Around the World of Sailing

26 September 2001

This weeks features:

Finish Line

Muskegon Country Shore Line Clean Up
Number of Volunteers 1577
Weight of Debris 2330
Distance Cleaned 12.5 miles
Number of Sites 14
Number of Bags 334
Common Items: Cigarette Butts 17,521
Food Wrappers 5031,
Glass Bottles 1092,
Bottle Caps 2787,
Straws 1746

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 last month -2
Difference from last year -5
Difference from long term average for September -23
Difference from Record High -55
Difference from Record Low +9
Forecast for 21 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.
****************
Studies and Observations
It's haul out time, which is synonymous with oil change
time in these parts.
Recently at Harbour Towne marina I noticed several
containers of oil sitting by a dumpster. These are dirty waste
oil generated by oil changes.
Simply putting waste oil by the dumpster does not get
it picked up. Trucks that empty dumpsters are not equipped to
handle waste oil. Sailing being a sport that is enhanced by
clean waters, it is incumbent that sailors take care of their
oil.
Most boat yards, auto service facilities and some auto parts
stores can dispose of the oil. Just wrap the containers up in
paper towel or a plastic bag and do the responsible thing
rather than abandon your toxic mess.
Today on Muskegon Lake. Water blackened to coal color
by surly angry overcast skies. The Speedo on the boat I am
moving reads backwards. Faster speeds are on the left sides
of the dial. In front of the Sappi Paper mill the W.G.
Jackson has students taking water samples. It's thin yet cold
wind. Although there are gale warnings wind is under 10 knots.
A fortunate and needed break. It has been nasty.
Commercial shipping sheltered in Muskegon Lake.
Star Line Ferries halted in the Mackinac Straits as the strong
north winds kept ferries from maneuvering to the dock.
****************
Watery Weblog
Notable articles and websites pertaining to sailing
and other marine activity.
Bluenose 2- The history page contains information on
the International Fisherman's Cup an America's Cup like series
in the 1920's for working fishing ships and working sailors.
Look for more in a future RR.
http://www.bluenose2.ns.ca/english/history.html
Tall Ship Bounty- Built for a movie in the 60's.
Now under going restoration. http://www.tallshipbounty.org/
Town of Lunenberg Nova Scotia. Home of the Bluenose
and site of the Bounty's building.
http://www.town.lunenburg.ns.ca/
New Wind Chill Chart - It's getting to be that season,
switch from heat index to wind chill. See the new chart at
http://weatherimages.org/graphics/new_windchill.gif
Weather Facts- Like September 1989 temperatures were in
the 40's in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. Repeat that blurb
for 2001. http://www.awc-kc.noaa.gov/wxfact.html
****************
Volvo Ocean Race?
According to Team SEB skipper Gunnar Krantz the VOR
"is more of a series of races around the world." That's a
statement I can agree with.
Typically an individual race is scored on time, either
elapsed or corrected. For instance The Race for maxi
catamarans was literally a race in that best elapsed time won.
When known as the Whitbread elapsed time was the basis for
deciding winners and you had a race.
For the Volvo each leg is simply scored by points.
Time is now irrelevant. Win by a second or days, and you get
1 point for 1st. This is the modern method by which race
series or regattas are scored.
So, keep in mind what you are really seeing is the
Volvo Series of Ocean races in ports around the world.
******************
The Rowing Reporter Book Scout Lookout
Originally I spied Schooner Passages at the Michigan
Maritime Museum. Budget and reading desire did not match, so
purchase was delayed until a second chance.
Published by Wayne State University Press Schooner
Passage goes into details describing the importance of the
schooner to Lake Michigan. Whether a sharp looking clipper
schooner, or a flat bottom scow schooner a schooner barge
under tow or a made to fit canaller schooners were essential.
They carried grain, lumber and people.
At one point they carried 97% of the lumber that left
Muskegon. Mostly schooners voyaged to Chicago. You measured
schooners in Chicago in the thousands whether it was
departures, arrivals, cargos or ships that home ported there.
They were innovative and carried raffe sail a triangular sail
set at the top of the foremast on a long yard.
Schooners were eventually passed by steam. Ships such
as the Saginaw that now carry grain from Toledo to Sarnia and
other places are replicating the voyages carried out by hearty
schooners sailors with their raffee sails, sextants and
uncertain charts.
15 million tons of grain are now shipped yearly on the
Great Lakes. There were schooners capable of sailing from
Chicago to Buffalo in 3 days 8 hours at best and 5 to 7 days
on average.
Schooner Passage carries my highest recommendation who
wants to know what Lake Michigan was filled with working
rather than recreational sail.
http://wsupress.wayne.edu/titles/fw_00/karamanski_schooner.html