Table of Contents

Main Stories

Short Tacks

Regular Features

Around the World of Sailing

15 May 2002

Finish Line

Team B, led by Skipper Lars Hansen, closed out the final day of racing with 7 wins and 2 losses to take first place in the UBS Challenge Regional Qualifier at the Chicago Yacht Club at Belmont Harbor. Team C skippered by Robert Hughes finished second with a 6 win 3 loss record.

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 +6
Difference from last month +6
Difference from last year +10
Difference from long term average for May -14
Difference from Record High -43
Difference from Record Low +17
Forecast for 10 June 2002 +4

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.
****************

Waterfront Landmarks
	From the water in the spring of '02 Muskegon has
some new land marks.  The lake which has seen boats from
fur traders in canoes to carbon fibre racing boats is
giving its users something new to view.
	On the South Shore there are the new Balcoms Cove
condominiums. This series of high rise style towers has a
trio of distinctive triangular peaked roofs.  As with other
areas in Michigan Muskegon Lake is sprouting condos in all
areas, with Harbour Towne condos to the west.  The good
news out of this is that both have marinas attached.
	Downtown the Mart Dock is perhaps showing something
of its look when Muskegon had more industry and it's port
facilities were more frequently used.
	On the front of the docks is the cement carrier
J.A.W. Iglehart is in temporary lay up.  Farther inland
is the ex car ferry Highway 16/LST 393. In the process of
being restored, this LST was present at the Normandy landing.
Hopefully soon visitors to Muskegon will be able to tour this
ship along with the World War II submarine Silversides.
	Speaking of the Silversides the movie that she will
appear in - Below - is scheduled for release this fall.  It
had been supposed to have been released in February but has
been pushed back.
	The third new landmark is at Heritage Landing also
in downtown on the south shore.  The spit of land where tall
ships docked in the summer of 2001 now has some futuristic
space ship picnic shelters arising.  These soon to be completed
shelters are reminiscent of the cartoon character Great Kazoo
and his helmet.
**********
Sailing in an Apparent Wind Gale
	The other day, while on the water, I was contemplating
apparent wind. That's the wind you feel when a boat moves
through the water.  Generally, 5 knots of speed in 10 knots
of wind will give you 15 knots of apparent wind.
	The day was a windy one with 20+ knots of wind.  My
speed was between 5&6 knots.  Combine the two and I may have
experienced a gale (minimum 29 knots) at least in apparent
wind terms.
	Of course it's not always that windy and so gales,
either in apparent or true wind are not that common.  Then
again....
	If you are sailing a 110 foot catamaran around the
world and you average 18 knots of boat speed over the course
and the average wind on the global course is 11 knots you
are almost constantly sailing in an apparent wind gale.
	From on board the 100-foot catamaran Orange crew
Nick Moloney wrote: ""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."  Let's put that down as the definition of how it
feels to sail in an apparent wind gale.
********
Sailing #'s Up
	In the last Rowing Reporter of 2001 I reported the
USA has 5,271,000 sailors as of 2000.  This was down 1.1%
from 1999.  This report generally indicated that regardless
of location sailing was on a bit of a declining trend.
	Well a new survey by the National Sporting Goods
Association shows a small reverse.  According to the survey
participation rose 10% to 2.5 million sailors.  A
participant is a person 7 years or older who plays a sport
more than once a year.
	While sailing was up, power boating was down 6.7%.
Fishing also declined 5.8%.  Canoeing went up 9%, and kayaking
grew 13%.
	In a related report sailboat production declined 9%
in 2001.  Hardest hit were boats from 0-19 feet. The
sailboat industry feels that efforts to increase
participation and new models will bring production back
up in 2003.
************
Desertion in the UP?
I was born and raised in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
A Yuper I am yah, hey!
	My relationship with this wooded homeland has always
been love hate. This didn't stop a Russian merchant seamen
from trying to make up for my moving away recently.
	The unidentified sailor an electrical engineer on
the M.V. Marinette, deserted after the ship arrived on the
Menominee River from Germany via Montreal.  It's thought
to be the first desertion in 25 years.
	He was arrested at a motel in Iron River MI.  The
U.S. Immigration  and Naturalization Service handled the
matter.
	This incident confirms a suspicion I developed
while living in the UP that it must have some real
similarities to Russia!
	Having said that I heartily recommend a visit to
Menonminee, and participation in its annual 100 miler race.
More info at
http://www.mmyc.org/100miler.html