Great Lakes Singlehanded Society2010 Lake Erie Challenge

Aboard the Yacht MoonbeamSkippered by

Allan Belovarac

August 28 – September 12010

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society2010 Lake Erie Challenge

Moonbeam Log

Route of the Lake Erie Challenge, starting atToledo Beach, MI, and ending at EYC, Erie, PA for total of 312 statute miles, 271 nautical miles

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society2010 Lake Erie Challenge

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The intrepid Moonbeam, an O’Day 30, will carry me on my voyage.

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society2010 Lake Erie Challenge

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Shoving off the dock at 1035 on August 24. My Quartermasterand lovely wife Lee waves farewell to her sailor.

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society2010 Lake Erie Challenge

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Passing the Pierhead Light on the way out of the harborinto Lake Erie on a cool and cloudy day.

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society2010 Lake Erie Challenge

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There is no substitute for traditional navigation charts combined with GPS positioning to give the Skipper a sense of geographical location on the lake. Lat/long was plotted every two hours to measure Moonbeam’s position and course track.

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society2010 Lake Erie Challenge

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On the way to North Cape Yacht Club, sailing through the Southern Passage - Rattlesnake Island with Catawba Island in background

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society2010 Lake Erie Challenge

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Cruising along the western end of Lake Erie toward Toledo Beach for boat delivery

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society2010 Lake Erie Challenge

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North Cape Yacht Club’s sailing fleet heading toward the last mark on Wednesday night’s race as Moonbeam approaches Toledo Beach harbor

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society2010 Lake Erie Challenge

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An inspirational sunset over western Lake Erie.

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society2010 Lake Erie Challenge

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North Cape Yacht Club

NCYC takes sailingvery seriously!

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society2010 Lake Erie Challenge

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Creeping to get into position for 1000 start – light winds with competitors barely moving!

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society2010 Lake Erie Challenge

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The chutes went up shortly after the start.

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society2010 Lake Erie Challenge

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Moonbeam in the early going, looking pretty with her asymmetrical spinnaker set

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society2010 Lake Erie Challenge

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The Fleet heading toward Pelee Passage

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society2010 Lake Erie Challenge

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Amazing how in that big lake a hulking freighter will manage to aim right for your little boat! Moonbeam pushes the envelope here by crossing the bow of the 1000-footer American Century.

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society2010 Lake Erie Challenge

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Moonbeam’s Spinnakerset on a tight reach cruising along the north shore of Lake Erie on Day 2 of the Challenge

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society2010 Lake Erie Challenge

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Sunrise on Lake Erie for Day 2 portendsclear skies and fine weather.

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society2010 Lake Erie Challenge

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By day 3, the fleet was so spread out, this was the first boat I saw since Pelee Island – Entson heading backto Erie after making the turn at Buffalo.

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society2010 Lake Erie Challenge

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Moonbeam just rounded Seneca Shoals light at Buffalo and isnow homeward bound!

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society2010 Lake Erie Challenge

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Passing Point Abino Light as Moonbeam tacks across fromBuffalo in the late afternoon of Day 3.

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society2010 Lake Erie Challenge

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Moonbeam crosses the finish line on Day 4. Notice the calm water and lack of wind. It took me 2 hours to cover the last 1.5 miles of the journey!

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society2010 Lake Erie Challenge

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Entering the Erie Yacht Club for the final rendezvous in theglassy waters of Presque Isle Bay.

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society2010 Lake Erie Challenge

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Race Chairman Paul Nickerson welcomes the two newestmembers into the Great Lakes Singlehanded Society, myselfand Archangel skipper Paul Bauman.

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society2010 Lake Erie Challenge

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Mission accomplished! Skippers of the 2010 Lake ErieChallenge get together for a group shot at EYC.

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society2010 Lake Erie Challenge

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AFTERWARD

• Including the delivery voyage to North Cape Yacht Club, Moonbeam completely circumnavigated Lake Erie, putting a total of 494 nautical miles (568 statute miles) under her keel.

• Being a comfortable cruising yacht, Moonbeam is not known for her speed. However, she more than makes up for this with her sea keeping ability. She placed 4th in her class of five boats.

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society2010 Lake Erie Challenge

Special thanks go to:

• My wife Lee, whose encouragement and support made this voyage possible.

• Greg Gorny, who devoted a tremendous amount of effort encouraging and advising myself and others to participate in the Lake Erie Challenge.

• Paul Nickerson, who took on the pain as Race Chairman for the event and whose good humor made us all feel valued and welcome.

• Wally McMinn of North Cape Yacht Club and Dave Heitzenrater of the Erie Yacht Club for their warm and welcoming hospitality.