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Around the World of Sailing
28 February 2001
This weeks features:
Finish Line
Bernard Gallay French skipper of the Vendee Globe entry Voila
Fr. had this comment upon seeing Josh Hall and EBP-Gartmore at sea:
"It was quite amusing, and we spoke over the VHF. Moreover, Josh and
I learned to sail with Robin Knox-Johnston, two old pupils neck and
neck!"
Weekly Water Level Update
Weekly Water Level Update
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/sd/february01/0228_frw.htm
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
Weekly Water Level Update
Reference Point
Inches below Chart Datum -9
Difference From 23 January 2001 +1
Difference from 23 February 2000 -3
Difference from Long-Term Avg. -22
Difference from Record High -52
Difference from Record Low +8
Forecast for 23 March 2001 +1
Rowing Reporter
Rowing Reporter
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/sd/february01/0228_frw.htm
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.
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.
**************
Readers Write Francis Murphy from Connecticut writes with a record
related question. He asks, "I am curious whether you may have access
to any records for the Long Island Sound. I am told that some records
exist...probably from the clipper ship days. Any info or direction
that you could impart would be greatly appreciated." I went to my
library and withdrew 'Greyhounds of the Sea' by Carl Cutler from its
shelf. In the records section on P. 486 I found a record from New
London, Conn. to New York a distance of 103 miles. That record is held
by the bark Col. Ledyard. The 404-ton ship covered that distance in
12 hours 15 October 1853. While perhaps not strictly Long Island
Sound, this record comes as close as any I am aware of.
Long Island Sound has a tremendous sail racing heritage.
Perhaps a reader knows of a more recent record?
Tom Tabor wrote asking, "Will you please forward a summer race
schedule?" Here's your answer Tom. There's a pair of ways we can
handle your request. One, you can view the 2001 schedule on our
website and print it out. The schedule is fount at:
http://bsd2.torresen.com/calendar/c1.htm Second, if you provide your
regular mail address I can mail the schedule to you. Both methods
will work equally well for anyone wanting the 2001 Great Lakes
Schedule.
**************
A 'Low Bomb' over the weekend. Often times when sailors are
travelling the Southern Ocean they talk of low pressure bombs. These
are not exclusively Southern Ocean happenings.
This weekend much of the United States was caught up in one.
This huge storm system started in the west on Friday. By Saturday it
was in Kansas and spawned a tornado in Mississippi. Sunday the center
of the low was over Wisconsin with a pressure of 983 MB.
The lowest pressure in Muskegon was 992 MB, Sunday @ 0600.
The pressure had declined 33 millibars in Muskegon. The definition
of a low pressure bomb is a drop of 25 millibars in 24 hours.
To the west of the storm high winds occurred. Milwaukee saw 58
mile an hour winds. Muskegon peaked at 31 knots of wind at noon on
Sunday.
Warm air advection also brought warm air from the SE. From a
low of 24° on Saturday, the SW winds brought the temperatures up to 55°
on Sunday.
Although not by the calendar, according to meteorologist today
is the last day of winter. To meteorologists December, January and
February are the whole of the winter season. If so, winter went out
with a rather interesting storm.
***********
1 Year Ago This winter has been one of great variance. From a rip
roaring start with plentiful snow to ground almost bare of snow.
One way to compare it is as follows. On 26 February 2000 I
was afloat on Muskegon Lake taking soundings at the Muskegon Yacht
Club. The water was not totally clear of ice as we pushed it out of
way both with a boat and with a boat hook.
A year later most of Muskegon Lake has held its ice. Daily
large number of people ice fish and ice boat. Certainly a pair of
winters that show difference and contrast.
**********
All Time Around the World Standings
Solo Around the World Races have been held since 1982. A total of 9
Around Alone/BOC Challenges and Vendee Globe's have been sailed.
I recently compiled a rough system to judge all sailors who
have competed in these races. The results are at:
http://www.torresen.com/arounalone/atp.htm
Sailors received points on a scale that gave 1 point for
starting, but not finishing to 15 points for an overall win. Not
surprisingly the top skipper was French. Top non French was Giovanni
Soldini at 7th. South African Bertie Reed was 8th. Top Brits Ellen
Macarthur and Robin Davie 10th. The top American is the late Mike
Plant, ranked 11th.