This report suggests that the Fitzgerald was taking on water due to earlier damage from the storm and that around p.

Exhilaration and excitement set in as we passed Maria and Harold on the way out. The fetch: This is the distance of open water over which the wind blows. With one hand on the throttles and the other on the wheel, I worked to avoid taking waves over the bow while minimizing the banging on the way down. Also around this time, the storm's fury had closed the Sault Ste. We talked to Peggy about giving us a ride back in the morning around 7 a. The boat would be the foot Avalon Ambassador with twin Mercury racing engines that we had taken from Clearwater , Fla. Winds were gusting at 20 knots and were not scheduled to subside for several hours. The Straights of Mackinaw were calm, the sun was bright and the air warm. Your Name.

Morrell sank in Lake Huron killing the 28 crew members. We also discussed the lack of cell service and the benefits of having a satellite phone, or other forms of communication, in addition to the standard marine radio. Next on the agenda was to find a crew. Shipwreck Museum. The situation was worsened when McSorely reported to Cooper that his radar was gone. What was eventually found only included destroyed remains of the ships two lifeboats, life preservers and items from the ship's galleys. We could wait for the right weather and then conquer Lake Superior. The weather had cleared dramatically. Captain Cooper reported winds from the NW x W at a steady 58 knots with gusts to 70 knots, and seas of 18 to 25 feet.

When a ship is filled with cargo, there is a level at which the ship rests in the water. John had done some previous photo shoots in the area and knew exactly where to go. Rate the Map. All Categories. It was p. The water color changed from blue to brown as we entered the Ontonagon inlet. A few last-minute items including spare props, oil filters, etc. This time around the waves had only traveled 40 miles over open water versus the plus miles they had traveled the day before. We played around for 45 minutes or so as we took photos, flew the drone and soaked up the natural beauty of the cliffs, rock formations and caves. We were averaging 15 to 18 mph and had 90 plus miles to go.

The lock attendant was a big guy who looked like a lumberjack. Thirty miles later we were floating off the east side of Mackinaw Island staring up at Arch Rock, which is a natural limestone arch that was formed during the ice ages, and to this day stands on the Lake Huron shoreline feet above the water. Shipwreck Museum. It was a quick hour down the river as we flew past St. As we filled up the Ambassador, Scott was talking to the crew of a larger pleasure boat and as it turns out they too were from Burt Lake. Login now! As we turned into Copper Harbor it was apparent we were heading west due to a blinding ball of fire low in the sky. A list is when a ship leans to one side. The fetch: This is the distance of open water over which the wind blows.

At seven p. The sun was going down as we made our way and the high-performance Infinity speakers were blaring. The Anderson turned out to be the primary vessel in the search, taking the lead. At one point, I was thinking it had been less than 24 hours since we decided to fast-track the trip and here we were three hours down the road. Pulling into the beach you feel as though you are on a deserted Caribbean island with crystal clear blue water and pure nature as far as the eye can see. Using the anchor lines, we were able to spin the boat around to get the back of the boat close enough to shore to make the change. Winds generate waves; the size of the wave depends on: The wind speed: The stronger the winds, the larger the force and thus the bigger the wave. Your Email. After 45 minutes we were 15 miles off shore on a heading direct to Munising. Clark called the Fitzgerald again at about pm.

Another epic sunrise greeted us as we loaded up the boat. Rate the Map. Grindstone Island Cars Various cars scatter the bottom of the river covered in grass and zebra muscles. The grisliest discovery was of a giant oil slick floating atop the lake's surface. After dinner, libations and small talk with the locals, we turned in for the night. This book contains stories of long lost shipwrecks and the journeys of the underwater explorers who found them, written by Jim Kennard with paintings by Roland Stevens and underwater imagery by Roger Pawlowski. The six or seven calls to friends and potential crew members proved fruitless due to the short notice. All the windows have been blown out and destroyed. This was around p.

