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Did you know that HIYC is home to one of the largest fleets of these beautiful boats in the world? According to the Swiftsure web site there are only thirty-one Classic Swiftsure 33’s known to still exist. Four are at our club and the fifth, RS 64 Ilira, is being overhauled to begin a new life in Kimball, TN.

In the late 1950’s a new building material was being used in yacht construction. It was fiberglass, and period boats constructed of this-then experimental material were known as “classic plastics”. Between 1959 and 1965 around 150 Classic Swiftsures and Swiftsure Commodores were constructed.

RS 37 Chloe and RS 81 Iros have been around the club for over thirty years and have been fierce competitors in Old Hickory and Kentucky Lake races. Chloe was first owned by former commodore and charter member Jack DeWitt and is currently owned by Cully and Cathy Cobb. Iros was owned by former commodore and charter member Ross Bryan, was restored by John Finch, and is currently owned by new club member Barbara Anderson.

Iros has sailed from HIYC down the Mississippi to Mobile Bay were she rode out a hurricane at anchor.

RS 74 Rozinante is owned by Randall Butler who is the third owner. She was previously named Tinkerbell because she was owned by one of the Disneys.

RS 60 spent many of her early years on the Great Lakes. Her second owner then cruised on her from North Carolina to the Bahamas, Mexico, and finally Key West, Florida. Matt and Jennifer Behnke acquired her in Key West in 2004, just before Hurricane season. She is in excellent condition having been refitted with a Yanmar diesel engine and new wiring and plumbing.

Take a moment to enjoy our own piece of Mystic Seaport right here on Old Hickory Lake!  

Wolf Creek Dam
Subject: What if this dam were to fail?
This following site contains information on the Wolf Creek Dam and dam failure preparedness for Wilson County, Tennessee. Information and plans for Center Hill Dam are in progress. Estimates by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has WCD flood waters reaching Wilson County in approximately 18 hours. The USACOEs has estimated flood waters from CHD to reach Wilson County in 2 to 4 hours. Due to the  short time estimates between dam failure and the arrival of flood waters we ask that all citizens have a dam failure plan and an emergency supply of food and water. This site contains information regarding the dam failure, Wilson County Emergency Plans, suggested supplies to have on hand, and any information gathered that relates to the Wolf Creek Dam.

Center Hill Dam
Subject: Center Hill Dam Failure
Date:2/5/2008

SEEPAGE PROBLEMS

The Center Hill Dam was built in the 1940’s on a limestone foundation with cracks and fractures, Small amounts of water move under and through the dam, seeking a path of least resistance. This movement is called seepage;   however, seepage must be controlled to keep the dam safe.

The Corps has closely monitored and maintained Center Hill Dam over the years and has pumped grout into the foundation to slow and control the seepage. Grout is generally a mixture of cement and water that can be pumped under pressure into the foundation to fill up the cracks in the rocks and close any openings. The Corps believe there is no imminent danger to the structure; the repairs need to be complete now to ensure the long-term safety of the dam.

FIXING THE DAM

The Nashville District Corps of Engineers obtained Washington approval in late 2006 to begin a major rehabilitation project at Center Hill. The plan includes more grouting, as well as modern cut-offs walls to stop the seepage. The total estimated cost of the rehabilitation plan is $240 million. The entire rehabilitation project will take six years to complete. Work at Center Hill Dam has already begun and the cut-off wall construction will follow the grouting and is expected to begin in 2010.

LOWERING THE RISK

Since March 2005, the Corps has changed Center Hill Lake operation, trying to keep lake levels lower than normal to reduce the risk of failure.

DAM SAFETY PROGRAM

The Corps has identified trigger events that, if observed at the dam, would initiate emergency procedures. These procedures include emergency draw-down of the lake, distribution of emergency warnings and possible evacuation.

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN AT HIYC

If there were a failure at Center Hill Dam water would begin to rise at about 10 hours after the failure and would rise about 17 feet over the next 24-30 hours.

BE PREPARED!

Contract the Corps hotline at 615-548-8581 or 931-858-4366. Or call Wilson County Emergency Management 615-444-8777, ext. 123 Dr. Melissa Riley