Around the World of Sailing

26 June 2002

Event News: Queens Cup Preview
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/news/atwos/2002/ju/0626/ms.htm

This Friday it will once again be time for Lake Michigan sailors to make an west to east dash across Lake Michigan. This year South Shore Yacht Club's Queens Cup starts in Milwaukee and finishes in Grand Haven.

Typically the race is noted as an easy one. Almost invariably the wind is at the beam or aft of it making for a fast crossing. Rarely does Lake Michigan provide upwind conditions. Last year the crossing took between 5 and 13 hours, depending on boat size and crew skill.

Recently the Queens Cup has also been a favorable race for older boats when the handicap results are figured. Last year a Hinckley yawl of a type not produced since 1975 was the overall winner.

Preliminary weather forecasts call for N/NE winds of 10-15 knots. This may make for a tighter wind angle than normal. Also a high pressure system is slated to be influencing weather on Friday. It's presence should dampen wind speeds.

Sailors who will participate in the race can use the new Torresen Weather Information Page at: http://www.torresen.com/weather/weather/index.php to access both near shore and open water forecasts covering the Queens Cup racing area.

Links:
2001 Results
http://www.ssyc.org/_site02/Queens_Cup_2001.asp
2001 Report
http://www.torresen.com/news/atwos/2001/jl/0704/ms.htm

Theme Article: Anchoring- Techniques
http://www.torresen.com/news/atwos/2002/ju/0626/ms.htm

The month's final theme article looks at actually putting the anchor over the side and getting it set in whatever holding ground you face.

For the purposes of this article assume a single anchor is being set off the bow. Before dropping anchor, check the area and make sure there is room for you to anchor and swing without hitting other boats.

With the anchor on deck check that the rode is securely fastened to the anchor. If you are securing the rode to a cleat you may want to secure the bitter end to prevent the rode running overboard.

Then put the anchor overside, either by tossing it or releasing from its roller or other type of storage. If possible check the depth sounder so you know how much rode to let out A. so the anchor reaches the bottom and B. to serve as guide to rode scope.

Once the anchor is on the bottom you'll want to use the engine to properly set it. Make the rode fast and put the engine in reverse. If the boat surges forward when you come out of reverse it is properly set. Once you have reached this point you can fine tune scope for water depth and location relative to other boats.

To get the anchor up, you'll need to shorten up the rode until it is approximately vertical. You can do this by simply pulling in rode or by a combination of pulling in and powering the boat forward. Once the rode is vertical you are to the point of un setting the anchor. Sometimes this can be done by hand, sometimes you must power past the anchor using a little force to break the anchor out. Once it is out of the ground wind or pull in rode, stow it properly and sail on!

Good luck setting your best bower!

Event News: A Sailing Raid
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/news/atwos/2002/ju/0626/ms.htm

The Raid Gauloises bills itself as the original adventure race. There is now an event that can bill itself as the original sailing raid. Held in Sweden this event is the Archipelago Raid. A Raid is an extreme event in which, "Sport, Nature and Adventure are closely associated."

For the Archipelago Raid the sport is sailing 18 foot beach cats with 2 person teams. Nature is provided an area of islands and rocks between Nynäshamn (Sweden) in the south to Helsinki (Finland) in the East. Adventure is provided by a 300 to 500 mile course dotted with numerous checkpoints that sailors must find.

Currently competitors are up to their 17th checkpoint. Several teams are composed of recent Volvo Ocean race sailors, including Lisa and Neal Mcdonald. The overall leaders are a pair of Swedes who crewed on Assa Abloy Magnus Woxen and Klabbe Nylöf. 2nd are a pair of Swedish small boat sailors, Fredrik Adilstamm (S) and Tomas Marimon (S) with the Mcdonald's 3rd.

Links:
Sailing Raid
http://www.archipelagoraid.com
Competitors
http://www.archipelagoraid.com/teams.html
Results
http://www.archipelagoraid.com/resultat/
Original Raid
http://www.raid-gauloises.com/

News: Boat Smart
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/news/atwos/2002/ju/0626/ms.htm

Boat Smart is a weekly column written by Chief Tom Rau,
Group Grand Haven, U.S. Coast Guard and appears in a number
of newspapers. Chief Rau has been writing and promoting safe
boating since 1986. Many of his columns are taken from real
life experiences from Station St. Joseph/South Haven, where
Chief Rau is currently serving.

