Frequently Asked Questions

Weather during the peak of summer on Lake Superior can change unexpectedly.  If you are new to adventure sailing you may be wondering what you should bring. Planning can be tricky as there can be a difference in daytime and nighttime temps, and type of activities that are planned. The trick to staying comfortable is to plan your wardrobe in layers. A base layer against your skin for moisture control, a mid layer for insulation, and an outer layer for wind and water protection. While a comfortable pair of cotton jeans is great on shore, they are less than ideal if they get wet. You can learn more about layering by visiting: http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/dress+layers.html.

GENERAL PACKING LIST
•    Soft-sided duffel bag for your gear, (roll-ons, hard sided luggage is prohibited).
•    1 pr. NON-MARKING or crepe soled shoes to wear when aboard (absolutely required).
•    1 pr. shoes for shore; tennies, Tevas, or day-hikers if you will be hiking, etc.
•    Warm socks. Polyester or wool is best.
•    Rain jacket or suit (ponchos don’t work well), rain pants or wind pants!
•    Sweat suit, sweater or jacket (polar fleece is great!).
•    Shorts, T’s, 1 turtleneck, pair of gloves and a knit hat (especially for September trips).
•    Long pants. (Note: denim dries slowly. Bring light pair or wind pants.)
•    Sun block, sunglasses. Light reflection off the water is intense all season.
•    Swimsuit.
•    Hat with brim.
•    Toiletries, towel, washcloth, flashlight. (For environmental reasons we prefer you to use a biodegradable soap/shampoo for use on board.)
•    Camera, DVD, CD, MP3  (all optional). Our boat can play just about all media.
•    A REFILLABLE WATERBOTTLE that you will use exclusively.  We discourage the use of single use plastic waterbottles.
•    Sleeping bag & pillow. (Need not fit in duffel bag).

Fortunately, only a very, very small number of guests do not have any issues with motion sickness, (sea sickness).Motion sickness typically results when your eyes are telling your brain that you are not moving, while  your inner ears are telling your brain that you are moving around.  
•    A technique to coordinate these conflicting messages is to focus your eyes on the boat’s motion in the water.  We advise that when you first become aware that you may be starting to become uneasy, ask us to steer the boat for awhile, another way is to stay outside where you can watch the horizon line on the water.  
•    Another technique is to simply lie down and keep your eyes closed to eliminate the visual influence. 
•    There are some pharmaceutical aids such as Dramamine, and others.  You should talk to your primary healthcare provider for advice.
•    Some crew have had success with acupressure wrist bands. 
There are other influences such as stress, dehydration, hypothermia, that can bring this on also. We encourage our guests to let us know as soon as possible if any of these conditions arise so we can assist you.