Beau Geste 'claimed the prize it came for' in 2010 Mac Race- Editor H2ONotes [ 7/30/2010 - 08:39 ] # 
'Beau Geste pre-start 2010 Chicago Mackinac by Lu O’Neil'
The 102nd Chicago to Mackinac Race concluded
Tuesday, July 27, 2010, as tradition dictates, with the party and awards
ceremony in the Tea Garden of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Line
honours went to the 80-foot Beau Geste for being the first of the
300-plus racing boats to cross the finish line. Karl Kwok, owner of the
big sloop from Hong Kong, had made clear his intent to secure the
first-to-finish honours before the race began. But after corrected
times, it was the Flying Jenny VI, from Anapolis, MD, that won the
coveted Mackinac Cup this year. more
Sailing
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Re-created 19th-century schooner teaches science- Editor H2ONotes [ 7/29/2010 - 06:47 ] # Students from Michigan, Connecticut and Illinois did cutting edge
science aboard a re-creation of a 19th-century three-masted Great Lakes
schooner. The students spent a week earlier this month aboard the Sailing Vessel Denis Sullivan for an adventure.The
excursion is one of 70 "hands-on career and adventure explorations" for
students in grades six through 11 offered through Michigan
Technological University's Summer Youth Programs. Other
offerings include a backpacking trip to Isle Royale to study moose and
wolf populations, a blacksmithing course and a course on
three-dimensional computer modeling, university spokeswoman Jennifer
Donovan said in a statement. more...
Other
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Oil spill near Kalamazoo River causes stench, mess- Editor H2ONotes [ 7/29/2010 - 06:45 ] # BATTLE CREEK -- A phalanx of government officials and private
clean-up experts raced Tuesday to protect water supplies in western
Michigan after nearly 20,000 barrels of crude oil from a failed underground pipeline escaped into the Kalamazoo River.
By
late Monday, the downstream edge of the spill had reached Ft. Custer
State Recreation Area, between Battle Creek and Kalamazoo. Crews were
using booms, skimmers and other devices to keep the oil from reaching
Morrow Lake. more...
Environment
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My purpose on Earth- Editor H2ONotes [ 7/29/2010 - 06:44 ] # BEING OF A HUMBLE NATURE I don’t mention this often, but some people think I’m perfect.
Yes, they do. Perfect. Some. I didn’t say all. Ivor Tungin-Cheaque is
one for a start. He’s chairman of Vigor’s Silent Fan Club and he’s my
biggest fan.
But sad to say, I’m not perfect. Sorry Ivor. There is one minor flaw in
my character that I recognize as an imperfection. I confess that I like
to sail rings around other yachts. And “like” might be a small
understatement. Take a great delight in, actually.
I did it again yesterday. Took the little Mirror for a singlehanded
spin, the first time in years. Beautiful warm 10-knot breeze, cloudless
sky, snow-capped Mt. Baker hovering in the background. more...
Sailing
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2010 Lake Ontario 300 will be remembered for years to come- Editor H2ONotes [ 7/28/2010 - 09:15 ] #  Living up to its billing, sailors met with
high winds, extra high winds, no winds, and light winds. The leg
heading south to Ford Shoal was a tight reach in high winds and the long
leg westward to Niagara was at least 80 miles tacking into the wind
with a variety of conditions from light to variable mixed with a few
more line squalls coming across the lake. The final leg heading North
across the lake to the finish varied depending what time the boats
rounded Niagara, some leading boats had an easy ride across, while some
boats sat in a frying pan for over four hours. It doesn't get anymore
challenging than this for both the Scotch Bonnet Island and the Main
Duck Island Courses. more
Sailing
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102nd Chicago Mac – A race that gave you everything- Editor H2ONotes [ 7/28/2010 - 09:13 ] #
102nd Race to Mackinac, presented by
Veuve Clicquot. Any sailor you ask about the conditions of the race will
tell you they got a bit of everything. The fleet started on a reach in
the Chicago Mac, which began Saturday, July 24th in nice winds following
the storm system that passed through the city. The game changed to
sailing upwind, in heavy air into early Sunday. Then winds clocked to
east south east, and boats were downwind reaching and running in both
heavy and light air. more
Sailing
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One Man's Views on Better Sailing- Editor H2ONotes [ 7/28/2010 - 09:03 ] # Although it has been many years, there
still is a strong
current that flows within me about sailboat racing.
