SailMichigan's "Top-10" most-searched lakes for 2016

Big Portage Lake (Washtenaw/Livingston) - Most searched for 2016

As we look back on 2016, it is time to note which inland lakes garnered the most attention (i.e. visits by SailMichigan.org users) during the year. Our annual website ("top-10") analysis shows that the lakes which were popular in 2015 were still popular in 2016 although the rank order had shuffled. The list is an interesting one including some large, well-known destinations, as well as lakes of regional interest. The name of each lake below is linked to its corresponding SailMichigan information page. 



If you are personally familiar with these lakes, you are welcome to include your own impressions through our SailRating feature/button located on each lake page. 

Number 10:    Whitmore Lake, Livingston/Washtenaw County
Whitmore Lake is a typical kettle lake found in Southeast Michigan. At 667 acres and a maximum depth of 69 feet, it is in easy driving distance of Ann Arbor, Novi, Howell/Brighton. It is adjacent and supported by the town of Whitmore Lake. Although its waters are open and generally sailable, it does suffer from an undersized DNR ramp. The lake has a SailRating of 3 stars (1 review).

Number 9:      Clark Lake, Jackson County
Clark Lake is a 580 acre kettle lake in Jackson County. Although the public access to this lake is shallow and under-improved, the lake is well supported by the Clark Lake Yacht Club. The club hosts several one-design and open regattas a year. The lake has a SailRating of 3+ stars (2 reviews)

Number 8:     Diamond Lake, Cass County
Diamond Lake is a moderately sized 1041 acre lake with a 43 acre island and a single DNR access point. Serving as the home waters for the Diamond Lake Yacht Club, this lake has a maximum depth of 64 feet and a SailRating of 4 stars (1 review).

Number 7:      Cass Lake, Oakland County
At 1278 acres, Cass Lake is the largest lake in Oakland County. This popular lake serves as the home for the Pontiac Yacht Club and is primarily access through Dodge State Park #4. Public access through this park has recently been upgraded. The PYC reports that it is possible to sail 3/4 mile on most points of sail. The lake is currently un-SailRated.

Number 6:      Lake Charlevoix, Charlevoix County
At over 17,000 acres in size, Lake Charlevoix shows up on many national lists as a sailing destination. As the 4th largest inland lake by area, and a portal to Lake Michigan, it serves has the home waters for both the Charlevoix Yacht Club and the Boyne City Yacht Club. The lake is supported by at least 7 public access points and serves as the site for annual numerous regattas. The lake has a SailRating of 4 stars (1 review).

Number 5:      Crystal Lake, Montcalm County
As the smaller of the two Crystal Lakes in the SailMichigan database, this Crystal Lake is a 760 acre kettle lake with a maximum depth of 70 feet. This clear inland lake is supported by the Crystal Sailing Club which offers a family-focused atmosphere. The lake has a SailRating of 3 stars (3 reviews).

Number 4:      Stony Creek Lake, Macomb County
At only 428 acres (maximum depth of 23 ft), how does this lake come in at number 4? It must be location, location, location. Located near the population centers of Detroit, this lake is located within a popular Metropark and provides a number of amenities. Sailing on the lake is supported by the Creekfleet Sailing Club, which provides open opportunities for mixed-class, fun-focused sailing. The lake has a SailRating of 4 stars (3 reviews).

Number 3:      Muskegon Lake, Muskegon County
On the western side of the state, Muskegon Lake (4231 acre) is a popular lake, which provides direct access to Lake Michigan. As the home of the Harbour Towne Yacht Club and Torresen Marine, this lake is a popular sailing destination and is served by at least 5 public launches. The lake has a SailRating of 4 stars (3 reviews).

Number 2:      Crystal Lake, Benzie County
Although of the same name as number 5, this lake sports a maximum depth of 165 feet and a size of 9854 acres. If the location, size, and beauty of this lake isn't enough, the fact that it's DNR access has been vastly improved should make this lake a destination. This 9th largest Michigan inland lake is supported by the Crystal Lake Yacht Club. Most of the lake's public access points are located on its southern shore. The lake has a SailRating of 4 stars (1 review).

Number 1:      Big Portage Lake, Washtenaw County
As one of at least 5 Michigan lakes bearing the Portage name, this one in Washtenaw/Livingston County is 644 acres in size and is supported by the Portage Yacht Club. Due to the nature of the ramp, public access to this lake can be a little challenging for dinghy sailors. However, those finding their way onto the water, or at a PYC regatta will finding generally open sailing. The lake has a 3 star SailRating (2 reviews).

