SAIL SUPERIOR
Today, we did something “superior.” We sailed to the Welcome Islands on a private charter with a local company called Sail Superior.
We began our day trip at Done-Rite Tire & Auto on Carrick Street. We headed to the Harbour Expressway and hung a right. We continued straight until we reached Water Street. At Water Street, we took a left and drove for roughly 5 kilometres before reaching the Prince Arthur Landing entrance.
Fun Fact: Lake Superior, by surface area, is the largest lake in the world. It covers 82,000 square kilometres with an average depth of 147 metres. There is enough water in Lake Superior to cover all of North and South America with a foot of water. Wow!
We began our sailing experience at Pier 3, Slip 12 A-B. That is where we met Captain Leanne and got our first site of “Frodo,” the sailboat we would be sailing
Another Fun Fact: Frodo is a Jonmeri 40 sailboat and measures 40 feet in length. There are two levels to the boat. The lower deck is equipped with a kitchen area, a bedroom and a washroom.
We began our adventure with a safety briefing by Captain Leanne. The kids put on their life jackets, and then we stepped onboard. We opted to sit in the centre of the boat so we could all sit together.
Captain Leanne was incredibly knowledgeable and offered lots of good tidbits of information. Here are a few things we learned about Lake Superior during our sail:
· Lake Superior is the largest lake in the world in terms of surface, however it is not the largest in terms of water. Russia’s Lake Baikal holds more water.
· All of the lighthouses on Lake Superior are automated, so there isn’t a man or woman living on the premises.
· When you see freighters anchored in the Thunder Bay marina for an extended period of time, it doesn’t mean they are quarantining. They could be waiting for product, waiting for customs paperwork, waiting for a payment to be processed or experiencing mechanical difficulties.
Another Fact, although not really fun: There have been over 350 shipwrecks in Lake Superior. If you are a Gordon Lightfoot fan, you likely know the details of one shipwreck; the Edmond Fitzgerald.
The wind was non-existent during our sail, which made the ride a little less “exciting.”. We still enjoyed the fantastic views of the Sleeping Giant and the Welcome Islands, and the serenity of the water surrounding us. Sailing is a great way to slow your mind and become present in the moment.
The entire journey from beginning to end was roughly three and half hours. If you don’t think you can sit still that long, you may want to start with a 45-60 minute ride on the “Super Rocket.” I would recommend this to families with young children.
We had tons of fun on our sailing adventure. Thank you to Captain Leanne for allowing our youngest to steer the boat. That is a memory that she will hang onto for years to come.
We give this day trip a 10 out of 10!
Visit https://www.sailsuperior.com for more information on sailing adventures offered by Sail Superior.
