Raid Erie 2026

[Alan Stewart]

That's awesome Andy, our kids got a bit of tiller time as well. The trolling motor worked as well as expected. The makeshift filler pieces were essential and completely solved the sloshing well issue but i have to figure out how to make the motor easier to store in the well maybe just shortening the fiberglass stalk. Power wise it's not great but it still pushed us around Manilla bay in the morning with some gusty winds and sails down. I never expected it to be able to move the boat in any real wind only to get in and out of the marina. I did do a good job of motor sailing us back to the ramp at power level 4 which is about 350 watts or so while i kept us pointing and sheeted in. 

[Oyster]

Awesome report , both in the email blast too,,, We loved seeing the two kids out on the water in their youth and feeling comfortable. They will still remember and talk about this trip in their older years to their own kids.  Your boat came out really nice and like the color combination. 

[Steve W]

I posted some pics on the Raid Erie Facebook page, but here is my Part 1 report. 

 

It started out bad. I was going to leave early Thursday to get there, but my trailer brakelights failed miserably. The copper wire was like dust and I wound up rewiring them with a cheap kit just so I could go. I didn't arrive until 2:30 in the morning and I didn't want to drive into the park we were supposed to meet at so I drove to the Marina, parked, jumped into Skeena and went to sleep. The bass fisherman were at it by 5:45, making for a short night of sleep. I went into town, got a few groceres and then went to the Thursday night gathering place and met a few sailors who were still there. 

 

The launch site was moved to Catawba Island Stat Park, and so I headed there next. As I pulled in I spotted Paul and Dawn and Alan and Taylor's boats and pulled up near them. They were partially rigged, but I got to it and rigged Skeena as quick as possible. As a preface to a theme that would continue throughout the weekend, I was quite amused by Alan and Taylor's boys, aged 3 and 5. I had two the same age apart, who are now all grown up, and it was a great reminder of how much energy they have. 

I was the first to get into the water and I headed straight to Middle Bass Island, not waiting for others. My thought was to take a quick nap when I got there, but that wasn't to be. The forecast was for dying wnds, so away I went. It was a better sail than I imagined it would be until the wind diminished near the end of MBI. I hadn't had a shower and it was pretty warm, so I anchored and took a nice swim. A few sailboats came up on me and we all sailed into the park. I hadn't remembered my slip number so I docked and walked up to the admin building and they directed me to the D Dock. 

 

I got Skeena tied up and after talking with other attendees for a bit, The Stewart's two CS20.3 showed up and they two were on the D dock. We all eventually went to JF Walleye's restaurant for a nice late lunch and I was blessed to be allowed to tag along with such a fun family. Again, those boys were a hoot. Later we looked at other boats in the Marina that were obviously part of us and met many other Raiders. Ted had his CS17.3 next to mine and it was pretty awesome to see so many Mark III's.

 

To sweeten the moment even more, I saw Pete McCrary's Chessie make an apearance. Pete was building Chessie while I built Skeena and finished way faster than me. I flew to the Messabout and Chessie was the first Core Sound I had ever sailed on. I know Peter would have been happy to see here there.  Ted and I got a chance to talk for a bit and he was kind enough to arm me with some excellent Steven's Point beer from Michigan. Highly reccomended if, like me, you enjoy beer flavored beer.  

 

In the Evening, we (by now I felt like a part of the Stewart family) made our way to the Lonz Winery for dinner and a talk by Colin Angus that was entertaining, although a bit long. By then I was exhausted and I left a bit early and went to get some sleep. 

 

Somewhere in this writeup I should mention that this whole area was beautiful in a "I can't believe this is Ohio" way. I plan to be back. 

Saturday Ted had left before I awoke. We had a loose skippers meeting and the three Core Sound 20.3s decided to head to Kelleys Island for a swim and the meet up with the others at Manila Bay on North Bass Island later. I'm sure we covered the most ground that day. I was happy for that because I haven't sailed Skeena much this year. We had a great upwind sail to Kelleys, other than that Paul fell behid due to a technical problem with his centerboard. It was sunny and warm, and I was and still am intrigued by Alan and Taylor's Bimini on Yacht Dog. We anchored in shallow water and I waded in. It was a nice but short visit with lots of boat talk, and then we were off to North Bass....

[PadrePoint]

Award winning Point Special and Point Amber… from Stevens Point, Wisconsin… just down the road from me. 

I drove by the brewery tonight… the Friday night beer garden is busy. 

A funny little story… my son was in Puerto Rico a couple years ago and visited a local bar, asking for a favorite local beer. The label was mostly in Spanish but also said, “Bottled by Point Brewery in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.”