THE BOAT
In 1969 Frank Butler built the first Catalina, a 22-footer, in North Hollywood, CA. These days, Catalina Yachts is the largest sailboat maker in the USA with boats ranging 8'- 47'. Capri 26s were produced in the early 1990s with about 350 made. We bought our 1990 Hull #66 in fall 2005 for the price of a Ford Focus.
Revision Specs—
26' length • 9'11" beam • 3'5" wing keel • tiller • 5100 lbs • 2 sails (main and 130 genoa) • 4 winches • roller furler • galley • head • 4 berths • 11 hp Universal M2-12 diesel engine
THE BAY
120 miles long • Mean width 23 miles • Mean depth 65' • SSW prevailing wind • Lake Michigan estuary—largest freshwater estuary in the world • Bordered by Wisconsin and Michigan • Sailing season May-October
The bay faces challenges from invasive species to chemicals to evaporation. We may have to start carrying bats, as in the slugger kind, onboard if the Asian Carp get in, which they may already have. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is all over this in their series, "Great Lakes, Great Peril". Check it and more out in the Links.