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Around the World of Sailing
12 September 2001
This weeks features:
Finish Line
In 1868 there were 1,855 schooners on Lake Michigan, the
peak year for these sailing cargo ships.
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 -1
Difference from last month -2
Difference from last year -4
Difference from long term average for September -22
Difference from Record High -54
Difference from Record Low +9
Forecast for 7 October 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.
****************
Readers Write
Last week I wrote of the "questionable and unseamanlike"
decision by the Columbia Yacht Club Race committee to
abandon the Chicago to St. Joseph Race on 31 August. This
sentence received several replies.
First David Rearick wrote, "I was there. We sailed across anyways.
My crew is of the highest quality of sailors some of which
have sailed since the days when the dead sea was just sick."
He also commented "Though many of us veterans live in the
tradition that it is solely the responsibility of the
skipper of the yacht to make the decision to sail or not,
in todays world, it never seems to be that way."
I replied in part, "My thought is that race committees are
there to serve the sailors- we are the show and the reason
for the sport, not the other way around." In other words
the racing rules read, "the responsibility for a boat's
decision to participate in a race is hers alone."
The reason the decision was questionable was that by doing
so they essentially violated the racing rules, putting
themselves and their US Sailing backed bueracracy above the
sailors and rules.
Another reader, P Smith wrote "At the same time the RC was
sitting a few miles off shore and had been there for an hour
or so. They couldn't set the anchor, or a starting line.
Seas were 6'-10' and who knew what it was like in the middle
of the Lake?" This brings up my unseamanlike charge.
Perhaps the decision was not related to seamanship.
However, anchoring is a crucial part of seamanship and
safety. In such conditions a good anchor, and proper rode
could be the sole thing between you and a lee shore. That
they were unable to anchor in unquestionably unseamanlike!
This reader also mentioned, "a mini Sydney Hobart" situation
and "9 mayday calls". First, according to the Coast Guard
no maydays were received that night. Such hyperbole and
false statements never advance a case or discussion.
Weather data from Chicago, Muskegon and the South Lake
Michigan weather buoy does not show any type of gale force
conditions. Winds were from the north and east of north.
Speeds were in the teens and under 20 knots. The waves
were in the 8-foot range.
While it is true that there was a broken leg and other
injuries the above cited weather conditions are manageable.
Again exaggerations such as the specter of the tragic Sydney
Hobart race does not bring credit to a position.
The boat I was on chose not to cross the St. Joe that night.
We knew it would be cold and without a counter race to sail
stayed in harbor.
My primary point is that race committees are constituted
to serve sailor, not to make decisions for them. If race
committees don't become less arrogant, the future of
sailboat racing is not a promising one.
Note: For the complete correspondence discussed here see:
http://www.rowingreporter.com/2001/september/5se.htm
************
Record Queries
Bruce Geffen owner of the catamaran 'Nice Pair' wrote in
regards to his vessel possibly being a record holder.
He asked about the elapsed time records for the Queens Cup
and the Trans Erie.
In regards to the Queens Cup, the South Shore Yacht Club
is researching their record holder. As the course has
varied (Milwaukee to Grand Haven, Milwaukee to Muskegon,
Muskegon to Milwaukee) and the race has been run since
the 30's they do not have a current standard.
As for the Trans Erie I was able to determine that Bruce
and his boat should be the record holder. In August of
2000 'Nice Pair' (then named Endo) completed the 140-mile
course in 17 hours 43 minutes. This was a bit faster than
Sagita a J 44 which completed the course in 18 hours 25
minutes. Of note, Sagita was sailed two up.
So, 'Nice Pair' is the outright record holder, while
Sagita holds the Trans Erie monohull mark.
***************
Local Notice to Mariners:
Shoals, Boulders and Rocks
Current Notice to Mariners, "Shoaling 3-10 feet has been
reported inside the Michigan City Channel. The shoaling
has been reported running the entire length of the West
Pierhead and extending 15 feet into the channel.
From a recent visit to Michigan City I can 100 % verify the
veracity of the report!
Both Holland and South Haven show reports that boulders
from their breakwaters have fallen into the water. In
Muskegon the harbor chart shows rocks off the south
breakwater. These are labeled 'rks rprtd', but still
occasionally a boat will strike these rocks.
I grew up right along the shoreline with a backyard
separated from water by rocks, boulders and general rip
rap. The bay frequently moved these at will.
It's always a good idea when transiting a channel to keep
to the middle as this is generally where the greatest
depth is. Another reason to stay in the center is to
keep away from rocks that may have fallen next to the
breakwater.
To learn about the original rocks and shoals which
governed the US Navy and contained items such as
"The punishment of death, or such other punishment
as a court martial may adjudge for "sleeping on watch"
go to http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq59-7.htm