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Around the World of Sailing
25 April 2001
This weeks features:
Finish Line
Clipper Ventures Chairman Robin Knox Johnston has several
connections with Around Alone. For one, he was winner of the first
solo around the world race in 1969. For another, he was race director
of the inaugural Around Alone, then known as the BOC Challenge, in
1982. Finally Vendee Globe Director Phillipe Jeanot won the first two
editions of the race in 1982-83 and 1986-87.
Water Level Update
Here is an informative feature that used to appear in the
Friday edition of Sailing Daily. Below you'll find water
level info that pertains to Lake Michigan and Huron.
For information on other lakes see:
http://huron.lre.usace.army.mil/levels/weekly.html
Reference Point Inches below Chart Datum - 6
Difference From 20 March 2001 + 3
Difference from 20 April 2000 -2
Difference from long-term Avg. -23
Difference from Record High -54
Difference from Record Low +10
Forecast for 20 May 2001 +3
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.
***********
1-year Anniversary- 1 day short a year ago, I wrote: "Here begins
the first installment of 'The Rowing Reporter." 46 more installments
have followed.
Although still often covering the unique beat of Muskegon Lake
and Lake Michigan, the Rowing Reporter has branched out. It features
sailing writing that covers sailing's reach- the globe. We attempt to
bring people together, to answer questions and to pass messages in
Rowing Reporter Interactive. It brings Marine information from the
first craft to the latest craft as in today's piece on the new Fuji
Film. When reading remember this information is not the product of a
committee and is not the official product of anything. Finally it's
often written from my office equidistant from Muskegon Lake and Lake
Michigan. See you on the water!
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Rowing Reporter Interactive- The Rowing reporter seeks
comments, questions and suggestions. Send email in a bottle to
ike@torresen.com. If readers write we can start a dialogue about
rowing reporter writing. Send challenges, remarks, queries and they
will make you a part of this column.
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Loick Peyron's new machine
Having skippered Innovation Explorer to 2nd in the race, Loick
Peyron will now return to the Open 60 trimaran Grand Prix circuit in a
new Fuji Film.
The boat will have several innovative features to make it fast.
One is a fore and aft pivoting centerboard. This is due to the fact
that as the headsails get larger, the helm is less and less balanced.
The centerboard will pivot to give the same helm feel whether under
storm canvas or large gennaker.
The mast is a carbon rotating wingmast that also pivots and
twists. It rotates at its step on a bearing. An I beam down the
middle allows the mast to twist and better match the sails. Finally
hydraulic rams pivot it from side to side.
It'll be interesting to see how Peyron with another lap of the
globe and his innovative new ride do on the increasingly competitive
circuit.
**********
A Call for new 'Sailnyms'
Below find sail names from 3 eras- the current sprit boat era,
the square rigged era and the early to mid 20th century when fore and
aft rigs varied greatly. The names of the past sure had color! The
names from the current era describe various asymmetrical spinnakers
and their function.
Names for current asymmetrical spinnakers:
A-1 under 10 knots 70-100 apparent
A-2 0-20 knots 110-150 apparent
A-3 5-20 knots 80-110 apparent
A-4 20-30 knots 120 to 160 apparent
A-5 20-30 knots 90-120 apparent
How about these names from the era of square-riggers?
Fore Course: lowest on fore mast
Jolly jumpers: Set above moonsails in light air
Spencer gaff: sail on square rigged ship
Jib of jibs: sixth and outermost jib.
Studding sails: rigged outside of yards.
Finally these 20th century monikers.
Ballooner: high clewed headsail above double head rig.
Star Cut: Close reaching spinnaker.
Mule: 60% genoa.
Decksweeper: Genoa with foot flush to deck.
Mizzen Staysail: reaching sail flown from mast
I feel it's time the current era in sailing contributed some
words to sailing lore's vocabulary. Below find a start for new
asymmetrical spinnaker names.
A-1= Zephyr lite ghoster
A-2 Goto Kite
A-3 Star Cut A
A-4 Sleigh Ride A-kite
A-5 Super reacher
It's onward right up to the moonsails from here! Send your suggestions
to: ike@torresen.com
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Local Notice to Mariners
As more and more boats are launched and begin voyaging about
the information in the Coast Guard notice to mariners is more pertinent.
This week we find that 2 yellow buoys are adrift at position
43 51 30 north and 87 07 west. This is just north of Sheboygan
Wisconsin, and approximately 1/3rd of the way across the lake.
Near Milwaukee Harbour there is a partially submerged 17-foot
fishing boat It's position 43 02 16 north 87 53 15 west.
On Lake Macatawa the green can B 25 has been relocated for
dredging. This is one of the channel marker to the power plant.
Finally Frankfort's North Breakwater light has an inoperable
fog signal.