By this time, snow and rising spray had obscured the Fitzgerald from sight, visible 17 miles ahead on radar. After dinner, libations and small talk with the locals, we turned in for the night. A few years back we took a few summer vacations to the Munising area and I knew the area well. We milled around for a half-hour checking out all of the really cool displays including the bell, the dive suit used to bring it up, videos of the wreck, artifacts found, etc. We dropped bags off at our rooms and quickly made our way to the restaurant as they stopped serving at 9 p. Turning the boat around I was thinking we would have to idle the five miles or so back to Copper Harbor to find a convenient location to swap out the props. The larger the fetch the larger the waves. It proved to be a strange and eerie moment. Close to shore I revved up the Mercury s to push the nose of the Avalon up onto the sandy shore. John packed up his drone and gear and we set a course for the shipwreck museum 17 miles away.

This time around the waves had only traveled 40 miles over open water versus the plus miles they had traveled the day before. She would be travelling in tandem with the ore freighter Arthur M. The Fitz was christened on June 8, and made its first voyage in September of that same year. The weather had cleared dramatically. I have a fence rail down, two vents lost or damaged, and a list. Morrell sank in Lake Huron killing the 28 crew members. The waves were 2 to 3 feet and we kept a steady pace as we headed back towards land. Once we were certain we were over the wreck, we decided to read off each name as we tossed in one rose for each crew member. We learned a valuable lesson in the Gulf Stream and have brought a spare along ever since.

We had been staying in touch, but due to our last-minute change in the plan, he was unable to be at the museum when we arrived. With mounting apprehension, Captain Cooper called the Coast Guard once again, about pm, and firmly expressed his concern for the welfare of the Fitzgerald. Now, for the first time, the whole tragic story of the Ontario can finally be told. With a nearly full tank of gas, we went wide open and cranked up the music for the hour ride. After dinner, libations and small talk with the locals, we turned in for the night. There were several boats anchored along the shore as fellow-boaters were soaking up the last of the warm rays on what felt like a mid-July summer day. All the windows have been blown out and destroyed. The Coast Guard conducted an extensive and thorough search.

The last time anyone ever heard from the Edmund Fitzgerald. There were storms in the area and you could see them off in the distance. One man lived to tell about what happened unlike the Fitz. While refueling, a shirtless John was pumping the WOW inflatable paddleboard that he would use to shoot from at our next stop, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Edmund Fitzgerald. All the windows have been blown out and destroyed. We debated if we should hug the shore down towards Marquette or if we should make a straight line to Munising. Turning the boat around I was thinking we would have to idle the five miles or so back to Copper Harbor to find a convenient location to swap out the props. While conditions were bad, with winds gusting to 50 knots and seas 12 to 16 feet, both Captains had often piloted their vessels in similar conditions. The main deck behind the superstructure, which included the forward cargo hatches appears to have collapsed entirely and the sides of the hull are bending outwards.

With a nearly full tank of gas, we went wide open and cranked up the music for the hour ride. As we made the crossing back to Mackinaw Island , a huge orange and red sun slowly sank into Lake Michigan behind the Mighty Mac. The owners knew of the EF's structural problem, and had the steel already cut to effect yet another repair. I've thought for a long long time the keel problem contributed to a major structural failure through years of metal fatigue. The conditions of the recovered lifeboats support this in that they appear to have been torn from their storage racks. The last dive in indicated that zebra and cuaga muscles were begginning to grow on her metal superstructure and that rusting had gotten worse. Cause Lost. Now protected with land on both sides we had calm waters and put the boat through the paces.

At some point 30 or so miles from shore the waves started lying down a bit and we were able to ramp our speed up to 30 mph plus. Some of the lyrics of the song are given below along with descriptions of related events. Weather conditions continued to deteriorate. As I was transfixed on the Arch, I found it to be ironic that at the tail end of the trip I would be right here at Mackinaw Island where this trip idea came a little less than a month before. Steady winds at 43 knots and waves of up to 12 and 16 feet were reported by the Anderson. At one mile out, we slowed down to idle speed as we worked our way to the site of the wreck. Another epic sunrise greeted us as we loaded up the boat. This report suggests that the Fitzgerald was taking on water due to earlier damage from the storm and that around p.

