Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina
1441 Quivira Road,
San Diego, Ca., 92109
Telephone:
619-221-4858
Fax:
619-224-0348
E-mail Address:
prescott.yee@hyatt.com
Web Site:
www.Hyatt.com
Office Hours:
Monday - Sunday
8:00 am - 6:00 pm
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From Your Marina Manager
Greetings and welcome to the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa & Marina January 2009 Newsletter
Happy New Year! We wish everyone a healthy and successful 2009.
Fuel Relief For Boaters and Anglers Is Finally Here While It Lasts
Fuel prices have been one of the more noticeable improvements to our economy over the last couple months. As a result, the fuel dock here at our Marina is pleased to be able to offer the following rate structures and discounts (while supply lasts):
Gas $2.59 Diesel $2.48
Commercial (100+ Gal.) $2.50 $2.39
Commercial (200+ Gal.) $2.38 $2.30
Mission Bay Yacht Club $2.38 $2.30
Mission Bay Marlin Club $2.38 $2.30
Some Friendly Reminders
As friendly reminder to each other, please remember:
- The 15 minute parking spaces near the loading docks are for active loading and unloading. Please remind any service providers of this and that there are usually plenty of other parking around the property.
- Do not clean your fish on the docks! This will help keep the area clean by minimizing the attraction of wildlife.
- Report any oil spill into the waters. It is the law and we must be informed.
- Report any items that may need maintenance attention. I will be sure to submit work orders promptly and work with our Engineering department to prioritize and address issues in a timely manner.
Until Next Time ...
Please know that I am here ready to assist each of our tenants with any needs.
Warmest regards,
Prescott Yee
Director of Guest Services and Recreation
prescott.yee@hyatt.com
- By Brett Dingerson
In seawater, the hardware on your boat (prop, shaft, through hulls, etc.) serves as a conductive medium. The AC grounding wire provides a direct electrical connection between the underwater hardware on boats that are plugged into shore power.
If your next door neighbor's boat has no zincs, then your boat's zincs will be eaten away first. Once the zincs are gone, both boats are subject to corrosive damage on the underwater hardware. The boat with the least noble metal among the different boats will always protect the other boats (zinc; aluminum; brass; stainless steel).
How far can galvanic corrosion travel between boats? Depending on water temperature, current, salinity, condition of zincs, proximity of boats, relative surface areas of the respective anodic (i.e. zinc) and cathodic (i.e. boat prop) metals, the voltage produced by galvanic activity (normally less than 1.0 volt) can affect boats two or three slips away before the current begins to dissipate through the water.
Be a good neighbor - replace your zincs regularly; verify your ground fault circuit breaker is set at the proper level, and if there has been arcing across the pins on the cord or the receptacles on the pedestal, notify the marina office.
Another tip - you can protect yourself by installing a Galvanic isolator, but as always, there is a catch. You must regularly monitor whether the isolator is working properly or the likelihood of an electrical shock hazard increases significantly. Galvanic isolators connect to the green wire, close to shore-power inlet, to block the circuit of galvanic current flow between neighboring boats.
Editor's Note: Brett Dingerson has over 25 years experience as a marine electrician, with a specialty in marine galvanic corrosion protection. He has worked with a wide range of sailing and power vessels and is the owner of San Diego-based Marine Electric. If you have an electrical question for Brett, send e-mail to brett@BlueSkyNews.com
Coast Guard Auxiliary "Tip" of the Month - The Real Case Against Mandatory Boating Education
- By Bob Simons
Forty-seven of the fifty-six U.S. States and Territories have some form of Boater Education in place, but California still lags behind.
The last time the mandatory boater education bill stalled in the California Legislature, one of our illustrious legislators opined that the reason was that "boating education is the job of grandparents".
Following similar logic, I'm sure that the reason may be that boat repair and fiberglass shops feel that boater education would reduce the number of repairs needed due to boating collisions.
Or perhaps the bill died because boat salespeople feel that it would make it more difficult to sell boats if their clients realized there were responsibilities and duties in boat ownership; not just the "dream and the glamour".
Of course the real reason we don't have mandatory boating education in California of is because of the usual competing suspects. Extraordinarily powerful shadow lobby groups in Sacramento and Washington who for some reason feel that hundreds of deaths every year and multi millions of dollars in property and personal damages is "unimportant compared to their special interests".
