Past Commodore Mel Wallbank has been appointed as Port Captain for Gore Bay, Ont. (NC-14). Mel was born in England, immigrated to Canada at 14 months of age and grew up in Cambridge and Kitchener, Ont. He started sailing in 1968 on a 13-foot Fireball dinghy on inland lakes and on Lake Huron in Southampton and Port Elgin. In 1976 he bought, trailered and sailed a Hobie 16 with enthusiasm. In 1982 he immigrated to Port Huron where he has lived since, for 36 years. He is married to Mariette Labrosse, who is a fine cruising companion and outstanding cook aboard Bliss. He is a proud father of a grown son and daughter, grandfather of three children. Please click here to read more!

     Jim Willett is our new Port Captain for Barcelona Harbor, N.Y. (E-3.5) & Conneaut, Ohio (E-5). If you stop by, please give him and Kathy a hearty "Ahoy!" Here's a little about their boating experiences...
     Kathy, the four kids and I relocated to Erie, Penn. in 1986, and I purchased our first sailboat, a Tanzer 22. It was our learning boat, and learning by watching others and reading all we could. Please click here to read further.

After serving as GLCC Port Pilot and Harbor Report Chair since 2012, plus being involved in Harbor Report editing prior to that, Lou Bruska has decided to retire. Commodore Barzyk was pleased to recently announce that Julie Thorndycraft and husband Dan Deweese have agreed to assume duties as Harbor Report co-editors effective April 1st. For more information on Lou's contributions over the years and Dan's and Julie's extensive backgrounds as they take over this critical GLCC function, click HERE. Thanks and best wishes to Lou, and congratulations to Julie and Dan.

​     Mike Powers has been appointed Port Captain for an additional harbor; Monroe, Mich. (E-23). His homeport is located at Bolles Harbor, Mich. (E-22), where he and his wife Kathy have served as GLCC Port Captains since 2012. They have been members of the Monroe Boat Club since 2008 where Mike has served as Power Fleet Captain, Financial Secretary, Rear Commodore, Vice Commodore, Commodore and Past Commodore. He previously served the I-LYA as Trustee in 2015 and as Powerboat Chair in 2016 and was honored by being named Mid-America Boating’s Skipper of the Year in 2016. Please click here to read on!

Now is the time to join the Great Lakes Cruising Club during our annual January and February Membership Drive. Click here to join and save $25 off the $90 initiation fee during January and February. Watch a quick video about the Club here.

     Please join us in welcoming Mary Micket as newly appointed Port Captain for Irondequoit Bay, N.Y. (O-5.7). Mary has volunteered the past few years in the GLCC booth at the Toronto Boat Show and attended the Lake Ontario Rally for many years. This year she is part of the event’s planning committee. As Port Captain, she looks forward to helping fellow GLCC cruisers visiting Irondequoit Bay. Here's a bit about her and her husband's crusing experiences...
     My husband Wes and I began boating in the late 1980s by renting house boats and cruising in the Thousand Island area of the St. Lawrence River. In 2001 we purchased our first boat, a 32-foot Wellcraft cabin cruiser. Southpoint Marina in the Irondequiot Bay is minutes from our home and we enjoyed many nice weeknights onboard after work. Please click here to read more..

     Congratulations to newly appointed Port Captains George Dew and Hélène Carrière for Collins Bay, Ont. (O-14)!
     George is a retired engineer / project manager; Hélène is a retired university administrator. Residents of Gatineau, Québec, they have sailed out of Collins Bay since 2017.
     Both learned to sail while members of the Georgian Bay Sailing Centre, which operated out of Parry Sound in the early 1980s. From the first time they met on a dock in Parry Sound they cruised together on the club’s Edel 22 and Gib’Sea 36. During that time George’s experience also included two Great Lakes transport trips between Parry Sound and Kingston (Lake Ontario) via the lakes and the Welland Canal. Please click here to read on.

     We welcome new Port Captains for Marblehead, Ohio (E-16.6) Alan & Eileen Clark. Here’s what Alan had to say in their bio…
     While raising two children we were looking for a way to bring the family closer and eliminate outside distractions. We have always had a love for water. Sailing looked so relaxing while challenging and intriguing, it enticed us look further into this sport.
     I started sailing when I was 40 and coaxed my wife Eileen into it also!
     On Grand Lake St. Marys, Ohio, we raced and cruised a Catalina 22 for ten years. We then moved up to a Catalina 25, racing and cruising on Grand Lake St. Marys for eleven years. We trailered our Catalina 25 to Cleveland for their race week (we took second place!). This was our first experience on Lake Erie with our boat. Please click here to read more.

​Director (and Rear Commodore (Ret)) Mark Lifter was recently presented the Theuerkorn Award by the Detroit Yacht Club for his outstanding contribution to that organization.  Mark has been the President of the DYC Foundation since its formation which has overseen the restoration of the historic DYC building which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Mark received the award from DYC Commodore Ray Batt.  Also an active member of the GLCC, Mark is currently a Director, was Rear Commodore, Region 47 for 5 year and is Port Captain, Detroit (M-54),

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.