mariner 87

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Issue #87

April 2010

M a r i n e rA Publication For Where Land Ends

www.marinermagazine.com

A M a g a z i n e F o r T h e M a r i n a d e l R e y B o a t i n g C o m m u n i t y

The

The Rules

Abby Sunderland Rounds Cape Horn

Marina del Rey to Guadalupe Island

Interview with Author Brian Fagan

More...

And How They Applyto the Local Area

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I know littering is bad. I know,

because Im from the generation

that used to see a commercial of

a sweet aging American Indian

looking at a bunch of garbage,

crying crocodile tears on my

TV. I would look at him staring

at the dirtiness, then he would

look into my eyes through the

circa 1972 color set and Im not

ashamed to say, I would well up

a little myself...

I was thinking the other day

that all this garbage is going to

be trouble. Everyone is ripping

packaging open all the time and

constantly using stuff up to get

new stuff. Kind of a bummerbut then I thought, wait a

second, why am I being so

negative?

Maybe Im looking at this

garbage problem from the wrong

side. Sure, maybe little pieces

of plastic are being ingested by

microorganisms in the ocean and

possibly contaminating the entire

food chain. Okay, thats one

angle, but what if I get stranded

on an uninhabited island? Then

Im going to be loving all this

cool garbage thats floating

around.

I can see it now. Im sailing the

South Pacific and something

goes drastically wrong. I end

up with very little in the way

of resources - beached on an

island. Im sad and afraid, as I

have no matches for firethat

is until I spot an old bic lighter

lying on the shoreline. I try it and

it works. A few more steps andI see a plastic container. What

the? Its a damn Cuban cigar!

Next thing you know Im a fat

cat with his own island!

A short walk yields a few wheels

from what looks like an old

baby carriage. I attach them to

an beat up piece of sizable tin

and quickly train two spider

monkeys to pull me around the

island. I use six-pack plastics

tied together as a whip. I pay

the monkeys in bottle caps tha

I found telling them that these

coins are worth more than they

can imagine. They seem gratefu

to have work.

I tour the island in my buggy

from coast to coast picking up

items that improve my life.

found hundreds of cigarette butt

and more bottle caps. I plan to ge

the monkey community hooked

on tobacco and then have them

pay me all the caps for the buttsSoon I will be rich! All because

of garbage. Not so bad huh?

The Mariner is

Editor/Publisher/Writer

Pat Reynolds

Photographs

Pat Reynolds

Columnist

Mookie

Contributors

Dave Kirby

Richard Schaefer

Copy Editing Assistance

Lisa Asahara

For advertising rates and

Information contact

310-397-1887 - phone

[email protected]

Mailing address

P.O. Box 9403

Marina del Rey, CA 90295

The Mariner appears on the 3rd

Friday of every month.

This issue - April 16 - May 21

Important

Numbersat a glance:Marina del Rey

Sheriff:

310-482-6000

Los Angeles CountyLifeguard:

310-577-5700

Vessel Assist:800-399-1921

Sea Tow866-473-5400

Marine Life Rescue800-39WHALE

2 The Mariner-Issue 87 2010

FROM THE EDITOR

WHATS INSIDE

Thanks for picking it up!

G ARBAGE IS G O O D

Cover: Chris Slagerman (helm) andDave Sheesley sailing an Inter 20.Photo Pat Reynolds

Coming Events 4

Off the Wire 6

Thems The Rules 10Analysis of Boating Rules by Charles Ecker

Around the Horn Abby Sunderland Update

Cruising So Cal 14Interview with Author Brian Fagan

Catalina Currents 19Cruising Tips by Richard Schaefer

Powertails 22Changes in Fuel

Racing 24Guadalupe Island Race by Eric & Robin Lambert

CruisingThe Final Voyage of Captain Jack by Jefferson Sa 26

Ask the Expert - Charles Ecker

Ask Mookie

Classifieds 29

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2010 The Mariner - Issue 87 3

65 McKinna 2002 4 cabins dual helms, fullyequipt, clean $1,099,000

52 Californian cockpit motoryacht 1988Caterpillar diesels,two staterooms, loaded$199,000

47 Spindrift Ranger convertible sedan Catdiesels, two staterooms $999,000

43 Bayliner 1990 motoryachtyacht threestaterooms, diesels $125,000

43 California cockpit motoryacht1988 300HP Cat diesels, loaded $139,000

42 Chris Craft motoryacht 1987 over$22000 spent in 09 upgrades $79,000

42 Californian Trawler dual helms, 450original hours on Perkins diesels, $79,000

39 Bayliner convertible sedan two state-rooms two helms Cummins 330 HP diesels

$149,000

41 Silverton convertible sedan 1995, twocabin spaceous $115,000

39 Sea Ranger trawler motor yacht 2 state-rooms, 2 hwlms, very clean, 120 HP diesels

$79,000

38 Bayliner have three; 1987 -1991all dieselswith 2 staterooms, dual helms, from $79,000

to $98,500

38 Dolphin trawler aft cabin 1986 dualhelms, full walk around decks, side door

entry very clean $99,000

42 Uniflite motoryacht 1978 Cummins 270HP diesels queen master $59,000

35 Bayliner aft cabin 1996 three staterooms,diesels, lo hours, loaded $114,000

33 Sea Ray sundancer 1994 low engin hours ,air cond, generator, new eletronics $43,500.

32 Lurhrs Flybridge Sedan 1975 all newexterior finish and interior upholstery $29,000

45 Morgan/ Catalina built centercockpitbluewater cruiser, loaded clean $149,000

41 Hunter aft cockpit with aft aft cabin; have2 -2000 an 2002, from $129,000

41 Islander Freeport 1978 center cockpitketch bluewater cruiser $59,000

38 Morgan Catalina built center cockpit1994 loaded and clean $119,000

37 Irwin center cockpit sloop 1975, veryclean and fully equipt $39,000

37 Fisher Pilothouse bluewater ketch 1975upgraded 1991 new engine and more $89,000

36 Magellean ketch 1999978 bluewatercruiser, full keel, Bristol condition $44,500

30 Catalina 1975 1991 three cyl Universaldiesel, boat needs several repairs $7,900

P U R C E L L Y A C H T S 310-701-5960email: [email protected]

Donate to Boy Scouts of America - La Area Council - Contact Gerry for Info

w w w . p u r c e l l y a c h t s . c o m

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4 The Mariner -Issue 87 2010

To publish a community event email:

[email protected]

April 20Oceanography For Boaters

Wind Waves

Deep water waves and their origin and life

cycle, taught be Oceanography Professor, MikeLeneman. Lectures Tuesdays from 7:00 p.m. to

9:00 p.m. Space is limited reservations are

recommended. Call Mike Leneman at Multi

Marine (310) 821-6762.

April 25Cal i forn ia Yacht Club

Open House Event

The California Yacht Club, one of the top ten

private Yacht clubs in the United States, will

make it facilities and grounds available for

public viewing at 10 a.m. -3 p.m.. The Club,

winner of multiple Fleet Service Awards was

established in Los Angeles in 1922 and hasbeen in its present location at 4469 Admiralty

Way in Marina del Rey since 1963. Visitors to

this once a year event will be guided through

the Club grounds, viewing the Clubhouse

pool, Paddle Tennis courts, world class dining

room, bar, snack bar and catering facilities.

Complementary refreshments will be served

and parking is free.

April 29Cal i forn ia Yacht Club Yacht ing Din-ner: Singapore t o Sydney: Over the

Waves to Exo t i c Por t s o f Ca ll !

