Event reports from the 2013 Rendezvous at Charlevoix, Detroit-Saginaw Bay Regional Dinner Meeting at GPYC, and the Lake Erie Regional Rally. Promos for upcoming GLCC events such as the Annual Meeting and Spring Break 2014.

For many GLCC members and others making offshore passages, Herb Hilgenberg and his free daily "Southbound II" SSB weather broadcast had become an integral part of the their crew. After over 25 years of service to the cruising community, Hilgenberg, age 76, recently retired. While similar services remain available to offshore sailors (for example, GLCCSchool weather instructor Chris Parker's Marine Weather Center), Herb's Ontario-based North Atlantic forecasting and routing services will clearly be missed. We thank Herb for his years of service, and wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement.

What factors are influencing the recent decline in Great Lakes water levels? Changes in precipitation? Warming lake temperatures? Increased outflows? Evaporation? Will these trends continue or reverse? Click here to read an interesting July 27th Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel article examining the factors affecting our Great Lakes.

May 18, 2020: Page updated to reflect correct broken links and reflect Safety at Sea course status as of COVID-19 - W Rohde.

The Cruising Club of America has put together an outstanding checklist for skippers to use whenever new crew or guests are invited aboard. Click here to take a look, and think about using it every time you leave the dock with new crew or guests this summer.

The Friends of the Fort Gratiot Light will sponsor SandFest, the first Master and Professional/Advanced Amateur Sand Sculpting competition in Michigan. The festival will take place July 4-7 and they hope to raise $20,000 to provide a match for the County’s Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program grant application for 2013. You can learn more about the festival by going to their website which is www.bluewatersandfest.com

Two leading boating education organizations with a history of making boating education easy and affordable, have teamed up to offer a fully interactive online seminar for those First Mates who may find themselves needing to take command of the family boat. Partner in Command, from the US Power Squadrons (USPS), in partnership with the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety, aims to acquaint the First Mate with basic skills he or she may need in an emergency. For details about this class click HERE. GLCC members should click USPS Discount for GLCC member registration discount instructions.
Click USPS/BoatUS Info for information about the USPS and the BoatUS Foundation.

The June 2013 issue of Lifeline includes a review of the GLCCSchool year, many descriptive articles regarding upcoming GLCC events, the 2013 Spring Break summary, and the conclusion of the second installment of Secretary Phil and Althea Doolittle’s cruising log. Information & registration forms for upcoming events are available via the Events page.

Click HERE to read the latest issue of the Lifeline.

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.

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.