So, if
you’ll excuse my long absence, in this series of
articles, I
will attempt to convey some thoughts about sailing –
hopefully help readers improve through diligent
efforts. The
focus in this series is on Sunfish sailing although
often
the information is general. more...
Sailing
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Grand River's latest threat: Asian carp- Editor H2ONotes [ 7/28/2010 - 08:59 ] # A t least once every summer, when balmy weather creates ideal
conditions for being on the water, Bobbi Sabine likes to hop in her
kayak and visit friends who live along the Grand River -- without
setting foot on pavement.
Sabine said there is something special about paddling to see friends
who live along a historically significant waterway that has been
transformed from industrial cesspool to recreational gem over the past
four decades. more...
Environment
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Holland boat Sufficient Reason just misses victory in Chicago to Mackinac yacht race- Editor H2ONotes [ 7/27/2010 - 06:44 ] # Holland yacht Sufficient Reason was the first in its section to reach
the finish line in the 102nd running of the Chicago to Mackinac race,
yet she finished second to Flying Jenny VI.
Sufficient Reason, a
40-foot J124 owned by Mitchell Padnos and Tracy Brand of Holland and
sailed out of the Macatawa Bay Yacht Club, completed the 333-mile course
(289.4 nautical miles) from Chicago's Navy Pier to Mackinac Island in
46 hours, 40 minutes. more...
Sailing
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Rising level of Lake Ontario good news for docks, marinas- Editor H2ONotes [ 7/27/2010 - 06:34 ] # Six weeks ago, experts said the heavens would have to open in order to overcome extreme low water levels in Lake Ontario.Thus
it has come to pass: Double the normal rainfall fell in the lake basin
in June and early July, causing water levels to shoot up again. more...
Environment
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Dredging funds would be welcomed by local boaters, marinas- Editor H2ONotes [ 7/27/2010 - 06:32 ] # Last week, U.S. Reps. Louise Slaughter, D-Fairport, and Bill Owens,
D-Plattsburgh, announced that their plan to create a $5 million Niagara
River Navigation Fund intended to dredge 13 harbors on Lake Ontario won
approval from a key subcommittee. more...
Environment
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New Jersey company eyes West Michigan's wind farm possibilities- Editor H2ONotes [ 7/27/2010 - 06:31 ] # There's more than one offshore wind developer interested in West
Michigan. NRG Bluewater Wind is developing wind farms on the East Coast
but has been actively involved in Michigan's exploration of Great Lakes
wind farms since early 2009. more...
Other
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Michigan county to battle invasive phragmites- Editor H2ONotes [ 7/27/2010 - 06:30 ] # Emmet County and Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council are turning to
landowners to help in the battle of an invasive weed that could
potentially destroy parts of the Lake Michigan shoreline. more...
Environment
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Keep an Eye on Your Boat Trailer and It Will Treat You Well- Editor H2ONotes [ 7/26/2010 - 18:59 ] #  ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 22, 2010 – With the boating season now in full
swing, the miles are starting to add up for the thousands of boaters
and anglers trailering their boats and fishing rigs to their favorite
waterway.
The BoatUS Trailering Club
, which offers “Trailer Assist” roadside assistance for both disabled
boat trailers and their tow vehicles, says if you want your trailer
travels to remain trouble-free, now is the time to keep a close eye on
your trailer for wear and damage.
So
far this summer, the BoatUS 24-hour dispatch centers (800-391-4869)
report the following top three reasons why boaters are requesting help,
as well as some tips to ensure a smooth tow to the lake all summer long: more...
Other Watersports
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DogDayz first to finish the 102nd Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac- Editor H2ONotes [ 7/26/2010 - 06:37 ] # MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich.-- DogDayz skippered by Dan VandenBossche was
first to cross the line in the Chicago Yacht Club’s 102nd running on the
Race to Mackinac, presented by Veuve Clicquot. DogDayz, a Tartan 4100
TM CB, was part of the cruising division and finished a little after 7pm
eastern time. more
Sailing
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