Sailing often conjures up thoughts of Jimmy Buffett, Margaritas, warm breezes, sunshine, and laid-back time on the water.  

In the charter business, we work with guest who are taking hard-earned vacation time and spending hard-earned money to forget about the realities of everyday life for a while to enjoy some laid-back time on the water.

And we take that serious…that they’ve spent their hard-earned money with us for a little escapism.

So there’s a delicate balancing act that must take place between getting into that ‘Margaritaville’ state of mind…while also being held accountable for the safety of the boat and the crew, along with reacting to good ole Mother Nature…you know, that ‘reality’ part.

With safety, comes a more enjoyable and relaxed sailing vacation.

So if you’d like to experience a little escapism, and not have it suddenly ruined by a cold hard slap of reality, here are few things to consider:

1. An honest and detailed charter application.  The more information provided in your charter app, the easier it is for us to determine if the boat being requested will be comfortable and appropriate based on the captain’s (and crew’s) experience.
2. Get in some docking practice.  In the Caribbean, there’s not much docking being done.  In the Great Lakes…we dock.  And if you’re a little nervous about docking, let us know.  We can work with you on the morning of your check-out doing a little docking and marina handling.  And guess what?  Everyone could use more docking practice.  You are not alone.  Trust us.
3. Involve the crew.  It’s good to have your crew pay attention during your morning briefing.  All on-board should have a general knowledge of the boat.  Simple things like knowing how to start the engine, anchoring signals and throwing dock lines become very important when needed most.
4. Look at the weather.  I can remember taking my 101/103 class years ago with Capt Dan.  He drilled into us that if you decide to go out for a sail, look at the weather and decide if you have the experience and confidence based on what the weather is (or will be) doing.
5. Understand reefing.  You might think it’s cool to fly full sail and bury the rail…until something gives.  Not only is is hard on the rigging, it’s also inefficient.  As  Capt Paul likes to say, “reef early and reef often.”  Not sure how to reef, or why, or when?  Just ask.
6. Plan accordingly.  Don’t go 60 miles north, if you have to return to the charter base the next day and the forecast is calling for strong winds out of the south. That makes for a long day, and an unhappy crew.
7. Be willing to adapt.  It’s good to have an itinerary.  But with sailing, it’s also good to be able to adapt accordingly based on the weather, the crew and any other unexpected circumstances that may arise.  Sure, you can be completely dedicated to visiting a certain island, anchorage or port.  But if the weather does not want to cooperate, don’t force it.

It’s simple, really.  By using good ole common sense and taking time to think things through, you can have the perfect balance of escapism and safety.  And at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about…returning home safely from a memorable sailing vacation.

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And according to Jeanneau, it’s a result of our Jeanneau new yacht sales and overall efforts of promoting the Jeanneau brand, which includes charters, sailing school and sales. Many of our new Jeanneau owners have sailed away on their new boats with our full support of dockside service calls.  Other new Jeanneau owners have opted for our charter management program which lets charter revenues offset the expense of ownership and offers ample owner use.  Either way, we back every Jeanneau we sell with professional training and outstanding service. 

So THANK YOU to everyone who has been part of our efforts of growing the sailing industry one student, one charterer and one new boat owner at a time!

Three great ways to purchase your new Jeanneau!

1. Put your new Jeanneau in our well known and trusted Charter Management Program and take advantage of our many incentives and discounts!
2. Take delivery of your new Jeanneau at your home port and enjoy the peace of mind of having your yacht commissioned by the pros at Great Lakes Sailing Co.
3. Put your new Jeanneau in the SailTime Detroit fleet.

Virtual Boat Show

Interested in taking a look at a new Jeanneau from the comfort of your current screen?

Take a stroll through the Jeanneau Virtual Boat Show. Walk the docks and experience 360° tours + guided walk-throughs and then contact us with any questions @ 231.941.0535.

The post Jeanneau Dealer of the Year first appeared on Great Lakes Sailing Co..

Capt. Jeff

How long have you been a captain? 7 years         

Where do you spend your winters? Coconut Grove Florida sailing Biscayne Bay and the Florida Keys.

What keeps you coming back every summer?  Sailing in Traverse City is the only thing I want to do in the summer.

