Aug 20-21, Sheboygan, WI

Fog so thick we can see only 100 yards, along with some rain and wind make our weather this morning less than satisfactory in the Manitowoc Harbor. We are waiting with several other boats for the weather to change so we can get underway. The temperature is in the 50’s and there is lots of talk on the dock about the almost complete lack of a summer in the Great Lakes this year. The fog and rain finally blow through about 1 pm and we head out with one other boat from Manitowoc into Lake Michigan and move 20 miles south to Sheboygan. Wind was 15 mph and the waves were 2-3 feet right on our nose. We ran KOKOMO II at 16 knots the whole distance so we could minimize the time we were bouncing around. KOKOMO II handled the conditions with ease. Our crew was a little apprehensive and we bounced a little but did fine. Even so, it was nice to get inside the breakwater today.

Sheboygan North Pierhead Light

Sheboygan Marina

LIL SQUIRT, local fireboat

We have docked at the Harbor Center Marina, a very nice modern marina with floating docks and all the amenities. We are located about six blocks from the business district. There is a boardwalk with shops and restaurants along the river waterfront and a downtown area just up the hill from the river and the marina.

Fishtug along the boardwalk

Sheboygan is a larger than the other towns we have visited recently. The downtown business district here, like many other of the towns we have visited, is approximately 25% vacant. Public buildings, like the library, city hall and county courthouse dominate the remaining downtown area. We are happy to note that there are several restaurant choices. Our first night we chose Trattoria Stephano because it was recommended by some boaters in the harbor in Manitowoc. Very good food.

Downtown Sheboygan

We walk the downtown and find an elaborate movie theater from the 1920’s. This one is restored and is now the Stephanie Weill Center for the Performing Arts. Movie ‘Vertigo’ is being shown while we are here. The theater features a Moorish/Spanish facade around the stage opening and movie screen and a dark blue ceiling with twinkling stars. The renovation cost eleven million dollars in 1998 and has been entirely paid for with private donations.

Graphics explaining a local shipwreck

Linda checks out the actual salvaged ship

There are many wrecks and sunken ships in the Great Lakes. We find an example in the park just up from our marina.

John Michael Kohler Art Center

The Kohler Company is based in Sheboygan and the John Michael Kohler Arts Center is now housed in the former Kohler Mansion. Very showy rest rooms at the museum are famous. (Kohler makes the fixtures and sinks).

Highly decorated fixtures in the Kohler Center

Sheboygan has recently been designated a National Sailing Center by the US Sailing Association. There are only four such centers in the US, Miami, Fl, Long Beach, Ca,. and Martin County, Fl (our home port). This center, known as ’Sail Sheboygan’ will serve as a training center for sailing athletes and hold high level regattas in Match Racing, Team Racing and Fleet Racing formats as a preparation site for the Olympics.

Sheboygan Yacht Club

Class boats ready to compete

Sheboygan has a new large hotel and conference center, Blue Harbor Resort, just across the Sheboygan River from the downtown that looks out on Lake Michigan. With this economy we do not think it is performing as projected. Not a good time for a new hotel.

Blue Harbor Resort