Okay, there you have it. But what about the Great Lakes? Because of their multiple ramp opportunities, and geographic range, it is harder to nail them down. Based on visits to our summary Great Lakes pages however, Lake Michigan would appear to have the most interest. Suggestions, comments, rebuttals? Please leave us a comment below.

Isn't it time for Strictly Sail to be in Michigan?

Next week, the annual "Strictly" Sail event will be conducted with the Chicago Boat and RV show at the McCormick Place complex in Chicago. Although in previous years, Strictly Sail meant only sailboats or sail-powered craft, financial/attendence reasons have caused it to be folded into a show with other attractions, thus no longer "strict". Strictly Sail is actually a regional sailing-themed event, sponsored by Progressive Insurance, held around the country. For some reason, the Midwest offering of this event has been anchored in Chicago.

Having attended the show a couple of times myself, I will go out on a limb here and say enough is enough, it is time for this show to be held in Michigan. The event can be stand-alone or in conjunction with the Detroit Boat Show or other suitable event.

Let's look at it from a Michigan perspective and assuming it would move to Detroit:

Detroit is associated with Great Lake sailing and is home to notable historic yacht clubs. Although Illinois is associated with 1 Great Lake, Michigan is associated with .... hello?.... 4 Great Lakes (with Lake Saint Clair to boot). Detroit is considered to be a burgeoning destination location with new development and vitalization. Chicago is .... well .... hmm ..... just turn on the news. Detroit/Michigan would draw internationally from Canada as well as from other Great Lake states. If that is not enough....

• Michigan serves as the destination for two of the longest freshwater sailing races in the world.
• Michigan serves as the home to the manufacture of several one-design classes. 
• Detroit is home to the DN iceboat class. 
• More Michigan colleges have sailing teams in the Midwest Collegiate Sailing Association than Illinois colleges. 
• The number of yacht/sail clubs in Michigan outnumber those in Illinois by at least 3:1.
• Michigan tourism, supported by the Pure Michigan campaign, is second to none.

And let's face it, if it came down to a battle between the Tall ships in each state...... Michigan wins again! So what do we do about this? Well, SailMichigan can't pull this off (we are but "poor and humble pirates"), but what about Bayview Yacht Club?, the Michigan Boat Industries Association?, Pure Michigan?, the collective voices of collegiate teams and other yacht and sail clubs, the collective voices of boat manufacturers and dealers?? 

Strictly Sail DETROIT 2018?   What do you say?

Planning your Michigan Sailing Vacation

SailMichigan Summer Sailcation Planning Guide

1959 Interlake "on vacation"

"I have a trailerable sailboat"

For the "have boat, will travel" crowd, SailMichigan can help you in your exploration. 

1. Click the Find a Lake tab on the SailMichigan.org site.
2. Search for your sailing lake by general location (i.e. city, county or zip code), or lake features (depth, area, keywords, etc). Click Search.
3. Explore your possible choices to narrow down the lakes, or access points which are most promising.
4. Click the "Download MDNR or NOAA Map" button to print out a DNR map or NOAA Booklet chart for your chosen lake.
5. For lodging, click on the VRBO banner in the sidebar of the lake information page. On the VRBO page, enter the name of the lake (or nearest town), Michigan and search.
6. Click on the "More filters" tab and select "Lakefront or Lake view or Beachfront or Beach view". Then click "Apply filters".
7. Click on a map region or on the name of the nearest town. Explore the offerings provided.

"I have keelboat which is not easy to trailer"

  For those exploring the Great Lakes, we have these suggestions.

1. Click the "Great Lakes" tab at SailMichigan.org and select your Great Lake of interest.
2. For Lake Michigan or Lake Huron, click on the "Cruising" link. For other lakes select the link for that lake.
3. Click on the County which will serve as your home base or destination.
4. Click the "Download MDNR or NOAA Map" button to print out a NOAA Booklet chart for your chosen access point.
5. To reserve a slip at a nearby Michigan public marina/harbor, click here. 
6. Explore the additional resources provided on the individual Great Lakes information pages.
7. If separate lodging is needed, click on the VRBO banner in the sidebar of the lake information page. On the VRBO page enter the lake name (or nearest town), Michigan and search.
8. Click on the "More filters" tab and select "Lakefront or Lake view or Beachfront or Beach view". Then click "Apply filters".
9. Click on a map region or on the name of the nearest town. Explore the offerings provided.

 "I don't have a boat but I want a sailing experience"

 For folks who want sailing as a nice diversion but not the focus.

1. From April through September there are numerous regattas, races and festivals planned. Many of these are annual occurrences with some occurring every two or so years. Consult the SailMichigan events page to see what sailing events are going on during your planned vacation timeframe (note that many events will not be posted until about April).
2. Please visit our Tall Ships and Maritime Associations page, as well as our Sailboat Charters page for day-sail or cruise opportunities. These opportunities range from 2 hour cruises on 80' Tall-masted ships to 4 or more hour charters on modern 30-50' sailboats.
3. Check the nearest Yacht/Sail Club or Community Sail Club to your vacation destination to learn of any opportunities for a daysail or community outreach event.

