Ports Update: Blind River ON, Olcott NY, Toledo Beach MI & Waugegan IL

The past few weeks have been busy with new ports being researched and added as well as some technical adjustments to the website coding.

Here are 4 new ports to enjoy.

1. Located near the half-way point along the north coast of the North Channel, Blind River Ontario is a perfect stop on a cruise along the fabulous North Channel. Click here to visit Blind River, ON

2. Olcott NY is the largest port between Youngstown on the Niagara River and Rochester. Olcott was named the "Ultimate Fishing Town" by the World Fishing Network and attracts fishermen from all over eastern North America as well as overseas. Click here to visit Olcott, NY

3. Toledo Beach, the man-made harbor at the west end of Lake Erie, is home to a beautiful marina and a very active yacht club. Its a great place for a lay-over if you are at that end of the lake. Click here to visit Toledo Beach, MI
 
4. Waukegan Illinois sits at the north end of the huge 'Chicagoland' urban area and, with 1,000 slips, is a great way to visit this area while enjoying what a small city offers. Click here to visit Waukegan, IL

As always, all 100+ port reviews are free to access, download or print.

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Fair Winds

Michael 

Ports Update: Little Current Ontario

Little Current Ontario is the 'hub' of the North Channel for most sailors. It is a popular stop-over and serves as an important re-supply harbour. Named for the current that runs through this narrow part of the North Channel, that current is anything but 'little'. It can run at 6-7 knots. And, based on atmospheric and lake conditions, can and does switch direction frequently.

Little Current is also home to the 'Cruiser's Net' - a daily radio broadcast (VHF 71) for sailors that covers a large portion of the North Channel and Georgian Bay.


Here is a detailed port review on Little Current, ON: http://www.great-lakes-sailing.com/little_current_ontario.html

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Fair Winds

Michael 

Section Update: FIRST AID Section Expanded - FIRST AID KIT Added

To complete the section on FIRST AID, it makes sense to add some suggestions for a good medical kit for sailors cruising the Great Lakes.

Obviously, it is important to strike a balance between a kit that would allow you do do full-on surgery and one that could fit in the corner of your car's glove box. The Great Lakes are ringed with coast guard stations backed up by substantial air resources. So, its not as if we were sailing days or weeks from land. 

However, we also need to consider the types of emergencies that can arise and the need to be able to prudently manage them for possibly quite a number of hours. A first aid kit should be sufficiently well-stocked to allow you to do that.

The suggestions for this kit are just that - suggestions. But, they are a good starting place for a discussion on what should be on your boat, your skills in dealing with a medical emergency (a not-so-subtle suggestion to take a good first aid course this winter) and the development of your own kit personalized for your needs.

If you belong to a yacht club, you may want to suggest to the Commodore or Training Officer that a first aid course might make for a good mid-winter training event.

A new page entitled EMERGENCY FIRST AID KIT can be found at http://www.great-lakes-sailing.com/emergency_first_aid_kit.html . 

I would also note that two of the best emergency medical books for non-medical people are “Where There Is No Doctor” and “Where There Is No Dentist”. Both of these are available at the NAUTICAL MIND bookstore and I put a link at   http://www.great-lakes-sailing.com/first_aid_tips.html .

As always, all 100+ port reviews are free to access, download or print.

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Fair Winds

Michael 

New Section: FIRST AID

The best of cruising plans can be scuppered by an unexpected injury or illness. I think it is important that every sailor take a First Aid course before setting out on a cruise - long or short. The St. John Ambulance, Canadian Red Cross, American Red Cross and other organizations all offer basic First Aid courses.

The reality is that accidents can and do happen and 15 miles offshore is a poor time to try and recall what you may have learned (if at all) 10 or 20 years ago. 

So .... first suggestion is to take a course. If you belong to a yacht club, suggest to the Commodore or Training Officer that such a course might make for a good mid-winter training event. I suspect you would get a favourable response from both the officers and the members of the club.

A new section entitled FIRST AID has been uploaded at http://www.great-lakes-sailing.com/first_aid_tips.html . These pages provide some basic suggestions for common first aid emergencies. But .... they can never substitute for a good first aid course.

Soon to be added to this section will be a suggested FIRST AID kit for a sailboat.

As always, all 100+ port reviews are free to access, download or print.

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Fair Winds

Michael 

Ports Update: Gore Bay, ON

Gore Bay is one of the busiest ports on the North Channel. It is well-situated for easy runs from Killarney to Detour Village. 

With a long maritime history, Gore Bay remains a popular stop-over for sailors cruising the North Channel.

Here is a detailed port review on Gore Bay, ON: http://www.great-lakes-sailing.com/gore_bay.html

As always, all 100+ port reviews are free to access, download or print.

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Fair Winds

Michael 

Ports Update: Meldrum Bay, ON

Meldrum Bay was settled in the late 1800's and developed as a logging and fishing community. At one time, it was home to a good-sized Great Lakes fishing fleet. Until the early 1960's, the village was connected to the mainland by ferries. However, the opening of the TransCanada Highway changed all of that.<br>
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Today, the local economy is based on the nearby Lafarge quarry and tourism. It is a popular stop-over for sailors cruising the North Channel.

Here is a detailed port review on Meldrum Bay, ON: http://www.great-lakes-sailing.com/meldrum_bay.html

As always, all 100+ port reviews are free to access, download or print.

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Fair Winds

Michael 

New Destination - Baie Fine, ON

Baie Fine, at the northeast corner of the North Channel, is one of the longest freshwater fjords in the world. This 10 nm rip in the earth's surface offers breathtaking scenery and spectacular cruising. At its end, lies one of the Great Lake's iconic anchorages - The Poll.


Here is a detailed review Baie Fine, ON: http://www.great-lakes-sailing.com/bair_fine.html

As always, all 100+ port reviews are free to access, download or print.

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Fair Winds

Michael