The Edmund Fitzgerald was lost with her entire crew of 29 men on Lake Superior November 10, , 17 miles north-northwest of Whitefish Point, Michigan. At about am November 10 the NWS upgraded the gale warning to a storm warning winds knots with a prediction of "northeast winds 35 to 50 knots becoming northwesterly 28 to 38 knots on Monday, waves 8 to 15 feet". Bradley on Lake Michigan in The grisliest discovery was of a giant oil slick floating atop the lake's surface. After the slow four-hour ride, we wanted to go faster, but kept it at a modest speed to conserve fuel. At the time, it was the worst shipping disaster on the Great Lakes in 11 years. The duration of the winds: The longer the wind blows over the open water, the larger the waves.. The fetch: This is the distance of open water over which the wind blows.

Like what you read? I have read recently that the shoal near the island doesn't exist but it was from a guy who favors the loose hold cover theory. It proved to be a strange and eerie moment. Lying in bed at a. Cause Lost. We kept moving and continued debating our best path given the conditions. The wreck continues to rust and deteriorate over time despite the fresh water nature of Lake Superior. As the afternoon wore on, radio communications with the Fitzgerald concerned navigational information but no extraordinarily alarming reports were offered by Captain McSorley. Pendleton was constructed in First mate Clark spoke to the Fitzgerald one last time, about pm:.

Other information comes from an interview witn Captain Bernie Cooper shortly before his death in Another sonar survey was conducted November I was immediately in decompression mode. We navigated our way through some old dock pylons a hundred yards or so down the way from the observation platform at the Shipwreck Museum. Year Built The grisliest discovery was of a giant oil slick floating atop the lake's surface. The fetch: This is the distance of open water over which the wind blows. I then called the William Clay Ford to ask him if my phone was putting out a good signal and also if perhaps the Fitzgerald had rounded the point and was in shelter, after a negative report I called the Soo Coast Guard because I was sure something had happened to the Fitzgerald. The last time anyone ever heard from the Edmund Fitzgerald.

There is a very good chance that this is what helped lead to her demise. The boat would be the foot Avalon Ambassador with twin Mercury racing engines that we had taken from Clearwater , Fla. I then called the William Clay Ford to ask him if my phone was putting out a good signal and also if perhaps the Fitzgerald had rounded the point and was in shelter, after a negative report I called the Soo Coast Guard because I was sure something had happened to the Fitzgerald. A few steaks and drinks later we were ready to call it a night. But what caused the ship to take on water, enough to lose buoyancy and dive to the bottom so quickly, without a single cry for help, cannot be determined. A second ship, the Arthur M. We made a quick stop at the Copper Harbor sign to get a group picture on the way into the marina. In addition to the standard items in our ditch bag EPIRB, spot satellite messenger, personal locator beacons, strobes, handheld marine radios, flashlights, etc.

This safer route would take them northward, toward the coast of Canada. In the early afternoon of November 10, the Fitzgerald had passed Michipicoten Island and was approaching Caribou Island. Photo by user "Greenmars" on Wikimedia Commons. I always leave it unlocked with the keys in it. On November 14, a U. Share Send to your friends! We hit a few sections of 3- to 5-foot waves during the crossing, but all in all it was a fun ride to the other shore. We went through all the names and neither one of us came across it. We read his name as we tossed in his broken rose.

