Dream Inspiration Tour

“If you don’t name your dream it will never happen,” Julie had said. “What do you want to do in life?”

A 2010 New Year’s Eve conversation between newlywed Hugh and Julie Covert, about bucket list dreams was the impetus for building Schooner Huron Jewel. Sailing and building since he was four years old, Hugh Covert, a tall ship captain, had dreamt for decades about building his own schooner.

Then in 2015, since there was no better time than the present, as Hugh is known to say, he started designing the optimal sailboat for the incredible sailing waters of the Great Lakes and Drummond Island, located on the eastern end of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula where they live—a shallow-draft, 78 foot, two-masted centerboard schooner.

To make it happen, Capt. Hugh quit his job, they emptied out their bank accounts and retirement accounts, and scrounged for two nickels to rub together. Many perceived the Covert’s dream as a monumental project that might never be accomplished. Driven to make their dream a reality, Capt. Hugh and Julie worked almost seven days a week for two-and-a-half years straight, with the help of over fifty volunteers many who have become dear friends. In June 2018 they launched and christened Schooner Huron Jewel, Capt. Hugh’s ninth and largest boat. They now offer public daysails and overnight trips aboard her.

“If you stand around and just talk about what you want to achieve it will never get done,” Capt. Hugh said. “You have to actually do it. You have to make it happen and there’s no time better than the present.”

Unable to do public trips in 2020, the Coverts and their crew instead sailed the Great Lakes bringing the schooner to people’s backyards and encouraged people to follow their dreams. Seeing all the smiles on people’s faces they realized they were making a difference – bringing joy and inspiration during a challenging time.

The coronavirus pandemic has slowed down the pace of life for many people, giving them time to reflect on what is important. Recognizing this and wanting to encourage people to name their dream, follow their dream, and make it happen, Capt. Hugh, Julie, and their crew, will take a nine-month voyage, beginning in mid-August 2022. They will sail from their homeport of Drummond Island, MI through the Great Lakes to the St. Lawrence Seaway, south along the eastern seaboard to participate in the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race and Annapolis Sail Boat Show, all the while at each port of call they will encourage people to live their dreams. They’ll then continue south for the winter spreading their message and head home in Spring 2023. On their Dream Inspiration Tour of over 7500 nautical miles, they will tell their story to thousands of people to inspire them that when you name your dream, and follow it you can make it happen, just as they did, as exemplified by their company’s motto of “Sailing the Dream.”

The Coverts invite you to join their voyage by supporting their mission to encourage people to name their dream, follow their dream, and make it happen, because as Capt. Hugh is known to say “there’s no better time than the present.”

We have some terrific ways you can be a part of this exciting voyage. Imagine what you might help inspire someone to achieve – the possibilities are endless

Thank you in advance for helping us encourage others to live their dream, no matter how big the dream may be.

– Captain Hugh and Julie

Call today to become an Inspiration sponsor! Call Julie at 906-430-5854.
Corporate, product and private sponsorships are available.
Please inquire directly about private sponsorship levels - they include free swag, shirts, and social media and video shout-outs!

Name your dream,
Follow your dream,
We’re sailing the dream,
to inspire others to make it happen!