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It’s customary to tip your captain as long as you enjoyed your trip. Our captains are highly skilled, dedicated sailors who love bringing people out into this unique area. They work very hard to make each experience impactful, educational, and memorable. A tip lets them know that they’re doing it well. In general, a standard tip ranges from 10 to 15%, but don’t let that limit you!
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There’s always wind somewhere in the Apostles – and you don’t really need wind to sail. You only need it to get anywhere by sailing. We never have anyone disappointed by the rare, mirror-glaze of a calm day.
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Surprisingly, this is our most common reason to cancel. While all of our boats are capable of weathering almost any weather, it’s up to the captain to determine if the wind conditions might make sailing too heavy to be fun. Generally, we start considering this after the sustained wind reaches 20+ knots, but this is not a firm rule.
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If the rain is a deluge that will cover the length of the trip, we’ll head back to dock and reschedule or offer a full refund. But, many of the rainstorms that pass over the Bayfield peninsula are short affairs, bringing both delight and wind. The progression of these systems is beautiful – as the dark cloud approaches, the virga turns into a shimmer on the water and, when the storm engulfs you, the all-embracing music of the rain is soothing. Eventually, the steady thrum of the raindrops patters its way past the boat and soaks the islands beyond.
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Thunderstorms are a complex business, but not as dangerous as you might first imagine. Most of the danger of sailing in thunderstorms actually comes from the wind, and not the lightning. Many of the thunderstorms we experience in the apostles are considered ‘popcorn’ storms – small, disparate mini-systems that usually have weak cloud-to-cloud lightning. Stronger storms have cloud-to-ground lightning, and only the strongest have cloud-to-water (the strikes we care about). Even then with the strongest storms, lightning strikes on boats are exceedingly rare, and in the rare event that one of our vessels is struck, our boats are properly grounded to keep lightning damage to a minimum. If that event becomes a possibility, our captains are trained to give you the information you need to stay safe.
Major storm systems capable of producing dangerous wind or hazardous lightning are predictable well in advance of a trip – but the lake’s cold water will often break up or shift storms, especially in the spring. Make sure to show up on the dock to talk with the captain if you don’t receive a call from the office canceling the trip. -
It depends on your trip; due to the geological layout of the islands, not every island has the right ingredients to create the fantastical sculptures that entrance visitors to this place. While our Discovery trip nearly always includes a visit to one of our secret pockets of caves, it can be dependent on the wind and weather conditions. The Afternoon Sail does not make it out to any cave-bearing islands, however, a shoreline tour of a nearby island never fails to delight, swinging the boat and her crew past old quarries, bonsai-like trees, and plenty of natural wonder.
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Yes! Each of our boats has an enclosed bathroom with a toilet, sink, and all the other necessities. Generally, it’s not a bad idea to use the restroom before your trip departs – the nearest ones are located near the ferry landing, just a short walk away.
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Our Discovery trips (and longer ones as well) tow a dinghy behind the boat that can be rowed or paddled to the shoreline. Some islands have more hospitable shorelines than others, but, depending on what you want out of a trip, some quality beach time is never a bad thing. Our longer trips, both full days and overnights, also have the option of pulling up and tying off to a dock to allow easiest access to shore.
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As long as the weather allows, swimming is one of our favorite activities in the Apostle Islands. There are plenty of reasons to jump in, from the health benefits of cold shock, to exploring caves without a vessel, and sometimes it’s just the perfect temperature for a quick plunge. Water temperatures in the islands are much warmer than you think – it’s not uncommon to see 68-72 degrees by July, and some sheltered bays can even reach 85 degrees. Balmy!
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You’re off the hook on prerequisite sailing knowledge. All of our boats can be sailed by just the captain, though often our customers join as crew and become quite adept at sailing by the end of the voyage. It’s easier than you might think, and more fun than you can believe!
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Yes – your dog is welcome aboard on private group trips. We do not allow dogs on our public trips. Keep in mind that not every dog will take easily to voyaging, and think ahead in advance what your canine friend might need before and during the trip. Accommodations can be made for walking excursions on our longer trips, and clean drinking water is always available aboard our boats.
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Trick question! There are twenty two Apostle islands (twenty three if you count poor Little Manitou, who never gets recognition), and one of them is technically a peninsula, anyway. But choosing a favorite is like choosing a favorite child. You do have one, but you won’t admit it to the general public.
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Due to Coast Guard regulations, all of our boats are capped at a passenger limit of 6! The captain is not counted in that limit, but there’s no exception for small children, or even infants. The only way for us to accommodate larger groups is to take out multiple boats. People often split their groups by age or comfort level, which usually works out better anyway!
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Absolutely! You can feel free to call us, email us, or leave a comment or note in your online booking. We’ll make every effort to connect you with that captain!