Three Great Lakes RAIDs: Why Small Boats Go Big on Fresh Water

When people think about adventure sailing, they often picture salt water, tides, and distant horizons. The Great Lakes, somehow, get dismissed as “easy” or “inland.”

That myth doesn’t last long once you start talking to people who actually sail them.

In this new NanoCruising episode — Part 1 of a two-part series — we dig into three Great Lakes small-boat events, often described as RAIDs: multi-day, expedition-style gatherings that combine sailing, seamanship, community, and self-reliance.

Rather than comparing boats or routes, this episode focuses on why these events exist in the first place.

- Eric Miller for the Erie Expedition Challenge and Raid Erie (Facebook ) 

- Jeff McPheeters for the GLEC and RB950 (RB950 Instagram, GLEC Instagram)

- Kelly Trafford with CanAm on facebook

What we cover in this episode

We start with an introduction to each event — their origins, their spirit, and what makes them distinct from one another. While they all happen on the Great Lakes, they attract slightly different sailors, boats, and expectations.

From there, the conversation opens up:

• The raison d’être behind these events

• How each RAID differentiates itself — culturally and practically

• The kinds of sailors who are drawn to them

• And why Great Lakes sailing has a reputation that’s… misleading

The Great Lakes myth

One recurring theme is the idea that the Great Lakes are somehow easier than coastal or ocean sailing. No tides, no salt, no sharks — what could go wrong?

Quite a lot, as it turns out.

We talk about weather systems that build fast and hit hard, long fetches that create serious seas, cold water, limited bailout options, and why these conditions make the Lakes a powerful proving ground for small boats and thoughtful seamanship.

Part 1 of the conversation

This episode sets the stage. In Part 2, we’ll go deeper — into lessons learned, preparation, and what these events reveal about boats, sailors, and ourselves when the conditions stop being theoretical.

If you’re curious about expedition sailing without crossing oceans — or if you’ve ever wondered whether fresh water can still demand respect — this one’s for you.