Sailing with Jacob's Well in the Apostle Islands of Lake Superior

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Greetings Sailors!

Welcome to our Jacob's Well Sailing Trips for adults! These trips sail the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore of Lake Superior off the shore of Wisconsin. One trip is planned for boarding Thursday, June 19, sailing Friday, June 20-Sunday, June 22. Another trip for August or September may be planned. This adventures will provide a great opportunity to sail, discover new places, get to know friends, and to do that in a way that explores the spiritual interest you share.

 

STUFF YOU NEED TO KNOW

HOW DOES THIS TRIP WORK? We will be sailing several boats out of Bayfield, WI, all 34-38 feet long. They each sleep six people, have bathrooms (the head) and kitchens (the galley). This is sailing in-style on fine boats among some of the most beautiful cruising waters and wilderness islands in the world. Of course, you do not have to be from Jacob's Well to sail with us, in fact many of our sailors are friends or visitors to Jacob's Well.

Each boat has a charter-certified skipper from our community; they include myself, my wife Kris, Jeff LeMunyon, Jill Olsen, Carl Craven, Tim Kunau, David Linnes-Bagley and Gregg Haug. We will teach you about handling sails and lines, navigation, taking the helm, you name it. We will also be sharing chores of cooking, clean up, etc., but we'll keep that simple. Don't worry, this is vacation!

While these boats are very luxurious, they are cozy. You won't have a private room! Space is shared. You may have a single berth, or may need to share a double. But we arrange the boat assignments carefully to make this work well for everyone. During the trip there is a lot of great sailing, spending nights at anchor, 19th century lighthouses, mile long beaches, sea caves, wildlife, great company and conversation, food and just a great chance to relax away from the routines of life. We also have a light, but very meaningful spiritual component true to the character of Jacob's Well, that will enhance your experience.

QUESTIONS? CONTACT ME AT: Work phone 612.822-0300; email greg@jacobs-well.net. You can register via our website, or by email or phone.

TRAVEL DETAILS: We have possession of the boats beginning the Thursday afternoon before each trip. But we can't leave the harbor until Friday morning. We need you to arrive in Bayfield anytime (even late at night) on the Thursday before we set sail. We then sleep aboard the boat (i.e. no hotel costs).

You will be arriving in Bayfield under one of the two scenarios below. I need to know which before we go so that I know when to expect you.

PLAN #1 - Drive up early on Thursday, help buy groceries and ready the boats and enjoy Bayfield (it's a wonderful and scenic village!) and eat in town (your expense). Sleep aboard and set sail ASAP on Friday a.m.

PLAN #2 - Drive up after work on Thursday evening, sleep aboard and set sail on Friday a.m. Please try to arrive by 9 or 9:30, if possible, so that we can hold Ground School together that night.

Consider coming up early and help the skippers get the boats ready. It's fun!

 

GENERAL ITINERARY

Thursday For those who are able, arrive in Port Superior (just south of Bayfield - directions below) by about 2 p.m., prepare the boats and board. Others drive up that evening. Meals Thursday are at your expense. We will have an important Ground School about 9 p.m. or so at the Port Superior marina.

Friday Breakfast aboard as we set sail. Lunch & dinner aboard. Rendezvous with other boats later in afternoon to anchor for the night. Devotion material is done boat-by-boat during day, and as a whole group in evening; same Saturday.

Saturday Sail all day, explore beaches, lighthouses, islands as you wish. All meals aboard. Gather with other boats for evening, sleep at anchor.

Sunday Large group communion service in morning. Sail until mid-afternoon. Return to Port Superior by 3 p.m., clean out boats and leave Bayfield in late afternoon. Have dinner in Bayfield or on way home at your own expense. Arrive Mpls 10 p.m. or so.

DRIVING TIME & DIRECTIONS: Mpls to Bayfield... about 4½ hours, if you drive like I do. Kinda fast... It's a nice drive. I-35 to Duluth, across to Superior on Hwy 2, then just beyond Superior, WI take Hwy 13 (South, but it starts out heading north... go figure...) across the tip of Wisconsin to Bayfield. Port Superior is 3 miles south of Bayfield on Hwy 13. There is only a small sign there, and it is only a marina. Do respect speed limits, especially in small towns along the way!

