This trip marked our first time chartering with Superior Charters and our first time chartering on Lake Superior. We sailed on Breeze, a 2010 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 33i. We are accompanied by Sheila and Marty Berger, which brings us to the topic of couples sailing.

We’ve met dozens of sailors since we began sailing, including many couples who love sailing together. We’ve also met several men whose wives have no interest in sailing. And we’ve met couples who sail together, but only the male partner sails the boat. This last scenario describes Sheila and Marty. It works exceedingly well for them. Sheila does all of the cooking and Marty does nearly all of the sailing. Marty loves sailing, and Sheila loves how relaxed she feels while sailing.

This brings us to our first day.

Day 1 – Stockton Island

The wind was light our first day on the water so we motored to Stockton Island. We walked along a lovely trail.

After a time we reached Singing Sands beach. Its name is derived from the sound made when walking on the sand. Certain conditions have to come together to create singing sand:

1. The sand grains have to be round and between 0.1 and 0.5 mm in diameter.
2. The sand has to contain silica.
3. The sand needs to be at a certain humidity.

Regardless of the cause, the sand does make a sound when you walk on it. Even if it didn’t, the beach is nice and the view is wonderful!

We spent the night at anchor in Julian Bay. It was a lovely and peaceful evening. Just what sailors desire!

Day 2 – Manitou Island, Devils Island and Raspberry Island

The winds were light (or on our nose) on day two so we elected to motor to our desired destinations. Our first stop was Manitou Island. The southwest coast of Manitou Island is home to an old fishing camp. A volunteer stays in one of the cabins and provides tours.

The earliest cabin was built in the 1890s by four Swedish loggers, while the other structures were built in the 1900s to the 1930s. The cabins and other structures contain a wealth of objects and implements remaining from the first historic occupants of the site to the most recent.

After touring the fishing camp on Manitou Island we headed to Devil’s Island.

Samuel Fifield wrote in 1899 that, “The Indians in the early days declared it to be the home of Matchimanitou, the “evil spirit,” whom Kitchie-Manitouo, the “great spirit,” had imprisoned there. Hence its name, Devils Island.”

Devils Island is the northernmost of the Apostle Islands. It faces the vast expanse of Lake Superior and all that Mother Nature delivers. It was a calm day so we were able to visit the sea caves. One can visit the caves via kayak, swimming or dinghy. We chose the latter.

The caves are spectacular. We will visit them every time we have the opportunity.

While Michael and I were exploring the caves in the dinghy we caught a glimpse of Marty (the small dot) taking a dip in Lake Superior. When we returned to Breeze, the rest of us (Sheila, Michael and I) took a refreshing, yet chilly, dip as well.

After a brief visit to Devils Island we motored (still no wind) to Raspberry Island. Since Breeze doesn’t have a deep draft we were able to use the dock. This is a view of Breeze from the island.

Raspberry Island is one of the islands in the Apostle Islands that still has a working lighthouse.

Lighthouse historian Terry Pepper has described the lighthouses in the Apostle Islands as “one of the more interesting geographically centered collection of [lighthouse] structures” in the United States. Another lighthouse historian, F. Ross Holland, has called them “the largest and finest single collection of lighthouses in the country.”

Cool, yes!!  The tour is very interesting and definitely worth taking. And the view from the top of the old lighthouse is beautiful!

Day 3 – Madeline Island

We reached our third and final day far too quickly. We needed to be back to the marina by 3:00 p.m., so it was a short day. We stopped at Madeline Island for an adult beverage at Tom’s Burned Down Cafe. Here are a few random pictures of us underway, from the Marina, and at Tom’s Burned Down Cafe.

It was hot the Sunday we returned. Marty and Sheila stayed for a bit at the marina so Marty could take a dip in the swimming pool. Michael and I headed for home, with great memories of the weekend filling our heads.