Where are you originally from? Grand Blanc, Mi.

What do you want to be when you grow up? An auto technician

Where did you learn to sail?  Texas wind surfing and catamaran. Saginaw Bay, Bay City Yacht Club, 30’ mono hull.

What’s your sailing background? I’m sailing my 5^th boat, started sailing on a 16’ Hobie Cat and windsurfing at Canyon Lake in Texas.

Any good stories about students or charterers? I have hours of stories about charters including bachelorette party’s going wrong and several message in a bottle proposals.

Favorite guilty pleasure? Ice cream

Describe GLSC in 5 words. A great place to learn to sail.

Any advice for beginning sailors? Read the book, do the test before your class. I’m trying to give you 20 years of experience in a couple of days so ask questions if you don’t understand.

The post Getting to Know Capt. Jeff first appeared on Great Lakes Sailing Co..

Capt. Jenny

Let’s get to know Capt. Jenny, one of our ASA sailing school instructors and, as we learned, a percussionist, singer, weaver and fiber artist, potter and sculptor…and more!

What did you do before you became a captain? I was a US Sail small boat certified Instructor and taught at TACS (Traverse Area Community Sailing), teaching kids how to sail for 8 summers.

What do you do in the winter? off season? I’m also a teacher and a reading specialist, so I’ve taught in public schools for 14 years but now have my own business as a teacher and tutor. I love teaching children during the school year and sailing with adults in the summer. It’s a wonderful balance.

What keeps you coming back every summer? It’s the water. I love studying what the water does, from buoyancy to wave action to the weather. And I love sharing this with others, so I just have to sail.

Where are you originally from? I’ve lived in Louisiana and Michigan, but I consider Traverse City my home.

Where did you learn to sail? I learned to sail at TACS, right on little Boardman River in Traverse City as a child. No one else in my family sails, but when my dad signed me up for camp here as a teen, I didn’t know what I was getting into. I hated it for about a week until I figured out I wasn’t going to die. Then it became more and more fascinating.

What is your most memorable day on the job? My favorite memory so far at GLSC was chartering with a family for a 2-day cruise. We sailed up to Power Island and then later to Omena. That evening, as I got up to keep watch, the stars were spectacular. What an amazing place to be on a clear night! But the morning was even better. I got up, opened the hatch above me in the V-berth, and I saw the most gorgeous pink sky of my life. Not a ripple on the whole open water. Not a sound. In a world that’s filled with so many distractions, a moment of beauty and quiet like this feeds the soul. I stood there and took that in for who knows how long and thanked God for such a beautiful world. 

Any good stories about students or charterers? Too many to count! I love seeing someone new to sailing start to get how it works and finally sit back and just enjoy the moment. That’s what we work for.

Tell us something quirky or unique about yourself. I have a crazy amount of interests. I’m a percussionist, singer, weaver and fiber artist, potter and sculptor, webmaster for a few websites, small business owner, nonprofit Vice President, photographer, serious traveler, birder, cartographer, hiker, biker, runner, swimmer, historic novel reader, writer of children’s stories, teacher, tea and cheese enthusiast, and I love spending time with my friends. I obviously have difficulty dividing my time between these passions!

Any advice for beginning sailors? Just get out on the water! It will make sense the more you sail, and you’ll love it even more when it does!

The post Getting to Know Capt. Jenny first appeared on Great Lakes Sailing Co..

Adam Rand

If you are sailing with us, there’s a good chance you will see Adam on the docks or on your boat, so let’s take a moment to learn a little more.

Position at GLSC? Marine Technician

What do you really do at GLSC? I’ve taught, captained, crewed, and fixed.  So whatever you might need.

How long have you worked at GLSC? 6 months

What did you do before you worked for GLSC?  I was working at a boatyard primarily focusing on electronics and rigging.

Why did you decide you wanted to work for GLSC?  I really like the attitude of the company and I like having the opportunity work in all aspects of sailing, not just one specific duty.

Where do you spend your winters?  Traverse City

Where are you originally from?  Petoskey, MI

What do you want to be when you grow up?  Still not sure on that one.

