Around the World of Sailing
12 June 2002
Finish Line
Skipper Oliver de Kersauson after the maxi trimaran Geronimo
was rammed by a 30 foot sailboat while in harbor: "The
damage is what you might see if some moron in a 4X4 drove
into the Formula 1 pit lane during a Grand Prix and straight
into the race car and its pit crew."
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 +9
Difference from last month +4
Difference from last year +8
Difference from long term average for June -13
Difference from Record High -43
Difference from Record Low +19
Forecast for 7 July 2002 +2
Complete Great Lakes Water Level info at:
http://www.torresen.com/weather/weather/water_level/
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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Sad Events
In the past week there have been two deaths on
the water near Muskegon. Last Thursday a 31-year-old man
drowned after the boat took on water and sank. The boat
was only 15 yards from shallow water and a jetty near
downtown Muskegon on Muskegon Lake.
Friday night an 18 year old women was knocked
overboard during a 2 boat collision and drowned.
This occurred on Mona Lake.
In the 1st incident the craft began taking on
water soon after launching. The two people aboard
ignored this and kept going. Neither of the duo was
wearing life jackets, nor were there any onboard.
The second incident occurred at night. Time of
day was approximately 2230. One boat was idling awaiting
arrival of the 2nd. Neither boats was showing running
lights, although the stationary boat did briefly flash
its' lights.
Once again I find myself writing about fatal
situations that had possible solutions. In the first case
the boat could have returned to the dock and investigated
the leak. Second, they could have had the required PFD's
onboard. Even if they weren't wearing them, they may have
floated from the boat and been of use. In a safety
equipment article on May 8th
(see http://www.torresen.com/news/atwos/2002/my/0508/ms.htm)
I covered the requirements for PFD's- one per person + a
throwable device for boats 16 feet and up. It must be
considered that a pretty simple precaution might have
helped this case be less of an incident.
The second case also involves violation of basic
safety requirements. In the same article it was stated,
"Navigational Lights are Required to be displayed from
sunset to sunrise." They were not and once again a
simple item looms as a possible lifesaver.
Not long ago in the 29 May ATWOS Senior Chief
Rau's Boatsmart column touched on recreational boaters
having tools (PFD's, running lights), but not skills
(basic seamanship) to deploy them. In the commercial
sailing ship era it was the opposite, skills but not
tools. Unfortunately the recent incidents are proof of
this thesis.
Additionally I recently read an article in
Outside magazine. It covered how liability and risk have
changed in the outdoor industry- climbing, hiking etc.
The industry has literally gone from stressing how safe
a given activity might be to stressing "all the ways you
could die." This in reference to how brochures and
waivers are handled.
Horribly these incidents are literally highlights
of ways to die on the water. The simple seamanlike
precautions show that there is not much distance to having
a better chance of enjoying the water in more safe fashion.
***********
Local Notice to Mariners light house
issues: Sherwood
Point Light in Door County will
lose it's Frensel
Lenes which will go to the Door
County Maritime Museum. Range will decrease from 16 to 15 miles.
Also in Wisconsin the Manitowoc
Light's lenses is damaged and it will go to the Wisconsin
Maritime museum. Marquette's
Outer Light will have it's intensity increased from 9 to 12 miles.
The original Frensel Lenes along with several others are on display at the
Marquette Maritime Musuem.
Secratary
of Interior Gale Norton made a lighthouse
related visit to Michigan. She visited Point
Betsie light. Her visit was the beginning of the National
Historic Lighthouse Preservation Program. A good
overall lighthouse
information resource is provided by the National
Park Service.
*************
American Boating Tour
Steve Tadd of the National Marine Manufacturers
association is currently on the Great Lakes portion of a
unique voyage to promote boating. One week ago Tadd was
in New York City with an Albemarle 247 Cuddy Express power
boat.
Since then he has transited the Welland Canal and
Lake Erie. Today his schedule has him heading north on
Lake Huron beginning in Alpena and ending at Mackinac
Island. Tomorrow Tadd will motor down the east shore of
Lake Michigan with a stop scheduled for Muskegon.
His last Great Lakes stop will be the next day in
Chicago. The voyage will end June 28th in Edenton, NC.
No word on where Tadd and the Albermale will be in
Muskegon, but keep an eye out for him.
************
Readers Write
Jim Hutchinson of Maryland wrote, "I am interested
in a pair of auto inflating PFD's for my wife and myself.
I have a pair of harness-ed SOSPENDERS that are good for
heavy weather, but heavy for all-round use. Your recommendation?"
Rowing Reporter's Answer " Due to the inflation
mechanism auto inflaters are always going to be slightly
heavier than non auto inflaters. If you want something
light weight you might consider a fanny pack model.
My preference over SOS Penders would be Mustang.
Their MD 3031 is an auto inflater sans harness. The
MD 3032 is an automatic with harness. I'd have a good
look at these.
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