Tall Ship Expedition Lake Superior
Partnering up with Tall Ship Expeditions Canada and The Ayalik Fund, in the summer of 2025 I joined a leg of their youth sailing program as expedition filmmaker, to attempt to capture the spirit of adventure aboard the St. Lawrence II, Canada’s Original Tall Ship.
We spent our days under the hot summer sun, hauling lines, navigating the rugged coastlines of Lake Superior, and maintaining the ship. The youth aboard were tough as ever. Determined to learn something new. I travelled with 3 youth from Nunavut. Our tight-knit crew, funded by the Ayalik Fund, experienced many firsts together. First time climbing the masts, first time navigating a ship. We sang sea shanties, talked about life, and had blisters on our hands most days. Sailing is a true test of perseverance, as the ship doesn’t move unless you make it so.
The ship itself is a beautiful thing. Long wooden panels make up the fore and aft deck. The tall masts were made of remarkably tall hardwood trees. The large sails stretch out to impossible lengths and diffuse the summer sun into a soft glow. The water streams by when the wind is tough. Climbing aloft to furl the sails, the Earth seems as expansive as ever.
Below deck, we cook and clean, sleeping in tiny bunk beds, stepping over each other each morning and night. A rhythm that we all manage to find. By day’s end, you're so wiped from the work that sleep comes easy (minus a few minutes of swatting mosquitoes).
The crew I shared the summer with taught me a lot about how to just be in the moment. How to make connections among strangers. How to talk to connect over the small stuff, and even the big stuff. The ships crew showed me that leadership and maturity is not age-dependent; it’s all about perspective. I think all Canadians should spend more time on our Great Lakes, and feel what it’s like to be moved by the wind.
Credits
Organization: Tall Ship Expeditions Canada & Ayalik Fund
Role: Expedition Filmmaker, Chaperone
Purpose: Epic, multi-day hands-on sail training
Location: Thunder Bay to Sault St. Marie
Vessel: St. Lawrence II
Home Crew: Chris Chafe, David Pelly
Additional Partners: Dickies, Ship2Shore
2025
