OPERATION BILL TILMAN
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who will be my leaders? "Our vision as a family, and as Amicus Adventure Sailing, is to take people sailing with us - two hours to two weeks or more. So many adventurers love to be out on the water but lack the resources to do it on their own. What is closest to our hearts is the group experience: eating, sleeping, and living onboard as a tight group as we sail to remote anchorages and explore pristine wilderness together."
What is the sailboat like? Do I need any sailing experience? How many people will be on the expedition?
Amicus II is our custom designed, 40-foot steel cutte
r. She is rugged and seaworthy--built to sail the world’s oceans. She has an 11.5’ beam, 5.5’ draft, a full keel and weighs 27,000 lbs. A 54 hp diesel engine provides plenty of power when the wind dies. She is equipped with both solar panels and wind generator and has yet to rely on shore power. She carries 70 gallons of diesel fuel and 100 gallons of water and has both composting and conventional marine head (toilet) systems. Together, these lower our carbon footprint and greatly extend our cruising range away from marinas. Her comfortable cockpit is protected from both sun and rain by a hard dodger. Inside, she sleeps eight, has an ample, functional galley and storage space for weeks of travel. A diesel cabin heater keeps the cabin toasty warm on those chilly Lake Superior evenings. Two kayaks and a dinghy are carried on board for exploring anchorages and making trips to shore. In a nutshell, Amicus II embodies our priorities: safety, self-sufficiency, simplicity, and sailing comfort.
No sailing experience is necessary for this trip - just a willingness to learn and be part of a great sea adventure. You will be asked to participate in all aspects of the expedition from standing watch to cooking. You will learn the basics of navigation, sail handling, anchoring, steering, provisioning and use of onboard electronics.
There will be up to eight on the expedition. Mark and Katya, their two daughters – Cedar (9) and Lamar (7) and up to four participants ages 18-25.
Where will I sleep?
You will sleep on the boat each night. There are eight berths on Amicus II. You will sleep in your own sleeping bag and either have a single berth or share a large double berth with someone of the same gender. You also have the option of sleeping in the enclosed cockpit on a single berth.
Where will we be sailin Lake Superior to New York City: We will set sail from Knife River, MN on the far western end of Lake Superior and sail the lengths of Lake Superior, Lake Huron and Lake Erie. We will then transit the Erie Canal (363 miles and 35 locks) to the Hudson River and follow the Hudson down to New York City. We will visit many ports and anchorages along the way, and take time to explore New York City once we arrive. The total distance will be just over 1,400 miles.
Dominican Republic to Bahamas: (Winter 2013, details coming soon) What are the insects like?
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Isle Royale Circumnavigation: We will be on western Lake Superior for the whole expedition. Setting sail from Knife River Marina (www.knife-river-marina.com), the first few days will be spent getting our sea legs as we explore the south shore of Wisconsin and Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (http://www.nps.gov/apis). From there we will sail on an overnight passage to Isle Royal National Park (www.nps.gov/isro), the most pristine and remote destination of our expedition. While circumnavigating Isle Royale we will anchor in secluded anchorages, hike some of the more than 200 miles of hiking trails on the island. Sightings of moose, beaver, fox and even wolves are possible along with a myriad of other northern boreal flora and fauna. From Isle Royale we will sail to Grand Marais, MN to end our trip. We will provide transportation back to Knife River from Grand Marais. All and all we will sail more then 300 nautical miles. May 31st to June 14th, 2012. Cost: $300.00
September 5th to October 14th 2012. Cost: $975.00
New York City to Lake Superior: We will meet at the 79th Street Boat Basin in Manhattan, spend a few days exploring New York City then travel up the Hudson River to the Erie Canal. After transiting the Erie Canal (363 miles and 35 locks) we will emerge onto the far eastern end of Lake Erie and make our way through Lake Erie, Lake Huron and Lake Superior, ending the trip at the North House Folk School in Grand Marais, MN. All told we will put 1,400 miles under the keel.
May 9th to June 15th, 2013. Cost: $975.00
What will the weather be like?
It depends on the trip. For the Isle Royale trip you can expect temperatures to range from the 40s in the evening to high 70s in the daytime, with offshore temperatures often quite chilly. For spring and fall trips through the Great Lakes, the temperatures could reach into the 80s in the daytime, though nighttime lows may still dip into the 40s. You can expect just about everything from bright and sunny to cold and foggy. The Dominican Republic trip is considerably warmer. Bringing the right clothing is critical to enjoying the trip regardless of the weather - be sure to follow the clothing list we provide to help ensure a comfortable trip regardless of the weather conditions. One thing for sure is there will be lots of good sailing with plenty of wind.
Biting insects are a fact of life even in the tropics so you expect some mosquitoes and other biting flies while on shore, especially in the evenigs. We carry insect repellent for shore trips and have screens on all hatches and port holes on the boat.
What do I need to bring? 
In general you will need to bring your own clothes, toiletries, sleeping bag and foul weather gear. We also recommend you bring a few good books to read while on passage during your off watch. We will provide a clothing and gear list prior to the trip and are happy to give advice on selecting items you may not have.
What is the food like?
The food is simple and nutritious, based on whole foods and organic whenever possible. Dinners are primarily noodle, rice and bean based with different sauces and optional meat. Breakfasts include oatmeal or other hot cereal, granola, eggs and pancakes. Lunches are soups, sandwiches, burritos, crackers, fruit and vegetables. Peanut butter and ramin noodles fill in the gaps. We happily accomodate food allergies or restrictions, and take it very easy on sugar and processed foods. Many participants bring special hot drinks or snacks to suppliment our menu. Alcohol is not permitted on any trip.
What will we be doing all day?
The days will be a mix of passage-making (sailing from one area to the next) and anchoring and exploring. While passage-making, you will be actively engaged in sailing the boat. You will stand watches of two to four hours during passages, assisting with all aspects of sailing the boat. Off watches are spent relaxing below or just enjoying the sailing. While at anchor we will take full advantage of the islands we will be visiting – hiking, kayaking and exploring. Instructional time will be set aside each day to learn sailing and navigation skills.
Will I be able to use my cell phone while on the trip? While we do not have rules about using your cell phone, we prefer you use it as sparingly as possible. There will be frequent periods when we will not have cell phone coverage. We do have the ability to charge your cell phone and other personal electronics with both AC and DC power.
What safety equipment is onboard the boat?
Safety equipment onboard includes: all US Coast Guard required safety equipment (life jackets, flares etc..) Person Overboard Recovery System, EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon), 3 VHF radios, Cell phone, first aid kit and life raft.
What if I have more questions? How do I sign up?
Do I need a passport?
A passport is recommended for all trips but is only needed for the trip the Dominican Republic. A drivers license or some other form of ID is required if you do not have a passport.
What does the tuition cover?
Tuition covers all food, permits, dockage, fuel etc... There will be opportunities to spend money along the way so we do suggest bringing some spending money when we end up in a port with a town and you want to go out to eat or buy souvenirs - which are at your own expense.
Please do not hesitate to call or email us if you have any questions. 218-290-5975 AmicusSailing@frontier.com. We can also put you in touch with past OBT participants.
Just call or email to get the process started. We will email you a short questionnaire and set up a time to chat and get to know each other a little. If things feel like they are a good match from both sides, you will have the opportunity join the crew. A $100.00 deposit is required to hold your spot onboard once you are signed up.
