We've been waiting for this weekend for years. It's the Bicentennial of the Battle of Lake Erie which turned the tide in the War of 1812. This battle was actually fought in 1813 and took place between the American and British fleets just northwest of Rattlesnake Island, just a few miles from Put-In-Bay.
The Admiral and the Mother signed on a crew for the weekend as did Ally, who hasn't been aboard in years. It was close quarters but everyone had a great time.
The week was an occasion like no other on the Lake as the fleet of over a dozen tall sailing ships visited the area, prior to the fireworks, and culminating with a reenactment of the battle on Monday, Labor Day.
We tried to pick up a mooring in Put-In-Day and arrived as early as Tuesday to do it but to no avail. The place was packed and nobody was leaving. The Admiral and I sailed back to Catawba Island on Thursday to pick up the girls. The weather was in our favor and we ready full provisioned.
The Admiral and the Mother signed on a crew for the weekend as did Ally, who hasn't been aboard in years. It was close quarters but everyone had a great time.
The week was an occasion like no other on the Lake as the fleet of over a dozen tall sailing ships visited the area, prior to the fireworks, and culminating with a reenactment of the battle on Monday, Labor Day.
We tried to pick up a mooring in Put-In-Day and arrived as early as Tuesday to do it but to no avail. The place was packed and nobody was leaving. The Admiral and I sailed back to Catawba Island on Thursday to pick up the girls. The weather was in our favor and we ready full provisioned.
The fireworks show was by far the best we have ever seen. With no other place to go, we anchored off the Monument along with 30 or so other boats waiting for the show. Normally, they use a barge in the bay as the stage for the fireworks. This time, they had two barges and we were too close for comfort.
Before the fireworks started, the Miller ferry came into the bay with the Ohio State Marching Band standing on both decks playing the fight song. We waited forever as the boats jockeyed for position...no too close but no to far. Since the show started after dark, we needed to move after the show. Anchorage off the Monument is not good and we were totally unprotected from the wind and waves. After the show, we needed to move to Schoolhouse Bay. Maneuvering at night between this many boats was a challenge. We turned all the lights on, gave Ally the searchlight to sweep the area ahead of the boat, and proceeded very slowly.
Before the fireworks started, the Miller ferry came into the bay with the Ohio State Marching Band standing on both decks playing the fight song. We waited forever as the boats jockeyed for position...no too close but no to far. Since the show started after dark, we needed to move after the show. Anchorage off the Monument is not good and we were totally unprotected from the wind and waves. After the show, we needed to move to Schoolhouse Bay. Maneuvering at night between this many boats was a challenge. We turned all the lights on, gave Ally the searchlight to sweep the area ahead of the boat, and proceeded very slowly.