M A R L I N B R E E - BREE'S BLOG: In The Wake of the Fitzgerald

On the northern track, the Big Fitz fights her way up the north shore and past Isle Royale.

The Fitzgerald hurries to her doom as she finds an unchartered reef.

The mystery of the sinking of the Fitzgerald has become a national obsession. Read Broken Seas.(Click on painting to enlarge it).

At anchor, Persistence rocks gently as author Marlin Bree emerges from a boat cover he built himself. The opening is velcroed shut when needed but opens up for fresh air below.

The Island of Doom lies on the northern shores of Lake Superior and has many legends as the author discovered when one day he sailed too close. Article is in the Nov.-Dec. issue of Small Craft Advisor magazine.

At the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Marlin Bree takes a rest beside some of the big boats featured at the world's biggest boat show. He was at this international boating event to pick up a Boating Writer's International Grand Prize -- for writing about small boat adventures.

Persistence is towed behind the 1992 Suzuki Sidekick. Here Loris and I are on are way to Grand Portage, MN, along Superior's north shore.I'll be sailing Superior's northernmost arc, where I encountered the near fatal "storm of the century." This adventure became Wake of the Green Storm.

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Broken Seas

Dead on the Wind

Wake of the Green Storm

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In the Teeth of the Northeaster

Call of the North Wind

Alone Against the Atlantic

BREE'S BLOG: In The Wake of the Fitzgerald

Storm over Superior

October 29, 2017

Tags: Edmund Fitzgerald, Lake Superior, storms, freshwater boating, northeaster, persistence

I felt a cold breeze on my right cheek. As I turned my face to determine its direction, the wind seemed to grow into intensity. "Damn," I swore. Out of the mist a howling gale sprang up and aboard Persistence, I was caught again, this time close to a lee shore. The savage winds Read More

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The old steam-powered tugboat

September 21, 2017

Tags: Edna G., last of the steam powered tugboats on Lake Superior, steam powered tug stats, historic tugboats, Lake Superior, ore boats, boats on national registry of historic places, storms, rescue on Lake Superior, Capt. Adolph Ojard the last captain of the Edna G.

I started to introduce myself to Capt. Adolph Ojard, the retired captain of the steam-powered tugboat built in 1896, but he said, "I saw you coming in. Nice looking boat." That was enough for introductions. He saw my boat, he knew me. We settled down to talk in the Edna G.'s wheelhouse and he Read More

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Dancing with Waves

September 17, 2017

Tags: Small craft storm handling, scalloping the waves, storms, Lake Superior, Edmund Fitzgerald, Track of the Big Fitz, Two Harbors, Northern Trek

The waves were growing ominously. I was following the track of the Edmund Fitzgerald, but in reverse. The big ore carrier had headed on the Northern Trek past Two Harbors, MN., (see locator map below) and shoving 10-foot waves away with aplomb. I was taking a walloping heading south. I could not steer a Read More

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The Edmund Fitzgerald: A blog on the final voyage

August 29, 2017

Tags: Edmund Fitzgerald, Capt. McSorley, November 10, 1975, shipwrecks, Lake Superior, storms, high waves, loss of life, Six Fathom Shoals

Just 17 miles from Whitefish Point and safety, the embattled Edmund Fitzgerald sank Nov. 10, 1975, so suddenly no one had time to cry out for help. What actually happened? This blog will examine the enduring maritime mystery.

Up north, the big lake is freshening with a sense of urgency that fall is approaching. Go out beyond the breakwaters and you know you have a force of nature beneath you. Careful, mariner! The countdown is beginning now for the annual observance of the last voyage of the Edmund Fitzgerald. I know something Read More

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