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Around the World of Sailing

1 May  2002

Event News: Volvo Atlantic Leg
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/news/atwos/2002/my/0501/ms.htm

Skippers meet media
©Rick Tomlinson

The fleet is cracking along at high speeds just below the
40th parallel of longitude. illbruck once again leads.
Assa Abloy and Tyco form the first pack of chasers, 14 and 16
miles back. Then SEB and News Corp 20 and 25 back with Amer
One 34 back.

Old and new during Chesapeake parade of sail
© Guido Cantini/ SEA&SEE

illbruck has set a provisional record for 24-hour distance
for a monohull. illbruck covered 484 miles at an average of
20.16 knots. There was grousing that illbruck's record was
tainted by a favorable Gulf Stream current. Mark Rudiger of
Assa Abloy wrote, "and although I give them credit for
sailing the fastest of us out here, it would be a shallow
record given 25% of their speed has been from the Gulf
Stream."

Regardless illbruck's record will stand. The 24 hour record
measures distance sailed whether favorable current or not.
Bernard Stamm's record which had held the record at 467.7
miles also set the record in the Atlantic/Gulf Stream
scenario.

Top 2 in points pre start on Chesapeake Bay

Other boats are trying to maximize the conditions. Several
have blown out various spinnakers meaning they don't have a
full kit of attack tools.

Assa Abloy crew geared up right from the start
©Th.Martinez/ASSA ABLOY"


Over 2500 miles of racing remaining, so this record has not
determined the race. The outlook is for more fast sailing
cutting perhaps 2 days over the estimated 13-day passage.

Links:
24 hour record
http://www.torresen.com/sailingrecords/24his.htm
Rudiger's record thoughts
http://www.volvooceanrace.com/team/aart/email/leg_7/20020430_rudiger_2.html
Fastest on one hull
http://www.volvooceanrace.com/news/leg_7/n7_020501_records.html
Hauling Mail
http://www.illbruck-challenge.com/en/news/cgi-bin/showdetail.cgi?id=00644&b=board
2 days=700 miles
http://www.teamtyco.com/teamtyco/FullStory.jsp?story=1660

Theme Article: Inflatable PFD's
http://www.torresen.com/news/atwos/2002/my/0501/ms.htm

This month's series of theme articles focus on different
elements of on water safety. We begin with an article on
inflatable PFD's and their maintenance.

Let's begin with requirements. All recreational boats must
carry one wearable PFD (Type I, II, III or V PFD) for each
person aboard.

What are some incentives to wear a PFD besides they help you
float when in the water? Let's take a look at survival.
For the year 2000, 519 people drowned in boating accidents.
445 could have been saved by wearing a PFD. This means 8 of
10 victims didn't wear a PFD. Focusing on sailboats 12
people drowned none wore PFD's. There were no sailors who
were drowning victims and wore PFD's. Full stop, on your
incentive.

This article will focus on inflatable PFD's which are
typically more comfortable and more likely to be worn.
However, Inflatable PFD's require the user to pay careful
attention to the condition of the device.

Note: Inflatable PFD's are available in adult sizes only, are
are good for adult swimmers involved in general boating
activities, but are not for use by children younger than 16
years of age or by persons weighing less than 80 pounds.
There are two types of inflatable PFD's. One is called a
manual inflation and requires the user to jerk on a pull-tab
(lanyard) to inflate the PFD. The second is called manual-auto
inflation and this type includes a back-up system designed to
automatically inflate when the PFD is submerged.

The automatic inflatable has some cons against it. Sailors
who get immersed occasionally but don't necessarily need a
PFD may not want an automatic. Under prolonged wet
conditions auto-inflaters will go off below decks or on deck
when you are immersed, but still on deck and not in the
water.

The manual inflatable's problem can come with the ripcord.
For instance, a fanny pack PFD's ripcord can catch on a
winch or boat fitting and inflate.

In either case inflatable PFD's need maintenance to function
properly.

First look at the outer jacket which covers the actual
flotation device. Look for tears and abrasions. Check the
adjustment straps and their buckles for wear and corrosion.

An important piece of information is to know whether the
vest has any leaks when inflated. If you're a northern
sailor, manually inflate the PFD in the fall, and leave it
inflated until spring. This is a good leak test, and also
helps to prevent cracking that can occur if the unit is left
folded for extended periods.

