30th Annual Gales of November

This year the event pays special tribute to the 30th anniversary of the Gales of November. The Saturday Keynote Luncheon Speaker will discuss the French Navy minesweepers Inkerman and Cerisoles. 

To this day their fate remains one of the inexplicable mysteries of the Great Lakes, each with French 38 sailors and a Great Lakes pilot aboard. They were part of dozen of the tough little vessels built by Canadian Car and Foundry in Port Arthur, Ontario. The pair, plus the minesweeper Sebestapol, left Port Arthur on November 23, 1918 bound for Montreal, before final delivery to France. Somewhere in Lake Superior the Inkerman and Cerisoles disappeared. Desperate searches failed to find the missing warships. No confirmed human remains were ever recovered and what little flotsam was found gave no clues. Accusations of poor construction, shoddy seamanship and collision followed but real evidence was illusionary. French Navy investigations were equally befit of solutions. 2018 marks the centennial of their loss, and perhaps the year the great mystery will finally be solved.

Gales of November festivities resume at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 4 and run until 7:30 p.m.  The day is filled with maritime related educational breakout presentations, exhibit hall, silent auction, and an opportunity to win the summer 2018 Cruise of a Lifetime raffle on a Central Marine Logistics great lakes vessel. All events take place at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center.

Keynote Luncheon Speaker 12:00 pm

Frederick Stonehouse, Author and Historian

“French Navy Minesweepers Inkerman and Cerisoles”

Frederick Stonehouse has authored over thirty books on maritime history. The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Haunted Lakes series are regional best sellers. Wreck Ashore, the U.S. Life-Saving Service on the Great Lakes is the predominant work on the subject. He has also been an "on-air" expert for National Geographic, History Channel and Fox Family. He has been honored with the Association for Great Lakes Maritime History award for historic interpretation in recognition to his many contributions to the field and as the Marine Historian of the Year by the Detroit Marine Historical Society.

Most recently he was given the 2014 “Distinguished Alumni Award” by Northern Michigan University.  Fred teaches Great Lakes maritime history at Northern Michigan University and is an active consultant for numerous Great Lakes oriented projects and programs. 

Morning Speaker 10:00 am

Dan Fountain, Author, Dive Expert, and Historian

"Ships That Go Bump in the Night: Collisions Off Presque Isle"

Duluth author Tony Dierckins has written or co-written over two dozen books, including regional histories such as Lost Duluth and Crossing the Canal, both finalists for the Minnesota Book Award, as well as Glensheen: The Official Guide to Duluth's Historic Congdon Estate, winner of the 2017 Northeast Minnesota Book Award. His latest book, with Nancy Nelson, is Duluth’s Historic Parks: Their First 160 Years. Dierckins is a past recipient of the Duluth Depot Foundation’s “Historic Preservation and Interpretation Award” and the publisher of Zenith City Press, dedicated to celebrating historic Duluth and Western Lake Superior at www.zenithcity.com.

Morning Speaker 11:00 am

Tony Dierckins, Publisher and Historian, Zenith City Press

“Duluth’s Aerial Transfer Bridge 1905–1930”

Duluth author Tony Dierckins has written or co-written over two dozen books, including regional histories such as Lost Duluth and Crossing the Canal, both finalists for the Minnesota Book Award, as well as Glensheen: The Official Guide to Duluth's Historic Congdon Estate, winner of the 2017 Northeast Minnesota Book Award. His latest book, with Nancy Nelson, is Duluth’s Historic Parks: Their First 160 Years. Dierckins is a past recipient of the Duluth Depot Foundation’s “Historic Preservation and Interpretation Award” and the publisher of Zenith City Press, dedicated to celebrating historic Duluth and Western Lake Superior at www.zenithcity.com.

Boat Tours 11:00 am – 1:00 pm - Weather permitting

Docked behind the DECC for tours and information

Blue Heron Research Vessel and the Coast Guard Cutter Alder

Event Speakers 1:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Tamara Thomsen, Maritime Archaeologist, State Historic Preservation Office Wisconsin Historical Society

Jerry Sandvick, Author, Historian and Professor Emeritus                              

Michelle L. Briggs, Director, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Soo Locks Visitor Center

Patricia Majher, Author, "Ladies of the Lights"

Shana Aue, Archivist and Reference Librarian Jim Dan Hill Library UW-Superior      

Dennis O’Hara, Owner of Northern Images Photography – Commercial and Nature Photographer

Other Options 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Exhibit Hall - featuring book signings, unique maritime items,

Cruise of a Lifetime raffle tickets and much more!

Maritime Auction of unique maritime items and artifacts * Boat Tours * Fleet Flags on display

Cruise of a Lifetime Drawing - 5:00 pm

Stay to the end and find out if you are the lucky winner of this once in a lifetime opportunity!                    

Closing Reception - 5:30 -7:30 pm

Grandma’s Saloon and Grill – Canal Park, MN

Attendees, exhibitors, speakers – come unwind and enjoy a chance to discuss the events of the day

Tickets to Gales of November are required.  Gales of November details and registration information can be found at www.LSMMA.com.

LSMMA is a nonprofit organization established in 1973 to preserve the region’s maritime history. For more information, call LSMMA at 218 727-2497 or visit www.lsmma.com.