Pure Michigan August 18, 2013
Posted by Fritz in Yachts and other things that float.Tags: Crystal Lake, Frankfort, MI, summer
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My Michigan summer is over. I can’t remember a more wonderful one….except for maybe next year.
Best 4th of July Parade Eveh! July 4, 2011
Posted by Fritz in Yachts and other things that float.Tags: 4th of July, Americana, Frankfort, MI, small town
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Frankfort, Michigan’s 4th of July parade is just the best. Small town Americana at it’s finest.
Pasty Boy...it's a Michigan thing.
The end of an era August 19, 2010
Posted by Fritz in Yachts and other things that float.Tags: Butterfly sailboat, Crystal Lake Yacht Club, Frankfort, Junior Fleet, MI, racing
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Our yacht club on Crystal Lake in Michigan is dedicated to promoting sailboat racing to kids of all ages. The Junior Fleet is the incubating ground the Club has used to nurture the love of the sport throughout the Club’s history. The Junior Fleet is open to any child, 5 to 16 years old, who passes the swimming test. My daughter started when she was 7.
This past summer marked the last season of her membership in the Juniors. Her summer was abbreviated by her study abroad in Spain, but she got to sail in a handful of races before the season ended. As an active parent volunteer for the last 10 years her last race hit me hard. I am very thankful for the chance to watch her mature both as a racer and as a young woman.
Frankfort, Michigan July 15, 2009
Posted by Fritz in Travel.Tags: Betsie Bay, Butterfly, Crystal Lake, E-Scow, Elberta, Frankfort, MI, racing, sailing
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At anchor in Betsie Bay, Frankfort, MI
Precious places are many in our great country and one of mine is the northwest side of the lower peninsula of Michigan. Frankfort, MI and the surrounding area has been my summer home since I was born. My grandparents first came up this way in the early ’50’s and bought a cottage on Crystal Lake that is still in the family today.
Pt. Betsie Lighthouse
I’m the third generation to enjoy this spectacular place and my daughter is the fourth. There is also a fifth generation toddling their way through the sand and I surely hope that there will be many more after that.
Betsie Bay at dusk
Our cottage is on Crystal Lake, one of the most beautiful lakes in the US.
Nearly nine miles long and three wide, the lake is a spring fed, sandy bottom beauty that offers the finest venue for every water sport imaginable. Our favorite is sailing or more specifically racing sailboats.
The unique geography of the lake makes for near perfect conditions for the preferred sailing vessel at our yacht club; the scow. Kids start on the Butterfly and work their way up to the E-scow usually skippered by the fathers (and occasional mother) on the weekends.
Butterfly's at the start
Our sailing season is excruciatingly short as the club doesn’t open ’til mid June and finishes in mid-August when the school year begins. When I was a kid the season continued up to Labor Day as we didn’t return to school till after that. The shortened summer just means more activity packed into a smaller time frame and we sure try to savor every minute. If you ever get the chance to visit, I promise you’ll experience one of the most wonderful places in America.
E-scows with spinnakers flying
