FAQ Day Sails

Who will be the Captain?
Mark and Katya Gordon are co-owners of Amicus Adventure Sailing, a small family-owned charter sailing business that operates out of Knife River, MN. Mark (captain) has more than 25 years experience in directing wilderness programs and leading wilderness trips with people of all ages and over 18 years as a licensed Captain and EMT. He has climbed, skied, hiked and canoed throughout North America and bought his first sailboat in 1985 and has been sailing his various boats every since. Katya (first mate) is a lifelong sailor and is a veteran of outdoor wilderness experiences, with more than 15 years of experience leading trips in　mountains, lakes, deserts, rivers, and oceans.  She is an advanced facilitator and trainer in restorative justice, restorative processes and circle keeping. Together they have sailed thousands of miles on Lake Superior and beyond with their their two daughters, Cedar (9) and Lamar (7).  In 2007 they completed a year long, 5,000 sailing trip to the Bahamas and back from Lake Superior with their two daughters (ages 2 and 4) aboard Amicus - a 34 foot steel ketch.

"Our vision as a family, and as Amicus Adventure Sailing, has always been to take people sailing with us - two hours to two weeks or more, as we say. What is closest to our hearts is to eat, sleep, and live on board as a tight group as we sail to remote anchorages together." 　

What is the sailboat like?
Amicus II is our custom designed, 40-foot steel cutter. 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. 

Do I need any sailing experience?
No sailing experience is necessary just a willingness to be part of a great adventure! You will have the opportunity to participate in all aspects of the trip from raising sails to steering the boat or you just sit back and enjoy the ride - we want you to participate at whatever level you feel most comfortable.  
 
How many people can go on a trip?There can be a total of six guests on the trip plus Mark (the Captain) and sometimes a deckhand. 

How long is the trip?
Trips are 2 hours long. We take 4 trips a day, leaving at 9:00, 12:00, 3:00 and 6:30 daily, seven days a week.  

How much does it cost?
$40.00 for adults and $30.00 for kids 12 and under for a two hour cruise.   

Can I do a Private Charter?
Yes, you can charter the boat for your own private trip. Many groups, families and couples who are celebrating special occasions choose a private charter for their sailing experience. The cost for a private charter is $200.00 for 2 hour cruise. A 4 hour cruise is $375.00 (Mon.-Wed) and $400.00 (Thur-Sun.) An 8-10 hour cruise is $650.00 (Monday – Wed), $750.00 (Thur. – Sun.). You can have up to six in your group. 

Where will we be sailing?
All day trips leave from and return to the Knife River Marina in Knife River. Rather than pick a specific destination for the trip we will pick the best wind angle for sailing to maximize the sailing fun. The two hours goes by very quickly and we are generally within three or four miles of the marina. 

Is there a bathroom on the boat?
There is a bathroom on board but we encourage you to go on shore before your trip. It’ can be uncomfortable using the bathroom if there is a lot of motion to the boat. 

Can I bring food and drinks?
You are welcome to bring food and beverages along however please leave alcoholic beverages behind.  

Do I need to bring a life jacket?

We provide life jackets for all passengers however if you have one you would rather wear you are welcome to bring it along.

Can I bring small children?

We encourage families with children of all ages. Ours started sailing at 6 weeks. We have special harnesses they can wear along with their life jacket so they can be attached to the boat at all times.

What will the weather be like?

Weather conditions will vary depending on when you do your trip. For trips in May and June you can expect temperatures to be chilly out on the Lake and warm jackets and hats are usually required. Trips in July and August are generally warmer. If the wind is out of the northeast you can expect it to be cool on the Lake, if it’s out of the southwest you can expect warmer temperatures. September often has glorious sailing in relatively warm conditions. It can be cool while sailing on Lake Superior anytime during the summer so we strongly encourage you to bring a warm wind layer on any trip you do.  

What should I wear?

Regardless of how warm it is on shore please bring a warm jacket and windbreaker. For trips in May, June and September bring gloves and a stocking hat as well. Tennis shoes are best to wear on your feet but any type of footwear will do.

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.