Around the World of Sailing

25 September 2002

Event News: Solo Sailor Perishes
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/news/atwos/2002/se/0925/ms.htm

Michael Silverthorne, 50, of Michigan City Indiana perished
while sailing the Great Lakes Single Handed Society's 2002
Lower Lake Scramble.  He was to sail his Catalina 38 "Chute
the Breeze" from Holland to the mid lake weather buoy and
then Michigan City.

His boat was found grounded, stern to, south of Holland.  He
was wearing both a safety harness and PFD.  When the boat
was found Silverthorne was entangled in the jib sheets.

According to an autopsy by the Allegan County Medical
Examiner Silverthorne died of a "combination of
hypothermia and drowning."  He left Holland at
approximately 7 PM, the boat was spotted on the beach at 7
AM Saturday morning. Silverthorne had bumps and bruises but
none that would have knocked him out.

It is theorized that Silverthorne went overboard while
working on the foredeck.  Although still attached to the
boat, he could not pull himself back aboard.  He was
probably dragged in the water for several hours, lost
consciousness due to a low body temperature and drowned.

Ironically Silverthorne had been part of a group of Great
Lakes solo sailors who had help Tim Ken ready Everest
Horizontal for Around Alone.  Kent was notified in the Mid
Atlantic and stated, "I will sail every mile of this race
in his honor."

Mike leaves behind his wife, Cheryl, two grown sons and
their wives, Kevin and Sarah and Wilson and Cheryl.

The viewing is Thursday 4-8 p.m. and memorial service Friday
at 11:00am.
Both are at
Ott Haverstock Funeral Chapel
418 Washington Street
Michigan City, IN  46360
phone 219-872-7291

Due to Mike's close association with Tim Kent and Everest
Horizontal the family is requesting that donations be made
to Everest Horizontal Education in lieu of flowers .  There
will be a drop box at the club for donations or donations
can be mailed to
EVEREST HORIZONTAL,
14175 Wisconsin Ave.,
Elm Grove, WI 53122.

Links:
Story
http://www.michigancityin.com/insidenews.asp?ID=17489
Obituary
http://www.michigancityin.com/Records.asp?ID=15521

Theme Article: Varnishing Part 3
http://www.torresen.com/news/atwos/2002/se/0925/ms.htm

Preparation is a crucial part of varnishing. Sanding is an
exacting part of preparation. If you are undertaking a
woodworking or varnishing project, a new sander might be in
order.

Our Torresen Marine Ships Store features Fein sanders which
are also used frequently by our Service Department.

Fein makes dust free sanders which have several benefits.
One is that less dust = less bad stuff to breath. Another is
that having a clean area is a prerequisite for good varnish
work. If your sander doesn't produce dust, your area is that
much cleaner. Our Ships Store also stocks sandpaper for
Fein Sanders. Additionally, as a Fein dealer, we sell
grinders, polishers, cutters and saws.

Links:
Fein Sanders
http://www.feinus.com/dustfree/dustfreeimages/newdustfree.htm

Event News: Around Alone Leg 1 Continues
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/news/atwos/2002/se/0925/ms.htm

For the lead boats, the first ever Trans Atlantic leg of
Around Alone is nearing completion. Class I leader Bobst
Group is expected in Torbay England Thursday morning. Bobst
leads by 72 miles over 2nd place Soldieries which recently
broke the record for distance sailed in 24 hours.

The three American entries have sailed to mixed fortunes.
Brad Van Liew has Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America firmly in
the Class 2 lead, 475 miles ahead. He came within .6 miles
of breaking the 24 hour record for Class II boats.

For the other Americans worse news. Bruce Schwab broke the
boom on his Open 60 Ocean Planet, severely hampering his
sail carrying ability. He has fallen to last in Class I.
Tim Kent blew out Everest Horizontal's sole spinnaker. He
is 4th in Class II.

The fleet is spread out over a distance of over 2000 miles.
However, Around Alone is being scored on points not time, so
how far behind won't matter except in loss of recovery time.

Links:
Positions Chart
http://www.aroundalone.com/raceviewer/position_chart/
Van Liews Near Miss
http://www.aroundalone.com/raceviewer/archive/20020922/2526.html
New Class I record
http://www.aroundalone.com/raceviewer/archive/20020924/2541.html
Schwab's broken boom
http://www.aroundalone.com/raceviewer/skippers/bruce/20020922/2511.html
Kent's blown kite
http://www.aroundalone.com/raceviewer/archive/20020922/2507.html

News: Boat Smart
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/news/atwos/2002/se/0925/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.