Where did you learn to sail? What’s your sailing background?  I learned to sail riding along with my Dad on our Hobie 16 on Walloon Lake.  I taught in the summers on Walloon Lake in my twenties and then headed down to run the sailing school at the Bitter End Yacht Club for a few years.  Being in the BVI I was able to get into working on bigger yachts and became the Mate/Engineer on a large sailing yacht.  

Tell us something quirky or unique about yourself.  I actually have a degree in Physics and used to work in nanomaterials at a chemical engineering lab, I’m also listed as an inventor on a patent.  

Any advice for beginning sailors?  Sailing is fun, it’s meant to be fun.  Relax, enjoy, and get out on the water as much as you can.

The post Getting to know Adam first appeared on Great Lakes Sailing Co..

We’re booking charters and we are looking forward to getting out on the water for some safe, social distancing ourselves.

Here are a few reasons why chartering is the ultimate safe, social distancing activity.

Additional Cleaning Time

We’re reserving more time between charters to allow for additional cleaning and sanitation.

Cleaning Standards

Each boat is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized per CDC recommendations. Plus we’re taking extra measures to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable time aboard.

Chartering = Small Groups

Just you and your crew exploring the best of Northern Michigan.

Linens, Bedding & Dish Cloths

A clean, sanitized mattress cover is provided on each bed on board and is changed between charters. Charters are required to bring their own bedding and dish cloths. For those flying in or who can’t travel with their own linens, we can provide a clean and sanitized set of linens and dish cloths for a small fee.

Anchorages

We have plenty of them. You could cruise for weeks and not go into a marina. And we’ll give you a free dinghy to explore the islands and anchorages.

Self Sufficient

Every boat has the ability to charge its own batteries from the engine.  This ensures that you’ll have lights, refrigeration, water, hot showers and all the essentials for comfortable cruising without ever having to plug in at a marina. 

Online Chart Briefings

Spend some time before you arrive with a personalized on-line chart briefing.

Extra Steps on Behalf of the Staff

We’re taking this seriously. Our staff is well briefed on preventative measures to ensure you’ll have a worry-free sailing vacation

Please feel free to contact us with any questions.

The post Safe, Social Distancing first appeared on Great Lakes Sailing Co..

#5 – Share a Boat

With our Partner Company, SailTime Detroit 

Detroit area sailors can sail a late model Jeanneau 349 or 389 out of St. Clair Shores for the season.  Memberships start from $500 and are based on how much you’d like to sail and what boat you choose. They offer comprehensive training for you and your friends and family so you’ll be comfortable and confident at the helm.

Visit SailTime.com/Detroit to learn more.

#4 – Buy a New or Used Boat

Boats starting at $15,900

Sail away to your own homeport or let our charter management program pay for most the expenses of boat ownership.  When you buy a boat from us you get our full support after the sale.

• 2016 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 349 “Venteux” – SOLD!
• 2015 Gemini Legacy 35 “Lyra”
• 2019 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 440 “Carmen”
• 2019 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 389 “Somerset” (in SailTime Detroit)
• 2020 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 410 – Just arrived!
• 2020 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 389 – Just arrived!
• 2016 Marlow Hunter 22 – red and white hulls to choose from

More info on new & used boats here.

#3 – Take a Sailing Course

From beginners to ol’ salts

We offer an array of basic through advanced courses.  Two-day, four-day and week long courses taught on 22′ daysailers, 32-40 cruisers and catamarans as well.  If you’re just starting out or it’s been a while and need a refresher, call us.  We’ll get you in the perfect course.

Learn more here.

#2 – Charter a Boat

For a day to a week, we have your boat

From our base in Traverse City we offer over 20 late model sailing yachts ranging in size from 30′ to 45′.  Feeling a bit rusty?  No problem.  Let us know and we’ll schedule some time with one of our professional and friendly USCG licensed captains. 

See our charter fleet here.

#1 – Join the Boat Club

Membership sailing on 22′ Day Sail boats

Also from our base in Traverse City you’ll find one of the easiest ways to get out on the Bay.  Boat Club Memberships start at just $750 for the season and we have 2-day training courses to get started.  It’s the easiest way to sail! 

Learn more about the Boat Club.

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