Having listened to the forecast before turning in Friday night, we slept in on Saturday thinking we'd be spending the day in Elk Rapids, now car-less. Roger checked the forecast around 10:00 a.m. and we found that it sounded promising after all. So we got ready and pulled out of our slip shortly after noon, "driving north". (We brought our car gps to the boat when we left the car at the body shop in Traverse City, and turned it on in the middle of Grand Traverse Bay out of curiosity).
There wasn't much wind, so we motored on the first leg north up to the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula
. Once we rounded the point and started heading more to the south, we put up sail and turned off the engine. Out of the protected waters of Grand Traverse Bay we encountered waves, but fortunately, we were going with them. We saw another boat not far behind us who seemed to be sailing from somewhere further east, perhaps Charlevoix. They followed us all the way to Leland without overtaking us, which we found very satisfying, especially when they arrived after us and we learned they were a larger boat. Nonsuches are known for their speed downwind, and we proved that they deserve their reputation!
The marina at Leland has undergone a major facelift over the last two years. They’ve put in floating docks and a beautiful new air-conditioned bathhouse/ lounge/ laundry area. The outside is styled to match the fishing shanties that Leland is famous for and which make it a perennial tourist destination. We arrived under gray skies but watched the clouds blow south in the late afternoon, ushering in sunshine but also warmer, more humid air. We arrived late enough in the day that, between arrival chores (sail covering, etc.), showering and dinner, there was no time left to explore town. That would have to wait until Sunday, when 3-5-foot waves were predicted -- perfect for spending a quiet day in harbor.
There wasn't much wind, so we motored on the first leg north up to the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula
. Once we rounded the point and started heading more to the south, we put up sail and turned off the engine. Out of the protected waters of Grand Traverse Bay we encountered waves, but fortunately, we were going with them. We saw another boat not far behind us who seemed to be sailing from somewhere further east, perhaps Charlevoix. They followed us all the way to Leland without overtaking us, which we found very satisfying, especially when they arrived after us and we learned they were a larger boat. Nonsuches are known for their speed downwind, and we proved that they deserve their reputation!
The marina at Leland has undergone a major facelift over the last two years. They’ve put in floating docks and a beautiful new air-conditioned bathhouse/ lounge/ laundry area. The outside is styled to match the fishing shanties that Leland is famous for and which make it a perennial tourist destination. We arrived under gray skies but watched the clouds blow south in the late afternoon, ushering in sunshine but also warmer, more humid air. We arrived late enough in the day that, between arrival chores (sail covering, etc.), showering and dinner, there was no time left to explore town. That would have to wait until Sunday, when 3-5-foot waves were predicted -- perfect for spending a quiet day in harbor.
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