Around the World of Sailing

2 January 2002

This weeks features:

Finish Line

ESPN is producing and airing coverage of the Volvo Ocean Race. Program 4 will air Sunday 27 January @ 1530 and will cover Leg 3 which is currently underway.

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:
Difference from Chart Datum 0
Difference from last month -1
Difference from last year +9
Difference from long term average for January -14
Difference from Record High -48
Difference from Record Low +16
Forecast for 28 January 2002 -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.
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December Weather
Although the final data is not in as of this writing December
was warmer than normal and received less snow than is typical along
Lake Michigan's downwind shore. Here's some weather notes and vignettes
from what seemed an atypical Michigan December.
December 18th: Guess it was specially interesting today. Record
high of 45°. In perspective, kind of a wimpy high though. The record
high is 58° for the 15th and 16th, 52° on the 18th and 60° on the 21st.
December 27th: 'Twas the time of the 3 month winter. For it
didn't come until December and was gone by April for baseball season.
Even preceded by spring training.
December 28th: Reading Alone by explorer Richard Byrd. He
measures temperature by the minimum reading.
During his solo sojourn on the Antarctic barrier he had some typical
Antarctic weather. In May it reached -40° 20 of 31 days, -50° 12 times
and -60° 3 times with 2 lows of -70°.
In June it reached -40° 13 times and -50° 5 times. It didn't
warm up in July with 20 readings of -60° and 6 of -70°. These
temperatures were recorded in 1934.
In 2002 the most recent observation from Williams Field, Antarctica
shows 8° temperature with 4 knots of NW wind and barometric pressure of
998 millibars. In the opposite hemisphere in Muskegon we have 19° temperatures, with 4 knots of SE winds and pressure of 1029 MB. So if December was warm we have already reverted to what in some way is Arctic conditions.
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Leave no Trace on the Watery World
Campers and hikers maybe familiar with the Leave No Trace Principles
of outdoor ethics. There are 7 principles, which I thought I would go over and try to adapt to on water activity. It's the time of year to make resolutions and perhaps one of these can serve those sailors still without a resolution.
One, plan ahead and prepare. A sub point is prepare for extreme
weather, hazards and emergencies. With access to real time weather data, electronic charts and good medical training sailors have no excuse to violate this one.
One of the points under # 2 is avoid places where impacts are
just beginning. So, stick to the main anchorage and leave that unspoiled place as is.
Three involves waste disposal as in pack it in, pack it out. Check
up on your sanitation system and resist the temptation to use the lake as your sewage disposal. Remember Y valves are illegal.
Four reads leave what you find and further avoid transporting non
native species. If you have a trailerable boat thoroughly clean the bottom of zebra mussels. Don't carry them onto the next lake.
Point five deals with camp fires. If you have a BBQ that you use
make sure you use this point of ethics: use established fire rings and areas.
Six involves wildlife. For instance don't feed the animals. Often
times for sailors this involves ducks or gulls. Don't feed them as this can
damage their health, alter behavior and mess up your docking area.
Seven is to be considerate of other visitors. It finishes by saying
let nature's sound prevail. For instance if you've fitted a stereo system try to keep the sound onboard when at the dock and let others enjoy a quiet time on the water.
For the full principles of Leave Not a trace see
http://www.lnt.org/TeachingLNT/LNTEnglish.html
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How about a real pit stop?
When the Volvo Ocean Race fleet stopped in Hobart they called it
a pit stop. Really though, it was more so the crews could conduct media
interviews. As several sailors commented they couldn't even lay hands on a celebratory beer!
Perhaps it would have been more interesting if there would have
been an actual pit stop with shore crews also involved in the competition.
During an auto race a routine pit stop includes, gas, tire changing and
making adjustments to the car.
So give the Volvo Pit crews a job list. Include an oil, oil
filter and fuel filter change. Have them top off fuel tanks. Allow
teams to take the upwind sails they used during the race off and replace them with other sails. Have riggers compete by splicing up new running rigging. Let the sailors and shore crew combine to replenish food and water any way they want. Allow other repairs.
As in automobile racing if you need to make extensive repairs like
Amer Sports II you lose, but if your pit crew does the routine stuff faster you gain 'track position'.