Terror on Lake Huron

Who says a bad day on the lake is better than a good day at work?

Published: Monday, October 5, 2020
By: Theresa Remsberg

After about 13 hours on the water, we were finding our way in the dark at the end of our Southbound journey for home...

It had been an unhappy day on the lake. There was not enough wind to sail but enough to create waves suited to slam us from side to side for several hours until the first course turn. Being familiar with the route, approximate marker buoy locations and potential hazards, navigating visually with a non-functioning GPS was not of large concern for more than a few uncomfortable moments. The uncomfortable ride, however, was enough to make any sailor switch to steam. The struggle of repeatedly flying fabric in every sail configuration possible in an attempt to dampen the ride was highlighted only by an ambush of flies that spawned a combined 5 hours of misery. The attack started slow enough that we could take short turns below to grab a drink and take care of physiological as well psychological needs. As I returned from one such sanity break, I opened the bug curtain in the companionway only to hear the Captain barking orders at me to ‘Stay below!’; the flies had become vicious and were beginning to bite. I heeded the warning but he was armed with only a single-shot swatter and he was surely being brutally attacked. After a very short bit of thought and guilt, I found the back-up fly swatter and came out swinging. The swarm was unbelievable and seemed to move through the cockpit like a crashing wave but rather than washing across the deck, the wave stayed and continued to circle around us and grow. Without hesitation, I took shots at every enemy I could reach, working my way back towards the helm to help the Captain with those surrounding him. We were both, almost immediately, improving our skills of aim, accuracy and kill ratios, rapidly delivering underhand, back hand, shots in tight corners, blind spots and getting off spectacular hip shots. With only brief relief between waves, the battle ensued for hours.

As we neared closer to our intended destination, the breeze started to freshen, helping to keep the bugs off the boat as well as give us a smoother ride and one sail in a slight shape, just enough to keep it from flogging around as it had done so many times before.

Now finally, the first break of the day and we are almost at our destination. Starting to sail a little and feel sane again, we decide to skip our last stop and press on for home, now just another 4 or 5 hours to go.

We enjoyed a beautiful sunset, a little sailing and a thorough cockpit rinse. We completed chores and readied as much as we could ahead of time, and before it got dark so we could make a quick getaway after getting back to the dock. But, just as we were getting ready to enter the harbor, we encountered a mysterious, slow-moving boat that passed a little too close for nighttime operations on our port side. Able only to see the navigation lights, I watched as the lights passed behind us and at first appeared to be turning away to the East with only the green starboard light and stern light visible. We continued to look towards the harbor, working to adjust our night vision and waiting for the break wall structure to come into shape. I checked behind another time to see that both a red and green light were turning and lining up to follow our path precisely behind. We were trying to concentrate on finding the harbor entry, watching the entry lights and judging their peculiar arrangement, when it occurred to us that maybe this boat wanted to follow us in because they too could not see well on this most darkest of nights. But just as we were slowing down and about to turn for the straight-in, yet narrow course for a perceived safe entry, the boat behind us did not slow down and the situation was quickly getting even more intense. They closed in on us, disallowing us to make the turn safely. In short order, they came along our starboard side and demanded we comply with their instructions. Don't worry, it wasn't Lake Huron Pirates, it was just our dependable Coast Guard wanting to do a night inspection. (Insert explicative here.)

While we have encountered these inspections before, it is not usually a big deal but we had never been boarded at night. We were tired, sun-baked and battle weary from the fly onslaught earlier in the day and we just wanted to go home! It's always an adventure out there!