Thanks again for taking the time to visit our "Sailing With Duncan" blog.
We are headed to the Georgian Bay on Lake Huron this summer via the North Channel.
While we have been to the North Channel twice before, we have not been to the Georgian Bay so we are looking forward to the adventure this summer.
Just a little background - Cindy and Jeff Cunningham are experienced sailors who along with their eight-year-old cairn terrier Duncan, sail their 1996 Catalina 34 MKII during the summer on the Great Lakes.
NOT SO AUSPICIOUS START TO 2019
We are a week into heading for the North Channel in northern Lake Huron but the first week has been anything but smooth. Two hours after leaving our home port in Muskegon, MI., Respite had a fuel issue and the engine quit. We had to sail into Crosswinds Marina in White Lake and spent several hours getting the fuel system cleaned and new fuel filters installed.
A day later we were motoring to Frankfort as there was no wind, and the low oil pressure buzzer came on. While the oil pressure was OK, the boat had to be fixed again in Frankfort.
On Tuesday June 11, we motored to Harbor Springs where we had scheduled some minor rigging work to be done weeks ago at Irish Boatworks.
The work was completed Wednesday morning but the weather turned sour so we decided to stay and wait it out.
The time in Harbor Springs has not been wasted as we were able to install a new set of companionway doors that we had built in Dave and Gail Ives' shop here in Harbor Springs last winter.
We were also able to rebed a pesky chain plate that started leaking again. As all sailors know, it is good to be on the water but not have water in the boat.
Other maintenance tasks were competed and we spend time with Dave and Gail which is always fun but still we are antsy to get underway again.
It appears that we will head to Mackinaw Bridge and beyond on June 15 but who knows - the weather or Respite may decide we need to stay another day or two in Harbor Springs.