Around the World of Sailing

24 July 2002

Short Tack: Featured Brokerage
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/news/atwos/2002/jl/0724/st.htm

This week's featured boat is a 1985 Nonsuch 30 Ultra.
Equipment includes Westerbeke diesel, cockpit bimini and a
propane water heater. This boat can be inspected in
Muskegon.

You can sign up to receive brokerage updates by email at
http://www.torresen.com/newsletters/sub_maint.php

Specifications:
http://www.yachtworld.com/broker/br_listing_full_detail.jsp?company=torresen&url=&boat_id=971806&align=left&units=Feet&page=broker&currency=USD&access=Public&listing_id=33264&mls_true=

Short Tack: Chicago Mackinac The Rescue
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/news/atwos/2002/jl/0724/st.htm

The storm that hit Sunday night capsized Caliente, a 44 foot
catamaran.

Here is the official US Coast Guard Operations Summary of
Kokomo's rescue of Caliente's crew:

SEARCH AND RESCUE: CAPSIZED SAILBOAT WITH SIX PEOPLE IN THE
WATER - GREYS REEF PASSAGE, NORTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN

UNITS: Station St. Ignace, Motor Vessel Algomarine, Yacht
Kokamo

Six people were safely recovered after their 44-foot sailing
vessel capsized near White Shoal Light north of Greys Reef
Passage. The vessel was participating in the Chicago to
Mackinac Race when strong winds caused the vessel to capsize
throwing all six people into the water. The vessel was able
to launch a flare which was seen by the motor vessel
Algomarine. The Algomarine contacted Group Sault Ste Marie
and located the capsized vessel. Station St Ignace launched.
The Algomarine provided illumination as the nearby yacht
KokamoO recovered all the people from the water. The sailing
vessel will be removed by commercial salvage. An unknown
amount of gasoline remains on board, but no pollution was
observed. CASE CLOSED

Kokomo was granted 64 minutes of redress for the time they
spent on this rescue. They ended up 1st in class on
corrected time!

Short Tack: Chicago Mackinac The Squall
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/news/atwos/2002/jl/0724/st.htm

Wind speed as measured at the South Lake Michigan Weather buoy. The Mac race took place from 7/20 to 7.22.

A severe storm hit the fleet Sunday night. 15 boats withdrew
as a result of this storm and the venerable maxi Sassy was
dismasted. Often times the race slows as the boats pass
under the Mackinac Bridge and sail to the finish. Many a
race has been won or lost as boats either sit becalmed or
storm in with a following breeze. This year the sail in
from the bridge had both calm and then an almost
instantaneous squall.

North Buoy Plot during squall. Note the vertical rise in wind as measured at this buoy near the Manitou Islands.

This storm hit some boats as the GL 70 class neared the
finish. As the storm hit many boats gybed. Windancer VI
decided during the squall to not risk a gybe. Rather they
'wore ship', choosing to tack around. Despite this they were
nearly dismasted, their mast nearly broke off near deck
level. According to race officials some even finished under
bare poles. During this time Sassy was dismasted.

The online version of this article has 3 graphs. 2 are from
the Lake Michigan weather buoys and another from Mackinac
Island airport.

Meteorological data from Mackinac Island. Note the almost vertical increase in wind speed between 8 & 9, this shows how fast the squall hit.

They illustrate the wind speed during the race, the
suddenness of the squall at Mackinac Island and the impact of
the storm near the Manitou Islands.

Links:
Mackinac Island WX
http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=mackinac+island
South Lake Michigan Buoy
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.phtml?$station=45007
North Lake Michigan Weather Buoy
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.phtml?$station=45002