The RonJon 2007 Summer Sailing Safari

Official Blog

June 15

We did indeed cover 883 miles in one day.  We met at Catawba YC at 5:30 AM, hooked up the trailer and off we went.  The bulk of the trip was a straight shot up 77.  Then across Ohio on I-80.  Finally north into Michigan and then west on I-96 where we encountered our first RCA [road construction ahead].  We slowed twice but at least the traffic kept moving.  We arrived at Whitehall, Michigan and White Lake Yacht club at 8:30 PM - 883 miles in 15 hours.  We decided to save a buck and camp on the first leg of the safari.  After meeting the folks at White Lake, we were directed to a pretty lake side spot to pitch John's tent.  After dinner on the deck at Sam's Bistro in Whitehall, we crashed and slept.  My new air mattress from Susan was just what the doctor ordered.  A hi-light of this day was the spectacular view of the stars through the roof of John's tent.  Incredible.

June 16

We rose at 6 and unpacked our boats.  We did not know what to expect with only six boats pre-registered.  11 other boats showed though and we found ourselves in a fleet of 17 boats.  After a brief morning shower, the skies cleared and the wind filled in - a perfect 8 knot breeze.

In sailing terminology, we got our rear ends handed to us.  The northern sailors dominated.  I can't say we sailed that bad.  We were on the line for starts.  We didn't have any major issues.  But no matter what we seemed to do, we were always backpacking by the first mark and not much improved after that.  We avoided the cellar, but not much after that.  It was great practice, but that was about it.

We socialized at the club after racing and ate dinner on site.  Strangely, there was no formal regatta party.  We were on own for dinner which we ate at the club snack bar.. 

White Lake has a short canal that empties into Lake Michigan.  As a result, it is common to see spectacular yachts and sailboats in the lake.  Many boaters use White Lake for safe harbor, but routinely venture into Lake Michigan.  An overnight trip across the lake to Chicago is quite common.  The yacht club has a multitude of members who live aboard large yachts during the summer.  The clubhouse is two stories high with a fully staffed snack bar inside.  The club also has a pool.  There is a golf course across the street.  The club features wireless Internet which allowed me to make this post.  In the winter, EVERYONE removes their boats for winter storage as White Lake will freeze completely and ice boat racing is the only winter activity on the lake.

White Lake is a beautiful sailing venue. It is long and narrow like Lake Wylie, but the area in front of the club is wide enough for racing in most directions. I will say that that racing legs were very short by regatta standards.  That contributed to very crowded mark roundings.  Most leeward roundings were tantamount to bumper boats - and I didn't see anyone take turns.  Windward roundings were even worse.

That evening it was a little disappointing to realize there was NO regatta party.  Everyone was on their own.  We ate at the club snack bar.  Later that evening we drove out to the channel cut to see Lake Michigan.  You might as well be watching the ocean.

Tomorrow is day 2 of the Spencer Weershing regatta.  We hope to fair better.

June 17

We arose and drove into town for breakfast at McDonald's.  By 9 AM, we were headed out for day two of the regatta.  Our racing was more of Saturday.  I couldn't find a layline to save my life and in race one actually stalled at a windward mark and got passed by the remainder of the fleet.  I managed slightly better in race two and did put up my finish of the regatta with a sixteen out of twenty.   John managed a 17 in race five.  We packed up our boats to head further north.  After the awards ceremony we found John finished 18 and I finished 19. 

That afternoon we drove north up the coast to Manistee, Michigan.  We sprung for a night in a local Days Inn and had dinner on the Manistee waterfront.

Interesting hi-lites.

"We'd like to recognize John Holmes and Ron White who drove fifteen hours from South Carolina to be here!"