Marilyn delivered Tamassa through Lakes Huron and Erie.
You Can Never Have Too Many Friends
Dan and Julie (left)
The Great Lakes Cruising Club unites boaters across the five lakes — and beyond. B Y F E L I C I A S C H N E I D E R H A N
Broomstick horse racing during Kentucky Derby party at 2019 GLCC Lake Erie Rally in Leamington, Ontario.
Doug Jackson
★ GLCC member since 2009 ★ Role: Vice Commodore ★ Vessel: 2012 Lagoon 421 cruising catamaran,
41’, Bleu Lagoon
★ Home Port: Cedar Point Marina, Sandusky, OH Like most members, Doug and his wife, Pam, joined because they wanted to cruise the Great Lakes, and the GLCC had the most up-to-date information on marinas and anchorages. They got the harbor reports — and so much more. A club benefit Doug recently learned of is the boat insurance program. This insurance policy is negotiated by the GLCC to provide broader boat coverage for less money. Club events are a favorite for Doug and Pam. They “give us a destination to explore, and a place to meet old friends and create new ones,” Doug says. “We can use the harbor reports to gain the knowledge needed to cruise to a new location. Once at an event, there are activities, meals, typically games, socializing, training/ seminars — all of which provide a great boating experience.” At events they’ve met fellow boaters who have become lifelong friends. They have paid it forward by becoming part of the club’s management team. Doug and Pam started as port captains for Cedar Point Marina. He later became a director-at-large, and currently holds the office of Vice Commodore of the GLCC. Pam serves as the club’s port captain coordinator. While they enjoy exploring new places, their favorite spot on the Great Lakes is probably the North Channel, “with its rugged looks and picturesque setting.”
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n 2014, Julie Thorndycraft and her husband, Daniel DeWeese, were new to the cutter rig sailing scene. They had just bought their 1999 Gozzard G37, Gaviidae, and became friends with a large group of sailors in Minnesota. “Most of them were Great Lakes Cruising Club members and became our mentors,” Julie says. Julie and Dan were considering club membership and decided to check out the annual Rendezvous, which that year was being held at Lake Superior’s Barker’s Island. At the event, they invited one friend out on the water for the afternoon, and ended up with eight experienced Great Lakes Cruising Club (GLCC) sailors onboard. “Every one of them had years and years more experience than Dan and me,” Julie says. They got out on the water to find some pretty big winds, gusting up to 25 mph. Gaviidae started making a weird humming noise. Julie turned to her friend, past club Commodore Niels Jensen, and asked, “what should we do?” She remembers he said, “Well, Julie, your boat is talking. What does it have to tell you?” In the next few minutes, she recalls: “All these sailors went into this unspoken action plan. The next thing you know, the boat is sailing perfectly quietly. We learned more in 30 minutes…” No surprise: Seven years later, Julie and Dan are active members.
Lifelong friendships
Founded in 1934, the GLCC’s original mission was to give members a way to share cruising information. Its log book and harbor reports are still one of the biggest draws for members. More than a thousand of these vetted harbor reports are updated frequently by boaters who have personally visited the areas. The reports help cruisers plan, navigate in the location, and also provide information about nearby essentials: Provisions, maintenance, restaurants and must-sees. Sometimes, these reports are the only information available on wilderness anchorages. The GLCC also offers a huge network of members, including about 200 port captains who serve as port experts and hosts. The club has many regular events, including the annual Rendezvous, rallies and flotilla cruises. Members often meet up informally in
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