cargo ended with it returning to Sturgeon Bay, WS with empty holds.  It looks like this winter's ice build up on the Great Lakes will be a repeat of last year's deep freeze when the shipping slowdown cost 4000 jobs and $705 million in economic losses.  See full article here. 

A link has been added to the Weather, Navigation & Marine section of Links to view maps of the ice buildup on the Great Lakes.

An update to the "Introduction to the Great Lakes Cruising Club" presentation is now available for member download and use. The update incorporates information on the club's new Facebook page, information on current membership pricing, and other enhancements. PowerPoint and PDF versions of the slides and a PDF notes view document with presentation suggestions are available for immediate download to present at yacht clubs or other organizations.

NOAA and the British Geological Survey recently completed the most current update of their World Magnetic Model (WMM). For information on this model and what it means to you, click HERE.

Edward T. "Ted" Youngs was recently awarded the prestigious William J. Kivell Award for outstanding Port Captain.  Ted has been Port Captain for Wiarton, ON (GB-12) since 1996.  Ted was unable to attend the 2014 Annual General Meeting where the award was announced; Georgian Bay Rear Commodore David Brace accepted the award on Ted's behalf. David presented the plaque to him on Nov. 14 with his daughter and son-in-law, GLCC members Kathryn and Harold Braun in attendance. Harold is Deputy Port Captain of Wiarton.

The club's new Facebook presence is now up and running! To take a look click here or go to Facebook and search for Great Lakes Cruising Club. While the glcclub.com web site will remain the club's primary source for member services such as harbor reports, member benefit info, event registration and more, our new Facebook page offers a complimentary environment for existing and potential club members to share and interact around common cruising interests. Don't delay! Check it out today, add your "LIKE", invite your boating friends, and join in the community conversation!

In this, our final installment of the 80th anniversary review of vintage Harbor Reports, we saved the Big One for last. Lake Superior's superlatives are well known, so there's no need to list them. Cruising on this lake does require some foreknowledge, so let's go back to 1953, when this report was published, and get a first hand feel for the lake 60 years ago. Click Here to view the old report. Then visit the two current overview reports S-00 and S-0.5. We, truly, have come a long way baby!

So sang Gordon Lightfoot.  It is true the Great Lakes are blessed, each lake has islands and bays beckoning the boater.  Some are quite compact, while others sprawling, but in all cases they offer places to anchor and explore.  Lake Ontario has it own island area, the Bay of Quinte in the east end.  This month we explore that calm and sheltered locale through the 1955 Harbour Report,.  The old photos and hand annotated charts are worth a peek.  Click HERE to view the old report

The GLCC web site has been enhanced to allow members to better manage their annual recurring dues credit card payments.  Please click the title to read more about this important change. 
Added comment to not set up a new recurring dues payment until after October 1 when dues become payable.

As we continue our journey through the Great Lakes via vintage Harbor Reports, it’s time to visit the gateway to Lake Ontario and the Southern Terminus of the Welland Canal, Port Colborne.  The old report E-25 Port Colborne was a mere 4 pages long.  We now have three reports to cover the same ground: E-25 Port Colborne, E-25.5 Welland Cana and O-10 Port Weller.  Click HERE to visit the 1950 report and as usual check out the other three report listed above.

This year’s Gadget Hour was hosted by Brad Somers and what an hour it was.  We are used to seeing many useful gadgets that make our boating just a little bit easier or helps us while boating in time of need.  We saw things like Pipe Insulation, Bilge Snatchers, a Winchrite battery pack, a Temperature Sensor, Downy Softener for lines, Tide Soap Pods, an Ear Ring Holder, a Happy Hooker…just to name a few.   Click title for more info.