Author: Marcia Beer

This author has written 15 articles

Upon Reflection

"You deserve it" the words are meant to encourage, affirm and congratulate rang hollow in my ears. In 2023, "out of the blue" we purchased the sailboat of our dreams a Catalina 350. The boat that will serve us well and safely for our "senior years" afloat. The truth is we've gotten older and we realize that Arcturus a 1976 Cal 2-27 no longer is a vessel we can take on our next sailing adventures. Arcturus has given us so many great sails and good times. She is sturdy, reliable and seaworthy. We are the ones who have changed. We recognize we will soon need good modern systems and modern comforts to do the type of sailing we want to do in the future. I do not believe "we deserve this". So many good kind hearted people live lives of desperation and they…

Continue ReadingUpon Reflection

Sailing

Sailing This morning we lifted anchor and followed the Badger out of Ludington. We unfurled the foresail and set a course around Big Sable Point - just north of Ludington State Park. The forecast predicted a zesty wind and building waves all in a favorable direction for todays destination of Onekema. We had a lovely comfortable quick sail - reaching 7.2 knots for a good portion of our day. Instead of increasing wind and waves both actually decreased. We sailed into Portage Lake and are currently anchored near the marina on the south shore. We plan to wait out the rain and weather for the next couple of days before heading to Frankfort. We were expecting rain out on the lake today so we put up the full enclosure. It sheltered us from the wind and made the ride quite comfortable. Rain is…

Continue ReadingSailing

Water- Pentwater

There is a lot of water in Lake Michigan. You can't always get the wind you need when cruising. We called upon Mr. Westerbeke (our Diesel Engine) to take us up the coast, past Stony Lake, Little Sable Point Lighthouse, Silver Lake Sand Dunes to our lovely anchorage across from Snug Harbor Marina in Pentwater. The wind was 1-3 mph the whole way and the waves were 1 foot or less. The oily heavy looking surface was gentle and showed no signs of wind. It was a pleasant motor - as motoring goes. We are staying here again tonight and rowing into town. Our view at anchor.

Continue ReadingWater- Pentwater

Wind

"wind will change when you ask it, if you ask for long enough" - Slocum Ashore A gentle summer breeze soft as a whisper stirs the air and cools those who sit in the shade A light wind entices leaves to flutter and flowers dance in the meadows. Shadows waltz lightly upon the grass. Good for sitting in the hammock. Stronger winds wrestle with trees and twist limbs to and fro smaller twigs tumble to the ground. Usually accompanied by storms - time to read a book. Very strong winds bring down even the sturdiest trees and branches, blow nests and debris across parking lots and fields. Hunker down inside. Watch Youtube videos on sailing oceans. Sailing A slight breeze won't fill the sails and they hang limp and gently flap back and forth. The water looks thick and heavy. Also, perfect weather…

Continue ReadingWind

We got our ship together!

I finished my work week, tied up some loose ends, and sit on the eve of our month long sailing adventure on Lake Michigan. We've only anchored out one night on Reflection so far. We are looking forward to trying on the cruising lifestyle aboard our comfortable sailing vessel Reflection, a 2007 Catalina 350. This summer we got our ship together. Harold added davits for the dinghy and solar on the bimini to run the refrigerator/freezer, as well as recharge the batteries when we are anchoring out. We've tuned the rig, added a snubber, dieseled up, checked all the systems and engine fluids and completed our to do list. Our son, Tim will drive us to Muskegon tomorrow and catch up to us in a couple of weeks - hopefully, somewhere around Frankfort. We won't need the car for a whole month. There…

Continue ReadingWe got our ship together!