Muskegon, MI to Chicago on a CD25?

[Dan H]

I am hoping to sail my new old 1977 CD25 from Muskegon, MI across lake Michigan to Chicago my home town... It is a distance of 119 NM as the crow flies. I would like to do this the first weekend in May. I never undertaken such a crossing. My experience on Lake Michigan is racing Shields no more than five or six miles off Chicago. I have also done a little (read very little) coastal cruising on Nantucket sound in a Typhoon, but that was over twenty years ago. I am looking for advice on A) My sanity B)Is early May too early to make the crossing? C) All the practical tips you can muster regarding weather, best route, which charts, best time of day to start, what to read, etc. I look forward reading your experiences and suggestions. Thanks.



djhhan@aol.com

[Bruce Bett]

Dan:

Your sanity’s fine. Your boat can cross that lake. There’s a lot of good sailing in May. DO NOT let yourself get locked into the idea of doing the crossing on any particular weekend in May. If I were you I’d arrange for temper dockage on Lake Muskegon. Put your boat in the water. Do a shake down sail on Lake Muskegon. Sail out onto lake Michigan. Get the feel of the boat. Sit tight for a favorable 48 hour forecast. I estimate the speed of my CD 25 at 5 (statute) mph. At that rate your looking at a bit more then 24 hours for your crossing. Take and experienced crewmember or two with you. Set watches, pack a lunch and have a blast.

Bruce

I am hoping to sail my new old 1977 CD25 from Muskegon, MI across lake Michigan to Chicago my home town... It is a distance of 119 NM as the crow flies. I would like to do this the first weekend in May. I never undertaken such a crossing. My experience on Lake Michigan is racing Shields no more than five or six miles off Chicago. I have also done a little (read very little) coastal cruising on Nantucket sound in a Typhoon, but that was over twenty years ago. I am looking for advice on A) My sanity B)Is early May too early to make the crossing? C) All the practical tips you can muster regarding weather, best route, which charts, best time of day to start, what to read, etc. I look forward reading your experiences and suggestions. Thanks.

bettb@macomb.cc.mi.us

[Jerry Hammernik]

Dan,
I crossed Lake Michigan many times in my 78 CD25. I usually try to get to my destination in daylight if I haven't been to that harbor before. Chicago is your home port, but have you arrived at night. It can be confusing! Be sure to have good navigation equipment, charts and GPS. Don't get locked in on a day to depart. Mother Nature always wins an argument! You want at least one other crew on board. I would recommend at least 12 gal of fuel. I always took that much along. Usually you don't need it but I crossed once with a forecast of 10 to 15 and saw a peak wind of 2 mph. You might want to consider going "straight" across to Wisconsin and then going down the coast. A longer trip but you'll have harbors of refuge as you go south. If you lack some necessary piece of gear (safety harness, jack lines, etc.) borrow or buy, but don't go without. Make sure the VHF is working and file a float plan. Good luck! The boat can take a lot more than the crew can! Remember, the only dumb question is the one you don't ask.
Jerry Hammernik
Lion's Paw CD28 #341

I am hoping to sail my new old 1977 CD25 from Muskegon, MI across lake Michigan to Chicago my home town... It is a distance of 119 NM as the crow flies. I would like to do this the first weekend in May. I never undertaken such a crossing. My experience on Lake Michigan is racing Shields no more than five or six miles off Chicago. I have also done a little (read very little) coastal cruising on Nantucket sound in a Typhoon, but that was over twenty years ago. I am looking for advice on A) My sanity B)Is early May too early to make the crossing? C) All the practical tips you can muster regarding weather, best route, which charts, best time of day to start, what to read, etc. I look forward reading your experiences and suggestions. Thanks.

dauntles@execpc.com

[Jay Hubbard]

I am hoping to sail my new old 1977 CD25 from Muskegon, MI across lake Michigan to Chicago my home town... It is a distance of 119 NM as the crow flies. I would like to do this the first weekend in May. I never undertaken such a crossing. My experience on Lake Michigan is racing Shields no more than five or six miles off Chicago. I have also done a little (read very little) coastal cruising on Nantucket sound in a Typhoon, but that was over twenty years ago. I am looking for advice on A) My sanity B)Is early May too early to make the crossing? C) All the practical tips you can muster regarding weather, best route, which charts, best time of day to start, what to read, etc. I look forward reading your experiences and suggestions. Thanks.

You already got great advice but I wanted to 2nd Jerry's suggestion of crossing the lake first and then heading south. The prevailing wind will probably be southwest if its a normal May. By heading across to Milwaukee you have a short crossing and then when heading south if it gets really breezy you can stay inshore and avoid a lot of the chop. In addition, Milwaukee, especially the south end is easy to enter if your running late. Heading south Kenosha, Winthrop Harbor & Waukegan have direct trains into Chicago if you need to leave the boat.

Jay Hubbard
CD28 Rope Yarn



mailbox1@worldnet.att.net

[Dan H]

Well then, its a go. My plan is pretty much what you suggest. I have a couple of people in mind, that have made the crossing, as crew. My first choice is person I bought the boat from.

Dan:

Your sanity’s fine. Your boat can cross that lake. There’s a lot of good sailing in May. DO NOT let yourself get locked into the idea of doing the crossing on any particular weekend in May. If I were you I’d arrange for temper dockage on Lake Muskegon. Put your boat in the water. Do a shake down sail on Lake Muskegon. Sail out onto lake Michigan. Get the feel of the boat. Sit tight for a favorable 48 hour forecast. I estimate the speed of my CD 25 at 5 (statute) mph. At that rate your looking at a bit more then 24 hours for your crossing. Take and experienced crewmember or two with you. Set watches, pack a lunch and have a blast.

