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The direct westbound crossing from Ludington, MI, to Manitowoc, WI, covers approximately 60 miles of open water, requiring continuous weather monitoring for fast-moving squalls. Keep a sharp lookout for commercial traffic, specifically the SS Badger car ferry, and adjust your navigation clocks back one hour upon entering Central Time.
Optimized for marine passage planning, vessel routing, and coastal or offshore weather tracking. This automated marine weather routing tool updates daily using premium data models. Below is the weather, wave, and ocean current layout for a standard vessel transit from Ludington Harbor, MI to Manitowoc Harbor, WI.
Expect mixed conditions with no major headwinds. Winds range from 4 to 13 kts with waves 1.1 to 4.5 ft with period of 4 to 5 seconds. Overall, periods of cross-seas may create some roll. Wind angles: 25% following, 50% reaching, 25% on the nose. Sea state: 25% aligned, 75% cross-seas.
Points of Sail
| Category | Point of Sail | Wind Angle | Portion of Passage |
|---|---|---|---|
| On the Nose | No-Go Zone | 0–45° | 25% |
| Reaching | Close Hauled | 45–80° | 50% |
| Reaching | Beam Reach | 80–110° | 0% |
| Reaching | Broad Reach | 110–145° | 0% |
| Following | Run | 145–180° | 25% |
Sea State & Wave Motion
| Sea State | Wind vs. Waves | Boat Motion | Portion of Passage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aligned | Waves run with the wind | Steady, organized | 25% |
| Cross Seas | Waves cross the wind | Rolling | 75% |
| Opposed | Waves against the wind | Choppy, confused | 0% |