Nav tricks that can lead to a timely rescue?

All the king's men, all the emergency responders, all the
911 folks can't help you if they can't find you. And they
may never find you if time takes its toll as only it can on
open water.

It never ceases to amaze me, even after two decades of
conducting search and rescue, how quickly boats can sink.
My experiences have had such a profound effect on me that I
expect some day I will go down in a boat, and when I do I
want help made available as soon as possible, especially if
I'm suffering in cold water.

Let's go for a boat ride aboard a Coast Guard rescue boat
and practice some small-boat navigation tricks that will
help lead to a quick rescue. Immediately after firing off
the boat, I first check my electronics- radar, GPS, depth
finder and radio. Of those four, GPS and the radio provide
the strongest links to a successful rescue. So, first I
make a radio check with my parent command to assure the
radio is online. Recreational boaters can make radio
checks with a fellow boater or marina on Channel 09. Beware
though that many marine radios transmit on both low power (1
watt) and high power (25 watts). When making a radio check
call on 1 watt, when calling for help make sure your radio
is set at 25 watts.

Next, I check the GPS latitude and longitude to ensure it
agrees with my geographical position (GP)- that's my current
location. I then enter a nearby waypoint, like the local
lighthouse. From memory, I know the distance and bearing to
that waypoint; if the GPS distance and bearing match, it
assures me the GPS is properly tracking.

When all systems check out including my engine water cooling
discharge, throttles and steering, I give the order to cast
off lines. While passing alongside the pier head at the
harbor mouth, I notice the GPS coordinates match the known
pier head latitude and longitude. This check provides an
opportunity to share a nifty trick with the crew. If the
pier head latitude reads 44 degrees 15 minutes north, a mile
north the GPS will read 44 degrees 16 minutes north. Each
minute of latitude represents one nautical mile. The
entrance then to a harbor entrance located seven miles north
will read 44 degrees 22 minutes north. If we steam south
seven miles, the GPS would read 44 degrees 08 minutes. I'll
get back to this concept in a moment.

As we pound out into Lake Michigan, I note the direction the
seas are running and the wind direction by looking at the
compass. If both are coming from the west, I know that if I
put the seas or wind off our stern, I will be heading east
and back to shore. This is a good trick to use in fog
should your compass or GPS fail or if your boat lacks
either.

As we head north, soon, we will be abeam of a well known
creek. I note the latitude on the GPS and it reads 44
degrees, 19 minutes north, which places the boat four miles
north of the harbor we departed (44 degrees, 15 minutes
north). I pass this information to the crew and advise them
to assign it to memory. As we steam further north I direct
them to pick out other familiar land marks on shore and note
their distance from our home port using the GPS minute of
latitude method. In the event we loose our electronics, we
will know how far we are from port by referencing one of
these landmarks.

You can also apply the same method when you're driving along
the shore line. When you're abeam of a known landmark that
can be seen from seaward, note its distance from your
location to the harbor mouth. I've been doing this for
years especially when assigned to a new search and rescue
station. If a boater calls for assistance and provides a
reference point on shore, I instantly know how far I must
travel to reach them.

I also commit compass bearings to harbor entrances to
memory. For instance, if I depart one harbor and steam
south to another harbor along the coast, I note my compass
heading to that harbor and assign it to memory. In fog that
bearing will serve me well in leading me back to that
harbor.

I understand fisherman often provide depth of water to mark
their position when requesting assistance. The challenge
for rescuers is that a depth reading could be part of a
curve that runs for miles at the same depth. However, it
they combine the depth with a compass bearing to a known
object on land it will expedite a rescue response. The
compass is such a simple yet effective tool yet it is often
overlooked or ignored by boaters requesting assistance.

The GPS minute of latitude method of determining your
distance from a known landmark such as a lighthouse,
marking compass headings to known objects, and using the
wind and seas as a reference point to steer by, will not
only lead to safe navigation but to a timely rescue

So, I ask what methods do you use to mark your location?
But an even more important question is how do you expect
rescuers to find you, if you don't know where you are?
Sure, rescue responders will conduct a search, but you may
not be afforded the time in an emergency.

Boat Smart, take search out of search and rescue-
know your location.

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