Bruce

I am hoping to sail my new old 1977 CD25 from Muskegon, MI across lake Michigan to Chicago my home town... It is a distance of 119 NM as the crow flies. I would like to do this the first weekend in May. I never undertaken such a crossing. My experience on Lake Michigan is racing Shields no more than five or six miles off Chicago. I have also done a little (read very little) coastal cruising on Nantucket sound in a Typhoon, but that was over twenty years ago. I am looking for advice on A) My sanity B)Is early May too early to make the crossing? C) All the practical tips you can muster regarding weather, best route, which charts, best time of day to start, what to read, etc. I look forward reading your experiences and suggestions. Thanks.

djhhan@aol.com

[Dan H]

Good idea sailing across to Milwaukee and then south. I have been investigating that type of alternative instead of trying a direct run. I was looking at sailing down the coast on the Michigan side and then crossing at Chicago latitude. If I push far south to Michigan City, it is less than 40 miles across vs. 77 miles up at Milwaukee latitude. In your experience, is one coast better than the other? I suppose wind direction will have some impact as far as favored tack.
What kind of distance do you get out of 12 gallons fuel?

Dan,
I crossed Lake Michigan many times in my 78 CD25. I usually try to get to my destination in daylight if I haven't been to that harbor before. Chicago is your home port, but have you arrived at night. It can be confusing! Be sure to have good navigation equipment, charts and GPS. Don't get locked in on a day to depart. Mother Nature always wins an argument! You want at least one other crew on board. I would recommend at least 12 gal of fuel. I always took that much along. Usually you don't need it but I crossed once with a forecast of 10 to 15 and saw a peak wind of 2 mph. You might want to consider going "straight" across to Wisconsin and then going down the coast. A longer trip but you'll have harbors of refuge as you go south. If you lack some necessary piece of gear (safety harness, jack lines, etc.) borrow or buy, but don't go without. Make sure the VHF is working and file a float plan. Good luck! The boat can take a lot more than the crew can! Remember, the only dumb question is the one you don't ask.
Jerry Hammernik
Lion's Paw CD28 #341

I am hoping to sail my new old 1977 CD25 from Muskegon, MI across lake Michigan to Chicago my home town... It is a distance of 119 NM as the crow flies. I would like to do this the first weekend in May. I never undertaken such a crossing. My experience on Lake Michigan is racing Shields no more than five or six miles off Chicago. I have also done a little (read very little) coastal cruising on Nantucket sound in a Typhoon, but that was over twenty years ago. I am looking for advice on A) My sanity B)Is early May too early to make the crossing? C) All the practical tips you can muster regarding weather, best route, which charts, best time of day to start, what to read, etc. I look forward reading your experiences and suggestions. Thanks.

djhhan@aol.com

[Jerry Hammernik]

Dan,
I've always said that Michigan got the better side of the Lake. You have a harbor of refuge no farther than 30 miles apart over there. That means you're never more than 15 miles from safe harbor. I'd play it by ear based on the wind direction. If you get a south wind head across to Wisconsin. If the wind is east, west, or north head south on the Michigan shore. 12 gallons would allow me to cross the Lake under power the whole way. (Only had to do that once.) Fuel economy was much better at 5 knots than 6. A six gallon tank would last about 8 hours. Good luck!
Jerry Hammernik
Lion's Paw CD 28 #341

Good idea sailing across to Milwaukee and then south. I have been investigating that type of alternative instead of trying a direct run. I was looking at sailing down the coast on the Michigan side and then crossing at Chicago latitude. If I push far south to Michigan City, it is less than 40 miles across vs. 77 miles up at Milwaukee latitude. In your experience, is one coast better than the other? I suppose wind direction will have some impact as far as favored tack.
What kind of distance do you get out of 12 gallons fuel?

Dan,
I crossed Lake Michigan many times in my 78 CD25. I usually try to get to my destination in daylight if I haven't been to that harbor before. Chicago is your home port, but have you arrived at night. It can be confusing! Be sure to have good navigation equipment, charts and GPS. Don't get locked in on a day to depart. Mother Nature always wins an argument! You want at least one other crew on board. I would recommend at least 12 gal of fuel. I always took that much along. Usually you don't need it but I crossed once with a forecast of 10 to 15 and saw a peak wind of 2 mph. You might want to consider going "straight" across to Wisconsin and then going down the coast. A longer trip but you'll have harbors of refuge as you go south. If you lack some necessary piece of gear (safety harness, jack lines, etc.) borrow or buy, but don't go without. Make sure the VHF is working and file a float plan. Good luck! The boat can take a lot more than the crew can! Remember, the only dumb question is the one you don't ask.
Jerry Hammernik
Lion's Paw CD28 #341

I am hoping to sail my new old 1977 CD25 from Muskegon, MI across lake Michigan to Chicago my home town... It is a distance of 119 NM as the crow flies. I would like to do this the first weekend in May. I never undertaken such a crossing. My experience on Lake Michigan is racing Shields no more than five or six miles off Chicago. I have also done a little (read very little) coastal cruising on Nantucket sound in a Typhoon, but that was over twenty years ago. I am looking for advice on A) My sanity B)Is early May too early to make the crossing? C) All the practical tips you can muster regarding weather, best route, which charts, best time of day to start, what to read, etc. I look forward reading your experiences and suggestions. Thanks.

dauntles@execpc.com