 |
|
Links to Torresen.com Home Page: Subscribe to ATWOS
Around the World of Sailing
11 July 2001
This weeks features:
Finish Line
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/atwos/2001/jl/0711/frw.htm
Results of Leg 1 of the EDS Atlantic Challenge
1. Sill 2. Kingfisher 3. Ecover 4. Gartmore 5. Fila
6. La Rage de Vivre 7. Alpha Graphics
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 +2
Difference From 6 June 2001 +1
Difference from 6 July 2000 -3
Difference from long-term Avg. -22
Difference from Record High -52
Difference from Record Low +11
Forecast for 6 August 2001 +0
Note: The level of Lake Michigan-Huron is expected
to decline around 2 inches by September.
Rowing Reporter
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/atwos/2001/jl/0711/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.
************
Readers Write
Lake Michigan Sailor Bob Moretti writes,
'Your story on the loss of life in the Lake Huron race
made me think of precautions that make sense for
shorthanded or singlehanded sailors. While an
inflatable PFD, whistle, and reflective tape make
excellent sense, so does another precaution: an
immersible, handheld VHF radio attached to one's clothing
or harness. While many balk at the expense, the cost is
actually reasonable when one considers the margin of safety
that is provided by being able to direct rescuers to oneself
when you have gone overboard. I doubt that this would have
saved the lives of the sailors on Great White, but it might
well save many other sailors who go overboard and cannot
otherwise be located."
Bob makes a good point. Especially at night being
able to have VHF communication could make man in the water
rescue situation much easier.
Immersible handheld VHF's are readily available.
The Raytheon 102 is rated to withstand 30 minutes of being
submerged in 1 meter/39" of water. It includes 1/3/5 watt
power and a 3 channel scan feature. At a price of $ 365.00
this should be another personal safety option that sailors
consider.
From the current home of the America's Cup Peter
Watt queries: "I would like to know what the record is
for a double Trans Tasman non-stop voyage by a solo
yachtsman is. Can you assist?"
It appears as though Peter wants to know about
a transiting of the Tasman sea for example from Sydney
Australia to Auckland New Zealand and return. My
research indicates that no such record exists.
There is however, a Trans Tasman race sponsored
by the Australian Short Handed Sailing Association. Held
every other year it was last sailed in May of 2000.
There are a pair of records for the Trans Tasman Race.
Steinlager set the record for the Sydney to new Auckland
New Zealand route at 5 days 2 minutes in 1988. In 1998
the race finished at the traditional location of New Plymouth
New Zealand. Jarkan an Open 60 set a new record of 5 days down
the previous record time of 6 days 21 hours set in 1986.
Every 4 years there is a return solo race from New
Zealand to Moololaba Australia. I was unable to find a
record for this. However, assuming an Open 60 type that
would be a little slower with only 1 crew 6 to 7 days
seems a realistic mark.
So Peter, it looks like a time of under 14 days
would be a good mark to shoot for in setting this record.
******************
Tall Ships Race 1
The fleet of sailing ships that will visit Muskegon
August 10-12 is currently sailing the Great Lakes.
They recently completed their first race which
took them 128 miles upwind from Kingston Ontario to Port
Weller. Both are located on Lake Ontario.
After stopping at Port Colborne the fleet sailed
onto Cleveland Ohio. Beginning today they will be part
of Cleveland Harbor Fest through next Monday.
Winning the first race was the 126-foot Grand Banks
topsail schooner, Highlander Sea. Designed by noted naval
architect Starling Burgess, she will be part of the fleet
in Muskegon for the Tall Ships Challenge®.
For more on the race see:
http://www.sailmuskegon.com/news/index.html
******************
Of Transpacs, 70's and speed at sea
Recently Decision, an Andrews 75 ULDB paid a visit
to Torresen Marine. Decision arrived via truck from New Orleans
to prep for the Mackinac races.
Decision is a 'sled' a generation newer than the
original "fast is fun" Santa Cruz 70's. Decision carries a
rating of -111 and what is essentially a 5 spreader rig.
Technically it is 4 spreaders + a jumper, but the jumpers are
wide enough to be considered another set of spreaders. They
are easily as wide as the 2nd or 3rd set of spreaders.
The jumpers appear more tubular, while the spreaders
are more aerodynamic and blade shaped.
The numerous spreaders bring back the idea of a full
rigged ship. A clipper ship had 5 yards. From top to bottom
the yards were: Skysail yard, Royal Yard, Top gallant yard,
top mast yard and main yard.
Maybe the Decision crew should adopt Clipper terminology.
As in the # 3 is 2 inches off the royal spreader.
Meanwhile the race that these ULDB sleds were born
for, the Transpac saw interesting developments. Two original
Santa Cruz 70's were entered: Grand Illusion and Mongoose.
Also entered were 2 new examples from the Transpac 52 class.
First over the line amongst this group was J Bird III
an Andrews designed Transpac 52. Approximately 39 minutes
later came Grand Illusion which last summer set the
Victoria-Maui record. She was followed by Yassou another
Transpac 52 which was just 5 minutes behind.
So in a test of the newest fast sleds they won out
by a slight over the proven Santa Cruz 70's.
In the Chicago Mackinac there is a Transpac 52
entered with a PHRF rating of -72. The Great Lakes 70's
fleet which is almost entirely composed of Santa Cruz 70's
ranges from -63 (Nitemare and Mirage) to Holua, Blondie,
Evolution, Change and Cynosure at -72.
It will be curious how the Great Lakes leg of the
52 vs. 70 test turns out. We should gain many more data
points that will enable to tell if the venerable Santa
Cruz's have been surpassed by boats almost 20 feet smaller.