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Around the World of Sailing
5 September 2001
Event News: Governors Cup Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/atwos/2001/se/0905/ms.htm
This past weekend saw Muskegon Yacht Club's annual Labor Day
regatta. Known as the Governor's Cup it's really 2 regattas
in one. The racing fleet contests the Governor's Cup around
windward/leeward courses. The main and jib fleet sails for
the Lieutenant Governor's Cup.
The racing fleet saw offshore one designs dominate even
though racing was on a PHRF handicap basis. The Mumm 30 USA
40 was 1st, Hippy Chick a One Design 35 2nd and Mulligatawny
another Mumm 30 3rd.
Other section winners included: Risky Business in PHRF B,
Kato in the S2 9.1 fleet, and Wings in PHRF D.
The Lieutenant Governors Cup was won by Hydrogyrum, which won
both races sailed by the Jib and Main Fleet. 2nd and the
winner of Class A Jib and Main was Rumors with Express Lane
3rd.
Note: 42 boats sailed the regatta. The scope of our event
news articles in ATWOS does not permit us to recognize the
achievements and participation of all boats and crews.
Whenever possible we attempt to provide links to results
listing all boats.
Links: Complete Results
http://www.torresen.com/races/governorscup/2001/results.html
Theme: Electronics
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/atwos/2001/se/0905/ms.htm
It seems as though every year more and more customers add
electrical items to boats. Engines that came with 35 amp
alternators are being added as sailors grow more and more
fond of electronics. This month's theme articles looks at
electronics and some practical reasons why they should be on
a boat.
One part of a boat's instrument system should be a
depthsounder. Simply put this item measures the depth of a
water. Certainly in these low water times these maybe more
valuable. However, often times you may move faster than the
depth sounder can read. This means you may probe your way
into a harbor using your keel as a depth finder.
Not to worry, the depth sounder has a further purpose. You
can use depth readings in conjunction with compass, GPS etc.
for navigation purposes. Want to run the shore on a cruise?
Identify a safe water depth and use your sounder as a
navigational tool.
A Raytheon ST 40 depth system with current depth, shallow
and deep depth alarms, accurate to 600 feet sells for
$ 410.00. This includes the thru hull transducer and 30 foot
cable. If you don't have a depth sounder installing one
over the winter will add safety and navigational capabilities
to your boat.
Event News: Tri State
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/atwos/2001/se/0905/ms.htm
The Tri State is a series of point to point races that
traverse the southern portion of Lake Michigan. This year
The Tri State was a race short of its normal compliment of 3.
Friday's race from Chicago to St. Joseph Michigan was not
held. This due to a questionable, unseamanlike decision by
Columbia Yacht Club race committee.
On Sunday 80+ boats raced from St. Joseph to Michigan City.
It was a semi upwind race along the sand duned shore.
Blondie a Santa Cruz 70 was first to finish, but was edged
for 1st overall on handicap by the Sydney 38 Eagle.
Labor Day saw the final race from Michigan City back to
Chicago. This was a race of jib reaching with occasional
spinnaker set attempts made. By 21 seconds Mirage was first
to finish over Nitemare. However, the smaller boats made a
much better corrected time showing with Lucky Comet a 102
rater posting 7 minute overall victory with Bantu 2nd.
Note: The scope of our event news articles in ATWOS does
not permit us to recognize the achievements and participation
of all boats and crews. Whenever possible we attempt to
provide links to results listing all boats.
Links:
St. Joe/Michigan City Results
http://www.lmsrf.org/races/a3_2001/stjoemcy.html
Michigan City/Chicago
http://www.lmsrf.org/races/a3_2001/mcyjkpk.html
News: Boat Smart
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/atwos/2001/se/0905/ms.htm
Open water recovery
By Senior Chief Tom Rau, United States Coast Guard, Group Grand Haven
Nothing beats a first-hand experience. So I went overboard
to write this story- literally. That was the easy part,
climbing back onto the boat the hard part. I pride myself
on keeping fit, yet for days afterward my upper body muscles
ached after the open-water recovery exercises.
