Cruising The Great Lakes

The five Great Lakes in North America on the US - Canadian boarder are the largest fresh water lakes on earth. They are sometimes referred to as the Inland Seas. Their names are Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. They are so large that they behave like the ocean. 20% of the worlds’ fresh surface water is contained in the Great Lakes, enough water to cover the continental 48 states with nearly 10 feet of water.

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The Great Lakes freeze in the winter. Shipping stops, fishing stops, everything stops in the winter. They have some ice breakers that work in the winter to keep the shipping lanes clear but it is a real battle. This makes cruising the Great Lakes a seasonal event. When it gets close to fall, there is what is called “the Canadian Window” and if one is headed south you need to leave when the window is open. Otherwise you could be stuck in the Great Lakes Region until spring. The Edmund Fitzgerald)was a tanker that sank 30 miles off shore in an early November storm on Lake Superior. All were lost. Boat Insurance is something every boater should have. Below is a picture of a tanker taken by my friend Sam. These tankers are frequently seen on the Great Lakes shipping goods into the heartland of the United States and Canada.

Lake Ontario is the 2nd smallest lake in volume, the smallest lake in area and the lake with a much lower elevation. This is the lake we are most familiar with. This is the lake we crossed a few times and then BAM!…it crossed us. But hey, we don’t hold it against Lake Ontario. That is what the lakes do. They behave like the ocean and you need to listen to the weather and pick your crossings wisely. Just like any other large body of water, cruising the Great Lakes is travel not without risks. Once out on the lakes, land cannot be seen just like the ocean.

Plan your adventure just like you would to cross the ocean or any large body of water. Keep watch. Storms and reefs are a common threat just like the ocean. Your sailing gear needs, rain gear or hardware should be determined before you leave the dock or mooring and readily available while underway.

There are a few differences between The International Regulations for the Prevention of Collision at Sea (COLREGS) and The United States Inland Rules of the waterways that govern the Great Lakes and it's tributaries and they are concentrated in two areas: lights and sounds. In the book, Get Your Captian's License from Magraw-Hill, on page 43 and 805 these rules are noted. The differences are minor but you must be aware of them. For example, standard rules like "red right returning" still apply but when on the Great Lakes and in a narrow channel and you doubt intentions of the other vessel you MUST sound the danger signal where as in International waters (COLREGS) you MAY sound the blast. Like I said, the differences are minor but you should be aware them. On the Great Lakes and on the St. Lawrence Seaway the depths change quickly from 1ft to100ft so always consult the charts of the water you are in especially if it is unfamiliar to you. Have good seamanship just as you would anywhere to stay safe. Make your moves deliberate and early so no one has any doubt what you are planning to do. Always check the weather before heading out, check the systems on board, have backup where needed and cruising the Great Lakes will be a wonderful experience. A Cruising Guide to the Great Lakes and Their Connecting Waterways is always helpful. You wouldn't want to miss anything!

Sailing in the Great Lakes has similiar aspects to sailing in the Bahamas. The islands of the Great Lakes in the 1000 Island Region of upstate New York are very close together just like the Bahamas.

Not all are inhabitable just like the Bahamas. Not all are someplace you would want to stop just like the Bahamas. You can island hop all day long just like the Bahamas. But unlike the Bahamas the water in the Great Lakes is fresh water and it is usually cold. The Great Lakes are filled with glacier water and it is cold. In some bays off the St Lawrence Seaway main river channel, the water temperature in August may get to be around 72 degrees and if the air temperature is in the high 80’s this can feel refreshing but most of the time the water is cold.

Cruising the Great Lakes is something I look forward to doing again. I loved the cool nights, the bright stars, and at times I liked the cold water. I liked the laid back feeling of cruising the Great Lakes, the people we met there and I look forward to going back. I encourage you to cruise the Great Lakes. You will be glad you did.