There's no question it's a complicated issue. There's the matter of who should be required to be "educated". Should mandatory operator license requirements apply to the "operators" of small sailboats, kayaks, single-person outriggers and other small non-motorized craft? And what about those people who "walk up" to the jet-ski rental counter?
Then there are the environmental interests like those at Monterrey Bay who would just as soon that there are no boats at all cohabiting waters with non-human species in their region. The list of special interest concerns goes on and on, but it seems a responsible legislature should start somewhere.
Meanwhile, the fact that mandatory boating education has been proven successful in saving lives and property damage in every state that has mandated it does not seem to phase the ill-conceived logic of the detractors. The fact also that almost every major boating organization and industry including TowBoat US, West Marine, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Power Squadron, etc. supports mandatory boating legislation also seems to mean nothing.
I doubt the Grandparent Lobby is the real problem.
Editor's Note: 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. Bob is also the co-owner of Seabreeze Books and Charts in Point Loma. You can send an e-mail to Bob at bobsimons@BlueSkyNews.com.
From The ECO-Detective - Clean Teak Decking and The Environment
- By Russ Grandinetti
I first saw Teak Minus and Teak Plus used on a boat in Florida last May, and I was surprised to find out that such an environmentally friendly product has been around for 35 years.
This truly biodegradable two step process for cleaning and restoring teak decking involves first the use of an Alkaline scrub to clean the teak (Teak Minus); followed by a teak restoration treatment (Teak Plus).
The Teak Minus is a phosphate free water dilutable base concentrate that breaks down dirt and pollutants in the teak. A great characteristic of Teak Minus is that it's easy on soft woods, and it requires only a minimal amount of scrubbing.
The Teak Plus is an acid companion water dilutable concentrate. It restores the teak luster, and it also doesn't harm paint varnish or fiberglass. The result is better by far than traditional teak cleaners.
When Teak Plus is applied on top of Teak Minus, the result is a solution which is neutral in ph when rinsed back into the water. In fact it is so neutral that a famous resort has been using it on teak decking over a pirate ship lagoon containing live fish for the last 20 years.
Another bit of trivia - the inventor of Teak Minus and Teak Plus was a chemist who became a preacher and environmentalist in later years. Talk about being ahead of your time!
Russ Grandinetti is a noted megayacht captain with a background in marine sciences and oceanography. He is now the Green Products and Services Manager for Knight & Carver YachtCenter in National City, Ca. For more information about the product highlighted in this article or other eco-friendly products, e-mail Russ with your questions and suggestions.
Red Marlin and Red Sails Restaurants Join "Dock 'n Dine" Club
How many places on San Diego Bay and Mission Bay can you take your boat and tie up to Dock 'n Dine?
With the recent addition of the newly renovated Red Marlin Restaurant at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina and the legendary Red Sails Restaurant on Shelter Island, there are now 25 restaurants to choose from.
All Dock 'n Dine restaurants require you to check in advance to see if a guest slip is available. Click Here to see the complete list of Dock 'n Dine restaurants; the times of availability; directions; and who to call for reservations.
A great way to have a fun outing on your boat (and also maybe impress your landlubber friends).
Secrets About Sails - Trimming An
Old Main
- By Brad Poulos
With today's economic uncertainty, many sailors are postponing purchasing new sails and trying to get a few more weeks or months out of their current set of sails.
For all sailors, in order to keep your sails performing well for as long as possible, it's important to take good care of them. Don't let your sails flog any longer than necessary, and for small boat sailors, always roll your sails carefully when storing them. However, even if you treat your sails very gently, they will still lose their designed shape slowly over time.
As a mainsail accumulates hours, its shape suffers in several ways. First, the position of maximum draft tends to blow aft in the sail (from 45% aft to 50% or even 55%). The sail also becomes a little fuller overall. This translates into more heeling and slower sailing speeds. Here are some trim ideas for your older mainsail:
- Don't trim the mainsheet (or vang) too hard, especially in light to medium air, or the leech will hook to windward. With less mainsheet tension, you may have to carry the traveler slightly higher than usual.
- Use extra cunningham to bring the deepest part of the sail forward. This is almost always a good idea in heavier wind, but be careful in light air since pulling on the cunningham makes the sail flatter (also be careful not to pull the backstay too hard).
- Pulling the outhaul a little tighter may help relieve leech tension and reduce some extra fullness in the lower part of the mainsail.
- In light air, you may have to ease the halyard down slightly so you don't have too much luff tension.