Keeping people safe at marine events offers an enormous challenge to authorities

By Senior Chief Tom Rau, Coast Guard Group Grand Haven, Mi

Five years ago an aerial canister exploded on a barge during a fireworks display in Charleviox, Michigan. A chunk of scrap metal struck a forty-one year-old male in the head, instantly killing him.

Keeping people safe during firework events or other water front events offers an enormous challenge to maritime authorities. What may appear to some as too much regulation may not be enough even when all the king’s men are present.

Let me share with you such a moment. Several years ago on Muskegon Lake during a major high-speed power boat race, a boater penetrated the safety spectator line and headed towards the race course. I was patrolling the western end of the safety zone aboard a Coast Guard 25-foot high-speed inflatable when my crewman drew my attention to blue lights flashing and sirens whaling on several law enforcement boats. I jammed down the throttle and joined the chase. We cut off the stray boater within yards of the race course. A hail of water rained down on us as the race boats roared by at 90 mph.

Amid the race boat’s giant roaster tails, I doubt the drivers could have spotted the family of five on the small boat. Why the boat operator slid past a spectator line of boats might baffle some; however, it would not surprise those who regularly police these events. It is for this reason, the Coast Guard along with fellow marine law enforcement agencies; create security zones and why sometimes we aggressively enforce them.

Coast Guard Group Grand Haven oversees nearly 60 marine events each boating season, from firework extravaganzas to Blue Angels aerial spectaculars to river-channel rubber duck races. These events take place along the entire 250 mile span of Lake Michigan’s eastern shore from Leland Harbor to Michigan City. And whether large or small, each event requires a great deal of planning.

First, the sponsor must submit a permit request to the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard then will contact local fire department and marine sheriff agencies for their input regarding possible hazards, restrictions and emergency procedures. If the event is large enough, like an off-shore power boat race, authorities hold meetings (of course) with the sponsor to iron out details such as emergency procedures, communications and the number of patrol assets that will be required. Then the Coast Guard Marine Safety folks determine how a particular event will affect vessel traffic and whether there’s a need to establish a safety zone. If one is required, they will then post a notice to mariners.

That’s the easy part. The real work begins on the day of the event as local commands issue written orders to stations outlining the number of personnel and type resources needed to enforce the event; this often includes local emergency agencies and the Coast Guard Auxiliary. By the way, these same Coast Guard resources deployed to police the event might be the primary search and rescue boat for that area. The last thing a rescue boat crew needs is to become involved with an unruly spectator or liquored-up cowboy type boater. Fortunately most boaters comply with directions and understand that without a law enforcement presence the event could not take place. Boaters must realize that they share the marine environment with others and it’s not an exclusive playground for just a few. The following guidelines will assure a safe and enjoyable event for all.

-Boaters should keep within safety buoys and avoid transiting across buffer zones.

-Fire work zones require up to a 1000-foot distance between spectator boats and the firework’s platform. Authorities will delay the fireworks, until all boaters are in compliance. In those cases, where a river channel is temporarily shut down due to fireworks such as when the firework’s platform is located near a harbor mouth, boaters will be notified in advance on marine radio (VHF-FM Channel 22) and Local Notice to Mariners of the channel closure and times. For those occasional late comers, be advised channel-closing times will be strictly enforced so the show may begin on time.

-Boaters attending events after dusk are required to display proper lights, and if anchored, the proper anchor light. Boaters, should remember to fully charge batteries; a low battery may prevent engine start, which could find the boater stranded or waiting awhile to be assisted.

-Over the years, I often seen boaters transiting a congested channel at night with their stern light covered with gear. This is good way to get run down from behind. Keep that stern light clear and keep extra bulbs aboard.

-Near channel mouths and in dark river channels post a forward lookout. You just might come upon a boater with a dead battery. Keep a flash light nearby, which can also be real handy for disabled and adrift boaters to flash their presence.

-Always, operate at a safe speed. After larger events, Lake Michigan harbor mouths, river channels, and back lakes swarm with boaters. I’ve patrolled many of these waters and know that dark waters can make navigation treacherous. Please, operate at a safe speed, and to repeat- post a forward lookout.

-Of utmost importance- enjoy the event and be assured the safest way home is the Boat Smart way.

Links:
Boat Smart
http://www.boatsmart.net/