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Around the World of Sailing
3 January 2001
This weeks features:
- Finish Line
- Rowing Reporter
- Watery World News
Finish Line
Roger Hickman, Sailing Master on SAP Ausmaid, IMS Overall Winner of
the Sydney Hobart.
"The work that has been done since the 1998 race is all about
education of people," said Hickman at the presentation ceremony at
Constitution Dock this morning. "It's an absolute pleasure to be a
skipper of a yacht now because when the wind gets up, people
automatically put their life jackets and harnesses on."
"For me the biggest benefit, in a tragic way, from the 1998
race is that the crew are educated and they are more prepared to look
after themselves. While the skipper is ultimately responsible for the
crew, his life is made easier because everyone is aware."
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.
Readers Write:
This week we have several comments and questions.
Tim Kent wrote with a question, "You recently did an article or a
portion of an article on sponsorship of these around-the-world
campaigns. Could you forward the article to me or tell me where on
your site I could find it?"
This article was in the Rowing Report December 6. It's on our site
at: http://www.torresen.com/sd/december00/1206_frw.htm
Another writer is curious about changes to The Racing Rules. There
are changes which take effect in April. A preview of the
changes can be found at: http://www.sailing.org/newrules/
Larry Quinn from Saginaw MI wrote in with a comment about
freezing fog. He says, "I am familiar with the phenomena but know
it under another name, hoarfrost. The freezing fog crystallizes an
forms a fairy land type appearance."
We also received a pair of compliments one of which said:
"I love reading your page, I get more information in 10 min of
reading than I do from any of my magazines." The reader is referring
to Sailing Daily which will you will soon be able to receive via email.
********
The Open 60's Achilles Heel. Last time the Vendee Globe was
sailed the main problem with the Open 60's seemed to be stability in
that they like to turn rapidly upside down.
When Yves Parlier was dismasted after dominating the first
month it looked like rigs could be the weak point. One also thought
that without a proper rig Parlier was done in.
My thought was that a rig is fundamental (definition= serving
as a basis supporting existence). Since then it has become clear that
although important, there maybe a problem that is much more crucial
to these modern high tech voyagers.
That problem is electronics. Thierry Dubois had alternator
and battery problems and is currently in New Zealand repairing.
Leader Michel Desjoyeaux has a burned out starter.
Dubois chose to stop saying, "Personally I don't think it'll
be prudent to head into the Pacific and to end up helpless with some
total electronics failure, as that would mean no autopilot, no
weather."
The dismasted Parlier did not drop out and will make repairs
that will actually restore much of his mast without assistance as he
had carbon and epoxy onboard.
It seems that future Vendee Globe sailors might want to add
some weight in the form of a 14-pound alternator and other fundamental
engine parts, such as a starter, to their kit. This would provide
coverage of the Achilles heel which has been transformed into an
electric device on an Open 60.
********
Amateurs? I recently read an article in Wooden Boat which
profiled the boat that won the 1936 Bermuda Race. Among her "all
amateur" crew were designer Phil Rhodes and builder Irving Jakobson.
With the way the rules read today there's a good chance that
this crew would have been declared at least partially professional
as they would be sailors who "benefits financially from competing."
********
Muskegon Lake: A Multi Purpose Lake
Monday saw Muskegon Lake showing off its versatility and importance.
A neat triptych could have been painted.
In panel one: tugboats breaking ice. This so commercial
freighters could follow through and deliver cement and coal.
In panel 2: people on top of the ice. They bore through
snow and ice to fish.
In panel 3: a silent observer sitting on a snow dune
observing all the uses of the lake.
********
New Years In Space-
New Year's Day: Space Station Alpha: Commander Bill Shepard.
Bill Shepard, US Navy officer, translated a maritime tradition to
space. Typically the first entry of the year in a ship's log is
written rather differently. For the occasion Shepard composed a
poem. It read in part: "
Our panels set as sails to the Sun
With wake not ever seen but there
Only gyros feel the silent tugs
Wisps, swirls of such ocean rare
On this ship's deck sits no helm now
Rudder, sheet, and rig long since gone
But here still-- a pull to go places
Beyond lines where sky meets the dawn
********
GPS in the dictionary: This year the Merriam-Webster
Collegiate Dictionary will carry a different definition than
"gallons per second"
GPS will be defined as follows: "A navigational system using
satellite signals to fix the location of a radio receiver on or above
the Earth's surface, also the radio receiver so used."
********
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.
Watery World News
Watery World News is dedicated to our watery planet and the
things that people do on the water other than sail. Whether it's
tug-barges, kayaks, rowing shells, PWC's, swimming or other water
activities Watery World News will attempt to give the sailing audience
of ATWOS a look at other water activities.
Duluth Minnesota is home to a unique 62,382 square foot
building. Near the busy commercial harbor of Duluth is the Great Lakes
Aquarium.
The Aquarium focuses on what goes on below the surface of the
fresh watery world. With an opening date of 29 July, 2000 it is the
nation's only aquarium devoted purely to freshwater habitats, species,
management and stewardship.
Five of the exhibits feature habitats of Lake Superior such
as Wisconsin's Chequamegon Bay Wetlands, Michigan's Pictured Rocks
and Isle Royale. Other exhibits look at other large fresh water lakes.
The Aquarium recently received 'gem' designation from AAA.
This designation means that aquarium is seen as an attraction of
exceptional interest.
Seems like a visit to the Aquarium would be worth for anyone
interested in the water.