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Wisconsin Coast Cruise |
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We last cruised on the Wisconsin coast in 2002. We decided to revisit the area and push a little further north the summer of 2006. We allowed two weeks for the trip to allow plenty of inport time for weather and exploring. We departed Waukegan, our home port, on July 15, 2006 and hoped to make Milwaukee but after two hours of great westerly winds, the wind dropped and after waiting for it to pick up we were forced to motor to Racine for the evening. Racine is a great port for the night or the weekend. After tying up at Reefpoint Marina, we took the trolley and ate at one of our favorite restaraunts, the Yardarm Bar and Grill. After dinner we walked back to the boat doing some window shopping along the way. The next morning delivered the best sailing weather of the entire trip. After breakfast aboard, we got underway in southwest winds at 10 to 20 knots. We elected to sail directly to Port Washington. The day remained clear and we were treated to a view of the Milwaukee Air Show and a close pass by the fast ferry that goes between Muskegon and Milwaukee. |
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Milwaukee-Muskegon Ferry |
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Racine light at sunset |
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Port Washington, several years ago, did extensive remodeling of their marina. The old turning basin was closed off and made part of the marina complex. Most of the transient space is along the wall of the turning basin and the channel in. Port Washinton takes reservations and we have found the staff there friendly and helpful. When we arrived, we were intially put along the north side of the channel into the turning basin. Given the brisk SW winds, we were being pushed under the dock and asked to be moved. The staff were very accommodationg and moved us to a wall-tie within the turning basin. After cleaning up the boat we walked through town and ate at a restaurant in the Holiday Inn. We elected to go north the next day and planned on staying over on the return trip.
The next morning the weather was unsettled and there was a risk of severe thunderstorms in the afternoon. We elected to leave early to beat the weather to Sheboygan. The wind remained out of the southwest at 15-25 knots and we motor sailed with a genoa.alone. We managed speeds up to 7.2 knots on the ride up. We arrived in Sheboygan at noon and took a slip in the Harbor Centre Marina. About three in the afternoon, we got hit with a strong thunderstorm. The wind picked up to 45 knots in the harbor and lasted about 20 minutes. We finally got a break in the weather and walked down to the river walk and had dinner at the Brsico County Wood Grill.
Sheboygan is one our favorite ports to visit. They have redeveloped the river area and convereted a number of the old fish sheds to restaurants and shops. Since our last visit they have put a new large resort on the south shore of the river with an indoor water park. The downtown is an easy walk from the marina and has a number of Victorian buildings. There are a number of restaurants and shops wiithin waling distance however, the closest grocery store is a long walk away. Harbor Centre Marina has a small covenience store and were able to get milk and lunch meat. The maiina has a pool and the public beach is just across the parking lot. The facilities are modern and the staff friendly. |
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River Walk |
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Harbor Centre Marina |
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We spent the next day in Sheboygan doing laundry and catching up on reading as well as an aftrenoon walk to the post office for stamps then back to the boat for afternoon cocktails before dinner at the Mucky Duck.. The next morning we were underway at 9 am for Manitowoc. The forecast agian called for a chance of severe thunderstorms in the afternoon. The winds were light out of the southeast but there was a three foot residual swell from storms the previous evening. After an hour of sailing at 3-4 knots, we elected to motor as the sky became more threatening. We arrived at Manitowoc just as the Badger, a coal burning carferry, was departing for Ludington. We rode the Badger in 1993 when we were first in Chicago and it was fun to see her again. We tied up at the municipal marina expecting a storm at any minute but none materialized. We spent the rest of the afternoon doing chores and then took a brief walk into town to get fruit and bread for lunches. Dinner was at the Court House Pub and was very elegant. Manitowoc has a rich ship building history . During World War II, submarines were built in Manitowoc and then shipped down the Illinois River to the Mississippi and on to the Gulf. There is a great maritime museum and we spent a good part of the next morning in the museum. They have a WWII submarine on display and one of the volunteers that staffed the sub had served as a torpedoman aboard her during the war. That evening we ate at Wallstreet Grill. On the walk back to the marina, we struck up a coversation with another couple, Jennifer and Dick Bek who were cruising on a Catalina 350 out of Northpointe. We enjoyed an evening of drinks and conversation on their boat. |
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