·

POTW: Stunning Aerial in North Channel with an Interesting Backstory

Gore Bay Lighthouse

Nov 9, 2023

Our photo of the week came to us via two American friends who are huge fans of cruising the North Channel.

Chris Gabanski suggested this shot. Chris’s home port is in Waukegan IL, in the south end of Lake Michigan. He tells us “Sailing a 2011 Beneteau 40 which we bought new.  Continuously upgraded (sails, running rigging, enclosed cockpit canvas, additional house batteries, updated Raymarine electronics and anchoring equipment) to make our first trip spanning seven weeks to the North Channel reaching Killarney, ON.  

We stopped at Meldrum Bay, ON., Bearsdrop Harbour, ON., Gore Bay, ON., Croker Island, ON., Little Current, ON., Killarney, ON., Covered Portage Cove, ON., Mary Ann Cove, ON., Kagawong, ON. …

Can’t wait to return and explore the spots we missed.

But Chris did not take our Photo of the Week – it was taken by another boater he met along the way.  The photo was taken by Chuck Bender, another American from Indiana who write “We met many wonderful people on our  5-week trip from Michigan City, Indiana thru The North Channel and Georgian Bay,

Our  boat name is MAELA kae, a 2007 Beneteau 343.  Daughters  M.-Malissa; Wife’s middle name A.-Angela; E.- Eileen’s Daughters – L.-Laura  A.-April;   kae = granddaughters Kate Allison & Emily.

We sail the MAELA kae from St Martin to Florida and had her trucked to Lake MI

I am a FAA licensed drone pilot and enjoy the aerial photography as a hobby. The drone used was a Mavic 2 Pro.

If you have followed all this, you can see that our POTW – Photo of the Week is an extremely rich process.

But look at the phot we present. Magnificent. Chuck explained: The location of the photo is Gore Bay and exact address is: 

621 Lighthouse Rd, Gore Bay, ON P0P 1H0, Canada.  

Coordinates:  45.94612° N, 82.48031° W

Chuck has promised us more shots from hi extensive library. Thanks Chuck.

This is perhaps the most interesting POTW tale we have ever encountered.  If you have a shot to share, this is the place.  Just send it along to OnBoard@kerrwil.com and put POTW in the subject line.

Be sure to send along the background of the photo as well – as you can see, the route the photo takes can be very interesting!

Related Articles

Video Gallery

Starcraft SV 16 OB

By Craig Ritchie

Photos by Starcraft Marine

Building great boats has always come down to a mix of art and science, and that’s particularly true when it comes to meeting the biggest challenge of all—creating an appealing yet affordable family runabout. Buyers want a boat that is affordable but not stripped to the bare bones.

Enter Starcraft and its delightful SV 16 OB, an all-new-for-2025 family deck boat that elegantly balances comfort, amenities and affordability.

Read More

Destinations

The Erie Canal – An Extraordinary Waterway

By Mark Stevens

Photos by Sharon Matthews-Stevens

As I shift our chartered canal boat into neutral, I’m soothed by the soundtrack of bird calls, the occasional plaintive horn of a distant train and the hum of our engine.

I reach for the VHF to radio the lockmaster in charge of Erie Canal’s Lock 32 dead ahead. Our boat spins gently in the current like a maple key in a mud puddle.

“This is Onondaga,” I say. “Headed westbound and requesting passage.”

Read More

Lifestyle