Every preparation we have made both to the boat, our gear, and our route is based on a cautious and respectful view of the lakes. Life jackets, food and water are givens - anyone with a boat has those things - our preparation goes well beyond that.

Two gps receivers with all the course waypoints stored, as well as every harbor along our route.

I have contacted every harbor along our entire course to determine which ones are open should we need fuel or a place to hole up if the weather deteriorates.

We have a Loran receiver as a backup in case of gps failure. I have purchased paper charts and chartboooks on which I have plotted our course, and on which we will plot hourly position fixes for the entire trip as an additional backup.

We have foul weather gear for extreme conditions. We have jacklines secured from the front of the boat to the rear, so that during the night and any time during the day when conditions are not favorable - in addition to our pfds - we will be attached via harness and tether to minimize the risk of an overboard situation.

We will each wear a waterproof strobe or led light, whistle and a knife at all times on deck to be prepared if the unthinkable should happen.

I have prepared, not just for this trip but in general by reading extensively, taking classes on heavy weather sailing, coastal navigation, sail management, boating safety and others.

I have spent hours going over the boat - replacing hoses, filters, wiring, vhf radio - anything I thought may might be a possible trouble spot.

All this has been a substantial investment of time and money - enough that spending a couple thousand dollars to truck the boat back would have been the prudent route from an economic standpoint - but it’s a sailboat - and I’d like to sail it!

Clearly our destiny is in God’s hands, but we will complete this journey because we prepared for it - because we gave the Lakes the respect they deserve - not because we hoped for the best and got lucky. While it may not be a pleasure cruise - we do intend to enjoy it!

- Scott