Rhumb Line

a course that keeps a constant bearing

2. Water Level Reporting information

3. Log Books

4. Toronto International Boat Show

5. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

6. Tall Ships on Lake Erie

7. The Edmond Fitzgerald

(a) Benjamin Islands, ON The Benjamin Islands sit in the fabulous North Channel - pink granite islands against a cobalt blue sky, floating on sapphire blue waters. These islands attract sailors from all over the Great Lakes. And indeed, people come from Europe to charter boats and cruise here. It is a stunningly beautiful place to anchor and explore. Click here to visit Benjamin Islands, ON.

(b) Kagawong, ON Situated on Manitoulin Island, Kagawong is a pretty, off-the-beaten-path village to visit and enjoy. As you walk down the main street and out to the nearby beautiful Bridal Veil Falls, its easy to get the sense that a busy, hurried world is a a whole world away. Click here to visit Kagawong, ON


2. Water Level Reporting Information

The Canadian Hydrographic Service provides an extensive reporting service on water levels across the Great Lakes. This information can be accessed online here. It can also be accessed by telephone at 1-877-775-0790, The service will prompt you to find your choice of "on the spot" information from one of thirty four reporting sites extending from Thunder Bay to Summerstown on the St. Lawrence River.

There is a wealth of information here. For example, The section that deals with water currents and circulation on the Great Lakes here makes for interesting reading. I certainly agree with their comment that “... the major Great Lakes have many of the physical phenomena associated with the coastal oceans and inland seas.”


3. Log Books

Last month, I talked about the importance of a good log book. We looked at the role a log book can play in the safe operation of your boat and some things you might want to see in it. As I mentioned then, I have made a point to gather and organize the information that I think should be in a log book. The result is a fairly comprehensive yet quite flexible log book. It will serve your needs whether you just cruise locally or venture off to explore the Great Lakes.

It will be published later this month and I believe it would be a fine addition to any nav station (great Christmas present too!). It includes places to record personal, boat and insurance information, plot weather forecasts, a deck log that actually allows you to record vital passage information and much much more.

A short email will be sent out when it is published on the website.


4. Toronto International Boat Show

The Toronto International Boat Show is the largest indoor boat show in North America. This year it will run from Saturday, Jan 9th till Sunday, Jan 17th with a special 'preview' day on Friday, Jan 8th. The show is located at the Enercare Centre at the Toronto CNE grounds. I will be speaking there again this year. The link to the show's website is here.

Please note that the speakers schedule shown is last year's schedule – they are still working on this year's schedule. It's a great place to browse boats and kit as well as hear some interesting presentations. If you are down when I am scheduled to speak, drop by and say hello – I would love to meet you.


5. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

So how are we doing when it comes to the water quality of the Great Lakes? Well, the United States federal government launched the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in 2010. The goals are to improve water quality, clean up contaminated shoreline, protect and restore native habitat and species, and prevent and control invasive species in the Great Lakes. It is an enormous initiative with far-reaching consequences. To date, nearly 2,700 projects have been completed with an investment of US1.44 billion dollars.

For example, consider the project in Buffalo, NY. An article in the Buffalo News here describes the impact of this work.(The article is very slow to load). To quote the article: “The work in Buffalo has been nothing short of transformative. The Buffalo River has been dredged and contaminants removed. Work is underway to restore the shoreline. ... the once-dead river could be safely used for swimming within five years and to fish for food within 10. It is an amazing comeback, and once completed will benefit the region for generations to come.”

For us sailors, such news is heartening. It is also a good reason to pick up a pen (mouse?) and send a note to your state, provincial and federal representatives letting them know that this is a vital investment for future generations.


6. Tall Ships on Lake Erie

For tall ships fans, next summer will see at least 7 of these magnificent ships visit Erie PA's Tall Ships Erie Festival next Sept. 8-11, 2016. That number could increase to 10. The vessels will include Erie's own U.S. Brig Niagara and the Porcupine, a reconstructed War of 1812 gunboat. Other ships slated to appear are the Denis Sullivan, a three-masted schooner from Milwaukee WI, the two-masted brigantines Pathfinder and Playfair, both from Toronto ON, the Appledore IV from of Bay City MI and the Mist of Avalon also from Toronto ON. Word is that negotiations are also underway to bring Sorlandet, the magnificent Norwegian tall ship to the festival. For more information, click here.

7. The Edmond Fitzgerald

Gordon Lightfoot's haunting ballad forever memorialized the ship Edmond Fitzgerald. Its hard to believe but this Nov 10th marks the 40th anniversary that she was lost along with her crew of 29 in a winter gale off Lake Superior's Whitfish Point. On Sunday, Nov 8th at Mariner’s Church in Detroit MI, the annual Great Lakes Memorial Service and bell-ringing, honoring the Edmund Fitzgerald crew and all lost Great Lakes mariners, will be held at 11 a.m. For information on location, click here.

Otherwise, you may want to simply pause in your daily business and offer a silent thought or prayer for all of those who have lost their lives on the Great Lakes.

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Fair winds and following seas.

Michael Leahy, Publisher