Fast Passage Back To Suttons Bay From Fayette

Poverty Island Abandoned Lighthouse

We left Fayette at 0530 on Monday July 14 with overcast skies, a strong west wind and seas 3-4'. We had a very fast reach (mostly 9 - 10, with the GPS recording a maximum speed of 11.3 mph) past Burnt Bluff, Big Summer Island and Poverty Island. We sailed to within a mile of the mid-lake weather buoy before our boat speed slowed to 4 mph and we decided to motorsail the rest of the way to Suttons Bay. We saw no commercial traffic and very few yachts. A good passage.

-Capt. Tom Kelly

Young Women in Science Research Trip to Fayette, July 12 & 13

The Zonta International sponsored Young Women in Science trip to Fayette had to be modified due to strong winds and high seas on Sunday. After sampling Little Bay de Noc on Saturday, the crew and our ten young scientists sailed to Fayette in building winds. We were making 9+ mph downwind on our approach to Snail Shell Harbor on the Garden Peninsula.

The evening was used exploring the old iron smelting town of Fayette. We also hosted 74 visitors aboard, mostly campers from the state park.

Sunday morning brought strong winds and a decision to stay in port. We continued with the research projects by collecting additional fish data with minnow traps, and the benthos crew used the stern boat to collect additional PONAR samples in the harbor.

At 3:30 pm the parents had arrived, and with additional boaters and campers looking on, the student research groups presented their project findings.

Escanaba Welcomes Inland Seas on Her 14th Visit

Click on the link to read today's report from Escanaba (WLUC TV) http://www.wluctv6.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=156599

Click here to see the video from WLUC TV: http://www.wluctv6.com/news/video.aspx?id=156599

Thanks to WLUC TV 6 for these reports.

Friendship Sloop Liberty Launched at Suttons Bay

ISEA's Friendship sloop Liberty was launched this morning at the Suttons Bay Marina by Dave Skrocki (with James driving the truck). All went well and Tom Kelly and Ben Shaw motored the vessel around to her berth for outfitting. The mast will be stepped later at Northport Bay Boatyard.

Inland Seas Leaves for Escanaba

Inland Seas departed Suttons Bay this morning at 0755, bound for Escanaba. Onboard were Capt. Remy Champt, Mate Allen Wolfe, Deckhand Bob Hagerman, Education Director Chris Crissman, Cook Jeanie Inglehart, and Instructors Sally Somsel, Jerry Inman, Len Klein, Martha Norris, and John Casteel.

The ship and crew will be busy all week with science programs on Little Bay de Noc. On Friday Capt. Tom will relieve Capt. Remy and continue on with the Zonta Young Women in Science two-day program, and the return trip to Suttons Bay on August 14.

High School Invasive Species Research, July 2 - 3, 2008

Ten high school students joined the crew of Inland Seas to investigate the impact of invasive species on the Grand Traverse Bay ecosystem. The students developed and carried out two research project, one concerning the impact of round goby on the forage fish community, and the other the relative populations of zebra and quagga mussels.

The first day was stormy, and we were chased off the lake just after obtaining our first round of samples from Suttons Bay. The second day was beautiful, and we did additional sampling in Omena Bay. We also had some brisk sailing with a fresh north wind and 3 - 4 foot seas, and finally a relaxing sail home, wing and wing, back to Suttons Bay.

The students then presented their research results to their parents in the Inland Seas Education Center. The research presentations will be available on our web site soon. Great job students!

-Capt. Tom

Member Pot-Luck Sail, June 27

Want to be part of this happy crew? Be an Inland Seas Donor, and take part in the fun! You can join right now by clicking on this link: https://secure.leelanau.com/isea/donations.php

Konrad's Pirates Invade Suttons Bay

A recent pirate invasion of Suttons Bay, lead by the dread Konrad W., took over the schooner Inland Seas last week. Fortunately they came with high spirits and lots of food! We may never be the same! Signed, The Captured Crew