Presented by Steve Frankel and Jill GrossbardVeteran adventurers Steve Frakel and Jill

Grossbard speak of The Yachting Dinner will

be held at California Yacht Club beginning

at 6:15 p.m. The couple discusses their half

circumnavigation from Perth to Sydney and

a round-trip from Sydney through the Great

Barrier Reefs to New Guinea aboard many

cruise lines. No-Host Cocktails 6:15 p.m.

Bountiful Buffet Dinner 7:00 p.m. Followed

by Presentation $19.50 includes Dinner, tax,

service and parking. Reservations required

(310-823-4567). Open to all who enjoy yachting

and adventure, as a public service of California

Yacht Club 4469 Admiralty Way, Marina del

Rey ~ 310-823-4567 ~ www.CalYachtClub.

com

May 1Dock w alker T ra in ing

The California Department of Boating

and Waterways and the California Coastal

Commissions Boating Clean & Green Program

in partnership with the Keep the Delta Clean

Program, the Santa Monica Bay Restoration

Foundation, the US Coast Guard Auxiliary,

the US Power Squadrons and many more

organizations conduct more Dockwalker

trainings this year. From 10:00 a.m. 12:45 p.m.

at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium - 3720 Stephen

M. White Drive. San Pedro, CA 90731 training

will commence. Partners: The Santa Monica

Bay Restoration Foundation, US Coast Guard

Auxiliary, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, City of

Los Angeles. Please feel free to contact Vivian

(415) 904-6905 or [email protected] ifyou have any questions or to register.

May 1CPR/AED and First Aid Trai ning

Learn how to respond to sudden illness, injury

and breathing/cardiac emergencies in Adults and

Children. This is an American Red Cross class

offering certification (1-year Adult CPR/AED

and 3-year First Aid). The cost is $55 for Coast

Guard Auxiliary members / $65 for general

public; class meets from 10am-5pm at Santa

Monica Windjammers Yacht Club. To register

or obtain more information please go to www.

PlatinumCPR.com or contact Linda via phone(818 793 7923) or email Linda@PlatinumCPR.

com.

May 4Oceanography For Boaters

Waves and Beac hes

These series of talks are for anyone who

wants to learn more about the ocean they play

in. Practical applications through knowledge

of oceanography will enable the boater to

understand the conditions around them and

aid them in predicting what lies ahead of their

bow wave. Taught by Michael Leneman an

Oceanography Professor, owner of Multi Marineand one of the top multihull racing skippers in

California, Mikes lecture style will enlighten

and entertain. A series of 7 Lectures Tuesdays

from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Space is limited

reservations are recommended.

Call Mike Leneman at Multi Marine, (310) 821-

6762.

May 11Oceanograp hy For Boaters T ides

See above listing for details.

May 15

Smw yc Crab Feast

SMWYC is having an all you can eat Crab

Feast for a donation of $55. At the dinner, we

will be conducting both a Silent Auction and a

Live Auction to benefit the City of Hope Cancer

Foundation. For details on the auction go to For

details on the Crab Feast/Auction go to

http://smwyc.org/PDF/crab_feast_coh2010.pdf

or call 310-827-SMYC

May 15 & 16Whi te Seabass & Ha l ibu t

Tournament

Time to get out the Rod & Reel and join us for

the White Seabass & Halibut Championship

Series. This is event is sponsored by Western

Outdoor News, United Anglers, and many more

Go to www.wonews.com for more info.

May 27Cal i forn ia Yacht Club Yacht ing Luncheon and Forum: La t in Am er icanAdventur es . Crossing the Andesby boat, Rounding Cape Horn andother un ique exper iences.

Presented by California Yacht Club Pas

Commodore Martin McCarthy. Youll experience

the foreboding landscape of Chiles Tierra

del Fuego while cruising through the Straits

of Magellan and climbing ashore at fabled

Cape Horn. Then visit colonial Santiago in

preparation for crossing the Andes mountains

by boat through the active volcano-encircled

lake district; the voyage is rewarded by dramatic

scenery and final destination San Carlos de

Bariloche Argentinas little Switzerland

and chocolate aficionados wonderland. Happy

Half Hour Noon. Bountiful Buffet Luncheon

12:20 p.m. Presentation 12:40 p.m.

$15.15 includes Luncheon, tax, service and

parking. Reservations appreciated. Open to al

who enjoy yachting and adventure, as a public

service of California Yacht Club. 4469 Admiralty

Way, Marina del Rey ~ 310-823-4567 ~ www

CalYachtClub.com.

Ongoing

L ive Mus ic a t t he Water f ron t

Unkle Monkey (Guitar, Ukulele & Steel Drum

) performs every Monday Night 7-10pm at TheWaterfront Restaurant 4211 Admiralty Way

Enjoy the intoxicating sounds of the islands

from Hawaii to the Caribbean....and plenty o

Jimmy Buffett songs !

Marina Venice Yacht ClubSocia l Sundays

Join Marina Venice Yacht Club weekly for ou

Social-Sunday Open House from 4 p.m. to 7

p.m. Food items are provided and there is no

charge. MVYC is located in the Marina City

Club - West Tower - at 4333 Admiralty Way

Whether you own a boat, are looking to buy

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one, or just want to be around other water loving

people MVYC welcomes all who share in the

Corinthian Spirit. Security will tell you where

to park. Follow the signs up the stairs or elevator

to the Club House on G2. For more information

contact [email protected], call (818) 422-

6368, or visit our Facebook Group page.

Sai l ing Singles of Southern Cal i forn ia

Sailing Singles of Southern California is aSailing Club centered in Marina del Rey but

open to all sailing enthusiasts from the LA area.

We meet twice monthly, at 7 p.m. at the Marina

Venice Yacht Club, 4333 Admiralty Way located

at the Marina City Club West Tower in Marina

del Rey. There is a $10 Meeting donation per

person that includes a light Dinner. Drinks are

available at a full bar at reasonable prices. Club

members will meet and socialize with sailboat

owners and can arrange for sails in Santa

Monica Bay. After sailing, club members can

enjoy wine and cheese parties or full dinners

on members Boats. Catalina Island trips andspecial events are also planned. (310) 822-0893

or email: [email protected] www.

sailingsinglesofsoutherncalifornia.com

Marina Sunday Sai l ing Club

Since 1981 MSSC has brought together skippers

and crew in a friendly social environment for

daysails in Santa Monica Bay and cruises to

Catalina and other destinations. We meet on

the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month on the

patio at Burton Chace Park under the Club

banner. Meetings start at 10:00 a.m. with a free

Continental breakfast and socializing. We hold

a brief business meeting and then head out foran afternoon of sailing on the Bay after which

we gather at a members dock for wine, snacks

and more socializing. Visitors are welcome

and may attend two meetings free. No prior

sailing experience is necessary. Married people

welcome! For more info call (310) 226-8000 or

visit www.marinasinglesailors.org

Single Mar iners Meet ing

Social meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. the 1st and

3rd Thursday of each month at Pacific Mariners

Yacht Club on 13915 Panay Way in Marina del

Rey. Meeting donation is $7.00, which includes

a light buffet dinner. At these meetings, skippers

and crew sign up for day sails. On sailing

days the Single Mariners meet at 9:30 a.m. for

breakfast at the Marina del Rey Hotel on 13534

Bali Way, spend the afternoon sailing and then

return to the docks for a wine and cheese social.

Novices are welcome and encouraged. For more

info call (310) 289-3338.

Womens Sai l ing Associat ion of Santa Mon ica Bay

Meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at

the Santa Monica Windjammers Yacht Club,

13589 Mindanao Way, in Marina del Rey. The

meeting, held at 7:30, is preceded by a social

hour, and a light dinner is served. Each meeting

features a guest speaker discussing their

adventures and achievements. WSA invites

boaters of all skill levels to join. Its programs,

include day sails, seminars, parties, and cruises

including destinations such as King Harbor,

Catalina and the northern Channel Islands, Formembership information contact Sandy Penrod.

at [email protected] or on the web at

www.wsasmb.org.

