Here's an excellent account of beginning the new season, written by Jim Wooll...

Don't be confused—this newcomer group is the "Great Lakes Cruising Coalition," designed to promote passenger cruise liners on the Great Lakes. Details here...

The June issue of Lifeline is available for download here. The printed version will be available in approximately three weeks. Note that the on-line version does not contain the event-registration forms for the Rendezvous, rallies, and other events—these forms are available on the "Events" pages...

 A different sort of cruise began on Lake Superior at Two Harbors, April 6. Captain Tommy Cook started his trip through the Great Lakes amidst ice and snow, with the eventual goal of exiting the Lakes via the St. Lawrence, then sailing up through the Northwest Passage, arriving in Alaska next fall.

Need a taste of cruising the North Channel?  

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We expect that a number of members will want to cruise into Lake Ontario after the Rendezvous. Details on a RCYC visit and Lake Ontario cruising possibilities here...

GLCC members Phil and Balt Thibert report on the closing (and perhaps re-opening) of the Marathon mill dock in Lake Superior and recommend that other members e-mail the Marathon Tourist Board. Details here.... And an update here (see the comment at the end of the harbor report)...

 The Google Earth internet viewer has now added the Great Lakes to its "oceanic" views. With the viewer, you can see underwater features of all the Great Lakes. Details are here... Note that you will have to download and install a viewer add-on to make the program work.

 The ice-breaking season on the Lakes is ending the week of April 13. News story here...

Retired Rear-Commodore A. B. Crow died at his home in Alpena, Michigan, March 13, 2009. He was 83. A GLCC member since 1963, A. B. was a familiar figure in his 43-foot Crow's Nest, cruising from Alpena primarily to the North Channel. He was famous for his "North-Channel Shrimp"—slices of walleye fillets deep fried in his enormous cast-iron skillet over a shore fire in one of his favorite spots such as LeRoy Cove in Oak Bay, served to any and all cruisers who happened to be in the anchorage.