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Around the World of Sailing

10 April 2002

Finish Line

Leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race from Miami to Baltimore a
distance of 875 miles is the only leg that starts and
finishes in the same country.

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

Difference from Chart Datum -1
Difference from last month +1
Difference from last year +9
Difference from long term average for April -17
Difference from Record High -48
Difference from Record Low +15
Forecast for 5 May 2002 +3

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.
****************

Book Scout Lookout
	Recently I acquired a hardback copy of Voyage for
Madmen by Peter Nichols.  Originally published in May of
2001, I had long debated picking it up.  When a low price
copy came available I bought.  With the paper back due
in June of 2002, the hardback cycle is almost over.
	The subject of the book is the 1969 Golden Globe
solo around the world race, the first of it's kind.
Nichols is both an experienced sailor and author.  He
once abandoned a boat mid Atlantic during a solo voyage
which he wrote about in Sea Change.
	Typically a sailing book by a known author would
be one that I'd quickly purchase.  One thing held me back
in regards to 'Madmen'.  The Golden Globe race had
already been written about by another noted sailor/author
Hal Roth.  His book 'The Longest Race' was published in
1983.
	Although I was glad to see another sailing book,
I didn't really see a need for it.
	When I finally read the book, my suspicion proved
correct.  Although there is nothing wrong with Nichols
book, there is not much new in it.  As I thought a 2nd
book on the Golden Globe was not needed.
	For one several of the participants including
Robin Knox Johnston, and Bernard Motissier published
books about their experiences in this race. Roth's book
essentially completed telling all there is to tell.
	Not that there isn't' a lot to tell.  There's
winner Robin Know Johnston, described by a psychologist
as 'distressingly normal'.  He is still involved in solo
racing as his company runs Around Alone.
	There is the exotic Bernard Motissier performing
yoga on deck. Motissier didn't actually finish the race.
Rather he rounded Cape Horn and then continued sailing
not to the finish but to the South Pacific.
	When he did so he wrote one of the famous passages
in sailing literature: "I am continuing non stop because
I am happy at sea,and perhaps because I want to save my
soul."
	Chay Bltyh another UK resident who has impacted
sailing through race organization (the BT Challenge
around the world race) started not even knowing how to
sail in a bilge keel design better suited for coastal
cruising.  He did not finish.
	If you can't find the Hal Roth book, then
Nichols might be for you. In any event there is really
no need to read both books.
**********
Lighthouse OSINT
	Recent reading of news sources has shown
lighthouses as a subject several times.  In Michigan's
UP there is a lawsuit involving Whitefish Point Light.
	At issue is the future of the property around
the light and it's use.  The Great Lakes Shipwreck
Historical Society wants to enlarge it's facilities
which include a museum.  The Audubon society worries that
further development will degrade the environment and
affect migrating birds.
	Currently a settlement is being mediated and a
final decision is expected by 30 June. For more info see
the following web sites,
http://www.ipl.org/exhibit/light/GL/WhitefishPt.html and
http://www.wpbo.org/
	As the above story shows lighthouses are no longer
purely navigational in nature.  Amongst their many other
functions are serving as tourist attractions.
	Michigan AAA members recently named Grand Haven
light as Michigan's best light.  Also in the Top 5 were
Holland Harbor and Whitefish Point tied for 3rd, Big Sable
4th and South Haven South Pier 5th.
	No question these are all excellent choices.
However, they are all lights that are on land.  A more
watery perspective might vote for White Shoal light in
northern Lake Michigan
(http://www.ipl.org/exhibit/light/GL/WhiteShoal.html)
or Spectacle Reef in Lake Huron
(http://www.ipl.org/exhibit/light/GL/SpectacleReef.html).
	There are any number of lighthouses in Michigan
that can make great trips.  For a map see
http://www.sos.state.mi.us/history/preserve/pdf/lightmap.pdf.
Many of the ones along the west coast of Michigan are fine
venues for the spectacular sunsets.  Although AAA readers
voted Grand Haven the best place to see a sunset, hometown
pride makes me suggest Muskegon's Pere Marquette beach and
it's twin lights for the same sunset with less crowd!
	Finally a trip by my parents to California brought
back a publication called Mains'l Haul A Journal of Pacific
Maritime History.  The Spring 2001 issue featured a series
of photos of lights.  One was taken in 1950, the other in
2000.  In most cases the photos are from duplicate
perspectives so one can see the exact amount of change over
50 years.
	Another story connects Pt. Loma Light which sits
between San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean with Chicago
Light which sets between Chicago Harbor and Lake Michigan.
The lenses originally intended for Pt. Loma light made a
detour the Colombian Exposition in 1893.  Pt. Loma got
another light while the one on exhibit went to the Chicago
Harbor light and lasted until the 1960's.
	Interesting to see representations of how lights
have changed from working aids to navigation to attractions
that bring millions of people to them.  For more on this
publication see http://www.sdmaritime.com