SailMichigan's Top 10 "most searched" lakes for 2015

As 2015 comes to a close, it is time to see which inland lakes garnered the most attention (i.e. visits) by SailMichigan users during the year. The list is an interesting one including some large, well-known destinations as well as lakes of regional interest. Each lake below is linked to its corresponding SailMichigan information page. If you are personally familiar with these lakes, you are welcome to include your own impressions through our SailRating feature/button located on each lake page.

Number 10:     Diamond Lake, Cass County
Diamond Lake is a moderately sized 1041 acre lake with a 43 acre island and a single DNR access point. Serving as the home waters for the Diamond Lake Yacht Club, this lake has a maximum depth of 64 feet and a SailRating of 4 stars (1 review).

Number 9:      Whitmore Lake, Livingston/Washtenaw County
Whitmore Lake is a typical kettle lake found in Southeast Michigan. At 667 acres and a maximum depth of 69 feet, it is in easy driving distance of Ann Arbor, Novi, Howell/Brighton. It is adjacent and supported by the town of Whitmore Lake. Although its waters are open and generally sailable, it does suffer from an undersized DNR ramp. The lake has a SailRating of 3 stars (1 review).

Number 8:      Muskegon Lake, Muskegon County
Muskegon Lake is large (4231 acre) popular lake, which provides direct access to Lake Michigan. As the home of the Harbour Towne Yacht Club and Torresen Marine, this lake is a popular sailing destination and is served by at least 5 public launches. The lake has a SailRating of 4 stars (3 reviews).

Number 7:      Clark Lake, Jackson County
Clark Lake is a 580 acre kettle lake in Jackson County. Although the public access to this lake is shallow and under-improved, the lake is well supported by the Clark Lake Yacht Club. The club hosts several one-design and open regattas a year. The lake has a SailRating of 3+ stars (2 reviews)

Number 6:      Cass Lake, Oakland County
At 1278 acres, Cass Lake is the largest lake in Oakland County. This popular lake serves as the home for the Pontiac Yacht Club and is primarily access through Dodge State Park #4. Public access through this park has recently been upgraded. The PYC reports that it is possible to sail 3/4 mile on most points of sail. The lake is currently un-SailRated.

Number 5:      Lake Charlevoix, Charlevoix County
At over 17,000 acres in size, Lake Charlevoix shows up on many national lists as a sailing destination. As the 4th largest inland lake by area, and a portal to Lake Michigan, it serves has the home waters for both the Charlevoix Yacht Club and the Boyne City Yacht Club. The lake is supported by at least 7 public access points and serves as the site for numerous regattas. The lake has a SailRating of 4 stars (1 review).

Number 4:      Crystal Lake, Montcalm County
As the smaller of the two Crystal Lakes in the SailMichigan database, this Crystal Lake is a 760 acre kettle lake with a maximum depth of 70 feet. This clear inland lake is supported by the Crystal Sailing Club which offers a family atmosphere. The lake has a SailRating of 3 stars (3 reviews).

Number 3:      Stony Creek Lake, Macomb County
At only 428 acres (maximum depth of 23 ft), how does this lake come in at number 3? It must be location, location, location. Located near the population centers of Detroit, this lake is located within a popular Metropark and provides a number of amenities. Sailing on the lake is supported by the Creekfleet Sailing Club, which provides open opportunities for mixed-class, fun-focused sailing. The lake has a SailRating of 4 stars (3 reviews).

Number 2:      Crystal Lake, Benzie County
Although of the same name as number 4, this lake sports a maximum depth of 165 feet and a size of 9854 acres. If the location, size, and beauty of this lake isn't enough, the fact that it's DNR access has been vastly improved should make this lake a destination. This 9th largest Michigan inland lake is supported by the Crystal Lake Yacht Club. Most of the lake's public access points are located on its southern shore. The lake has a SailRating of 4 stars (1 review).

Number 1:      Big Portage Lake, Washtenaw County
As one of at least 5 Michigan lakes bearing the Portage name, this one in Washtenaw/Livingston County is 644 acres in size and is supported by the Portage Yacht Club. Due to the nature of the ramp, public access to this lake can be difficult for dinghy sailors. However those finding their way onto the water, or at a PYC regatta will finding generally open sailing. The lake has a 3 star SailRating (2 reviews).

