Little Traverse Bay - Harbor of Refuge

Little Traverse Bay became a harbor of refuge today for two Great Lakes freighters seeking safety from November gales. Both the 635 foot Sam Laud (below) and the 671 foot Wilfred Sykes (far below) anchored not far from shore, with the Sam Laud just off of the Bay View Pier and the Wilfred Sykes off of the Petoskey Breakwall near Magnus Park.



The NOAA Marine Forecase indicated that Gale Warnings will be in effect through late tonight, with Northwest gales to 35 knots, snow showers, and waves from 7 to 11 feet. With the thirtieth anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald having been observed just days ago, perhaps the laker captains are showing a little bit more respect than usual for the awesome power of the November storms on our Great Lakes.