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Cruising to the Northern Channel Islands - Part 1
- By Frank & Martha Mowry

This begins a three part series of articles treating cruising to the Northern Channel Islands: Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel.

This island chain which runs roughly Southeast to Northwest is separated from mainland California by the Santa Barbara Channel. These islands are a jewel of Southern California cruising, and well worth your consideration as a priority destination.

Though you're not going to a distant third world country, the Channel Islands cruise from San Diego is not a trip to the beach, and requires thoughtful preparation. Round trip from San Diego is 300 to 350 nautical miles depending on your route and extent of cruising in the Islands.

The prevailing winds are WNW to NNW affording some opportunity for sailing, but our experience would indicate that motor sailing predominates - especially during the transit to the Islands. Once there, wind speeds and wind directions offer a variety of points of sail.

Martha and I avoid overnight travel by visiting several ports on the way up and back. Our itinerary varies, and we have over-nighted at Mission Bay, Dana Point, Oceanside, Newport Harbor, Redondo Beach, Marina del Rey and Oxnard. A faster transit would be from San Diego to Isthmus Cove on Catalina Island; and from there to the Islands, with each leg being about 75 nautical miles.

Maps covering these cruising areas include NOAA #18740 and 18720. They can be purchased individually and are also included in the " Chart Kit of Southern California" along with other helpful large and small scale maps of the area.

Since we overnight at several ports on our way to the islands, the chief provisioning concern is the time to be spent at the islands. It's important to assure you have an adequate supply of propane. In addition to the boat propane tank(s), don't forget the small canisters for the barbecue.

We do general provisioning with food stuffs and beverages prior to departing. Potable water, ice, and frozen foods added to the larder at our last port prior to leaving for the islands. Try to minimize the use of paper products to better to contain your trash burden. What you carry into the Channel Islands you carry out! That's everything!

Finally we top off our diesel at the last port-of-call. Next we visit the islands.

About Ports of Call Along the Way to
the Channel Islands

Anchoring in Mission Bay (Mariner's Cove) is free of charge - limit 3 nights - no permit required.

Dana Point anchorages both east and west end of the basin are also free, no permit required. Guest slips are available at Dana Point through the Dana Point Marina Company 949-496-6137. It's best to call ahead for a slip.

Newport Harbor has bow/stern mooring, anchoring, and guest slips. The guest slips attach to private marinas and require pre-arrival arrangements. The moorings are obtained at the harbormaster's office ($5.00 per night). They are difficult to use because most have no spreader line between bow and stern buoys. With any wind, help from the Harbor Patrol is required for the unpracticed mariner. Anchoring is free but limited and presence of crewman required at all times.

Oceanside Harbor offers guest slips on a first-come, first-served basis. A slip may be obtained at the Oceanside Harbor District Office for 75 cents per foot per day - 760-435-4000.

Marina del Rey has public slips at 50 cents per foot per day. They are located at the county docks at the foot of Burton Chase Park. Contact the Department of Beaches and Harbors Burton Chase Park 310-305-9595. Reservations are not accepted; first-come, first-served. Some of the private marinas also offer guest slips. No anchoring or buoys available.

The Channel Islands Harbor located at Oxnard, California is a favorite jumping off point for Channel Islands cruisers and offers both public and private guest slips. For a slip at the Peninsula Park Guest Dock contact the Harbor Patrol on Channel 16 or call 805-382-3007 on arrival. The same is true for the Pacific Corinthian Marina 805-984-2847, and Peninsula Yacht Anchoring 805-985-6400. Slip fees vary from 45 cents per foot per day to $30 per day for boats 39 feet or more. We have stayed at the Channel Islands Marina on several occasions and found both facilities and staff to be excellent. Contact them at 805-984-7780. Reservations accepted.

All of the marinas mentioned have full service including pump-outs, fuel docks, shore facilities, trash disposal receptacles, and water/power hookups. Oxnard has handy markets for last minute provisioning. I would recommend you acquire "The Southern California Boater's Guide" 2nd Edition published by Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission 213- 576-6615. It's an exceptional document and should be in the library of every Southern California cruiser. No charge; but donations to the commission are appreciated.

Much of the time during the cruise to the Channel Islands is spent at anchor. Your dinghy and outboard are essential and require your attention prior to departure. Check 'em out. Few things can complicate your trip more than an outboard that won't start, or a leaky inflatable. Oh yes, don't forget the OBM gas.

Stay tuned.

Editor's Note: Frank and Martha Mowry have enjoyed cruising southern California waters for 10 years aboard their 42' Island Packet sloop. Click Here to send Frank and Martha an e-mail with your sea stories or questions.

Nautical Trivia - Reefing
Reefing is a sailing maneuver intended to reduce the area of a sail on a sailboat which can improve the boat's stability and reduce the risk of capsizing, broaching, or damaging sails or boat hardware in a strong wind.

There are three common methods of reefing: conventional, roller, and jiffy. The latter two make sail-handling easier and allow reefing to be done with fewer crew members. For more information about reefing, Click Here.

