FAQ Isle Royale

Who will be the leaders?
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) who will also be aboard for the trip. 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’ beam, 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.   

How many people can go on the trip?
There will usually be three to four guests plus Mark, Katya, Cedar and Lamar. 
 
Where will I sleep?
You will sleep on the boat each night. You will sleep in your own sleeping bag and either have a single berth or couples can share a double berth. 
 
Where will we be sailing?
We will be on Western Lake Superior for the entire trip. We will meet in Grand Marais, MN and set sail as soon as weather permits to Isle Royale National Park www.nps.gov/isro, a 46 mile passage. Our goal will be to circumnavigate Isle Royale.  Weather permitting, we will set sail to a new anchorage each day. We will anchor in secluded anchorages, hike some of the more than 200 miles of hiking trails on the island, and likely see moose, beaver, fox along with a myriad of other northern boreal flora and fauna.  At the end of the trip we will sail back to Grand Marais.  

What will the weather be like?
You can expect temperatures to range from the 40s in the evenings to 60s and 70s in the daytime. It will be cool while offshore as the lake temperature will be around 40 degrees. Following the clothing list we provide will help ensure a comfortable trip regardless of the weather conditions. June is a transition month weather wise so you can expect just about everything from bright and sunny to chilly and rainy. June and September are our favorite months to visit Isle Royale, the weather is generally warm, the  and the sailing is glorious. 
 
What are the insects like?
You can expect some mosquitoes and other biting flies while on shore though they are usually not an issue during the day. 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 cloths, toiletries, sleeping bag and foul weather gear. We also recommend you bring a few good books to read and a few of your favorite snacks. We will provide a clothing and a 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. Dinners are primarily noodle, rice and bean based with different sauces and can be meat based or vegetarian. Breakfasts include oatmeal, granola, eggs, bacon, pancakes, cream of wheat. Lunches are sandwiches, burritos, crackers, fruit and vegetables.
 
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 can be actively engaged in sailing the boat or you can just sit back and enjoy the ride.  While at anchor we will take full advantage of the areas we will be visiting – hiking, kayaking and exploring. Two kayaks and a dinghy provide ready access to shore and exploring small bays and streams.
 
Will I be able to use my cell phone while on the trip?
While we do not have rules about using your cell phone or other personal electronics, we prefer you use them as sparingly as possible. There is no cell phone coverage once we get to Isle Royale.  We do have the ability to charge your cell phone and other personal electronics with both AC and DC chargers.
 
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), 2 VHF radios, Cell phone, first aid kit and Life Raft.