June 27, 2019 - anchorage at Harbor Island to Sault St. Marie, Michigan

Today’s trip took us the rest of the way up the St. Mary’s River.  It was a perfect cruising day with light winds and clear blue skies.  We even got to get up close and personal with a couple of freighters.  

Our first freighter of the day was the Lee A. Tregurtha, measuring 826 feet long and headed to Lake Superior.  The Tregurtha passed us in the early part of our trip where the river is wide and they can move along at over 12 knots.  Once the freighter had passed, we began traversing the narrower sections of the river and the Tregurtha slowed down to a pace much closer to our own. 

Just before we reached Sault St. Marie, the Tregurtha slowed way down.  We assumed they were slowing so that they would reach the Soo Locks when the lock was available for them to lock through so we began to plan a pass.  As we started our pass we realized why they really slowed down - we were in a narrow section of the river and they were going to pass the Edwin H. Gott, a 1000 foot freighter headed down the river.  We decided passing was not a good plan and fell in behind the Tregurtha.  It was really amazing to watch these two freighters negotiate this narrow section of the river.  

Sunrise this morning

The Lee A. Tregurtha

The Lee A. Tregurtha

Buoys on the St. Mary's River (nope, the captain isn't
where he belongs - he should be between the buoys)

The Lee A. Tregurtha and the Edwin H. Gott passing

The Edwin H. Gott