Catal inas of Santa Monic a Bay,Owners o f Cata l ina Yachts

Join us for our monthly meetings at the Santa

Monica Windjammers Yacht Club on the 3rd

Tuesday of each month. We would like to

welcome Catalina owners to join our club. We

have speakers, cruises to Catalina, races and

other events throughout the year. Our doors open

at 6:00 for happy hour and then dinner around 7

to 7:30 and our main event after that. Join thefun and meet other owners of Catalinas. For

more info email [email protected].


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O F F T H E W I R E

Santa Monic a Wind jamm ers Yac ht C lub Stages Reg atta toRaise Money fo r City of Hop e Ca nc er Found a tion

In Norm Perrons third year organizing the City of Hope Charity Regatta for Santa Monica Windjammers Yacht Club to benefit the City of Hope Cancer

Research Hospital he is looking to raise more money than all previous attempts.

Last year the regatta earned $9,600, and our goal this year is to substantially beat that figure, Perron said.

Perron is calling upon all sailors to get a crew together and have a leisurely light-hearted race on May 16 for a good cause. As an owner of a Catalina

42 he has been successful in getting out many of the 42s in the marina and expects a solid turnout from that class again this year.

For a minimum $25 donation, you can get a crew position on a Catalina 42 with no racing experience required, only the desire to be part of a winning

team. Participants will enjoy a beautiful day on the water, the excitement of sailboat racing, and the satisfaction of helping save lives.

For a minimum $30 donation, donors can secure a seat on the Race Committee boat. Enjoy being right at the start of the race aboard the Odyssey a

comfortable 58 Hatteras tri-deck motor yacht. Munchies and refreshments will be served on board.

In addition to the one-design Catalina 42 class, they will also conduct two other classes of races: the PHRF and Cruiser class. For those interested, a

crew and a tactician can be provided on your boat. $25 minimum donation per person on all of these boats.

Corporate and individual sponsors are also invited to participate. For $500 donation, a sponsor would receive: a banner with their name and/or logo

displayed both at the crab feast being held May 15 at SMWYC and on one of the race boats during the regatta. They also are eligible for a crew position

on a race boat or a spot on the Committee boat. Sponsors will also have their name printed on the t-shirts for the local MdR chapter of the CoH cancer

walk.

To sign up or have further questions contact Norm Perron at 424-222-9206 or email [email protected].

The MarinerPick i t Up !

310-397-1887

mar inermagaz ine .com

Santa Monica Windjammers Yacht Club

1 0 t h A n n u al Ci t y o f H o p e

& Cr a b Fe a s t A u c t i o n !

Yacht Club of the Year 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007!

For information: 310-827-SMYC or www.smwyc.org

13589 Mindanao Way Marina del Rey CA 90292

This will be our 10th year raising funds for the City of Hope Cancer Research Hospital.

For details on the regatta see the article on page 6 in this issue. For details on the Crab

Feast/Auction go to http://smwyc.org/pdf/crab_feast_coh2010.pdf

Saturday, May 15th (Crab Feast/auction) &Sunday, May 16th (Regatta)

Catalina 42 owners who helped raise $9,600 lastyear. Photo courtesy of Bill Berry

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2010 The Mariner- Issue 87 7

O F F T H E W I R E

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Big Sleds Enter The Border Run

In only their second year, the Border Run International Sailing Event

appears to be the talk of the Southern California racing scene with the

recent announcement of eight maxi-sleds entering the contest. These

boats, considered the rock stars of the So Cal scene, will be competingin a course that begins in Newport, rounds the Coronado del Norte Island

and finishes in San Diego. Grand Illusion, Holua, OEX, Condor, Cheetah,

Alchemy, Medicine Man and the scratch boatAkela, skippered by So Cal

racing legend Doug Baker are all slated for the April 24 start in Newport.

At the same time, two trifoilers, once considered the fastest design on the

planet, will be competing in the developmental class that the Border Run

has created. In addition, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has come

aboard as the official charity of the Border Run.

Who says a lot cant happen in two weeks? Border Run Co-founder

Randy Reynolds said of this influx of good news. Its been really fun

seeing it all develop. Once we decided that we wanted to create an event

where everyone would be welcome, things just started to come together.

Reynolds, founder of Reynolds Design, is especially proud that both

the developmental class and Maxi class have come to the table. After

spending a lifetime creating and sailing boats that go fast, he is happy to

see both established designs and more unconventional boats taking part

in the event.

In the 70s you used to have regattas like the Yachting One of a Kind

Regatta pitting one designs and one-off boats together, but today there is

no venue for designers to come out and compete in developmental boats

with The Border Run, now there is.

Aside from the racing aspects, the Border Run organizers are also pleased

that the event has recently formed an association with the Leukemia

& Lymphoma Society. In participating in the race, each sailor has the

opportunity to raise money for the charity and, in turn, be eligible to earn

their entry and win prizes, such as a chance to sail with world-renowned

sailor, ESPN commentator and National Regatta chairman Gary Jobson

in December.

The Border Run Sailing Event is presented by XS Racing with South

Shore Yacht Club of Newport Beach, Ca. beginning on Saturday, Apri

24, 2010, the Border Run will start sailors from Newport Beach, to the

Coronado Islands and finish in San Diego to party at the beautiful Kona

Kai resort set on San Diego Bay. For first timers and smaller boats a 69

mile short course option allows a more direct route to San Diego. For

more information on the race and how to raise money for The Leukemia &

Lymphoma Society go to www.XSRACING.org and click on the Border

Run or call 800-366-8584 or email [email protected].

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Important issues with wide-ranging impact

were being discussed at a recent luncheon at the

California Yacht Club where an official from the

Water Resources Control Board [Water

Board] was on hand to address and discuss a

proposed marina permit that, as drafted, would

hold boaters and marina operators feet to the fire

when it comes to pollution.

In a letter to Charles M.

Hoppin, Chair of the

State Water Resources

Control Board,

Recreational Boaters

of California President

Anne Sacks who hosted

the event said:

As drafted, it would

force these marinas

to spend hundreds of

thousands of dollars

each year to conduct

expensive water quality

testing and monitoring

and to report that

information to the State.

The proposed permit would also provide

the Water Board the authority to mandatemanagement practices on each marina. Such

mandates could include testing the bottom

paint of the boats to see if they contain copper

and even a mandate that slips be eliminated to

reduce the amount of copper in the water.

Sacks asked that the board, work with the

boating community to pursue a fact and science

based approach that first identifies and then

addresses pollution that is determined to be

attributable to recreational vessels and marina

operations.

But Darrin Polhemus, Deputy

Director for the California

State Water Resources

Control Board, assured that

this permit that RBOC and

the boating community are

reacting to was simply an

exercise that the Board goes

through to better understand agiven group of issues.

A permit activity contains

all the things I need to

know, said Polhemus, so

its kind of a nice structured

approach [to understanding].

Does it mean that Im ever

going to issue the permit?

Not necessarily. And at this point I dont intend

on issuing a Marina permit.

RBOC will no doubt keep a watch on thispermit in a drawer as Polhemus described it.

To learn more about this issue go to www.rboc

org.

8 The Mariner- Issue 87 2010

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RBOC Ad dresses Proposed Permit Tha t WouldReg ula te Boa ters and Ma rina Op erato rs

The Jules Verne Trophy now belongs to ten men

who have sailed around the globe at an average of

18.76-knots along the optimum course, beating the

reference time set by Orange 2 in 2005 by 2 days

08 hours 35 minutes. Franck Cammas and his men

crossed the finish line off the Crach lighthouse at

Ushant (Finistre) at 21h4045 UTC Saturday 20

March. They are due to make the Port du Chteau

in Brest at around 0900 UTC tomorrow.

