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Around the World of Sailing

17 April 2002

Finish Line

Another record for Steve Fossett and his Playstation team.
This one Plymouth England to La Rochelle France in 16 hours
41 minutes and 40 seconds an average of 21.26 knots.

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 +2
Difference from last year +9
Difference from long term average for April -15
Difference from Record High -46
Difference from Record Low +17
Forecast for 12 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.
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Rules of the Road: Fishing in the Channel
	This piece serves as a general spring reminder to
all boaters as we head back onto the watery world.
	This situation is common to vessels transiting the
Muskegon Channel from Muskegon Lake to Lake Michigan. For
such narrow channels there is rule 9 of the Navigation rules.
	Often times boats will troll for  fish in the
channel. Sometimes these boats impede the traffic flow
and seem to operate outside the rules.
	First let's look at Rule 3 which covers General
Definitions.  It states, that a vessel engaged in fishing
does not include: "a vessel fishing with trolling lines
or other fishing apparatus which do not restrict
maneuverability."  Even if a trolling boat qualified as
'engaged in fishin' they are not to impede a narrow channel.
	Realize that in your next encounter with a boat
that is trolling in a crowded area such as Muskegon Channel
they have no right to simply sit in the middle of the channel
causing you to evade them.  Of course, it's not a crowded
situation recreational boats have plenty of depth in the
channel and can maneuver to one side or the other.

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Around Antarctica
	A sailing voyage around the world can be thought of
as circumnavigating Antarctica as the organizers of the
Antarctica Cup have realized.
	Flip the globe so Antarctica is facing up. From
Trinidad via the great Capes is a voyage around Antarctica.
	On 29 March the maxi cat Orange had reached 91° E
longitude.  Orange can be tracked around Antarctica as a
learning exercise in geography and toponyms.
	You can use the Gazetter of Antarctica at
http://www.pnra.it/SCAR_GAZE to learn about Antarctic place
names as the various Around the World races proceed.
	For instance Orange was passing the Amundsen-Scott
station at the South Pole and coming up on the Shackleton
Ice shelf.  Look up current South Pole weather at
http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/89009.html.
Today South Pole= -30°, Muskegon +64°! The 240 mile ice shelf
had it's name chosen by Sir Douglas Mawson who named it for
Ernest Shackleton now a hero to many sailors.
	Orange is within 5° of longitude of completing a
circling of Antarctica.  Two of her final southern landmarks
will be Coats Land discovered by William S. Bruce, leader of
the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition, 1902-04 and the
Weddell Sea.  The sea was discovered in 1823 by James Weddell,
Master, RN and named after him in 1900.
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2 years to Athens Olympics
	Olympic class sailing will be all over North America
this summer with 5 classes holding championship regattas.
	The Laser class will hold it's worlds @ Hyannis YC.
Laser sailor will be sailing with new, more powerful, control
systems. Also sailing off Massachusetts in September will be
the Tornado's. The Olympics lone multi hull class now
features asymmetrical spinnakers.
	Out west the 49er's will sail at Kaneohe YC.  There
has been a switch in sailmakers in this skiff class, so new
tunings will have to be explored. The California YC will
host the Star Worlds. California based skippers such as Gold
Medallist Mark Reynolds, and Paul Cayard will certainly sail.
	Finally Royal Hamilton YC will host the Europe
Worlds beginning in late August.
	This set of events plus other 2002 Olympic class
World Championship regattas will see nations beginning to
qualify for spots in the 2004 Athens games.  The top 14
nations in the laser, top 9 in Europe, Top 6 in 49er and
Top 5 in Tornado and Star will have Olympic berths by years
end.
*********
Shorts Season
	From Afghanistan....The International Security Force
or ISAF is helping to train Afghanistan's new police force.
Sailing's governing body is the International Sailing
Federation or ISAF.  Conspiracy theorists, start your theories.
	In communications with customers I sign my emails
Ike Stephenson, Ike Stephenson Marine Informationist. In short
I describe myself as one who obtains, produces and
communications marine information.  Thanks to the customer who
complimented me by writing, "P.S. I love your title - a perfect
fit."
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Rowing Reporter Interactive- Bringing people together, passing
messages and answering questions.  The Rowing reporter seeks
comments, questions and suggestions. Send email to
ike@torresen.com.