Okay, there you have it. But what about the Great Lakes? Because of their multiple ramp opportunities, and geographic range, it is harder to nail them down. Based on visits to our summary Great Lakes pages however, Lake Michigan would appear to have the most interest. Suggestions, comments, rebuttals? Please leave us a comment below.

Local Ultimate 20 team seeks your support

Ultimate 20 - Photo from Ultimate 20 Class Association

Although I don't personally know him, Spencer reached out to SailMichigan yesterday to seek help in sponsoring a bid at the Ultimate 20 Nationals next month. Unfortunately the SailMichigan coffers are bare, however I told him that I would post his story to see if other private or corporate sponsors could step in. Please read on and see if you can help this young team.

 

Spencer's story: My team and I have been racing the Ultimate 20's for the better part of the past decade, in both One Design and International Match Racing events. We found out last minute that our schedules opened up and allowed us to take a chance at competing in this years North American Championship, something that we have been working towards winning since we have stepped foot in the boats years ago. The event will be held on September 17th-20th, 2015 on Lake St. Clair, out of Bayview Yacht Club in Detroit.  

 

Our team is made from three of the best young sailors in the Detroit area. Leading the team at the helm is Matt Graham. Matt is finishing his PhD in Naval Architecture and is returning from Bermuda, where he spent the summer working for Oracle Team USA designs team for the next Americas Cup. While studying at Michigan, Matt honed his skills at a helmsman both on the Collegiate Racing field and Match Racing against some of the best sailors from around the world. Spencer Colpaert takes on the role as trimmer and tactician while on the race course. Spencer has spent the past eight years focused on Match Racing to get a personal best ranking of #1 in the Country and #26 in the world. Apart from Match Racing Spencer has also raced in some of the top classes in the world such as Maxi's, TP52, Farr 40, Melges 32 and 24. Our bowman and forward trimmer is Alex Hume, Alex grew up racing in the Detroit area where he has spent the last seven years working on some of the greatest racing yachts on the lakes. Alex has also been racing in the 470 and 49er Olympic classes for the past six years on his quest for gold. He currently campaigns in the 49er class with our skipper Matt Graham towards reaching the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

To compete we need some assistance with our entry and charter fee totaling $560. It isn't an extraordinary amount, but we could use any help that we can get to not only make it to the starting line but across the finish in first. All of our hard work has been bringing us closer to our goal of winning our first major championship, and competing to win the trophy on our home waters of Lake St. Clair makes this year all the more reason to do everything we can to make it to the starting line. 

Anyone with interest in helping fund our campaign to win the 2015 Ultimate 20 North American Championship should contact Spencer Colpaert (313)4020527 or email scolpaert91@gmail.com.

Planning your summer vacation - Don't forget your boat

Awaiting her crew on Grand Traverse Bay

One reason SailMichigan was built was to provide an opportunity for recreational sailors to maximize their sailing time and fun. One time consuming task is to find a suitable lake or launch venue when on vacation. This may not be as much of an issue if you are going to be in a coastal town like Port Sanilac or Holland or Algonac, but what if you are camping or staying more inland? Or what if you want to sail from destination to destination along the coast? Simply search your destination, and your choice of distance radius, and see what pops up? If you have a large boat, you can customize your search further to include lake size and depth. If you have a sailing kayak, you can customize your search for river impoundments or lake chains.

As an example, let's say you want to camp or stay in Interlochen, Michigan. The name Interlochen tells you that there are lakes nearby, but not all ramps and not all lakes are equal. Using the site, you can actually locate a campsite in Interlochen State Park which is right next to the boat ramp.

Although I do my best to provide as much useful detail as possible, some lakes/ramps have more detail than others. All will have the basics: location, depth, orientation, ramp location, wind forecast and DNR map (where available). Others will have a more extensive narrative and/or ratings from other sailors. If you visit a location this summer, please consider rating the lake yourself when you get back home (or from your mobile phone). Do this even if the lake has already been rated. Multiple ratings or points of view are very important and give a truer picture of the sailing experience.

More importantly, take your boat with you this summer. Find the best spot, the best day for weather, have some fun, take some pictures, and tell us about it. To borrow from a popular phrase - Your journey begins at SailMichigan.org

In honor of Saint Patrick's Day - A chance to "wet your Thistle"

Okay, maybe a Thistle is Scottish, but I use what I have to work with. Regardless, fresh on Craigslist is a 1966 Douglas McLeod built Thistle. She appears to be well-cared for, and for being nearly 50 years old, is still being enjoyed on the water. Nearly 4000 Thistles have been built since 1945 and the Thistle class is an active one. Thistles have an LOA of 17', a displacement of 515 lbs and generally have a racing crew of 3. What are some other Celtic-themed classes : Highlander, Flying Scot, Tartan . . . . . .