The skipper Franck Cammas, navigator StanHoney, watch leaders Fred Le Peutrec and Steve

Ravussin, helmsmen/trimmers Loc Le Mignon,

Thomas Coville and Lionel Lemonchois, and the

three bowmen Bruno Jeanjean, Ronan Le Goff

and Jacques Caras, supported on shore by router

Sylvain Mondon, have pulled it off: they have

beaten the round the world record under sail via the

three capes.

Darrin Polhemus, Deputy Director for theCalifornia State Water Resources ControlBoard, addresses a full house at the Cali-fonia Yacht Club regarding a proposedMarina permit.

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O F F T H E W I R E

Dona te Used Sa ils for Ha iti Relief

A 53 container loaded with used sails gathered in Maine arrived in Miami during the last week of March. The 14,000 pounds of used sails can provide

shelter to a small city once the sails reach Haiti.

The first shipment of used sails from the Miami and Fort Lauderdale area landed in Haiti on the Sea Flower in the middle of February, and sails have

continued to flow into Shake a Leg Miami.

Sometimes the used sails are tired jibs and main sails that were taking up room in trailer boxes or got blown out during racing on Biscayne Bay.

Other times they are from sail makers whose customers never picked them up. The largest used sail that has been sent to Haiti was from Doyles For

Lauderdale loft. It was a main sail from a 150-foot boat. It was so heavy (750 lbs.) that the orphanage that it was destined for in Carrefour, Haiti had a

difficult time finding a truck to transport it to it.

Over three months have elapsed since the January 12 earthquake. There are fewer privately sponsored cargo vessels heading to Haiti and many of the

shipping companies who were providing free, or discounted rates for relief supplies have returned to charging customary rates. Others are making

available surplus cargo space for relief supplies, on a case-by-case basis.

The need for shelter in Haiti will continue indefinitely. Keep the sails coming.

If you are considering collecting sails for Haiti, try to work with sail lofts, regatta organizers and boat shows as collection points. Old line, rope and

cord are also in high demand in Haiti.

You can help fund the shipment of used sails from collection points throughout the US to Miami and then from Miami to Haiti, by clicking on the button

at the bottom of Shake a Leg Miamis homepage. www.ShakeaLegMiami.org.

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ith boating season

upon us, now is anideal time to clear

up some confusion

concerning what are

navigation rules,

compared to guidelines, in the Marina del Rey

channel and harbor.

First off, we asked Los Angeles County Deputy

Sheriff Frank Ruiz, a member of the Marina del

Rey station Marine Enforcement Unit, to spell

out what laws precisely affect navigating waters

inside the breakwater, and one off-shore rule.

It should be understood by all boaters that

while inside the harbor (which is considered an

inland waterway) all of the laws set forth by the

United States Federal Code of regulations, Title

14, apply. Title 14 is enforceable by California

peace officers as it is incorporated into the

California Harbors and Navigation Code by

section 6600.1. That being said, Marina del

Rey and Los Angeles County waters are also

governed by the Los Angeles County Code

which is mainly what is enforced here.

Lets stick to some of the more common marine

violations enforced in Marina del Rey harbor forbetter boating locally and leave the broader off-

shore sailing and power boating skills to those

trained volunteers who teach our Coast Guard

Auxiliary classes throughout the year.

As we go through the rules, we will note in

parentheses the key law enforcement codes.

If you violate them, you are sure to get a visit

to your boat by watchful law enforcement

officials.

Buoy Obedience

The Marina del Rey channel has three lanes,demarcated by white buoys with orange strips.

These are called Private Aids to Navigation

PATONs). The outside lanes are for power boats

and the center lane is for boats under sail.

Many boaters in the channel erroneously think

they can use their engines (whether on power

or sailboats) in the middle sailing lane at least

when there is no traffic, like mid-week, without

risk of violating any laws. This includes sailors

who are under sail in the mid-channel with their

engines in neutral.

This cant be done, legally. There is a very

important rule that covers the white and orange

buoys in the main channel which designate the

outbound power lane on the north side of the

channel, the mid-channel sailing lane, and the

inbound power lane on the south side of the

channel, seven days a week, notes Deputy

Ruiz. We will frequently observe power vessel

disregarding the markers denoting the sail area

and powering up and down the middle of the

channel. Oftentimes, sailboat operators under

power mistakenly believe they can sail in the

sail lane but they are considered power boatswhether or not their sails are hoisted. Violation

of this section is an infraction with fines tha

increase with each violation within a year.

(19.12.610 LACC Compliance with markers

and signals.)

The only exception, according to the Sheriff

Department, is allowing skulls to navigate

in the mid-channel during the week for crew

practice and commercial party boats near the

breakwater.

W

by Charles Ecker

Safely (and legally) Navigating Marina del Rey Harbor & Channel

Thems the Rules!

8/9/2019 Mariner 87

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Guidelines by the BreakwaterThe Sheriffs Department adds that entering and

exiting the harbor via either the north or south

passageways is permitted. When I moved here

26 years ago, there were metal placards posted

in several places around the marina which stated

that boaters should exit the Marina to the north,

enter from the south. (Ive

found one that is still up, just

in front of the Ships Store inD Basin.)

ShoalingShoaling can affect the amount

of safe space you have

for navigation at the jetty

passageways. Local mariners

know that shoaling off Ballona

Creek affecting the South Jetty

passageway happens naturally

every few years and even the

North Jetty area was victim

to significant shoaling during a particularlyheavy rainstorm this year. Closely observe the

red and green navigation aids at the jetty tips

and breakwater and make sure you are between

them to protect from a possible grounding.

Remember the red-right-returning principle of

safe navigation.

Cheating the LineSailboats sailing in the center of the channel,

especially during times of dense traffic, should

be careful not to drift into the lane designated

for powerboats. Not only is that illegal, but it

is nerve racking for those lawfully in the power

lanes. There have been times when collisions

have occurred. Same goes for power boats that

stray into the sail area. Stick to your assigned

lanes.

However, if you are avoiding a collision to take

evasive action, make a safe move so that no one

is endangered on both sides of the line, that

imaginary demarcation line linking the orange

and white navigation buoys running parallel

along the jetties.

Observing Speed LimitsBasic speed laws are enforceable in Marina

del Rey channel and harbor. The speed limit

once inside the entrance channel of the harbor

is 8-knots. Once the main channel turns due

north at what is basically the UCLA rowing

dock, the speed limit changes to 5-knots (or no

wake) for the rest of the harbor, states Deputy

Ruiz. Violation of the basic speed law is

almost always filed as a misdemeanor offense

(subject to arrest) and will certainly be written

up as a misdemeanor if traveling over 15-knots

(19.12.620(a) and 19.12.1250(b).)

If You Make a Wake Its Got YourName On ItThis rule involves very careful awareness by the

boat owner about what damage he or she can

cause going too fast. The Sheriffs Department

representative goes on to say: Boat operatorsmust realize that even if traveling the speed

limit, if their vessel is causing an excessive

wake, they can still be cited for this rule. We

issue more citations for this section than the

others regarding speed. Boaters are liable for

damage caused by their wake. (19.12.620 (c)

Excessive Wake)

Another aspect of this rule is that if you cause

damage from your wake anywhere in the marina

waters, your insurance premiums could go up if

eyewitnesses attest to damage and those affected

by it seek redress!

Bow Riding Is Unsafe and Againstthe LawDeputy Ruiz cites another law that prohibits

Bow Riding. Enforcing this law (19.12.620(d)

keeps the Sheriffs Department particularly busy

in the summer. Bow riders, often times children,

dangerously dangle over the bow of powerboats

and even sailboats that are underway.

