Great Lakes Singlehanded Society 2010 Lake Erie Challenge Aboard the Yacht Moonbeam Skippered by Allan Belovarac August 28 – September

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society 2010 Lake Erie Challenge Moonbeam Log Route of the Lake Erie Challenge, starting at Toledo Beach, MI, and ending at EYC, Erie, PA for total of 312 statute miles, 271 nautical miles

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society 2010 Lake Erie Challenge Moonbeam Log The intrepid Moonbeam, an O’Day 30, will carry me on my voyage.

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society 2010 Lake Erie Challenge Moonbeam Log Shoving off the dock at 1035 on August 24. My Quartermaster and lovely wife Lee waves farewell to her sailor.

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society 2010 Lake Erie Challenge Moonbeam Log Passing the Pierhead Light on the way out of the harbor into Lake Erie on a cool and cloudy day.

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society 2010 Lake Erie Challenge Moonbeam Log 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 Society 2010 Lake Erie Challenge Moonbeam Log On the way to North Cape Yacht Club, sailing through the Southern Passage - Rattlesnake Island with Catawba Island in background

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society 2010 Lake Erie Challenge Moonbeam Log Cruising along the western end of Lake Erie toward Toledo Beach for boat delivery

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society 2010 Lake Erie Challenge Moonbeam Log 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 Society 2010 Lake Erie Challenge Moonbeam Log An inspirational sunset over western Lake Erie.

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society 2010 Lake Erie Challenge Moonbeam Log North Cape Yacht Club NCYC takes sailing very seriously!

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society 2010 Lake Erie Challenge Moonbeam Log Creeping to get into position for 1000 start – light winds with competitors barely moving!

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society 2010 Lake Erie Challenge Moonbeam Log The chutes went up shortly after the start.

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society 2010 Lake Erie Challenge Moonbeam Log Moonbeam in the early going, looking pretty with her asymmetrical spinnaker set

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society 2010 Lake Erie Challenge Moonbeam Log The Fleet heading toward Pelee Passage

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society 2010 Lake Erie Challenge Moonbeam Log 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 Society 2010 Lake Erie Challenge Moonbeam Log Moonbeam ’s Spinnaker set on a tight reach cruising along the north shore of Lake Erie on Day 2 of the Challenge

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society 2010 Lake Erie Challenge Moonbeam Log Sunrise on Lake Erie for Day 2 portends clear skies and fine weather.

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society 2010 Lake Erie Challenge Moonbeam Log By day 3, the fleet was so spread out, this was the first boat I saw since Pelee Island – Entson heading back to Erie after making the turn at Buffalo.

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society 2010 Lake Erie Challenge Moonbeam Log Moonbeam just rounded Seneca Shoals light at Buffalo and is now homeward bound!

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society 2010 Lake Erie Challenge Moonbeam Log Passing Point Abino Light as Moonbeam tacks across from Buffalo in the late afternoon of Day 3.

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society 2010 Lake Erie Challenge Moonbeam Log 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 Society 2010 Lake Erie Challenge Moonbeam Log Entering the Erie Yacht Club for the final rendezvous in the glassy waters of Presque Isle Bay.

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society 2010 Lake Erie Challenge Moonbeam Log Race Chairman Paul Nickerson welcomes the two newest members into the Great Lakes Singlehanded Society, myself and Archangel skipper Paul Bauman.

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society 2010 Lake Erie Challenge Moonbeam Log Mission accomplished! Skippers of the 2010 Lake Erie Challenge get together for a group shot at EYC.

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society 2010 Lake Erie Challenge Moonbeam Log 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 4 th in her class of five boats.

Great Lakes Singlehanded Society 2010 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.