Given the slow go in the morning, we had to readjust our plans and decided it would make sense to spend the night in Grand Marais. Ftizgerald , like all Great Lakes vessels often had to pass through violent storms that rivaled those of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, with waves sometimes reaching upwards of feet. Follow these simple instructions to enable JavaScript in your web browser. We passed and waved to the patrons on a ferry boat as we made our way towards the jetty. Will you stay by me till I get to Whitefish? I reached out to my neighbor, who is very well connected with the Coast Guard. Around 2 a. We had to rush into town to grab some food before they stopped serving. We were all feeling quiet and somber as we were going to pay tribute to the lost crew members, which was in no way a joyous event.

The owners knew of the EF's structural problem, and had the steel already cut to effect yet another repair. It proved to be a strange and eerie moment. Her story is surpassed in books, film and media only by that of the Titanic. Duane Dinninger is my right-hand man, long-time high school buddy and lifelong boater. By this time, snow and rising spray had obscured the Fitzgerald from sight, visible 17 miles ahead on radar. Marina Guide. Pulling into the beach you feel as though you are on a deserted Caribbean island with crystal clear blue water and pure nature as far as the eye can see. Throughout the storm the ship was probably taking on water in the cargo hold though the hatches. This book contains stories of long lost shipwrecks and the journeys of the underwater explorers who found them, written by Jim Kennard with paintings by Roland Stevens and underwater imagery by Roger Pawlowski.

Couseau had theorized a surface break up, which sounds similar to the Merril several years later. Diving on the wreck has been completely banned by the Canadian goverment by all means including ROVs and manned submersibles as the wreck is entirely located within the territorial waters of the Canadian province of Ontario. As we made the crossing back to Mackinaw Island , a huge orange and red sun slowly sank into Lake Michigan behind the Mighty Mac. There was no way to determine if flooding was occurring in the cargo bay until the ore was saturated, much like a sponge. Login now! McSorely had also ordered the pumps to be turned on in order to keep the ingress of water out of the cargo hold. The battered ship despite the odds continued to soldier on towards Whitefish Bay. The main deck behind the superstructure, which included the forward cargo hatches appears to have collapsed entirely and the sides of the hull are bending outwards.

But we were talking to him about seven and he said that everything was going fine. Couseau had theorized a surface break up, which sounds similar to the Merril several years later. For books, videos, and memorabilia about the Fitzgerald, her loss, and her legacy, visit the Shipwreck Coast Museum Store online now. If you think you can safely go back up to the area, I would request that you do so. We were all feeling quiet and somber as we were going to pay tribute to the lost crew members, which was in no way a joyous event. We would drive the 3 miles to Indian River Sports Center where the truck and trailer would be waiting. I have a fence rail down, two vents lost or damaged, and a list. About 15 miles out we were still in 2-foot seas, but I now had the throttle pinned as we flew across the tops of the waves at 59 mph.

The exposed crib of the Stannard Rock Light is rated as one of the top ten engineering feats in the United States. Year Built During the following three days, the Coast Guard cutter Woodrush, using a sidescan sonar, located two large pieces of wreckage in the same area. At the time, it was the worst shipping disaster on the Great Lakes in 11 years. It would be perfect. This is futher indicated by the stern which lies completely upside down beside the bow; all superstructure buried deep into the mud. McSorely had also ordered the pumps to be turned on in order to keep the ingress of water out of the cargo hold. It was picture perfect.

By this point, McSorley knew his ship was in serious trouble and opted to head full steam towards the natural protection of Whitefish Bay to ride out the storm and protect his ship and crew from further damage. The following May, , Woodrush was again on the scene to conduct a third sidescan sonar survey. A few steaks and drinks later we were ready to call it a night. Given the slow go in the morning, we had to readjust our plans and decided it would make sense to spend the night in Grand Marais. It was p. Rare radio chatter between the Arthur M. The wind must also be steady - a constant wind speed. Again, though, I have to leave that decision up to you as to whether it would be hazarding your vessel or not. The inflatable paddle board, extra fuel cans, anchor and lines, bumpers and Mustang Survival life vests were already on board and secured.