Now you should not confuse this with sitting in a

recessed power boat passenger area constructed

in front of the steering station. Not so safe or

comfortable in high winds and chop, but legal.

Boating Near the ShorelineLets go past the breakwater for a minute.

Boating too close to shore is inherently unsafe

and can subject an owner/operator to a fine,

too. Deputy Ruiz cautions that once off shore,

boaters should be aware that in order to maintain

a safe environment for boaters and swimmers,

a distance of 300 yards from shore must be

maintained. We are frequently called to assist

lifeguards to cite people for a violation of thi

section. (17.12.470)

Stow--Dont Dump or ThrowActs of pollution under the scrutiny of law

enforcement include discharging heads

dumping oil/chemicals and littering when in

the harbor and channel. There

are heavy fines involved by

violating these restrictions no

only in the marina waters, bu

also out at sea.

Life Jacket WearCalifornia law require

children under the age of 12 to

wear a Coast Guard-approved

life jacket while underway

(unless the child is tethered

or in an enclosed cabin) in a

vessel 26 feet long or less. The

Coast Guard and Coast Guard

Auxiliary always encourage boaters of all agesto wear life jackets or at least have them nearby

while underway. I learned during CGAUX

crew training that it was extremely difficult to

put on a life jacket (four tries in eight minutes)

when it was floating next to me, and that was

in a swimming pool. I was exhausted when the

exercise ended!

Special Inbound/ Outbound HarborRight of Way ConsiderationsWhen you pass from the elbow by the UCLA

sail dock, it is customary to operate boats safely

with boats coming north trying to stay on theeastern side of the harbor and boats going south

sticking to the western side. Rules of the road

apply (power gives way to sail) with a couple

of exceptions.

Law enforcement vessels such as the Coas

Guard, Sheriffs Department and Baywatch

have the right of way when engaged in their law

enforcement and search and rescue operations

When doing so, they will be displaying a blue

flashing light or turning on a siren. If you see

boats clearly marked as Coast Guard Auxiliary

vessels, the crews on board their vessels have

the right of way too, even if they are engaged

in training exercises. If Sea Tow or Vesse

Assist boats are obviously underway to aid

boats in need of a tow, be courteous and give

way to them. Clear the way for party boats and

commercial fishing boats because they are in

commercial operation. If commercial boats are

backing out of their slips, you will clearly hear a

sound signal (three short horn blasts) when they

are backing up. Stay clear.

Photo Linda Ecker

8/9/2019 Mariner 87

12/32

12The Mariner

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On January 23a young girl, just turned 16, sailed her Open-40 racer - designed specially for solo sailing - past the breakwall of Marina del Rey. Abby

Sunderland was serious, if not defensive in her pre-departure press conference after facing some skepticism about her pending journey. Compared to

her own brother Zac who sailed off to set a similar record and British teenager Mike Perham who chased the same record, Abbys fanfare was clearly

tempered.

Sunderland left in a calm wind and a dubious atmosphere in an attempt to become the youngest person to sail solo and unassisted around the world

There was talk of protests at her departure and the press was told that questions about the controversial aspects of the trip would not be entertained

The family looked almost uneasy as they gathered before the television cameras the same cameras that they smiled and interviewed in front of while

celebrating their son Zacs record setting circumnavigation.

In many yacht club conversations and internet forum threads, people questioned the voyage, Abbys preparedness, and the familys motivations. But

on March 31 the teenaged sailor became the youngest person ever to sail solo around Cape Horn, one of the most feared and notorious areas on the

planet.

I didnt get to see it as I was around 50-60 miles offshore when I went around, Abby wrote in her blog. Even though I didnt get to see it, its very

exciting to finally be here. Ive covered a lot of miles and have been through a lot, so finally getting here to Cape Horn is very exciting!

Sunderland is down to one autopilot since her first one broke and this is a concern because the boat has no self-steering mechanism besides what is

currently in operation and solo sailing without autopilot is game over. Abby seems optimistic about the situation.

My second autopilot is working very well. It is exactly the same as my other autopilot. If something does go wrong with it I have enough spares

between the two that I should be able to fix it out here. With all of the troubleshooting I have done, I know these things inside and out so at least I have

that experience.

Other than this lingering anxiety, the young sailor is handling the laborious and sometimes punishing journey with a patient and staunch attitude. She

has mentioned 20-foot seas and 40-knot winds in passing and is still updating her blog with a lighthearted upbeat tone.

With the rounding of Cape Horn in the books Sunderland has taken her first step toward silencing her critics, but more relevant, she is now part the

very elite company of sailors who have sailed this passage. There is perhaps no greater achievement for a sailor than having successfully rounded Cape

Horn, let alone alone at 16. To follow Sunderlands voyage go to www.abbysunderland.com

The MarinerPick i t Up !

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14/32


Not only have you extensively cruised the Southern

California, Northern Mexican waters extensively,

youve penned a book about it that still remains one

of the most well-regarded books on the subject. That

said, what spots, of the ones youve covered in The

Cruising Guide to Central and Southern California,

are your personal favorites?

Without question, my two favorites are the north coast

of Santa Cruz Island with its many nice anchorages and

the San Francisco Bay area, where the quality of sailing

is unrivaled. At Santa Cruz, you have to anchor and

its like a 19th-century world. No buoys to secure to

and you are on your own and have to make judgments

about where to anchor. Sailing through the Golden

Gate and under the Bridge is one of the great cruising

experiences. And the summer sailing there is boisterous

and wonderful.

Where are some cruising spots in Southern California

that you consider well kept secrets?

There are few well kept secrets left in Central and Southern California

waters, especially south of Point Mugu, where the marine environment is

largely artificial these days. I can find you a nice anchorage at the Channel

Islands with no one in it over any summer long weekend--but Im keeping

my mouth shut! My advice: take advantage of the fact that most people goto the same old places--a mistake!

In your experience, is Point Conception, the Cape Horn of the West

Coast as some have suggested?

Point Conception has been the subject of almost more bar talk than any

other headland in the United States. Yes, the winds can blow strongly

there and it can be a nasty place, but, if you time your passage north and

south and travel north at night, you should have no trouble. Like so much

else, its a matter of common sense, careful timing, and judgment when on

passage. And please...ignore the bar talk! Youll probably find that most of

those holding forth have never been there!

Do you think technology has made cruising generally safer?Yes, technology has made sailing safer in the sense that you can push a

button and find out where you are. But I worry about a whole generation

of people at sea, who have never used a Dead Reckoning or even taken

a bearing. What happens if your batteries die or your electronics take a

day off? Frankly, and I am conservative here and West Marine may hate

me for it, but I thank a lot of the electronic goodies we now consider

essential are unnecessary. Whats wrong with a chart, a compass, a

bearing compass and a pencil and parallel rulers? They make for far more

entertaining and challenging passage making--but you have to realize that

I am old fashioned!

Do you think most Southern California boaters

know enough about how to properly anchor their

boat?

Anchoring is an art, not a matter of technology alone

much as the technology-obsessed among us would like

you to believe. Many Southern California sailors have

never anchored, or rarely done so, living as they do in

a marina environment, or with moorings at Catalina

Anchoring is a matter of experience and practice, of

digging your anchor in securely and laying out plenty

of scope, as well as choosing the right place. If youre

doubtful about your anchoring skills, recruit a crew

and spend several weekends practicing again and

again. Then go to the Cannel Islands, and I guarantee

that youll be fine.

Have you cruised near San Nicolas and/or San

Clemente Islands? If so, is it an interesting place to

visit even though you cant land?

For most people, I dont think that San Nicolas and San Clemente are

worth the long passages to and from the mainland. The fun of the Channe

Islands is exploration both at sea and on land--and you can do that at other

islands. Having said this, they are certainly worth seeing.

