MILWAUKEE BAY by Charlie Kamps


Milwaukee Bay (see local NOAA chart) is a slightly concave body of water that opens to Lake Michigan from N-NE to S-SE.  The water in which you’ll be sailing is deep – 30 to 60 feet – and quite cool in early July.  Wind and barometric pressure might produce some current of “set”.  This is usually minimal but it can be a factor in light winds.  

A classic three-day northeaster generates the strongest and steadiest winds on Milwaukee Bay.  The large rolling seas sweeping down the length of the lake provide wet, cold, but excellent racing conditions.  Usually, the left side of the beat is favored, especially if the wind is more north than northeast.  At the end of a northeaster you’ll often find clearing skies, and a weaker wind that clocks persistently and substantially to the right.  

True northerly winds are relatively rare and short lived on Milwaukee Bay.  In these conditions, you will find stronger winds near shore, so going left on the beat and getting close to the beach gives you an advantage.  But the decision can backfire if the northerly is light with clear, or clearing skies.  Under these circumstances, the wind may veer to the east or even the southeast and getting caught near shore might leave you on the outside of the wheel.  Generally, you can safely play the left on the beat if the sky is overcast.  

Westerly winds on Milwaukee Bay are puffy and unpredictable, with plenty of holes to complicate your racing.  On the first beat, sailors with local knowledge will take the tack that leads most directly toward shore, where the winds are strongest – starboard tack in a northwesterly and port tack in a southwesterly.  On the run, you must concentrate on finding and staying in the puffs.  The bay’s cold water weakens westerly winds offshore and can cause a weak westerly to be completely replaced by a sea breeze on warm, sunny days.

The Milwaukee sea breeze, a southeasterly at 135-145 degrees, is most likely to appear following an early morning light westerly (dew on the grass), and clear skies with puffy cumulus clouds created by the land heating up.  The sea breeze is unlikely to develop when there is a strong gradient wind parallel to the shore, either from the north or the south, or when there is significant cloud cover.  If you are sailing in a light westerly in the late morning or early afternoon on a sunny day, be on the lookout for the start of the sea breeze.  Its arrival is often preceded by haze to the southeast, off the point at the south end of Milwaukee Bay.  Once established, the sea breeze is extremely steady and going right or left on the beat is equally advantageous.  

A weather system wind from the southeast is more variable in velocity and direction than the sea breeze.  Sometimes the sea breeze and a southeast gradient wind blend together.  This kind of wind and a true southerly gradient wind most often follow the sun and clock to the right later in the day.  However, when there is cloud cover and the air is hazy, or if its misty or raining, the left side of the beat is usually favored.

Charlie is a veteran MYC Soling Sailor who successfully competed in national and world events