Another way to leak test is as follows. Inflate the jacket.
Stop when you get to a point where you can squeeze the
jacket and have your fingers just touch. Leave the jacket
for 24 hours and squeeze it again. In either case if you
find a leak, contact the manufacturer for advice and
service.

Other items to check on the inner jacket include reflective
tape, whistle and light. Tape can come unstuck. Either
re-adhere it with contact cement or replace it. Test the
whistle. Check the light for operation and expiration date.

Check the vest for abrasions. These may occur when the
jacket is folded for long periods of time.

Next on your checklist is the inflation cylinder. These
can corrode and rust allowing gas to leak out. Remove the
bottle and weigh using an accurate scale. Make sure the
reading matches the amount on the bottle. Coat the cylinder
with Vaseline to prevent corrosion. Cover the cylinder with
a rubber glove finger to stop chafing.

Another item that needs checking is the inflator. These may
vary by manufacturer so check the information that comes
with your PFD. Generally you are looking for a green,
rather than red, pin or tab indicating the unit is ready.
You also are looking for an exposed red stripe, which could
indicate an empty gas cylinder. As always, green means go.
If you see red either your inflator needs repair, or you gas
cylinder needs to be renewed.

In the last safety themed article of the month 'Personal
Safety Kit' we will take a 2nd look at PFD's as they relate
to personal safety gear.

Event News: Jules Verne Trophy
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/news/atwos/2002/my/0501/ms.htm

The latest email from the Orange team read Orange expected
between Saturday and Monday. This would give Orange an
around the world time of 64 to 66 days and a new Jules Verne
Trophy record.

The homeward leg up the North Atlantic has not been without
problems or fast sailing. Orange has had 3 typical maxi cat
days 519 on Monday and 458 Tuesday along with 515 late last
week.

After crossing the equator last Wednesday at 0800 eastern a
potentially disastrous problem became known. The titanium
ball on which the mast rests has cracked. According to
Bruno Peyron, "Yves Le Blévec, the craftsman's craftsman,
made an absolute jewel of a piece in the form of an all
carbon shell to fit tightly over the base of the ball."

The problem may have occurred when the pump that provides
lubrication for the titanium ball failed. The lack of
lubrication promoted occurrence of the crack.

The crews only non Frenchmen, Nick Moloney, sums up the
experience of sailing the globe this fast: "I woke up this
morning and was quite concerned that our boatspeed average
has dropped below 20kts over the past 4 hours. We were
gliding along a flat sea at about 18. After splashing cold
water on my face and wiping the sleep from my eyes, it
suddenly occurred to me that most sailors will never sail
18+kts in their lives...I felt guilty for loosing my
appreciation of simply how fast we are."

Bruno Peyron's latest ETA comment: "Still difficult to
commit to an ETA. At 18 knots average, we'll cross the line
at midday on Sunday. At 17 knots, it'll be Sunday evening...
but of course, Orange can also go faster..."

Next week's ATWOS will carry information on Orange's exact
time and an analysis that puts this in the perspective of
the sailing history of racers and explorers.

Links:
Orange
http://www.maxicatamaran-orange.com/site/en/index2.cfm
Mast Problem
http://www.rowingreporter.com/linky/ap02/index.htm#24
Jules Verne Record
http://www.torresen.com/sailingrecords/jverne.htm
Nick Moloney
http://www.nickmoloney.com

News: MCSA Sailing
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/news/atwos/2002/my/0501/ms.htm

This past weekend the University of Minnesota hosted the
Midwest Collegiate Sailing Association Team Race
Championships. 3 boat teams from each school sailed head to
head races. A total of 6 teams sailed.

The University of Minnesota was 1st, with Wisconsin 2nd. By
gaining the top spots these Big 10 schools quality for the
Nationals sailed this year in Hawaii.

Minnesota's winning team consisted of:
Paul Kobs '02/C. Anne Scheuerman '03,
Tim Krech '03/Molly Rosenblatt '04,
Alexander 'Alex' Symes and
Hans Zinn '02/Naomi Hertel '04.

The prior weekend saw the MCSA Women's Dinghy Championship
for the Doyle Trophy sailed. 9 teams sailed each having a 2
person crew in A&B division. Winning team was Michigan with
Wisconsin 2nd.

Links:
Results
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~sailing/results.html
MCSA
http://mcsasail.org/