So the target would be 9 miles on ahead of you. Duane Dinninger is my right-hand man, long-time high school buddy and lifelong boater. Newsletter Facebook Share. The situation was worsened when McSorely reported to Cooper that his radar was gone. The crew was attacked by the If you think you can safely go back up to the area, I would request that you do so. On November 14, a U. The Edmund Fitzgerald was lost with her entire crew of 29 men on Lake Superior November 10, , 17 miles north-northwest of Whitefish Point, Michigan. John was getting out the drone and camera gear while I went for the box of flowers.

Marie and said they were taking on water. Sign Up. After dinner, libations and small talk with the locals, we turned in for the night. After 45 minutes we were 15 miles off shore on a heading direct to Munising. Army Corps of Engineers. We arrived at the Munising fuel dock with just over 15 gallons in reserve. I must have been grinning from ear to ear and thinking this was meant to be. As Duane was at the wheel, I called Dalton back at the office to help us find a few rooms for the night. The hotel was only a few blocks away and as we pulled in a huge fireworks show started going off right in front of the hotel and over the bay. It would be perfect.

The last dive in indicated that zebra and cuaga muscles were begginning to grow on her metal superstructure and that rusting had gotten worse. We had been staying in touch, but due to our last-minute change in the plan, he was unable to be at the museum when we arrived. Rate the Map. This was around p. Up early, I grabbed the life raft, survival suits and flowers from the front desk and took them to the boat before hooking up with Maria Lockwood from the Superior Telegram. All the windows have been blown out and destroyed. In only 8 years time, this magnificent American vessel would be at the bottom of Lake Superior. Anyone growing up in Michigan has heard the song a thousand times.

I then called the William Clay Ford to ask him if my phone was putting out a good signal and also if perhaps the Fitzgerald had rounded the point and was in shelter, after a negative report I called the Soo Coast Guard because I was sure something had happened to the Fitzgerald. The grisliest discovery was of a giant oil slick floating atop the lake's surface. It would be perfect. She was under command of Canadian born and highly experienced ship master Captain Ernest M. We were averaging 15 to 18 mph and had 90 plus miles to go. He and his officers watched the Fitzgerald pass right over the dangerous area of shallow water. Up early, I grabbed the life raft, survival suits and flowers from the front desk and took them to the boat before hooking up with Maria Lockwood from the Superior Telegram. The bell of the ship is now on display in the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum as a memorial to her lost crew.

There was no way to determine if flooding was occurring in the cargo bay until the ore was saturated, much like a sponge. We decided to wait and see what the conditions would bring once we got around the peninsula. Marie and said they were taking on water. Steady winds at 43 knots and waves of up to 12 and 16 feet were reported by the Anderson. Like what you read? In reality the sinking of the Fitzgerald was very rapid and it is likely they did not know the seriousness of their condition. For books, videos, and memorabilia about the Fitzgerald, her loss, and her legacy, visit the Shipwreck Coast Museum Store online now. The conditions of these lifeboats suggests that no attempts were made to leave the ship.

But the Coast Guard called Captain Cooper back at pm:. Next on the agenda was to find a crew. Will you stay by me till I get to Whitefish? We arrived at the Munising fuel dock with just over 15 gallons in reserve. Follow Us. We tied up, called John, the hotel owner, for a ride, and started gathering our bags. Ftizgerald , like all Great Lakes vessels often had to pass through violent storms that rivaled those of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, with waves sometimes reaching upwards of feet. The weather had cleared dramatically. Cooper asked "How are you doing?

Body of Water. McSorely had also ordered the pumps to be turned on in order to keep the ingress of water out of the cargo hold. Now, for the first time, the whole tragic story of the Ontario can finally be told. I have read recently that the shoal near the island doesn't exist but it was from a guy who favors the loose hold cover theory. Bradley on Lake Michigan in I was keeping an eye on the fuel and we were now down to our last two bars on the digital gauge. She would be travelling in tandem with the ore freighter Arthur M. There were storms in the area and you could see them off in the distance.