On a dewy morning you might daydream of Ireland.

TODAY, IT'S BECOMING more and more difficult to find a little sliver of paradise, or a private cove to cast a hook for the evening. Boaters may find their favorite harbor overrun with weekend sun worshippers. If you're in the mood for a little travel, however, point your bow east and head for the Bahamas.Yes Paradise Island is nice, but there is much more to do in the Out Islands. It is a sportsman's paradise, full of activities for the boater, angler, diver, and beach bum.

The Great Lakes supports more boating activity than any other body of freshwater in the world. This heavy recreational and commercial marine traffic, however, can take its toll on the lake's ecosystem. Responsibility for the health of the Great Lakes is split between several states, and of course between the United States and Canada, causing a host of jurisdiction issues.

Longtime cruisers can get in a rut, sometimes not realizing they're visiting the same harbors, anchoring in the same gunkholes and following familiar routes. But one of the allures of boating is its adventure and unpredictability. A whole new world of snug harbors, cozy anchorages, full-service marinas, memorable restaurants and friendly people is waiting for those willing to head in a different direction.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ETHAN MELEG

During my youth, when I first became enamored with sailing the Great Lakes, I would hang around Michigan���s Black River Yacht Club, where the Black River empties into the St. Clair. If I was there at the right time on Sunday morning, I stood a good chance of being asked to fill in for absent crew on one of the Six Meters that gathered there every weekend to race.

photos by Peter Swanson

Ever since Huck Finn and Jim took their fictional raft ride down the Mississippi, river voyages have been our national metaphor. Maybe that's why we thought it would be so cool to explore Dunns Creek off Florida's St. Johns River.