SLOG – BLYC Sailing Log

Day 3 – Wednesday, May 26 – brought rain to South Bass Island and the crew elected to stay in port and do some sightseeing at Put-in-Bay.  They visited the Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial and spent some time chatting with the re-enactors learning about the Battle of Lake Erie and Commodore Perry’s amazing victory.  

The crew also report that they spent some time at the wineries on the island.  There are two – Heineman’s Winery and the Put-in-Bay Winery.  Knowing this particular group of sailors, I think we can safely assume that they spent most of the afternoon at Heineman’s – after all, what better way to spend a rainy afternoon than drinking Lake Erie Wine at one of Ohio’s oldest Wineries?  One has to wonder… did they do the Crystal Cave Tour?  Yes, if you visit the island, be sure to take this tour through the world’s largest geode located under the winery.

Based on photos sent in by Jerry, they must have also stopped by the Lake Erie Islands Historical Society Museum (no doubt after enjoying a few brews at Hooligan’s Irish Pub next door.)  One piece of island history he reported that he found particularly interesting was that of the Hotel Victory.  First opened in 1882, and at the time the largest hotel in North America, it was completely destroyed by fire in 1919.  Today, the South Bass Island State Park occupies the former hotel grounds.  Ruins of the hotel are visible there today.  A must-see when you’re at Put-in-Bay!

Jerry also reports the crew visiting with Mother Mary, Priest-in-Charge at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on the island.  Whether they were in dire need of a blessing, or perhaps maybe she joined them for 4 o’clock club at Heineman’s is not known.  But, Mother Mary is a staple of island life and, as Jerry put it, “a phenomenally interesting person.”  Don Harris is a regular parishioner at St. Paul’s while on the island during the summer months.

Sounds like they enjoyed quite a bit of what Put-in-Bay has to offer.  I’m sure that the Ancient Mariners would agree that, should you have the opportunity, you should really plan a visit to Put-in-Bay this summer.  The island is far more than the bars & drinking for which its often known on the mainland.  Perhaps during the week of July 18-22 when BLYC will be represented by a phenomenal group of young sailors at I-LYA Junior Bay Week?

This morning, Thursday, plans were to sail back to Huron, return the boat, and make the journey back to their home lake – Buckeye Lake.  Forecast is for a wicked northeaster (yes, on Lake Erie, it’s northeaster, not nor’easter like in New England) to blow in later tonight and continuing well into Saturday night – A good time to be headed back, for sure!

As Commodore Gus Schell (’51) used to say anytime after returning from a journey,
“It’s always good to be back at BLYC.”

This week is National Safe Boating Week.  Each day, we will post a video on a safe boating topic.  After they have been live for a day on the front page, they will be archived in the SLOG.

Click Here
to visit the SLOG for previous posts

After a walleye dinner at Mossback’s and a night on the boat at PIBYC, the Ancient Mariners enjoyed a beautiful Lake Erie sunrise on Tuesday morning which brought stiff breeze and a great day sail out and around Ballast Island and over to Kelleys.  As Jerry reported, “We sailed out and back – It was too nice of a day to go in.”

The breeze was 11-15 knots out of the southeast making for great daysail around the islands – hitting 7.5 knots of boatspeed with the rail in the water – SPORTY!

  Watch the video below…

http://buckeyelakeyc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20210525_135743.mp4

Another night at Put-in-Bay and today, the crew plans to sail over to Kelleys Island to enjoy all that it has to offer ashore, stay the night, and then sail back to Huron on Thursday.

Before leaving PIB, however, they made a stop by the docks in Squaw Harbor.  Your editor received the following photo this morning with the caption… “Boarding Party”

Well, it’s good to know that SummerzCool is still safe at her moorings.  Hopefully, they didn’t find the stash of rum!  LOL

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Day One of the BLYC Ancient Mariners Cruise began with picking up White Pine at Harbor North in Huron.  Last fall, there was some confusion with the reservation causing this year’s trip to be delayed until spring.  TJ and the entire crew at Harbor North are great to work with and, in appreciation for the group’s flexibility, they helped kick-off this year’s Ancient Mariner’s cruise by presenting the crew with a complimentary bottle of rum.

To quote Jerry, “Yo, Ho, Ho, etc.”

Winds were light at best, and the crew motored White Pine from Huron to Put-in-Bay where they secured dockage at the Put-in-Bay Yacht Club.  A fresh walleye dinner at Mossback’s was in order and the crew settled in, hoping for better winds today.  Today’s forecast is for 10-15 kts out of the southwest and should make for some great day sailing around the bass islands.  

Tomorrow (Wednesday), the crew is likely to sail off to Kelleys to enjoy another island, then back to Huron on Thursday.

Stay Tuned…

This week is National Safe Boating Week.  Each day, we will post a video on a safe boating topic.  After they have been live for a day on the front page, they will be archived in the SLOG.

Click Here
to visit the SLOG for previous posts