Rowing Reporter

The Rowing Reporter is a weekly column of commentary and
observations by Ike Stephenson, Marine Informationist. It
concentrates on the home waters of Around the World of
Sailing, Lake Michigan and Muskegon Lake.
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Note: I was fortunate to work with the crews and captains 
of the 11 tall ships that visited Muskegon as Ships 
Logistics director. Here are stories, notes and 
observations from a busy and successful few days.

Europa Shoal

As the ships docked there was only one problem. The Europa 
maneuvered themselves right into a shallow water sandbank 
right off Heritage Landing. It was a soft grounding with no 
damage. The Europa made up for this bit of embarrassing 
seamanship by pulling themselves off and then docking.

Perhaps Muskegon Lake will gain a Europa Shoal when the 
Muskegon Harbor chart is updated?
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Tall Ship Lists

My Favorite Ships: 
Pride of Baltimore 2, Highlander Sea, Denis Sullivan

Foreign Ships: 
Mist of Avalon, Highlander Sea, Europa, Tarangini

Nicest/Most Hospitable Crew: 
Tarangini

Most Professional Crew: 
Pride of Baltimore II
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The Party to be At

Many of the ships hosted parties during the evening hours. 
Typically they welcomed guests from one of their sponsors.

Saturday night the Tarangini hosted the party of the event. 
Whatever your drink of choice your glass just could not get 
empty. They served excellent food also. The crew was in 
uniform and was uniformly friendly.

I stood in a group and discussed how several of the 
Americans had foreign roommates in Coast Guard. A Coast 
Guard officer had an Icelandic roommate. (Side note/? 
Iceland has a navy?). I hesitantly mentioned to the 
Indians that I had a Pakistani roommate. One of the Indians 
replied, no worries. To he and his crew maters the 
Indian/Pakistani dispute exists mainly at the government 
level. He stated that Indians and Pakistanis felt themselves 
to be the same people, with governments the cause of the 
trouble more than the people themselves. Certainly an 
encouraging note.
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The USCG Was There

The United States Coast Guard had a significant presence 
throughout the event. For instance one of the Coast Guard's 
new Maritime Safety and Security Team provided security. 
They were often seen off the site in their orange fast boats 
which are armed with .60 caliber machine guns fore and aft. 
These were not loaded and the MSST was pretty gentle in 
securing the site.

Coast Guard Group Grand Haven, the cutter Katmai Bay, and 
local law enforcement provided security and assistance with 
the parade of sail. Their work was excellent and 
professional. Their operations document for the event was 
over 12 pages, while yours truly barely made it to page 2 in 
describing the Parade of Sail. In both cases preparation 
led to an on time and flawless parade of sail!

Since 9.11.01 the Coast Guard has had to take on extra 
missions and tasks. As a member of the professional 
maritime community I was worried that the already stretched 
service would start to break down in doing things like 
search and rescue and help events like Muskegon Tall Ships. 
I am pleased to report no signs of trouble yet.
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Leave 'er Laddies

Folk singer Lee Murdock performed at the event. On 
Wednesday when the Appledore IV arrived here, crew walked 
off. The Muskegon Chronicle went over the top and described 
it as a mutiny. Hardly, I saw no bodies hanging from the 
rigging, and I know for a fact the Captain is not in a small 
boat mid lake sailing back to land! It was more of a 
resignation, one of those sh*t happens situations.

Murdock does perform the song 'It's time for Us to Leave 
Her'. This is a traditional song often performed by sailors 
as they finished up after a voyage, with sentiments like the 
voyage was long and hard, the pay was low and the food was 
bad. Still common today, interview sailors after a Mac race 
for confirmation.

Anyway I requested that Lee sing the song. He wouldn't 
however dedicate it to Appledore IV. 
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