What have you found most gratifying about cruising these waters?The predictable summer weather and the afternoon trades. Ive had more

perfect sailing days and wonderful passages here than anywhere else in

the world. We are lucky to have such a perfect cruising ground so close.

What boating highlight will stay with you forever?

Making landfall on the British Virgin Islands from Europe within a 1/4

mile of our destination--a rock 38 feet high with a light, WITHOUT using

GPS--sextant only. That and sailing from England to Finland and back

again without electronics.

What skill or piece of knowledge do you wish you learned far earlier

than you did?

Patience--patience to go with the flow and to accept that good seamanshipmeans waiting for the right conditions. To my mind, it is not fund to pound

your way to windward when you can avoid it. I think such patience come

with age and experience.

What do you plan on discussing in your upcoming lecture at Santa

Monica Windjammers Yacht Club on May 12th?

Im going to talk about cruising in California, some of the strategies of

passage making and some of the fine places you can visit. This will be

very much aimed at people who are planning their first trips to the Channe

Islands. The experts certainly know more than I do! Coverage: nothing

north of Point Conception--just home waters, which I know best.

Cruising So CalAn Interview With Brian Fagan, author of

The Cruising Guide to Central and Southern California.

8/9/2019 Mariner 87

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efore I dive into, How to Survive

Your Boating Experience - The Key

to a Successful Day On the Water,

I need to touch on a couple of unrelated,

environmental topics.

I know Ive been promising for months to get

into the State Water Resources Board proposed

marina regulatory plan. However, it seems

now that they have backed away from the

hard green approach and are considering

other alternatives. I prefer to think of them as

regrouping and planning for a new attack on

boating and recreational freedom. But hey, thats

just me - well have to wait and see.

Also, I want to comment on the cancellation

of the, Halibut Derby. I have warned sport

fishermen and the operators of commercial

sportfishing boats, privately, and in print, that the

increased bag limits on certain species in recent

years may be part of a plan by The Departmentof Fish and Game, and their environmentalist

counterparts in government, to reduce fish

populations and use these reduced populations

as justification to increase the size and number

of MLPA closures.

The increase in the halibut limit from two to five

fish was obviously not in the best interest of the

fishery. I note that last year was the worst year I

have seen for halibut here, and at the island, in

more than a decade. I fear that environmental

groups, and Fish and Game, will use reduced

fish populations as a reason to close off moreareas of our coastal waters to recreational

fishing and diving. Which, of course, will lead

to lower fish stocks in the areas remaining open

- thereby fueling environmentalist demands for

even more closures.

Further, I suspect that those published pictures

of sportfishing boats, with decks awash in fish,

will be used against sportfishermen at future

hearings. I think Fish and Game is just giving

sport fishermen enough fishing line to hang

themselves. I hope you guys wake up and

voluntarily keep your take down. The alternative

is more government regulations and closures.

Okay, enough of the J.F.K. and , Conspiracy

Theory angle. Last month I wrote about

maintenance and prevention as a first line of

defense in averting a crisis at sea. Now well talk

about handling the situation when, in spite of

your best efforts to prevent it, you find yourself

knee deep in tribulation.

Man Overboard!When a crew member falls over the side,

speed in retrieval is critical. The fastest, and

safest way I know of to rescue someone in

the water is a Heave To Pick Up. I know, I

know...everybody learned the Figure 8 - me

too, in 1979. But, I figured out pretty fast that

it sucks, for a lot of reasons; slow, complex and

requires the boat to hold its bow into the wind

(impossible) - eventually ending up beam onto the seas and exposing the boat to a broach

in rough conditions (often the case in a MOB

situation). I dont think I could come up with a

more hazardous method of rescue.

Now, lets do the MOB drill, step by step.

1. Call out, Man Overboard!.

2. Throw a PFD - if you miss - throw another.

3. Have the entire crew watch the person in the

water and point. Have them stay calm and

still - they neednt do anything else.

4. Get the most experienced crew member onthe helm - hopefully thats the skipper.

5. Sail off a couple of boat lengths and come

about. But dont touch any sheets. Stop your

turn as your bow points to the crew member

in the water.

6. Grab a cleated off line - sheet, halyard,

dockline, any line 15-feet long, will do.

7. When the MOB is 10 or 15-feet off the bow

turn your wheel hard to weather. The boat

will slow and the leeward, quarter will slide

toward the MOB. Lock your wheel or tiller

off, most boats will tend themselves from

here.

8. In most cases the MOB will be close enough

to grab a thrown line. With practice a person

can consistently steer the boat within arms

reach.

9. Get your ladder or stern boarding gate down

Help the MOB aboard. All the while - the

boat is hove to and stable - take as long as

you need, assuming you have sea room.

This method works well on any point of sail

except a run or a deep broad reach. On these

points of sail or when the MOB is unconscious

(very rare), its probably best to turn the engine

on. If you dont have an engine you will need to

tack back upwind to the MOB.

If you do use the engine be sure to put it in

neutral as you come along side the MOB -

Stumpy is a salty nickname - but one that no

everyone would appreciate.

Heavy Weather SailingEntire books have been written on this subject

Im going to cover the basics for our local

conditions. If you plan to venture far off shore

do your home work like your life depends on

it .

Lets say youre out for the day and the wind

increases and sea conditions get a little rough. If

youre only a mile or two from port you migh

want to consider a fishermans reef. Its easy

and usually effective enough to get you safetyback to port. It works well on points of sail

above a broad reach.

1. Ease off the main sheet.

2. Bring the traveler to weather as far as you

can.

3. Trim the flogging main in until only the

bottom portion of the sail is full. The top hal

of the sail has twisted off and is spilling the

wind. This is the one time you want to have

twist in the mainsail.

What To Do RightWhen Things Go Wrong

Part 2By Captain Richard Schaefer

B

8/9/2019 Mariner 87

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C A T A L I N A C U R R E N T S

You will find that the boat has less weather helm

and is sailing flatter on her bottom - much more

comfortable, dryer and easier to control.

If you are farther offshore you will either need

to change your headsail or partially furl it if

possible. If the boat is still over powered and

difficult to control you will need to reef the

mainsail.

1. If possible, put the boat on a starboard tack

on a low close or beam reach. If your boat

is rigged properly the reefing lines should be

on the starboard side of the mast and boom.

On most newer boats all lines are led aft and

reefing can often be accomplished without

leaving the cockpit.

2. Ease off the mainsail. If you must go forward

to reef then put on a life jacket and, if possible,

sit at the base of the mast. Ease the halyardand lower the mainsail until you come to the

reefing point (if you need a deeper reef, then

lower the sail to the second reef point, or

even the third - if you have second and third

reef points).

3. Secure the new tack. Then pull in the reefing

clew line and get it as close to the boom as

you can. Make up your lines and return to

the cockpit.

4. Trim your sails and continue your course.

NOTE: Reefing systems vary from boat to

boat. Know how to use yours. If it is cumbersomeyou may wish to consult with a rigger or sailing

instructor for advice and improvements.

In rough sea conditions (rarely in SOCAL)

you may have to either quarter off (keep the

seas/waves on the boats quarter. Or, if going to

weather, decrease the angle of the bow to the

waves. Try to avoid a beam sea - theres a risk

of broaching if the waves are steep and high

enough.

Always be sure to have your crew in lifejackets

in rough conditions, and put on foul weather

gear. Cold increases the anxiety level and clouds

the mind - stay warm and calm.

Flood Control and FounderingIf you begin to take on water be sure your

pumps are on and begin to look for the leak. If

the flooding is serious contact the Coast Guard

and inform them of your situation and position.

Assign a crew member to look for the leak under

your direction while you are on the radio.