The 63-degree water ripped the breath from my lungs. Thank
God, I wore a life jacket, which shot me to the surface.
Without a life jacket, I would've plunged much deeper into
the cold water. What a nightmare it would be to finally
break the surface only to see the boat drifting off along
with your hopes. Nothing matters more in open water
survival than hope, and without a life jacket, hope soon
turns to panic then utter despair. On the other hand, with
an open water recovery game plan and a life jacket, you can
survive.
I conducted the open-water recovery drills in Lake Michigan
off South Haven and Holland aboard recreational boats
between 17 and 24-feet in length. The crewmen assisting
could not help me aboard; however, they could provide lines.
Despite the many open water survival drills I've conducted,
I still grit my teeth before taking the plunge. Imagine the
shock from hitting the water without warning. I pray I never
do. When you hit the water, relax and allow the initial
shock to pass while your body adjusts- it will. Then go
about the business of climbing back aboard. This will shift
your thoughts from the pain to a plan. An understanding of
body water dynamics will help.
A body submerged in water leaves only the head above the
surface. The center of gravity runs about mid body. A
person in the water must shift the center of gravity from
mid body to the surface to climb aboard. How? A side
ladder or lines will help, usually.
The deck rails on both boats stood about two-and- half feet
above my head. I couldn't reach the rails to pull myself
up. Even if I did I couldn't muscle my self up. I doubt
Hercules could. . The side ladder on one boat proved
useless; it extended only to the surface, but not into the
water where I could step up. One boat offered a
collapsible ladder, but it bent underneath the boat when I
placed my foot into a rung. It too proved to be useless.
What now? I instructed the crew to drape a line between two
rail cleats. The loop barely kissed the surface. A crewman
than attached a line to a cleat on the other side of the
boat. I placed both feet into the loop at water's edge and
pulled upward with the line to climb onto the boat.
Several boats carried lower engine units that extended off
the stern below the surface. I used the same line/loop
method, but I extended the line between two stern cleats
with the loop running just below the stern rail. Then I
placed my foot onto the lower unit and pulled myself up with
the looped line. It worked like a charm. By the way, secure
the engine before anyone gets near the stern.
So what if you're alone and there's no crew to assist? Pray
that you are wearing a life jacket that carries a whistle
and that you placed a looped line off the side. No need to
worry. The looped line won't interfere with your engine
prop or fishing lines. If you end up in the water, you can
easily grab the line and remain attached to the boat with
little effort. It sure beats hanging onto the boat, if you
can. I suggest looping lines off both sides. The whistle
will draw attention, especially coming from an empty boat.
At least it's a plan, it sure beats no plan.
For boats with swimming platforms, check ladder fittings
attached to the platform and make sure the ladder rungs
extend several feet below the water. Check grip bars to
make sure they are firmly attached. On one boat with
angular grip bars, my wet hands slipped to the base of the
bars and I had to use the line loop method to pull myself
up. On another boat the crewman handed me a grip strap so I
could pull myself onto the ladder, it snapped and I ended
back in the water. I then used a line loop to pull myself
aboard.
I conducted several drills in 2-3 foot seas. Again, be very
careful around the stern. Seas can easily slam your head
into the stern, or into an outboard motor, or heaving
swimming platform, or worse yet an engine prop. During one
drill in 2-3 foot seas, I elected to climb up the side of
the boat using the cleat loop line method rather than using
the swimming platform because of these hazards.
The thing I learned foremost from these drills is that the
marine environment can be very unfriendly, especially when
in the water. Of course, the surest defense against that
hostile environment is to stay on board, but if you do fall
overboard- Boat Smart- have a recovery plan. Do you?
Note: In 2000, "Capsizing" and "Falls Overboard" accounted
for 418 fatalities, more than half of all recreational
boating fatalities. Eight out of every 10 of those victims
drowned. During the 2000 boating season along Lake
Michigan's Eastern Shore, two different solo boaters fell
off small boats and are still missing.
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