 

At the Marina look for the bulletin board beside the double glass door entrance of the Port Side Restaurant for information about where the boats are and where we might be at the time. Those doors are also the side entrance to the Superior Charters office.

STUFF YOU NEED TO BRING

  • A soft-sided duffelbag for gear.
  • 1 pr. white or crepe soled shoes to wear when aboard (necessary, but you can get very inexpensive ‘boat shoes' at Target, etc).
  • 1 pr. shoes for shore; tennies, Tevas, or day-hikers, etc.
  • 2-3 prs warm socks. Polyester is best.
  • Rain jacket or suit (ponchos don't work well sailing), rain pants too if you have them!
  • Sweatsuit, sweater or jacket (polarfleece is great!).
  • Shorts, T's, 1 turtleneck, Pair of gloves and knit hat for September trips.
  • At least 1 pr long pants. (Warning: Jeans dry slowly. Bring light, synthetic or windpants)
  • Sunblock 30+, sunglasses. The light reflection off the water can be intense.
  • Swimsuit, Hat.
  • Toiletries, towel, washcloth, flashlight. (For environmental reasons we have biodegradeable soap/shampoo for use on board. You can use your own shampoo on shore or at the marina before we leave on Friday a.m. There are showers at marina.)
  • Book to read, pen, pencil, playing cards, cribbage board, whatever you want.
  • Camera, film, CD's tapes (all optional). Boats have radios, cassette/CD players.
  • Sleeping bag & pillow. (Need not fit in duffel bag).
  • Seasick prone? Bring some non-drowsy Dramamine or patches. Many people have reported that the wrist pressure bands work well for them, but don't worry, we will work hard to avoid conditions that promote seasickness.
  • Beer & wine are welcome in moderation, but respect those who choose to not have any alcohol by not presuming everyone wants to drink.

There is no shopping available once we leave the marina. Souvenirs available in Bayfield.

Remember to layer clothing, temperatures vary widely and quickly on the lake. Because of the water-factor, polyester (polarfleece) is ideal cool weather clothing. When the sun goes down, so does the temp due to the cold Lake Superior water. September trips are likely to have cooler temps than August. Boats are warm inside at night. You will receive a heavyweight, longsleeve, cotton Jacob's Well Sailing mock-T that can count on as part of your clothing for the trip. Make sure you let us know your size!


STUFF I NEED TO KNOW FROM YOU - email, call or use on-line registration

1 - Your name, phone, email and which trip.

2 - A $100 deposit is required to hold your reservation (refundable until 45 days before departure.) Please pay the balance before the trip. Total cost is still being determined, but will be about $350/person which includes all your expenses except travel up and back and meals on Thursday and Sunday evening.

3 - Is there a person(s) that you want to be sure is on your boat with you?

4 - Do you have any special dietary or medical needs? Let me know. We can accommodate these needs but only if we hear from you in advance.

5 - Will you be arriving at Port Superior on Plan #1 or #2? (see above).

6 - Can you drive and can take other riders? Or would you like a ride with someone else? It only makes sense for us to car pool up and back.

7 - What size shirt do you want? Let me know your best guess. I'll bring extras.

MISCELLANEOUS: EMERGENCY CONTACT is possible while we are sailing. My cell phone is 612.203.9586, but it doesn't pick up well in the islands. For real emergencies call Superior Charters, Inc. (1.800.772.5124) and have them radio to any of our boats, they will know which ones our group is using. If no answer at Superior Charters call the Apostle Islands Marina in Bayfield or the National Park Service headquarters in Bayfield or the U.S. Coast Guard in Bayfield (715.779.5100). They can all radio our boats, which monitor radio broadcasts throughout the day.

This trip will be fun and exciting, but also very safe. We have safely taken 100's of sailors on these trips in the last decade. Every boat has all necessary navigation and safety equipment, and every skipper has plenty of experience in the Apostle Islands. There will be awesome sailing, fabulous places to visit, and always a few great surprises!

Questions? Contact me!

With the wind of the Spirit,

Pastor and Skipper,

Greg Meyer

Online Registration