Get your crew into life jackets and have them

prepare the ditch bag and dinghy or life raft.

If you have sufficient crew, have the strongest

begin bailing with buckets. Two stout men can

move about 40 gallons per minute in panic

mode - around 30 gallons in stoic mode.

That amount, coupled with bilge pumps, is

pretty substantial. In most cases its enough to

at least get ahead of the flooding to enable you

to find and possibly slow or stop the source.

If you dont have damage control plugs a rag

pounded in the hole or breech will slow it down

considerably.

If the boat is still able to make-way, plot a

course for land. Keep the Coast Guard informed

of your position and situation.

If the situation deteriorates to the point where

you feel you must abandon the vessel - DONT.Stay with the boat. Old sailors say, Never step

into a life raft until its a step uphill.

Those shipwreck movies and stories about the

suction of the sinking ship pulling you under

in a swirling vortex of death arent true for

pleasure craft. On a rapidly sinking battleship

or super tanker its an issue - not a problem on

the average pleasure boat. If youve got a mega

yacht then get in the helicopter. Dont forget to

wave good bye to the crew as you lift off.

Remember, even a boat nearly awash will beeasier to see by rescuers than a life raft, or worse

yet, a bobbing head. Also, its good to keep in

mind that the minute you are in the water the

hypothermia clock starts ticking - and its

counting the time remaining in your life. Even

in Southern California the cold will eventually

drain the life from you - its just a matter of

time.

If ultimately you are forced into the dinghy,

or into the sea, be sure to make every attempt

to bring as many signaling/ communications

devices as you can - keep them as dry as

possible. If you and your crew are forced into

the sea - stay together by holding hands or using

a line.

Keep calm. If you have made contact with

emergency personnel your chances of being

rescued quickly, in our local waters, are beyond

excellent.

Dragging AnchorIts 0300 on a calm night and you hear scraping

then a bump. Youre out of the bunk like a sho

and on deck. No other boats nearby, but your

stern is a lot closer to the shore than it should

be - and the tide is low.

This sort of anchor dragging is common. Keep

calm and shine your flashlight over the transom

Chances are youre not going to like what you

see - probably rocks and kelp - if youre lucky

sand. Check the depth sounder and make a note

of the depth. Dont start your engine. Instead, go

forward and pull in the anchor rode by hand (on

a larger boat youll need to use the windless)

You probably arent hard aground. Bring in 5 o

10-feet of rode. Go back and check the fatho and

have a look over the stern. If youve got deep

clear water over the stern you may elect to either

sit in the cockpit awhile a wait to see how the

boat lies too the anchor or start the engine and

idle in reverse for a moment (it helps to havea crew member watch the rode go taught from

the forelock). Chances are you wont have to re

anchor.

If youve bumped into another boat then the

situation can often be solved by each boa

pulling in a few feet of rode - followed by a few

minutes of watchful waiting. Its best not to ge

territorial and starting acting like a sea lawyer

regarding who was there first - just cooperate

and handle the situation. If it turns out that a

boat must re-anchor then the last guy down gets

the honor.

The situations above represent about 90% of

anchor dragging problems. If things are rough

and wild it becomes more interesting.

A good skipper always has an eye to the weathe

and an ear toward the VHF, Marine Weather

Station. If the forecast looks dodgy, decide

whether to remain in the current anchorage or

if possible, move to a more protected one. Loca

knowledge and experience should be your guide

If youre short of one or both, ask someone

If youre at Catalina, the Island Company

Harbor Patrol or Avalon Harbor Patrol are grea

resources - use them. If youre at one of the

Channel Islands ask a knowledgeable neighbor

or a consult a crusting guide.

Whether you move to another anchorage or stay

you might want to consider deploying a second

anchor at 45 degrees off the bow - and as much

rode out as possible. Use the dinghy to set the

second hook.

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C A T A L I N A C U R R E N T S

If it really starts to howl, and you begin to drag,

start the engine (if you have a stern anchor out

consider the rode and prop problem) and idle in

forward when the gusts hit, and back to neutral

in the lulls. This is a little tricky, but youll soon

get the feel for it. Ive seen boats play this game

all night, and I once kept a big ketch off therocks with this tactic.

If youve got uglies (rocks, kelp, shear wall,

another boat) behind you make sure everyone has

a PFD handy. If serious waves start coming into

the anchorage - GET OUT! If you must, buoy

and slip your cable, and head out to open water,

or if possible, a more protected anchorage.

If you drag into another boat or a rock face you

might be able to use your dinghy as a fender.

If your boat goes hard aground, and is holed, its

probably better to get your crew off and leave

it where it is. Generally, its easier to salvage

a boat in 3-feet of water than it is in 30. If this

happens there is usually little you can do until

the blow subsides and help arrives. Standby and

be prepared to abandon the boat if absolutely

necessary. Contacting the Coast Guard does

little good in these situations. Unless a life is in

immediate danger they usually dont intercede,

and seldom attempt to save the vessel in a near

shore situation. Vessel Assist would probably

be more helpful if weather permitted, and they

could get to your vessel in time.

Keep in mind that hard groundings are usually

considered salvage operations by towing

companies and the Coast Guard. That said, if

your are skillful, and there is no hull damage

involved, you can try rowing out a kedging

anchor, heeling the boat using the mast etc...

However, there are many variables pertaining to

properly and effectively kedging off - entire

chapters have been devoted to it in books on

seamanship. Furthermore, I am certainly no

expert in the matter, and hope I never am.

Well, on that cheery note...until next month,

Happy Boating!

Captain Richard Schaefer is a U.S.C.G. Licensed

Sailing Master and has instructed in sailing

and seamanship, skippered charters, managed

yachts and performed deliveries for more than

25 years. He can be reached for questions,

comments or consultation at 310-460-8946, or

at [email protected]

[email protected]

562 427-2587

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P O W E R TA I L S

his summer, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will decide on whether to allow a 50% increase in the amount of ethanol in

the nations gasoline supply, from the current E10 (or containing 10% ethanol) up to E15 (containing 15% ethanol). However, with

testing data on the new mid-level ethanol formulation to be completed on only a small group of 2001 and newer model vehicles by

this time frame, consumers with older cars, boats, non-road vehicles or gas-engine powered equipment may find that the fuel is no

compatible or safe for use.

Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatU.S.), the nations largest boat owners group, is concerned. Some of our members have advised

us of performance, compatibility and possible safety issues with the current E10 blend, said BoatU.S. Vice President of Government Affairs Margare

Podlich. To add 50% more ethanol to every gallon of gas without first knowing what it will do to the older vehicles and other gasoline engines we

currently own, is simply irresponsible, she added.

The U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety has also raised concerns about higher levels of ethanol and the lack of independent testing. Ethanol, a

strong solvent, can accelerate the deterioration of fuel system components such as fuel lines, causing them to fail and increasing the level of risk for

fire or explosions.

Last year Growth Energy, the lobbying group for the ethanol industry, petitioned the EPA to allow the sale of mid-level ethanol blends beyond the

current 10% (E10) up to the 15% level (E15). In a November 30, 2009 response , the EPA advised Growth Energy that, Although all of the studies

have not been completed, our engineering assessment to date indicates that the robust fuel, engine, and emissions control systems on newer vehicles

(probably 2001 and newer model years) will likely be able to accommodate higher ethanol blends, such as E15.

However, the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS), whose mission is to support an informed national legislature, reports in a January

28, 2010 Report for Congress that the EPAs November response letter Made no comment on the status of testing for older vehicles or for non-road

engines. The CRS report also says, Currently, no automaker warranties its vehicles to use gasoline higher than 10% ethanol, and small engine

manufacturers similarly limit the allowable level of ethanol.

