Isle Royale Forums

If someone were to paddle between rock harbor & chippewa harbor would it be easier to start at chippewa and go to rock or start at rock and go to chippewa? Based on wind direction, waves, current, etc. ???


Thanks,

Brian

Alot of it depends on your skill/experience level. Figure the prevaling summer winds are S/Sw/W/NW. If you go from Chippewa to Rock, you will have waves either following, quartering or on the beam. The winds will help push you along. If you go the other way, you will be going into the wind and waves in some way.

A few years ago I analyzed wind data from Passage Island and Rock of Ages lights and came up with the following generalization for the months of July & August:
50% of the time winds are from the SW quadrant (180-270 degs).
25% of the time winds are from the NE quadrant (0-90 degs).
Leaving 25% from the other 2 quadrants.

So playing the odds says Chippewa to R.H. is most likely to be "friendlier". Of course on a 4 day trip we had NE winds on the nose every day. Last year we had 2 days of significant N/NW winds followed by a big blow out of the SW.

Disclaimers:
It was 5+ yrs ago, so don't know if climate changes have made any differences recently. Also, earlier and later you get more NE winds, but I don't remember the details. And since the data are from the lighthouses, high and open, it doesn't necessarily reflect what you experience on the water close to the island.

will be going in late august.

But it sounds like chippewa to rock harbor is the better 'bet'

Thanks all for the info!

Brian

Ingo wrote:A few years ago I analyzed wind data from Passage Island and Rock of Ages lights and came up with the following generalization for the months of July & August:
50% of the time winds are from the SW quadrant (180-270 degs).
25% of the time winds are from the NE quadrant (0-90 degs).
Leaving 25% from the other 2 quadrants.

So playing the odds says Chippewa to R.H. is most likely to be "friendlier". Of course on a 4 day trip we had NE winds on the nose every day. Last year we had 2 days of significant N/NW winds followed by a big blow out of the SW.

Disclaimers:
It was 5+ yrs ago, so don't know if climate changes have made any differences recently. Also, earlier and later you get more NE winds, but I don't remember the details. And since the data are from the lighthouses, high and open, it doesn't necessarily reflect what you experience on the water close to the island.

Good info John!!!