Sails age in much the same way children age - stealthily over time. Properly taken photos, with measurements of draft and trim, can help monitor changes over time. Talk to your local sailmaker about Accumeasure type programs to help you access your sails.
Happy sailing - see you next month.
Editor's Note: Brad Poulos is the General Manager at UK-Halsey Sailmakers and holds a US Coast Guard 50-ton masters license. Brad is also an ASA certified sailing instructor. If you have a question regarding the use or care of sails, send an e-mail to brad@BlueSkyNews.com.
Between The Sheets - Is It That Time Again?
- By Richard Benscoter
The year is just about over and it's time to follow through on our list of resolutions for 2009.
So what is on my list for 2009? The usual, lose some weight, find the balance between work and family, but most of all, support and participate in boating events that give back to the community.
We are very fortunate to live in San Diego where there are charity boating events supported by the different yacht clubs and marinas. You don't have to be a member to participate; you just need to raise your hands and volunteer your time, and possibility your boat.
So why not add that to your list of New Year's resolutions too? Make sure you include a weekend to support our community. Once you participate, you will do it again. Why? Because, you will walk away with the best feeling in the world.
Here is a list of some, by all means not all of the events in San Diego you can help with. There are many more, but here is a good starting place for your 2009.
The Golden Run sponsored by the Chula Vista Yacht Club. For this event you provide your boat and time to take nursing home residents for a cruise on San Diego bay. You would be surprised at the people you meet here, and their contribution to our community.
The Little Race for Little People started in 1991 by marina residents to support Neonatal Intensive Care at Children's hospital. In this race you get a crew and your inflatable dingy and row a race. There are obstacles, and tons of fun. This race is also sponsored by the Chula Vista Yacht Club
There is also Big Race for Little People which is sponsored by the Point Loma Yacht Club which is a race under PRF rules.
If you are a fisherman, the Make-A-Wish Tuna Challenge is for you. A weekend of tuna fishing off the coast with a fishing boat and trailer as the grand prize. This event raises funds to grant wishes to children with life threatening diseases in San Diego. This event is hosted by Silver Gate Yacht Club.
Wheel Chair Regatta provides a trip on San Diego bay for wheel chair bound people and their care providers. Supported by volunteers from the Marine Corps, people are placed on boats for a tour of San Diego bay. Last year 700 guests toured the bay. This event has been sponsored by Silver Gate Yacht Club for 49 years.
Whatever your resolutions for 2009, I hope you will consider adding an event to support our community.
Have a very safe a prosperous new year, and I'll see you at the San Diego Boat Show,
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.
About Your Marine VHF Radio
If you are a new recreational boater, here are a few tips about the channels on your VHF marine radio that you will find useful. First and foremost, when you're cruising, you should always have your radio turned on and set to monitor channel 16.
Channel 16 is the boater's "window to the world". It's priority use is for calling in emergencies and distress safety communications to the U.S. Coast Guard, but when it's "quiet", Channel 16 is also the channel you can use to get the attention of another vessel or station (such as a marina or yacht club).
There are some strict regulations here as to how often you can continue to hail another station on Channel 16, but if you use common sense, a time or two will let you know whether your party is on-line and likely to respond. Don't persist too much, or you're likely to get a polite reprimand.
If you do get a response from the party you are hailing on Channel 16, the object of the game is to immediately agree on another channel that you can both switch to continue your communication.
As time goes by, you'll get the hang of which channels the local fishermen, commercial traffic, and casual boaters use to communicate, and which are most comfortable and appropriate for you to use.
In the meantime, here is a link to a terrific FCC chart that we recommend you print out to keep handy by your marine radio. It's tells you which channels are used for what, and it demystifies the marine radio channel protocol in a simplified manner.
BlueSkyNews.com Authors Scheduled to Speak at the San Diego Boat Show
You've read their interesting articles in your monthly newsletters - We invite you to meet our authors in person and hear them speak at the San Diego Boat Show.
Richard Benscoter; Brad Poulos; Bob Simons; and Russ Grandinetti will all be there on the boat show stage. Click Here to see the schedule. I'll see you there too!
Nautical Trivia - Aloof
The word aloof originated from an old Dutch word "loef", meaning windward.
It eventually became common to refer to a vessel traveling with a fleet of ships which sailed higher into the wind so that she could draw ahead of the rest of the fleet. Thus aloof has come to mean "one who stands apart".
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