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Weather Wizard: Sailing with the Dragon

The morning sun reflected in the dragon’s golden eyes, and its massive silver teeth curved down toward its ornately carved neck. The eyes with their piercing glow demanded that the large steel bridge be raised, as its massive oak body plowed through the channel of Sturgeon Bay. I found myself aboard the world’s largest Viking ship built in modern times, the “Draken Harald Hårfagre,” surrounded by a crew of seasoned sailors. My serendipitous voyage was initiated the night before, at a Viking welcoming celebration, hosted by Stephanie Trenchard and Jeremy Popelka, at their glass and art studio in Sturgeon Bay. It didn’t take me long to stop questioning how Jeremy and I made it on the boat, but to appreciate the wonder of craftsmanship that it was.

IMG_2317The colors that surrounded me were rich and authentic: the dark oak hull stained with pine tar, tan hemp ropes as big as my arm, and a tomato red silk sail, stained with sea salt from the Draken’s Atlantic crossing. The warm colors of the ship were contrasted against the placid blue waters of the bay. Midway through our trip to Green Bay, the billowing sail was raised on an impressive 80 ft. mast, made from a single Douglas Fir tree. There existed a moderate head wind, enough to make the ropes and sail snap with a force that cautioned novices to keep their distance. After the almost 3,000 square foot sail was raised, the incredibly patient crew allowed me to get in on the action.

My task seemed important enough, hold the heavy hemp ropes that flanked the sail, as they snaked wildly, in order to protect those who were performing the most intense work. As we neared Green Bay, a storm approached, but it was no match for the fierce dragon head that stood proudly on the bow. I learned that the purpose of placing the head of a mythical creature on the bow of a Viking ship is to offer protection from sea monsters and men, bad weather, and raids along the voyages. Eventually, the slate skies parted, and the Draken, along with all of its contents, ported safely in Green Bay, ending an amazing seven-hour journey.

Your weekend forecast:

Weather and a few people in Door County will be unsettled and unstable this weekend. Look for a warm and humid day for Friday with max temperatures around the lower 80s lakeside. Friday night through Saturday a cold front slowly moves through the area and the deepening/trailing upper trough pushes across the area. We could experience severe storms on Friday evening. The threat for heavy rain could carry on into Saturday as a surface wave moves along the cold front. A surplus of clouds, precipitation and a N-NW wind will keep temperatures in check with readings only able to reach the upper 60s punching into the low 70s depending on your location on the peninsula.

The precipitation chances are forecast to gradually taper off Saturday night as the surface wave rolls farther east. In the wake of the cold front we will have partly cloudy skies, cool and less humid conditions. Sunday temperatures to remain slightly below normal; look for readings to be similar to Saturday (lower 70s), but dew points are expected to drop to a more comfy upper 40s to lower 50s.

Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8 am. Partly sunny, with a high near 81.

Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74.

Sunday: A chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.

 

All weather predictions are based in science with information gathered from the National Weather Service, and are subject to change depending on the weather.

 

Growing up in Michigan, Ryan Heise began keeping a fishing journal detailing the weather conditions at and can still recall his hometown weatherman’s name. His fascination with weather has never wavered and began to heighten when planning surf trips while living in Florida. Now proud to call Door County home along with his wife Mary and dog Ruby, he has found a new fascination with the unique microclimate of Door County.

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