Around the World of Sailing

22 May 2002

Event News: Muskegon J24's
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/news/atwos/2002/my/0522/ms.htm

In addition to the competition, first time of the season
camaraderie, and white fish dinner, the Muskegon J24 regatta
had to deal with the temperature. Especially on Saturday,
temperatures were more conducive to either ice fishing or
ice boating than sailing. The ongoing cold weather caused a
Melges 24 regatta to be sailed off Holland to be cancelled.

Regardless, 15 of the venerable J24's raced. Twelve of the
entries traveled to Muskegon to participate.

On the water, Ron Bjurstrom's J Rabbitte won both Saturday
races and 1 of 3 on Sunday. He took first with an 8 point
edge over Big Show which won race 5. The Gray/Van Zee entry
Stirred Not Shaken was top local boat in 3rd only 2 points
out of 1st. Another local boat Fetzer Valve, with Scott
Miller at the helm, was 4th. Addicted, also of Muskegon,
finished 6th posting a win in race 3.

Over the Memorial Day weekend the first two races of the
Torresen Spring Series will be sailed on Saturday and
Sunday. Racing will be scored via the PHRF system.

Links:
Results
http://www.torresen.com/races/j24/gl/2002/index.html
Muskegon Yacht Club
http://www.muskegonyachtclub.org/

Theme Article: Electronics
http://www.torresen.com/news/atwos/2002/my/0522/ms.htm

This week's article looks at some electronics that can aid in
various safety situations. They are all small enough to be
portable and unique enough to perhaps defy being put in a
category. However, they will all fit either on your wrist
or in a pocket.

From safety equipment manufacturer Pains Wessex comes the
Guardian Man Overboard Watch system. This is a digital
wristwatch that has a built in rescue beacon the 121.5 MHz
frequency. The miniaturized transmitter is powerful enough
to send a signal to a vessel up to 1.0nm and up to 15nm to a
helicopter. Signal can be received by a dedicated receiver
or a direction finder. A crew or boat equipped with this
would have an advantage in one of the worst case on the
water scenarios- man overboard!

Watch maker Casio has out the Pathfinder a watch with a GPS
module. The Pathfinder looks like a normal watch with an
added module on the left-hand side. In the same package
you'd normally check time you can now find your location,
distance and course to your destination and speed.
Certainly handy for night watches when you don't have a
deck mounted GPS and can't get down several layers to get
your hand held out.

Scharde Knives of New York will soon offer a unique piece of
gear. The i-quip is along the lines of a multi tool.
Rather than just metal tools it has digital electronics with
it. The units computer module has an altimeter, barometer,
digital compass and clock. The barometer and compass could
be especially handy on the water. The more traditional
tools include: screw drivers, cutting blade, scissors and
saw. Sailors have always carried knives this is just the
newest version!

Links:
Guardian
http://www.pwss.com/products/electronics/epirbs/mob_wristwatch.html#
Pathfinder
http://www.casio.com/gps/gps.html
Pathfinder Review
http://www.gearreview.com/casiogps.asp
I-quip
http://www.schradeknives.com/iquip.cfm

Event News: Volvo Ocean Race France Report
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/news/atwos/2002/my/0522/ms.htm

The yacht crews participating in the "Combat des Chefs" cooking contest during the La Rochelle stopover.

Most of the Volvo Ocean Race spent the week ashore in La
Rochelle France. In a typically French event, teams took
place in a cooking contest.

The Volvo Ocean Race. Amer Sports TOO at the Camper & Nicholsons' Yard in Gosport fitting their new mast.

One boat, Amer Sports Too, was on the water in several
places via several methods. During leg 7 they dismasted.
They then sailed part of the way and finally were towed to
Nova Scotia. Here the boat went on board a freighter and
made it to Liverpool. There it was transferred to another
ship and moved to Southampton.

At Camport and Nicholson's shipyard it took just 18 hours to
prepare, measure and step a new mast. After stepping the
mast came a delivery sail from England to La Rochelle. They
arrived in time to have their shore crew fix other damage
incurred in the dismasting and cross ocean transfer.

The fleet will restart this Saturday headed for Goeteborg
Sweden home to race sponsor Volvo. This is mostly a coastal
leg in crowded and navigationally challenging waters. The
fleet will cross the crowded English Channel and sail in
the North Sea before finishing approximately a week later in
Sweden.

The Volvo Ocean Race. Amer Sports Too at the Camper & Nicholsons' Yard in Gosport fitting their new mast for leg 8. Skipper Lisa Mc Donald (centre

Realistically at stake in the final 2 legs is who will join
illbruck and Assa Abloy on the overall podium. 3 boats
within 3 points are battling for this. Tyco has an
experienced new navigator, Djuice a new decision making
team, Amer Too a new rig showing that no team has given up
for the final two legs.

