Captains interested in viewing the Tall Ships from their vessel should see the notice at the bottom of this page.
The parade of sail, on August 10, will follow a route west from a location east of Heritage Landing to the Lake Michigan channel. The parade will continue through the channel outside the outer breakwalls and into Lake Michigan. This route is marked by the blue solid blue line running along the lenght of the lake on the chart above.
A security zone will be established around the Parade of Sail where no vessels will be allowed for the entire parade event. The Muskegon Lake / Lake Michigan channel will be closed for a period of time before the start of the parade of sail until the parade event officially ends in Lake Michigan.
Spectator vessels will also not be allowed in the area designated by red lines to the west of the outer Muskegon lights.
For the latest information on closings and restrictions check with the United States Coast Guard Notice to Mariners marine radio broadcast.
The chart shown above is strictly for informational purposes. Not to be used for navigation. For official NOAA chart of Muskegon Lake contact Torresen Marine, Inc. 231-759-8596 charts@torresen.com
The United States Coast Guard has issued the following important information:
For public safety and event security, the U.S. Coast Guard will be enforcing a Federal safety zone around Heritage Landing from August 6 to August 10 while visiting tall ships are present. Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Teams will enforce the safety zone, which extends a 50-yard radius around the moored vessels at the pier. Caution buoys will be set around Heritage Landing to define the zone to keep recreational boats safely away from the vessels' anchor lines. During the arrival and mooring of each vessel, boaters are cautioned to keep a safe distance from the ships to allow the vessels to maneuver safely. By order of the Captain of the Port of Chicago anyone who violates a Federal safety zone may be subject to a civil penalty or prosecution.
The Coast Guard will also be enforcing a safety zone on Muskegon Lake from approximately 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., on Sunday, August 10, 2003, during the Muskegon Tall Ships Parade of Sail.
For safety purposes, the U.S. Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone from a rendezvous point on the east end of Muskegon Lake to approximately 1 mile west of the entrance to Muskegon Channel to protect the tall ships and spectator boats during the transit. This safety zone encompasses all waters in Muskegon Lake and Muskegon Channel, extending a distance of 100 yards ahead of the lead vessel in the parade, to 100 yards abeam of each vessel in the parade, and 100 yards astern of the last vessel participating in the Tall Ships Challenge 2003 Parade of Tall Ships. During the Parade of Sail, boaters will be allowed to anchor along the route, outside of the safety zone.
Coast Guard Cutter KATMAI BAY, a 140-foot icebreaking tug from Sault Saint Marie will be present in Muskegon for the Tall Ships event. CGC KATMAI BAY will be open to the public for free tours on Friday and Saturday, August 8th and 9th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., (times are subject to change). Due to heightened security concerns nationwide, additional security measures will be in effect during the tours. The Coast Guard is committed to making the public's experience on board this vessel a pleasant one, and asks for everyone's cooperation and patience with these simple requirements:
1. Tour groups will be escorted while aboard the cutter at all times.
2. No purses, backpacks, coolers or bags of any type will be permitted on board.
