Media Day

Saturday, September 18, 2010 was media day at Garrison Creek Marina as Lakeland TV came out to interview Ross & film Luck Eagle. The day was perfect--a bright sun and a slight wind out of the west that just filled the sails. Lucky Eagle strutted her stuff for the camera.

Click here to view the news feature!

Ross looks pretty comfortable in front of the camera.

Brenda explained how she sewed each panel in the sail 4 times--an incredible 40 or 50 hours on that alone!

  

Lucky Eagle's looking mighty good today!

So's Brenda!

Izaty's to Garrison 9/16/2010

On Friday Ross, with his crew of the loyal Brenda, Sol, Ray the Rigger, Ted & Kurt sailed the width of Mille Lacs from west to east--Izatys lodge to Lucky Eagle's home port, Garrison Creek Marina. It was a beautiful fall day--a little nippy but nothing that our swarthy Vikings couldn't handle. Everything was in place but the wind--it failed to show until the last 1/2 hour of the voyage.

Ross has stayed true to the historic authenticity of the ship with one exception--an electric trolling motor. If it weren't for that little beauty, and the extra battery that Kurt stowed aboard, we'd have rowed all day. As it was, the sun was well below the yardarm when we made land. Our thanks to the appreciative crowd of admirers who met us there.

Brenda blows the horn

Up go the sails

Rigger ray checks backstay tension.

Kurt & Sol row out of the harbor with Viking determination

Ross' one break with tradition.

Garrison's out there somewhere!

  

Ross--you did it!

It's getting late--where's that wind?

  

I think I see it--the fish!!!

Lucky Eagle Featured in Mille Lacs Messenger!

Click here to see the article.

Sunday Sail

On Sunday, September 6, Ross sailed Lucky Eagle from his home on Mille Lacs north shore to her home at the Garrison Creek Marina. Kurt, Gene (the Admiral), and Ted crewed. With winds of 5-10 knots, the voyage was relaxed. We started with 3 reefs but shook them out while underway to get full advantage from the light air.

Lucky Eagle was able to demonstrate her exceptional pointing ability. Despite the lack of a centerboard, deep keel, or leeboards, she tracked well on a close reach with surprisingly little side slip. The hull shape alone apparently gives her directional stability.

The cruise finished at Garrison Creek's newly-refurbished waterfront bar,  with lots of family, friends, and Lucky Eagle followers.

At anchor on the north shore of Mille Lacs

Ross hangs the rudder

Shaking out a reef.

The Vikings are coming!

That'll scare 'em

A motley crew!

Looking for land

Lucky Eagle's square rig.

Lucky Eagle's auxiliary runs on promises of beer.

Beer all around at Garrison Creek

In the Water!

The Viking ship is floating proudly in the water at Garrison Creek Marina just north of Garrison, MN. Ross reports no serious issues. This is a tremendous achievement after years of research & hard work!