Links:
Amer Sports Too's voyage(s)
http://www.volvooceanrace.com/news/leg_7/n7_020521_chicksarrival.html
Tick Tock Jacques
http://www.volvooceanrace.com/news/leg_7/n7_020520_jacquesv.html
Leg 8
http://www.assaabloyracingteam.com/omforetaget/harbour_gothenburg.asp?id=8
Help for Amer Too
http://www.nautorchallenge.com/html/articles_show.asp?articleId=580

News: Boat Smart
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/news/atwos/2002/my/0522/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.

The old saying goes "Figures don't lie but liars figure."

Oh, how I wish this was so regarding Coast Guard statistics
for fatalities on Lake Michigan. Coast Guard figures sadly
reveal that from 1995 to 2001 in those cases in which the
Coast Guard responded, 231 people died; most died before the
Coast Guard could reach them, or before the Coast Guard was
notified.

Now, the good news is that the Coast Guard saved 854 lives
on Lake Michigan and connecting waters during that same time
period. In addition, the marine sheriffs and DNR also
performed a number of life-saving rescues.

But are these rescues really "good news"? Not hardly. Had
not a timely rescue occurred, the people saved may easily
have perished. That doesn't bode well for Lake Michigan
when you view the total picture: 1084 people died or almost
died on Lake Michigan and adjoining lakes between 1995 and
2001. Then consider this: Lake Michigan's boating season,
at best, runs four months, that equates to about 28 boating
months between 1995 and 2001, which equates to 39 souls
died or nearly died per month. Remember those are Coast
Guard figures and do not include marine sheriffs and DNR
lives saved nor unknown lives saved by individuals .

The State of Michigan leads the nation with just over a
million registered watercraft, which increases the odds for
misfortune. So how does a boater defend against
misfortune? One sure way is to follow advice offered by
Coast Guard boat crews, rescue coordinators, and sheriff
marine deputies.

Boat Checks: Coast Guard boat crews will not launch a boat
unless they have performed boat checks of required safety
gear, tested electronics, and conducted basic engine tests
including testing steering and throttles. Boaters should
especially check ventilation systems: just because you hear
the blower doesn't mean it's discharging gas vapors. Hoses
can work loose due to vibrations and boat movement.

Sea Trails: Before venturing out into Lake Michigan when
first launching the boat for the season, boaters should run
their boats in safe harbors, bays or inland lakes. Should a
malfunction occur, assistance will be nearby. Coast Guard
crews annually experience rescue cases where bad fuel, lack
of fuel, or low batteries led to breakdowns on the 'Big
Lake'. Some of these case have turned fatal.

Crew Familiarization: Besides the boat operator, do others
aboard know how to operate the boat and its equipment? Do
they know where safety equipment is located and how to use
it? Do crew persons know how to use the radio, read the
GPS, and energize the navigation lights? It doesn't take
much time to familiarize crewmembers and it can be fun.

Radio: Some marine radios can switch from 1 watt to 25 watts.
When requesting assistance use 25 watts. If you are
experiencing engine problems, don't wait to call the Coast
Guard. Attempting to restart you engine may drain the
battery and kill the radio. Advise the Coast Guard before
your radio grows too weak. We welcome your call.

Rules of the Road: Coast Guard boat crews and sheriff marine
deputies frequently observe boaters transiting harbor
channels on the wrong side. Boaters must keep to the right
side of a channel. When entering a channel approach far
enough from seaward; do not cut around pier heads and
breakwaters. Remember the Red Right Returning rule: when
inbound from the Lake keep red can buoys and red day markers
to your right and green ones to your left. Knowing this
basic rule will save you a lot of grief especially with
current low water levels.

Cell Phones: When requesting Coast Guard assistance if
possible call the Coast Guard, not 911. Coast Guard people
are familiar with the marine environment and are more suited
to handle your call. After you call for assistance, do not
turn off the phone because the CG will call back.

Ground Tackle: An anchor may be your only defense against a
hostile Lake Michigan., especially in high winds. Is your
anchor system in good order and does your crew know how to
use it? Anchor knowledge is especially important for sail
boat crews. Don't wait until the last moment to deploy an
anchor. As soon as you suspect problems make ready the
anchor.

Visual Distress Signals: Are your distress signals current
and accessible. Don't hesitate to use a distress signal,
but if you no longer need assistance, call the Coast
Guard. Or if you don't have a radio, either hail over
another boat that does, or immediately inform the Coast
Guard when moored that you fired off a distress signal.
This will prevent CG crews from a needless search.

Location, Location, Location: Knowing your location can lead
to a timely and perhaps lifesaving rescue. A GPS can be a
big aid especially if you learn to identify landmarks on
shore and their distance from a common reference point (WP)
like a harbor mouth. Should your GPS fail you can determine
your location by the ashore landmark .

Life Jackets: All of the advice in the world can be for not
if you don't wear a life jacket, especially when trouble is
brewing. Over 5,000 recreational boaters died over the past
ten years simply because they failed to wear a life jacket.
The new type III, upper body mesh life jacket is great for
those concerned about comfort and affordability. Coast
Guard crews rave about them. Also inflatable PFDs offer
comfort and ease of use. Boat Smart from the start- wear a
life jacket.

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