Official Badger sailing season begins

School children greet the Badger in Manitowoc

By Rob Alway
Editor-in-Chief

Captain Jeff Curtis watches as the Ludington Harbor Patrol escorts the Badger out of harbor

ON-BOARD THE SS BADGER — The first official day of the SS Badger’s 2013 sailing season began today. The Badger actually started sailing on May 6 but customer services have been limited. The season began early because of commercial traffic, particularly the transporting of wind turbines from Wisconsin to Michigan.

Though the ship ran into patches of rain, Lake Michigan has been smooth. There were over 150 passengers on board this morning, many of them local residents who took advantage of the $35 round trip special.

Lorli and Bob Dolson of Scottville were among those riding. “We have rode on the first day of sailing since they started the special,” Lorli said. “We just love the Badger and the carferries. Two of our daughters worked on the carferries back in the ’80s while they were going to college. My parents lived in Milwaukee and my dad would drive up to Sturgeon Bay and watch the Badger and the Spartan being built. They also rode on the carferries to visit us.”

Lorli was wearing a Save Our Ship shirt to show her support of the Badger.

Upon arriving at the Manitowoc dock, school children held signs greeting passengers as they disembarked. This marks the Badger’s 60th year in service.