Summer 2008 Lake Superior Cruise
19 August 2008 | Whitefish Point, MI
John
8/12/08
Whitefish Point, MI
Although it had previously seemed prudent to avoid Whitefish Point based on the description in the GLCC publications, we decided to give it a try after several other sailors who we met along the south shore had mentioned that it had just been dredged. Just in case we had to make alternate plans upon our arrival, we got underway at 0800. Soon, we were ghosting along under spinnaker at 4-5 knots under light westerly winds but that didn't last long and soon we were powering again. We arrived at "the point" around 1530 and were surprised to find a least depth of 11' (LWD) until we were completely into one of the transient slips one of which was being repaired as we arrived. Least depth in the outer slips were 8' at LWD and that depth was read towards the bow close to the dock. We quickly made our way to the Shipwreck museum which to our surprise was open until 1800. We found the museum to be a real unexpected treat with several components including a 20 minute feature film on the recovery of the bell from the Edmond Fitzgerald as well as various displays and artifacts from the many shipwrecks that have occurred off of Whitefish Point. We also were able to tour the restored lightkeepers quarters at the Whitefish Point Light. On the way back to the boat, we picked wild blueberries along the road before the mosquitoes chased us away.
We returned to the boat to find 3 other boats had arrived one of which was an Alberg 35, a sistership to by parents boat that I had spent many summers of my youth on. The owner took great pride in showing me the interior of the vessel.