PC Tip of the Month - Some Google-licious Tricks
- By Professor Von Billygates
Every time you use Google to search for things on the Internet, it seems like they've added some great new features. Here's a couple you may not have tried:

Search Nearby: Next time you find a location on a Google map - say, the location of a business appointment you have, check out the "Search Nearby" feature. You can enter a keyword like "hotel" or "pizza" and the map will show you where you can get those things nearby your appointment.

Intitle: This one is really useful. It searches the words in the title bar of web pages, and can help you find a product that you liked, but can't remember where you found it. This trick will help you find out who sells it.

Example: intitle:"Weber BabyQ" - Be sure not to put a space after the colon, and put your key words in double quotes. A great way to comparison shop.

Far Flung Boaters Enjoy Web Seminars at Home
Is your boat in San Diego and your home in Seattle?

No problem - Boaters from as far away as Indiana are logging in to "attend" BlueSkyNews.com's popular boating web seminars right on their PCs in the comforts of home.

Participants are able to hear and see the presenter's slides and ask questions of not only the speaker, but also other participants in a relaxed and informal on-line "meeting". Upcoming web seminars include:

February 10th
Taking Your Boat Out For Whale Watching

February 24th
Cruising to Catalina

March 3rd.
Diesel Engine Maintenance Tips

Rescue 21 - A Giant Leap For Boating
- By Bob Simons
This is a terrific announcement, and it will make you and your boat safer.

The US Coast Guard is in the process of installing and testing a new emergency communications system called Rescue 21.

The system has been used for the past year successfully on the East Coast and the Northwest and Alaska regions.

Soon San Diego will have the benefit of this great system which will be operated in tandem with the current system for a few months.

In layman's terms, when the system is fully operational and you press the little red button on your radio, or call Mayday on Channel 16, the Coast Guard will be able to immediately and automatically triangulate your position and take appropriate action.

We have had Digital Select Calling (DSC) radios for the past few years, but these required you to interface your radio with your GPS in order for it to relay your position. Rescue 21 gets your position automatically.

You will still have to fill out the MMSI paperwork for your vessel because that assigns you a unique number that provides a complete description of the vessel and contact your information.

There are many other techy things that the radios are useful for, but now is the time for you to step up to one of the new radios that will provide you unparalleled safety that has not been available in the past. I just bought one of the DSC-VHF Class "D" radios that will provide many additional benefits to my communications.

Over the years, navigation and communications have made great strides. The GPS replaced LORAN that had replaced Radio Direction Finders. RESCUE 21 will replace or supplement DSC Radios that replaced VHF Radios that had replaced Double Side Band tube radios. Most of this has happened during the lifetime of Baby Boomers.

Click Here for more information about the Rescue 21 system.

Bob Simons has been in the Coast Guard Auxiliary for thirty years and owns a small sailboat as well as a small powerboat. He teaches classes in Boating Safety & Seamanship as well as Basic and Advanced Coastal Navigation.

How Sweet is Your Water???
- By Richard Benscoter

Every boater knows that if the boat's fresh water tank isn't getting regular use and re-filling, the water can develop an odor and an unpleasant taste.

Also, tap water has a maximum shelf life of 6 months, so if a good portion of the water in your tank has been in there that long, you probably need to take some action to clean it up.

But not to worry - I will explain how to get that clean fresh taste back without the odor.

First, there is a difference between cleaning your water and sanitizing your water. Cleaning involves removing all the debris and stains in the tank, and sanitizing is killing all the microscopic bugs living in the tanks.

This process I'll describe here will do both, and takes very little work. Let's get started.

If your water heater is on, turn it off, then deplete the hot water supply.

Next, you'll need 2 cups of bleach for every 15 gallons of water your tank holds. (Important: Don't use straight bleach or scented bleach - it can have damaging effects on some hoses used in your water system, and scented bleach will permeate your hoses and all plastic).

Mix the bleach 2 cups per gallon of water before putting it into your water tank.

After you have added the bleach solution, make sure your tanks are completely full. Make sure you use a potable water hose that is made for transferring potable water - they are clearly marked and are usually white in color. Ordinary garden hoses will give water a foul taste from the material from which they are made, and it will remain in your water tanks.

Another tip - When you are through using your potable water hose, screw the ends together to prevent contamination when stored. When you use a hose after being stored, always let water run through it for a few minutes before filling your water tanks.

Now - Turn on all faucets one at a time until you smell the chlorine of the bleach. Do this also to the hot water side, and don't forget that swim step shower.

Do not turn on your hot water heater! Let this mixture sit for 12 hours. Longer is not better!!!

After 12 hours, drain the tank, and open the valve on the hot water heater to drain.

Finally, refill your tanks with fresh water and turn on each outlet, hot and cold, and let the water run until there is no chlorine smell - again, remember the swim step shower.

You can now top off your water tanks and enjoy fresh, sweet smelling water again. Your tanks should now be clean and ready for use.

One last note - The water inlet side of most fresh water pumps has a screen to catch debris from the water tanks. It's a good idea to check this after you have completed your flush to make sure it's not clogged.

See you on the water!

Editor's Note: Richard Benscoter is a long time avid sailor. He's a member of the Silver Gate Yacht Club and owner of the Mariners Woodshop. If you have a sailing question for Richard, send e-mail to richard@BlueSkyNews.com.