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Around the World of Sailing

11 September  2002

Finish Line

Link Sailing News

With a 3rd place USA Men's 470 team of Foerester/Burnham
move up to 6th
http://www.yachtclub-cagliari.com/eng/11sep.htm

45 entries for the upcoming J 105 North Americans
http://www.chicagoyachtclub.org/j105na/Entries.htm

Swan 45 match race with big names @ wheel
http://www.swancup.com/newsdett.asp?id=44

Water Level Update

Reference Point
Difference from Chart Datum +10
Difference from last month -2
Difference from last year +11
Difference from long term average for September -11
Difference from Record High -44
Difference from Record Low +20
Forecast for 6 October 2002 -2

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

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.
****************
Why do we Need Lighthouses?

In my two weeks as a volunteer keeper at Big Sable
Lighthouse one of the most common questions was 'why do we
still need lighthouses'? People may not know the specifics
of navigation but they are aware that a lighthouse built
just after the civil war probably has been surpassed by
technology.

While I was away, there occurred another situation in
Muskegon that illustrates why lighthouses are still useful.
For the third time this summer a boat hit the Muskegon
breakwater. The skipper said he was navigating via GPS. By
using only one navigation source he violated the warning
printed on every chart which reads, "the prudent mariner
will not rely solely on any single aid to navigation." Also
check a GPS manual, most of which will have a disclaimer
"Never rely solely on one device for navigational
information."

The boat operator should have been looking for the pierhead
and breakwater lights of Muskegon. They are aligned as is
typical in red right returning fashion. He should have been
looking to pass between a red and a green. He hit the south
breakwater which means that the lights would have been
showing to his east and west. If he was properly aligned he
would have seen two sets of lights north/south in
orientation. However, the operator violated basic
navigational principles and the result was not pretty, but
fortunately not fatal.

After the incident an officer of the Muskegon County
Sheriff's Department stated that GPS' "fail to measure the
coordinates of the breakwater." Unfortunately this is not
true. Muskegon's break water is approximately 500 feet
wide. GPS units have accuracy of 10 to 50 feet, plenty
accurate for showing the channel opening.

What the whole episode shows is that lighthouses, buoys, day
markers and other lights are needed for navigation. Most
are maintained by the US Coast Guard. These tools are there
for the mariner to use. What must happen is that in
addition to relying on the highly accurate yet not
infallible GPS is that the mariner needs to utilize other
aids, and have an awareness of where he is.

Calls for additional lights in the Muskegon
pierhead/breakwater area are the epitome of unnecessary.
What is necessary for people who venture on the lake to
have the skills and respect to properly handle operating
boats!

***********

Coastal Cleanup

Saturday 21 September from 9AM to Noon is Coastal Clean Up
day around Lake Michigan and throughout the nation.
Thousands of volunteers will pick up thousands of pounds of
trash to make beaches cleaner. For instance, last year
Michigan volunteers covered 250 miles of shoreline and
removed 8,000 pounds of trash. This included 60,173
cigarette butts and 5,571 balloons.

For information on the Coastal Clean up In Muskegon County
call Kathy Evans at the Muskegon Conservation Distirct @
773-0008.

If you want information about volunteering at Old
Bronson/Kruse Park in Muskegon (aka the Dog Beach) email
Beach Captain Ike Stephenson, ike@torresen.com.

If you are in Michigan call Jamie Morton 1 866 850 0745 for
information on sites in your county. Once you know where
you'll be helping just arrive at 900 AM. A beach captain
will have supplies such as garbage bags and data cards to
tally up exactly what is collected.

Outside of Michigan visit the International Coastal Clean Up
website at http://coastalcleanup.org/index.cfm.

*******

Lighthouse Reflections

Having spent two weeks living in lighthouse keepers quarters
and daily climbing the 100+ foot tower I offer some brief
reflections (and a photo online) on the experience.

Photo from the top of Big Sable Light

The best: Having the privilege of spending hours on the 100
foot tower. A 360° view, always an upwind and down wind
side for desired comfort. Unbelievable views of Lake
Michigan, it's beaches and sand dunes.

The worst: Lighthouses and keepers quarters are insect
magnets. Olden time keepers would not have lasted long if
they were arachnaphobic.

************

J. Arthur Hunter's Journal

While light keeping I bought a pair of books which contain
the journals of J. Arthur Hunter who served at Lake
Michigan's Little Sable light early in the 20th century.
From time to time I will share some of Hunter's experience.

September 10th/11th 1900- "The 8th Inst, the great storm and
tidal wave devastated Galveston Texas and the same storm has
arrived here." 11th- The hardest storm from the West I
believe I have ever experiences while in the tower. Vessels
were warned and so little damage to shipping happened."

Comments: For information on Galveston seek out the book
'Isaac's Storm' The storm killed over 10,000 people-
America's worst natural disaster.

For another books that deals with storm warnings as they
were in Hunter's era I recommend the recently published
White Hurricane.