3
Days of small boat trekking in the Erie Islands
July 31 - August 2, 2026
5+
Islands to Explore:
Kelleys, South Bass, Middle Bass, North Bass, Pelee, & others!
33
Boats Currently
Registered
(As of Jan 17)
60
Participants
Currently
Registered
(As of Jan 17)
What is RAID ERIE?
RAID ERIE is an annual gathering of dinghy cruisers and other small craft enthusiasts, traveling in loose company around the southern islands of Lake Erie, and camping along the way. There is no cost to register for the event.
Check out images and videos from the 2025 event here!
"A Raid is described as a sail, paddle and oar adventure. It's a leisure pursuit that involves a fleet of small boats capable of being paddled, rowed, pedaled or sailed - exploring a coastline or inland waterway over several days"
The 2026 event is scheduled for Friday, July 31st - Sunday, August 2nd, with an optional bonus group camp night on Thursday, July 30th for those who want to get an extra day in. The official event kicks off at 1700 Friday with a dock walk and reception at St. Hazards Resort, located at the southern end of Middle Bass Island
Kayaks, Canoes, Dinghies, Trailer Sailers and all other small craft are all welcome. RAID ERIE is proud to represent the Lake Erie/South Shore Fleet of the Can-Am Dinghy Cruising Association!
Please see the FAQ below for more info!​​​​​​
Click image to open in Google Maps
Thursday, July 30th - Optional Group Camp
For those who decide to arrive a day early, an optional group camp site will be available at East Harbor State Park. Attendees can pre-rig boats at the boat ramp parking, and can decide to launch early Friday AM to make the crossing together to Middle Bass Island, or take the ferry.
Friday, July 31st - Get to Middle Bass Island!
RAID ERIE is held at Middle Bass Island. There are two ways to get to the event:
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Arrive by water. Skippers can choose to travel from the Ohio mainland in their own vessels, which is a ~7nm passage.
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Take the ferry. The ferry can accommodate vehicles + boats on trailers, car toppers, or even attendees on foot with no boat. Reservations are required, check out the schedule at Miller Ferry
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Once at MBI, the event agenda is:
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1700 - Dock Walk, MBI State Park Marina
1900 - Reception at St. Hazards Resort
2000 - Keynote Speaker, Colin Angus
​2100 - Sunset beach bonfire here
Overnight Camping at St. Hazards Resort Campground.
Saturday, August 1st - Open Cruise
0800 - NOAA forecast, skippers meetup & coffee at the MBI Marina Group Shelter. ​
0900 - Open Cruise time! Skippers and crews can assess conditions on their own and independently decide (or not) to cruise to Kelleys Island, South/Middle/North Bass Islands, Manila Bay, Pelee Island....
2100 - Sunset beach bonfire here
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Overnight Camping at St. Hazards Resort Campground
Beach camping option @ Manila Bay
Sunday, August 2nd - Open Cruising
0800 - NOAA forecast, skippers meetup & coffee at the MBI Marina Group Shelter. ​
0900 - Open Cruise time! Skippers and crews can assess conditions on their own and independently decide (or not) to cruise to Kelleys Island, South/Middle/North Bass Islands, Manila Bay, Pelee Island....
​1700 - Wrap up party @ Catawba Inn
A Very Loose Agenda...
2026 Keynote Speaker
Colin Angus
Colin Angus is a celebrated Canadian explorer, author, and filmmaker, best known for completing the first human-powered circumnavigation of the Earth, as well as designing adventure boats at Angus Rowboats.
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Colin's achievements include:
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Circumnavigation: In 2006, after 720 days and 43,000 km, he finished his human-powered global journey. Using a mix of cycling, walking, skiing, paddling, and rowing, he crossed three continents and two oceans.
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Other expeditions: His adventure portfolio also includes rafting the Amazon and Yenisey rivers, sailing the Pacific Ocean, and a human-powered journey from Scotland to Syria with his wife, Julie.
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Awards and honors: His achievements earned him the National Geographic Adventurer of the Year award. He has also been recognized by Outside magazine as one of the world's "Top 25 Bold Visionaries".
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Authorship: He has co-authored several books about his expeditions, including Amazon Extreme, Beyond the Horizon, and Rowed Trip.
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Entrepreneurship: More recently, Angus and his wife co-founded Open Ocean Robotics, a company that develops autonomous boats powered by renewable energy.
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RAID ERIE FAQ
