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Around the World of Sailing 14 March 2001 This weeks Regular Features Watery World News Available on line at:  http://www.torresen.com/atwos/2001/0314/0314_frw.htm  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.  From New York comes new of discovery of a bacteria that kills zebra mussels. After 10 years of research scientist Daniel Molloy has found a comma shape microbe that kills zebra mussels. This has been patented by New York State. The microbe is named Pseudomonas  Fluorescens CLO 145A.  Tests show that the bacteria is toxic to mussels whether it is  alive or dead. It kills the mussel by destroying their digestive gland. The next step is to determine its affects on other organisms. Early tests in this area are positive. Eventually it is hoped that 'CLO 145A' can be used to rid the Great Lakes and their tributaries of zebra mussels. --------------- Weekly Water Level Update  Available on line at:  http://www.torresen.com/atwos/2001/0314/0314_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 2 February 2001 0  Difference from 2 March 2000 -3  Difference from Long-Term Avg. -23  Difference from Record High -53  Difference from Record Low +8  Forecast for 2 April 2001 +2  -------------- Rowing Reporter Available on line at:  http://www.torresen.com/atwos/2001/0314/0314_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. ********* Sail Muskegon - Tall Ships Update: More Ships Confirmed A total of 11 ships are now confirmed for the upcoming Tall Ships Challenge event this coming August. We will look at them in two installments. Among the newly confirmed ships are America. This schooner is a waterline up re-creation of the yacht that won the 100 Guinea Cup in 1851 thereby giving birth to the America's Cup. The Appledore IV is a Great Lakes based schooner. Her homeport is Bay City, Michigan, where the ships will visit before sailing to  Muskegon. The Danielle Louise is a schooner built in 1987 in Africa.  Naval Architect Dudley Dix designed her. His website is at:  http://dixdesign.com/ Grand Nellie is also schooner rigged. The vessel will make  the voyage from her homeport in the Virgin Islands. The Tecumseth is a replica of a British war schooner. The  original fought in the war of 1812. The replica was designed from the original plans.  Next week we will report on the other ships that have confirmed their appearance. ************ Tylaska J Lock Many racing sailors are familiar with the J lock type shackle. I have never liked this type of shackle. Any shackle that has to be  secured with tape is not a shackle and is not very seamanlike either.  Tylaska Marine hardware has come out with a new type of J lock. According to Tim Tylaska, "I spent considerable time developing a  J-lock that did not require tape. It works by locking the knob from  both rotation and translation so as to prevent opening even after  severe flogging." Further he reports, "We sent a few dozen down to  New Zealand last month for the America's cup boats to try out under  really tough conditions. So far, not a single one of the J-locks have  ever popped open and all without any tape. This actually even  surprised me as the accelerations during flogging are very extreme.  However, we have never been able to pop one open here either." This is all good news. I will be interested to see on of these  shackles perform this summer. If the J lock can be used without tape I will have to change my above opinion. ************* 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.