The CRS report also says its unclear if the current fuel distribution systems -- the pumps, tanks, delivery vehicles and underground gas lines -- can

tolerate blends higher than E10. Even if the fuel is approved by EPA for use in motor vehicles, presumably fuel suppliers could be unwilling to sell thefuel unless they are confident that it will not damage their existing systems or lead to liability issues in the future, the CRS reports.

The report adds a comment by the independent certification and testing company Underwriters Laboratories saying, Under normal business condition

E10 at the dispenser (fuel pump) can vary from about seven to 13 percent ethanol. Assuming a similar variance would exist for E15, it likely under

normal conditions ethanol concentrations would exceed the 15% limit.

We recognize that alternative fuels must be brought to market in the U.S., said Podlich. However, there is also a growing awareness among

consumers that corn-based ethanol is not the environmental panacea it was thought to be several years ago. Increased food costs, changes in land use

and the energy required to produce ethanol are now giving many Americans second thoughts.

Changes in Fuel

T

Story courtesy of BoatU.S.

The Ethanol debate continues while boaters wonder how they will be affected

8/9/2019 Mariner 87

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With El Neno still dishing out a mixtureof good and bad weather, I think were

all looking forward to seeing the stringand summer come back. Although itsbeen cold and green around the SantaMonica Bay the sandbass bite hasremained. If youre out for ling cod,Im hearing a lot of guys talking aboutfishing deep structure for them and ifLarry and Mike at Inseine Baits havecured sardines, the lings love it.

The half day/three-quarter day boatshave been pulling in lots of sculpinand rockfish. During a recent weekendthey reported over 400 rockfish caught

in the Bay.

Now the weather is beginning to turnwe expect to see the white seabassbite around Catalina rebound fromwhat weve been seeing the lack ofsquid hasnt helped anything there.

If not enoughs happening aroundthese parts for you and you havesome time, its always cool to headdown to San Diego that gets thewarmer waters coming from Mexico.The yellowtail bite has been on.

Cant wait for the summer!

Until next time..tight lines

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R A C I N G S C E N E

Sh o rt Ha n d e d Ra c e t oG u a d a lu p e Isla n d

By Eric and Robin Lambert

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he Pacific Singlehanded Sailing

Association (PSSA) Guadalupe

Island Race for single and double

handers is deceptively simple: start

at Marina del Rey, round Guadalupe Island to

port, finish at Cat Harbor, Catalina, for a total

course length of 588-miles. But there can be

a whole world of drama in those miles, with a

great range of sailing conditions and a course

long enough that pacing and sleep management

skills become significant.

The race is held every second year during the

March full moon. Runaway had won the 2008

race by dint of being the only finisher, but we

did set a corrected time course record so we

were not just doing it as a cruise.Runaway is a

36 foot sloop, impeccably built of cold molded

plywood and epoxy by Gary Titchenal. Like

Ragtime, shes a John Spencer design, albeit

with some astute modifications by the builder.

Gary built her for himself, and cruised her some

35,000 miles over nearly 20 years before selling

her to us. We are Eric and Robin Lambert, long

time cruisers who sailed our previous boat most

of the way around the world. Financial reversals

have put similar cruising plans forRunaway on

hold, but as long as we are stuck here working,

we may as well have fun. And fun we are having

since discovering the wonderful world of racing

and the friendly, supportive folks who are the

PSSA.

Friday, March 26, 3 p.m., and we are off.Ragtime

sliced by, leapt over the horizon and was gone,

never to be seen again. The rest of us, mostlyin 4KSBs, plod away. Theres a good sailing

breeze out of the SW and the fleet can fetch the

west end of Catalina, but Id noted the hint of a

Catalina eddy, and feared that a windhole might

form at the island. Accordingly, directly after

the start, we tacked and put in a mile to the west,

a move so ostensibly stupid, only an idiot would

follow us. Damn, Whitall Stokes on Slacker

followed us! I wanted to clear the west end by at

least five miles, so sailed slower and higher with

Slacker doggedly following while the rest of the

fleet footed off, intending to cut the point more

closely. Darkness fell with us clearly behind

but we stuck to our plan, and sailed through the

night with good breeze all the way. By 6 a.m

roll call, Runaway and Slacker were 30-mile

ahead of our main competition. Hah! It worked

The fleet had fallen into the hole, and while the

big boats Ragtime and Tenacity managed to

extricate themselves fairly adroitly, the smaller

boats had a much tougher time.

But no lead is big enough to give safety in this

race. Rod Percival onRubicon IIIis notorious foovercoming huge deficits to snatch victory, and

I knew hed be gunning for us. As it happened

that Saturday and Sunday of the race offered the

kind of sailing that makes every expense, every

hassle, of boat ownership worthwhile. Halcyon

days, no-place-in-the-world-Id-rather-be days

gliding on smooth seas under blue skies by

day and spectacular canopies of stars by night

somewhat washed out by the big fat friendly

moon. But our breeze was dying, and a fresh

stronger breeze was filling in from the north

bringing Rubicon IIIand Thriller with it.

T

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Guadalupe Island is about the size of Catalina,

but at 4000-feet high, it is twice as tall. Rounding

the island makes for a difficult battle with the

windshadow, and while Runaway and Slackerwere parked in the dead zone,Rubicon IIIand

Thriller swept around on the breeze and joined

us. After 300-miles of racing, we four were

looking at a virtual restart, with all four boats

in a line. Since all four boats have the same or

similar PHRF ratings, you do have to give some

credit to the rating board no matter how popular

it is to malign them.

The Mexican Navy maintains a base on the

island, and a naval ship approached from the

mainland. The ship was curious about this

invasion of foreign vessels, and interviewed

Rubicon IIIand Thriller on the VHF. The naval

officer spoke perfect English and was crisp and

professional, and I guess having determined that

we were harmless but probably insane, wished

us a good voyage and offered the services of the

Mexican Navy if we required them. All in all, it

was the sort of encounter that leaves one with

warm, positive feelings toward a country.

Back to battling the dead zone, which was dead

only with respect to wind. The sea was littered

with whitecaps from steep, nasty little two-

foot breakers, and the boats were bucking and

kicking, making it difficult to nurse progress

from the occasional zephyr. Finally, we

broke free into a sustained NW wind of some

20-knots. Through the day and into the night,

the wind steadily built.Runaway does not have

wind instruments, but when she is heeling over

40 degrees with just a #4 jib up, you can figure

that there is rather more wind than we really

need. Once the wind dropped to the low 30s,

we hoisted the triple-reefed main, and started

our beat to weather, 280 miles to go. The seas

were steep and blocky;Runaway would fire off

a wave and smash down, hitting the water with

a tremendous crash. I dont know how merefiberglass boats could take it, but Runaway is

insanely strong, and offered no complaints.

Our bearing to the finish was pretty much

north, and the wind was pretty much NW, so

we could almost fetch it on port tack. But the

winds become more westerly near the finish,

so it often pays to get some westing in as soon

as possible. Indeed, the words of Frank Ross

on Prankster rang in my ears. He, a veteran of

many Guadalupe Island races, had said, The

hardest thing youll ever do is to tack west after

rounding the island. Our routing on Expedition

concurred, so we tacked off to the west, picked

what turned out to be a perfect layline call, and

raced for the finish, changing between the #4

and the #3 jibs and the second and third reefs

every few hours as the wind varied.

On Wednesday, wed rounded the east end of

San Clemente Island when the 6PM roll call

positions came in: that fiendish Rod Percival,

whom we thought wed put safely behind us,

had made a huge gain and was set to pass the

west end of the island. He was just 12 miles

further from the finish than we were, and we

owed him two hours. With the #3 jib and the

second reef,Runaway was overpowered, but we

couldnt ease up now. We hammered

mariner 87

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