Around the World of Sailing

24 October 2001

This weeks features:

Finish Line

Finish Line
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/atwos/2001/oc/1024/frw.htm

Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race Winners

Class A Herom Aram Nersesian
Class AA America Paul Worthington
Class B Adventurer 65 Mark Faulstick
Class C Malabar II No skipper given

Water Level Update

Weekly Water Level Update
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/atwos/2001/oc/1024/frw.htm

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 -1
Difference from last month 0
Difference from last year 0
Difference from long term average for October -19
Difference from Record High -59
Difference from Record Low +12
Forecast for 19 November 2001 -2

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.

****************

November in October
The big news on Muskegon Lake hasn't happened-yet.
A local meteorologist this morning described the possibility
of a November like storm in late October.
Forecasts are foreboding calling for SW winds to
60 knots along with rain and snow squalls plus waves of
15 to 20 feet. This is to continue into Friday morning.
As a warm front which has brought 60° temperatures
clears Lake Michigan what follows is powerful weather. A
cold front extends from Illinois to Texas with rain trailing
it. Near the Dakotas another cold front with snow to the
north of it.
Barometric pressure as lows as 968 millibars is
projected. Current pressure in Muskegon is 997 millibars.
This would equate to a drop of 29 mb. If this occurs in
24 hours, it means a 'low pressure bomb' has come our way.
Useful links to follow this situation. Story on
February low bomb at
http://www.torresen.com/news/atwos/2001/fe/0228/0228_frw.htm.
Current weather map
http://www.intellicast.com/LocalWeather/World/UnitedStates/SurfaceAnalysis/
November storms and the Great Lakes
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/1998/wnov1113.htm
**************
Lake Michigan Report Part II
This is the second of a 4 part look at the waters of
Lake Michigan and their conditions.
There are many ways to value Lake Michigan. It can
be seen in terms of aesthetics, recreation or economics via
tourism.
A study this summer attempted to place a value on
the coastal area of the Chicago and Indiana area. They total
present value was calculated between 3.1 and 5.3 billion.
Species such as perch, trout, eagle, loon and coot were given
values. Not included were the value of such things as boating,
bird watching and beach-going. Obviously adding such factors
makes Lake Michigan almost infinitely valuable.
How might we delineate ways that value can be detracted?
Analysts often use beneficial use impairments. For instance
Muskegon Lake has the following impairments: restrictions on
fish and wildlife consumption, degradation of wildlife population,
degradation of bottom dwelling organisms, restrictions on dredging,
undesirable algae, water taste or odor problems, and degradation
of aesthetics.
A recent example of impairment came as work continues
on Heritage Landing. Part of the construction plan was to use
fill dredged from the area to level areas of the park. However,
it was discovered that this material was so contaminated that it
was unusable. Additional funds had to be spend to purchase
clean fill.
It's clear that Lake Michigan is a multi faceted
and valuable asset. It's also clear that clean up efforts
can have multiple benefits also.
********
Keeping a lookout
Rule 5 of the International Regulations for
Avoiding Collisions at sea states, "Every vessel shall at
all times maintain a proper lookout by sight as well as by
hearing ." Here are some thoughts on this obligation
of all boaters.
Famous lookouts many a naval sailor including
Horatio Nelson began as look outs. Nelson began as a fore
topmast lookout. Grant Dalton's Southern Ocean iceberg
watch, "I went to the mast and, like a traffic warden,
waved my arms to indicate which way I wanted Ed to turn
to avoid the 'bergy bits'. Directing traffic at 32 knots
in the Southern Ocean - a lot of fun..." For a view of age
of sail lookouts see the online version of this article.

From the Rogue Warrior series of novels tips on
good vision. Simple advice, scan and breathe. Just scan
back and forth while making certain to breathe evenly.
This avoids tunnel vision.
See differently day versus night. Day vision
uses the cones in the center of eye. Night vision you
use rods, which are grouped around cones on the side of
the eye. Due to this night vision is much more about
peripheral vision.
The International Convention on Watchkeeping for
Seafarers sets out rules for keeping a lookout. Use
sight (scan/breathe) and hearing to check the operating
environment. Appraise the risk of collision and stranding.
Detect ships in distress, wrecks, debris and hazards.
Factor in: weather, visibility, traffic, and how
adapted your night vision is. Know the handling
characteristics and stopping distance of the vessel you
are on. Record movements and activities, note movements
of other ships, course, unexpected buoys or debris.
This week I was bringing a boat up Muskegon Lake.
Steering by tiller I worked on obeying rule 5. I scanned
and breathed. Made sure to turn my head all the way to
90°. Not much to see on a grey fall day.
Then all of the sudden at the far limit of my
scan to the right, I saw something. Peripheral vision
works during the day too.
A sailboat facing stern to the wind. Hmm... since
I was heading into the wind an anchored or moored boat,
should have been bow into the wind. Well, can't go too
close it's on Bank Point shoal and I could join them.
See the awkward motion as the boat bounces off a hard
surface not off soft water.
Notify the home office. Arrive back and let
people know hoping I did see a distressed vessel.
Eventually the boat is towed off. It arrived
at it's grounding via a dragging anchor.
Sometimes obeying the law does pay.
***********
Mailboat Sinks
Tuesday morning the mailboat J.W. Wescott
sank on the Detroit River. The Wescott was bringing
a pilot to the tanker Sidsel Knutsen.
The Wescott's job is to come along moving
freighters and deliver mail, freight and pilots.
During this transfer the boat filled with water
and sank within 20 seconds. The two pilots on
board escaped and survived. The boat operator and
deckhand have not been found yet.
Early in the morning approximately 0700 probably
everyone was in the deckhouse. Whether the boat had
filled with water unnoticed or some combination of sea
conditions and the freighters wake caused the incident
isn't clear.
The two pilots were located by the search
light of the Sidsel Knutsen. One was wearing a life
jacket. The tug Stormont rescued them.
The 45-foot Wescot is near Zug Island in
30 feet of water. As it is near the shipping channel,
traffic is now only 1 way.