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Around the World of Sailing
9 May 2001
This weeks features:
Finish Line
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/atwos/2001/my/0509/frw.htm
Reports from England indicate that cliffs at Beachy Head a
famous landmark for sailors lost the famous 2000-foot Devil's
Chimney outcrop as it collapsed into the sea.
Water Level Update
Weekly Water Level Update
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/atwos/2001/my/0509/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
Reference Point Inches below Chart Datum - 4
Difference From 3 April 2001 + 6
Difference from 3 May 2000 -1
Difference from long-term Avg. -24
Difference from Record High -54
Difference from Record Low +7
Forecast for 4 June 2001 +3
Notes: Lake Michigan received 105% of normal rainfall in April.
Seasonal rises are expected to be below average, with the
possibility of all time lows in the next 6 months.
Rowing Reporter
Rowing Reporter
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/atwos/2001/my/0509/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: A fortunate reader wrote: "My family and I spent
spring break bareboating in the BVI. We were returning just as
the annual spring BVI sailing regatta was getting underway...Can
you help out with any info?"
Sure, the regatta web site is at:
http://www.bvispringregatta.org/. Bill Alcott's Great Lakes 70
Equation is wintering in the Caribbean. Equation finished 4th of
6th in the big boat class.
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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.
*****************
Hand Held Boats?
In pursuing the boating news I came across the following.
Some content: it is in regards to a New York state program called
Environmental Protection Fund Local Waterfront Revitalization
Program. In the story there was a reference to, "hand-held,
non-motorized craft." Is this what governments have taken to
calling toy and model boats?
I queried the New York State Government on hand held craft.
Their answer: "We are assuming that the project involves a boat
launch for small boats that would be transported on a car top -
maybe canoes, kayak or row boats - but the mind boggles a bit at
the thought of hand held boats!."
*****************
News of Rowers
Rowing is a competitive sport with Olympic participation.
38-year-old British rower Steve Redgrave has won 5 gold medals.
For this he's now 'Sir Steven'
New Zealand rower Rob Wadell who won the single scull gold
medal is now part of Team New Zealand's America's Cup crew. From a
rower with 2 oars in his hands, to a grinder with a pair of winch
handles to spin. About his training for sailing the 26 year old
Wadell said: "In rowing it's all legs and no chest, now it's all
chest and no legs." Maybe my splashy rowing inefficiency is due to
an inversion of Wadell's rowing precepts.
****************
Studies and Observations
Grand Isle Marina: A mystery sailboat with a 3 spreader
rig was spotted here Tuesday. Surprising to see such a craft in
this area. Local rumor intelligence says it's an 80 footer with
a centerboard in order to navigate the Grand River.
Heritage Landing: Tuesday afternoon orange fencing blocked
off part of Heritage Landing in downtown Muskegon. Survey crews
were also spotted. Signs that the $ 1.5 million in improvements to
the facility where the Tall Ships will dock in August are underway.
For more on this project see
http://www.sailmuskegon.com/facilities/heritage_landing/county_approves.html
Local Notice to Mariners: Racine Harbor Light is currently
listed as light extinguished. North of Chicago in position 42 09
North and 87 45 W a 35-foot sailboat with red hull is aground.
Since this situation just begs for a punch line, remember there's
2 kinds of sailors those that have been around and those that will.
**************
File Under More Ideas Than Money
English sailor Ian Munslow plans to compete in September's
Mini-Transat. Ian's budget is a bit small. Recently he could not
afford a set of chainplates. Designers Owen Clarke Group instead
lashed the rod shrouds through the decks with Vectran!
Munslow currently receives GBP 10 per day from his father
as a training stipend. He'll need GBP 16,000 more and some good
fortune to make the starting line.