Loews Crown
Isle Marina
4000 Coronado Bay Rd.
Coronado, CA 92118
Tel: 619-424-4455
Fax: 619-424-4400
E-mail Address:
fclark@loewshotels.com
Office Hours:
Monday - Sunday
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
After Hours Security Phone:
619-424-4421
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Happy Holidays From the Marina Office!
I don't even want to think about "how many shopping days there are left until Christmas" as I am still asking my staff, "didn't we just take down all those decorations in the marina office?
I know the holidays are such a busy time, but here we are again putting up lights on the boats and docks
We really do appreciate it when you take the time to decorate as well. That's why we offer those incentives, in order to create that wonderful holiday atmosphere and spirit in our little community.
Just to recap the details - We will be offering free electricity during the month of December, and reimbursing you up to $100.00 for the decorations.
Boats must be decorated by December 7th to receive the credit.
Holiday Cocktail Party
Please RSVP by December 9th for the holiday cocktail party we are having on December the 12th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 p.m. We hope to see you there!
Before you know it we will be saluting Happy New Year to bring in 2010 !!
Holiday Festivities at the Hotel
Here are a few details on some of the holiday festivities going on in the hotel:
Hanukkah
Celebrate eight nights of the Festival of lights in our lobby. Enjoy cookies and punch as we light the Menorah each evening.
Christmas Eve
Enjoy Mistral’s rustic Northern Italian and Southern French cuisine while overlooking extraordinary views of the San Diego skyline and Coronado Bay. On Christmas Eve, select holiday dishes will be offered in addition to Mistral’s regular a la carte menu. Reservations are available from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Please note: the Market Café will be closed on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Day
Join Master French Chef Marc Ehrler as he creates an extravagant Champagne Christmas Buffet featuring slow-roasted natural prime rib, Tasmanian salmon, oven roasted turkey, Agave nectar glazed Virgina ham, California Wine Country selections, seafood, sushi, and fabulous holiday desserts. The buffet is available in the Constellation Ballroom from noon to 5 p.m. $52 for adults, $25 for children, plus tax and gratuity. Please note: Mistral will be closed on Christmas Day.
New Year’s Eve
Visit Mistral to ring in the New Year above the clouds. Enjoy live entertainment and an exquisite five-course menu featuring a unique marriage of Northern Italian and Southern French cuisine. The cost is $75 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Wine pairings for each course can be added at two tiers, $32 or $60. Dinner reservations can be made from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
New Year’s Day
After a night of festivities, enjoy the New Year’s Day Blues, Brews and Barbecue featuring our signature beer can ribs, country corn bread, and ice cold draft beer. Start the New Year off right with live blues, down home cookin’ and San Diego’s most breathtaking view from our private island. The buffet is available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. $28 for adults and $14 for children.
That's it for me - Happy Holidays everyone !!.
Fred Clark - Marina Manager
fclark@loewshotels.com
Digital Selective Calling (DSC) - Are You Plugged In?
- By Richard Benscoter
It all started almost 11 years ago with the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) in February of 1999. The GMDSS has automated marine radio distress alerting through the use of a technology known as Digital Selective Calling (DSC).
So what is DSC? In a nutshell, it's a private communication line on marine VHF radio. When you purchase a DSC enabled VHF radio, you apply for a Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI), which is a nine digit number that identifies you and your vessel.
MMSI is obtained free of charge for non-commercial users through Boat US, SeaTow and US power squadrons. Commercial DSC users, or those who travel outside the U.S. or Canada, must apply to the Federal Communications Commission for a ship station license, which will when issued, will have your MMSI number.
When DSC is connected to your GPS, your radio becomes a life saving device with a push of a button. DSC's signal is robust, and your distress call will get through even when voice communications will not. The digital signal tells your location, your name, and type of vessel, and is transmitted in 1/3 of a second. It's accurate, complete, and automatically recorded so there are no transcription errors. The signal continues to be transmitted until answered by the coast guard.
When answered by the coast guard, your radio is automatically switched to channel 16, and an audio signal announces that the coast guard has received your distress call. In addition, other vessels equipped with DSC will receive your emergency transmission, and your position will be displayed so they may also render assistance if in the area.
O.K. - It works in emergencies, but it also allows you to call your friends who have a DSC MMSI number that you have programmed into your radio, like entering the cell phone number in your phone.
You select a working channel you wish to communicate on, not 16, then select their MMSI number and select the Routine call from the list of DSC calls available on your radio, and press send.
Your radio will indicate the call has been sent. It will indicate if the called station has received your call and will to switch to the working channel you selected before the call and begin your conversation and advise the called station of what working channel you have selected.
DSC has many non emergency uses that vary with the type of radio you have. Some of these options include routine calls to others vessels or shore stations, sending and receiving position reports, )great for fisherman sending the numbers confidentially), polling other vessels for position reports, and group calling.
If you are using DSC, great; if you haven't invested the time to or haven't used the system yet, I recommend you do so. It provides a added level of safety and enjoyment to your boating experience. If you go shopping for a new VHF radio, check the DSC options before you buy.
The best of the holidays and 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.
Boating Tip of the Month
- By Richard Benscoter
For years, we sail boaters have used inexpensive winch handle pockets in our cockpits to keep our winch handles tidy and available. We also mount a few of these below decks in strategic places to keep necessary items handy and secure from being tossed around while at sea.
For our power boat friends, may we suggest that a couple of these mounted in your engine room are perfect storage for a flashlight, rags, battery hydrometers and many more items that are used routinely that could be stored in a winch handle pocket. We promise we won't tell your friends you have sailboat hardware aboard!
On-Board Food Tip of the Month
Too tired to cook or go out? Or maybe just want to be pampered on board after a great day on the water?
If your boat is in San Diego, you're in luck! A company called Expressly Gourmet will bring it to you from your favorite San Diego restaurant.
Check it out next time before you put on your shoes and head up to the parking lot when you don't feel like it.
A BlueSkyNews.com Quiz About Fog - Do You Know What To Do If You Get Caught In It?
- By Bob Sherman
We don't get it too often here in Southern California, but so far this year we have had more than usual share of fog!
Do you remember what signals to use, and how often? Test your knowledge of the USCG "Navigation Rules" with this short quiz. Answers are below. (Note: A short blast of the horn is about 1 second - A prolonged blast is 4-6 seconds).
Question #1 You are underway, (under power if a sailboat) and the fog closes in. You slow down so that you can stop within half the range of your visibility, or slower. You immediately start fog signals, either manually with your horn, or with an automatic loudhailer. You post a bow & radar watch with qualified crew, and turn on your navigation lights. You double check your radar and GPS settings. What horn signal do you give every TWO minutes?
a. 1 short
b. 1 prolonged
c. 2 short
d. 2 prolonged
Question #2 You detect another vessel's fog signal forward of your beam, but you cannot see it or spot it on your radar. You should:
a. Maintain course and speed
b. Slowly circle around
c. Slow to bare steerageway
d. Stop, look and listen
e. Either C or D
Question #3 A mile from the harbor entrance, the fog becomes so thick that you can barely see past the bow. You shift to neutral, but hold your position. Now what signal do you give every TWO minutes?
a. 1 short
b. 1 prolonged
c. 2 short
d. 2 prolonged
Question #4 You hear "prolonged-short-short" off in the distance. What type of vessel could this be?
a. Sailboat underway
b. Vessel with restricted maneuverability
c. