my weblog - [editor@h2onotes.com]

Jan.20, 2005

Thursday's weather: Wind 14k, NE-NW, dropping to 2.

 Friday's forecast: Wind W-NW, 5-10k.  

  KEY WEST,  Fla.---Some of the smartest sailors in the world sailing some of the most high-tech machines found themselves at the mercy of fickle winds Thursday that bedeviled most of them on the next-to-last day of Key West 2005, presented by Nautica.

   The breeze, following blasts to 25 knots that overpowered some competitors early in the week, was a satisfying 14 knots for the 10 o'clock starts up and down the four courses along the south side of the island. But then it steadily dissolved into the day's second race until all the cool and calculating world-class minds were at their wits' ends.

 Chris Busch, a former  Key West winner sailing his 1D35, Wild Thing, from San Diego, said, "It was frustrating for everybody. It's tough mentally when you have to keep trying to figure it out all the time. We're not used to that stuff at  Key West."

   That said, Busch followed a fourth place in the first race with a win in the second to lead by two points with the ninth and final race scheduled Friday. His team's performance earned them Industry Partners Boat of the Day honors for the 295-boat fleet.   more...

B&Q skipper, Ellen MacArthur, has returned from her first climb to assess the damage to the mainsail track caused by the headboard car ripping off of the track at the second reef point: "It was really hard, all I could do was to hang on. The good news is, we shouldn't have to replace the track, thank god." The climb took around one hour with B&Q sailing in a 6m swell at around 12 knots of boat speed downwind ie depressingly sailing 180 degrees the wrong way, but providing more stable conditions than bouncing upwind.    more...

Vangs prevent the boom from rising, which tensions the leech of the sail, and in turn removes twist from the mainsail. By removing the twist and flattening the sail, stability improves in a seaway, reducing roll and rudder correction, speed increases and the boat is able to sail closer to the wind.

There are two types of boom vangs: block and tackle vangs, and solid vangs. The forces which operate on vangs are focused under the mainsail’s center of effort. That center of effort is the best location of attachment to the boom however, it changes on different points of sail. It moves forward running downwind, is centered when reaching and moves farther aft when close-hauled.   more...

Everyone who has ever owned one knows there is no such thing as a "maintenance free" boat. However, with its minimal use of wood and maximum use of aluminum moldings and liners, the Beneteau-First 38^s5 may require no more than a good scrubbing, hosing down and an occasional coat of wax to maintain her cosmetic appearance and keep you cruising in style.

The First 38^s5 was introduced in 1990 and continued in production until 1995. The design resulted from the collaboration of designers Jean Berret, who was responsible for the hull and rig, and Philippe Starck, who designed the interior. With the exception of a plethora of vertical, horizontal, square, rectangular and teardrop-shaped cabin windows, the appearance of the 38^s5 is quite typical of production boats of this vintage. Freeboard is moderate and the sheer is quite flat in order to maximize interior volume. The bow is rather plumb again, to maximize interior volume as well as waterline length.

The length overall of the design is 38’ 3", beam is 12’4" and displacement is 14,500 lbs. The 38^s5 was offered in a deep draft version which draws 6’ 6" and a shoal draft version drawing 5’ 2". The same rudder was used on both versions and, by my estimate, is at least two inches deeper than the keel on the shoal draft model. This leaves the unsupported spade rudder quite vulnerable to damage should it be grounded even in the soft bottom of the Chesapeake Bay.   more...

"Come and sail on a big boat where you don't get wet."

With those 12 words, Randy Blair had me convinced to crew with him during the San Juan 21 Fleet 2 Fall Regatta in Bayview, ID.  The race was held the weekend of September 30 through October 1 at Farragut State Park on the southern tip of Lake Pend Oreille in north Idaho.

Up until this time my experience with sailboats was limited to a Sunfish in Florida when I was six years old, a year sailing a vintage (read "old") AMF Snark Wildflower dinghy and a recently completed wooden "Wing Dinghy" built from the remains of the Wildflower. Randy's invitation came after seeing me spend the summer swimming along side this over-powered concoction of parts (my fault, not the designers).

As we sat in the Blair’s camper Friday night, munching on cheese, sausage, and crackers, I off-handedly commented about the sound of the wind. “Wow, the wind sounds really strong when it blows through the trees.”
more...

The border between Canada and the United States is one of the most fluid and easily crossed in the world. If you're planning to sail to Canada any time soon, you'll want to know about the CanPass—Private Boats program, which may be very useful to help you plan your passage.

Since the destruction of the Twin Towers in New York, many things have changed, the CanPass procedure among them; nevertheless it remains a program that makes clearing customs easier for owners of private pleasure boats and their passengers traveling on waterways between Canada and the US.

The program provides expedited customs and immigration clearances for low-risk, pre-screened boaters. It is a joint initiative of the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency and Citizenship and Immigration Canada.   more...

LANSING -- Inland lakes around the state have been forming ice, but the Department of Natural Resources urges anglers to continue using caution when traveling on ice. Many rivers are running high and fast with ice flows that are creating ice jams, and ice conditions on spring-fed lakes as well as areas with strong currents will not have safe ice.

Southeastern Lower Peninsula

Cold temperatures are producing ice on Lake Erie, but anglers need to use extreme caution as they start fishing near the marina and off the launch site at Metro Park. Perch fishing has been slow, but anglers did report taking some large fish in the evenings. Around Brest Bay, ice has started to form, but most anglers are only fishing close to shore because even the canals are not frozen.

High water has slowed fishing along the Huron River, as the levels and fast-moving water will cause the steelhead to retreat to the deeper holes. Once the water levels start to recede, anglers should find fair to good steelhead fishing, the DNR advised. Most of the Detroit River is open, but most anglers are avoiding it due to the strong surge of ice flows.

The water in Lake St. Clair is cloudy with unsafe ice conditions around much of the lake. The best ice is in the extreme north end of the lake, just out from the Fair Haven DNR launch site. Anglers are using jigs with minnows in 4 to 5 feet of water for perch. A few anglers were fishing off M-29 out from the Raft Restaurant for perch, but the fish were small.   more...

Water levels on the Grand River stabilized Wednesday although officials are predicting that flood waters will slowly spread out over larger low-lying areas as ice continues to block the river channel.

As of this morning, water levels on the Grand River in Robinson township remained at 17.8 feet, or about 4.5 feet above flood levels, after rising more than 5 inches since Sunday. Officials had been predicting that rising waters would slow Wednesday after a crest caused by rains last week passed through Ottawa County Wednesday. Flooding along the Grand River forced residents of 50 homes in the low-lying Van Lopik and Limberlost subdivisions to evacuate Tuesday.   more...

(Allegan, January 20, 2005, 5:44 p.m.) Flooding remains a big concern in Allegan County where the water levels have stabilized, but city officials don't want the ice jam causing all these problems to grow.

For now, the water in the Kalamazoo River has stopped rising. The Allegan City Dam has much to do with that, not because of the way that is blocks the water, but rather the way quick-thinking city officials have redirected the flow of the river.

Six homes and four businesses in the city of Allegan have been flooded. The culprit is an ice jam blocking the flow of the Kalamazoo River. At risk is the city's drinking water supply.   more...

The snow is piling up at Michigan International Speedway in preparation for the Arctic Cat Snocross at the Speedway this weekend.

The World Snowmobile Association turned on three machines Friday and started pushing snow around to build the course Wednesday.

The snowmaking process is a complicated one. Still winds and low temperatures work best, but no matter what the conditions, the WSA makes a lot of the white stuff.   more...

It looks like the snow is good for something. The Sarnia Snow Fest needs plenty of it for the event, which is Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Sarnia's Centennial Park.

The event features an international snow-sculpting competition and ice carving. Children's activities also are planned.

"The best thing about the snow is it's massive and impressive to see sculptures that size," Snow Fest organizer Jim Vergunst said of the 8-foot-tall structures. "It's not often you can see that."

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Cost is $2 for adults and free for children 10 and younger. Call (519) 336-5230 or go to www.snow-sculpting. com/SarniaEvent.html.

more events....

The next membership meeting of the Detroit Area Steelheaders is 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the hall at 6177 Chicago Road in Warren. Click on here. ...

The 54th annual Macomb Conservation District Dinner Meeting is 6 p.m. Wednesday at Maniaci's Banquet Center in Richmond. Call (586) 727-2666. ...

A Stonefly Search through the Clinton River Watershed Council will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 29. Call (248) 601-0606. ...

The 13th annual Shanty Days Festival in Caseville is Feb. 11-13. Call (989) 856-2650. ... The 39th annual Detroit Camper and RV Show is Feb. 16-20 at the Novi Expo Center. Click on marvac.org. ...

The St. Clair Shores Sail and Power Squadron will host a Boat Smart Course from Feb. 23 to March 16. Classes will be held 7-9 p.m. on Wednesdays. Call (313) 343-2470. ...

The Ford Field Camper, Travel & RV Show is March 3-6 at Ford Field in Detroit. Call (248) 540-3197.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District Office announced this week the completion of a sediment study that is hoped to improve water quality, fish habitat and reduce the amount of material dredged from the Clinton River.

Computer models were developed that simulate land-use changes in the watershed and how those changes affect the amount of sediment that get carried into the Clinton River, said Dr. Jim Selegean of the Corps' Great Lakes Hydraulics and Hydrology Office in Detroit.

The findings of the study will be presented at two public meetings Jan. 26. The Oakland County Public Meeting is 8:30-11 a.m. at the IT Auditorium, Building 49 West, 1200 North Telegraph Road, Pontiac. The Macomb County Public Meeting is 1-3 p.m. at the Macomb Intermediate School District Building, 44001 Garfield, Room 100-A, Clinton Township. For information, call (313) 226-6791.

Clinton Township world ice boating champion Ron Sherry hopes the weather takes a turn for the better on Lake Winnebago, Wis., as he and 120 other ice boaters prepare for the Gold Cup DN World Championships.

Championship racing was supposed to begin Monday, but 2-degree temperatures canceled the event because Gold Cup rules call for temperatures to be 10 degrees or above to race.

On Tuesday, a winter clipper from Canada socked Wisconsin and left 1-foot snow drifts on the lake, canceling the event for a second day.

"On Monday it was 2 degrees and too windy which presented the danger of frostbite," Sherry said via cell phone from Wisconsin. "It was really, really cold on the lake. On Tuesday, the winds were blowing 25-35 mph, so racing was canceled again. We woke up (Wednesday) to snow that formed 12-inch drifts on the lake. The boats would stop right in the drifts."

Gold Cup DN race organizers were looking for another possible site in Wisconsin to conduct the annual race.

"Mother Nature is being harsh right now," Sherry said. "Either too cold, too much wind or too much snow."

Sherry, a three-time world champion ice boater, is competing against the best in the world, including Tomas Carlson of Stockholm, Sweden, along with several entries from Macomb and Oakland counties.

Race organizers have until Saturday to find a suitable site to conduct the annual race, otherwise the world championships will be cancelled.

"We're hopeful it will go off Thursday or Friday," Sherry said. "We have 22 competitors in from across Europe, plus the Americans. We want to race."  more...

Yet, there exists a truly wonderful program that benefits terminally ill kids. It's called, Benefit4Kids Outdoor Wish. And now here's your chance to make a dream come true.

On Jan. 29, the Perch Point Conservation Club in Casco Township will hold a fund-raiser event to help a young adult fulfill a lifelong dream.

Bruce Sullins of Perch Point said people who want terminally ill kids to experience a "hunt of lifetime" can begin the process by attending a Pig Roast Fund-raiser at the club, located at 7930 Meisner (28 Mile Road) in Casco Township, from 5-11 p.m.  more...