Escanaba to Suttons Bay, July 14, 2013

Aboard Inland Seas,  Escanaba to Suttons Bay, July 14, 2013

Leaving Escanaba, 0608 hrs.



Sunrise over Little Bay de Noc

Important Navigation Gear: Compass, GPS, Coffee, Sunscreen.

Rebecha & Len on the fores'l halyard.  Allen on the sheet.

Fores'l up 

St. Martin Island Light

Gary recovering mylar balloon.  We saw four on our passage. What goes up must come down. 

Getting a nice boost from the wind (motorsailed all the way)

Capt. Gary at the helm



Capt. Allen Wolfe



Leo & Len plot our position

It was a great trip.  Thanks to the crew: Allen Wolfe, Len Klein, Gary Longton, Rebekah Fuller & Leo Peveglio.

Biology report:  About 200 white pelicans seen near Little Gull Island.  Many dead alewives seen between Little Bay de Noc and South Fox Island.  About one every 3 square meters. Mostly sub-adults. --- Capt. Tom Kelly

 

Sign Up Now for ISEA Summer Sailing Programs

Summer programs for students, adults and families are now available for sign-up.  The complete listing is available by clicking here. 

Astronomy Sail

Making the Great Lakes Great Sail (Free!)

Family Science Sail

Dinner is served on the Maritime History Sail

Captain & Daughter on Young Women in Science Sail

Underway on Little Traverse Bay last year

Misty Morning Departure

Students from Tappen Middle School in Ann Arbor got a moist start to their Schoolship trip this morning.  Later the fog lifted and the sky brightened.

-T. K.

25th Schoolship Season Begins

Today, May 1st, 2013, begins our 25th season providing ISEA's Schoolship Program to the students of Michigan.  This spring we have 100 classes booked - a full schedule.  Today we had Frankfort Elementary in the morning and Kennedy Elementary (Manistee) in the afternoon aboard Inland Seas and another Kennedy classroom aboard Manitou this afternoon. --Capt. Tom


Inland Seas departs this afternoon with Kennedy Elementary Students. Note the fine weather and clear water!



Inland Seas Featured in Grand Traverse Insider Article

ISEA received some great recognition from the Grand Traverse Insider this past week.  Click here to read the article.  Thanks to Sandra Bradshaw for the nice article.

  Capt. Tom and Capt. Ben pose for Sandra Bradshaw's camera.

Willow Hill 5th Graders Brave the Elements

Today we sailed with Willow Hill (Traverse City) 5th graders.  We had strong north winds (gusts to 25 knots), and waves 2' - 3' or more. We also had occasional rain showers to add to the mix. But our student scientists rose to the occasion, and completed all their sampling and analysis as we sailed the rolling waves.  Well done!

Sailing under reefed main & fore and stays'l.



Paige and Josh at the helm.



Yea, we made it!

We are looking forward to sailing with more Willow Hill students later this week. --Capt. Tom

First Week of 2012 Spring Schoolship

Classes this week were Suttons Bay Middle School (2 classes), Traverse City Central High School, Inland Lakes

First Trawl: 4 gobies and a banded killifish

Our brand new 1" braided anchor line

Capt. Ben Hale at the wheel

Secchi Disc in the rain.  Central HS.

Ready on the throat!



Sassy Sailor Gals



Friday April 27, 2012 - Wet Run for New Volunteer Instructors

We had a fine afternoon to begin teaching the teachers.  Pete Magoun at the Seamanship Station.

Inthe Pilot House

Harvey Norris leads the Stewardship Station

John Mater leading the Fish Station.  All round gobys today (as usual).

This Week on the Schoolship

Our newest volunteer at the helm of the Schoonermobile.

Lee Hepner does our annual Great Lakes Agreement radio inspection

Emily, Tim and Kathy return from a big fishing expedition

Shake down trip on Thursday.  NW at 15 - 25, wind chill 14 degrees!

Emma bringing up the captain's coffee

Capt. Tom with his ever-present cup

Happy sailors:  Larry, Len, Tim

And then ....

Schooner Inland Seas - Launch and Return to Suttons Bay

Our Schoolship schooner Inland Seas returned to her natural element yesterday afternoon at Northport Bay Boatyard.  After filling the water tanks and system checks, we motored the ship back to her home dock in Suttons Bay to continue maintenance and outfitting for spring Schoolship classes (to begin on May 1st.).  The crew consisted of Tom Kelly, Allen Wolfe, Ben Hale, Jan Hale, Larry Good and Bob Hagerman.



Removing the winter cover. The white plastic will be recycled by Bay Area Recycling for Charities

Hanging the Fortress Anchor

Ready to move

On the edge of the haul out slip

About to touch water

Picking up Allen in the stern boat

Back home at Suttons Bay

Thanks to Martha Eldridge for the top three photos and other help.  A big thank you to Northport Bay Boatyard for great service.   -Tom Kelly







Fit-Out at Northport Bay Boat Yard - April 3, 2012

Today we got the propeller working properly (thanks for the help, Kevin), painted the foredeck, applied epoxy fairing compound to rust repair areas on deck, finished the pre-launch check list, and launched the stern boat.  The stern boat engine started after a few pulls and ran smooth as silk on a test run. Tomorrow we remove the winter cover and hopefully launch!

Ben Hale, Allen Wolfe and Bob Hagerman were working today.  --Capt. Tom Kelly

Kevin (left) and Ben (right) make final adjustments to the Max Prop feathering propeller

Our shiny propeller ready to go.

Everything you need to do deck repairs.

Epoxy fairing applied to areas where rust was ground out.  "Rust Never Sleeps"

Allen adding oil to the fuel tank just before a test run in our stern/rescue boat. 

Northport Bay Boatyard