Niagara Arrives in Bayfield, WI

After hoisting the boats at Isle Royale yesterday, we shook out the reefs in the tops’ls and spanker, set most of the ship’s sail area before screaming down Lake Superior, close hauled on a northwest breeze of 15-20 knots. The cold air that hovered in varying heights at times from 5 feet to 50 feet above the water created a buffer, which prevented the breeze from reaching the surface of the water. So we sailed fast on a glassy surface reaching speeds in excess of 9 knots for most of last night’s passage. Our average speed from Isle Royale to the Apostle Islands was around 8 knots, and we arrived this morning at “Outer Island” and spent most of the day sailing through the archipelago, arriving at Bayfield, WI this afternoon, shortly after our daily afternoon class session ended. Today,  Mr. Caswell Nilsen of Shadyside Academy in Pittsburg presented an excellent lecture and discussion on the role of economics, politics, and honor in the societies, governments, and characters that shaped the War of 1812. He led an active and interesting dialog, which showed that the students were truly engaged and considering the lesson carefully.

The students and crew appear in high spirits after several days of prime sailing. Tomorrow, I plan to sail for Devil’s Island, to send out the boats to row through the water-cut “sea” caves that line the shore of the island. We depart Bayfield around 10am tomorrow and will arrive in Duluth on the east wind, which is in the Wx forecast, on Thursday around 4pm.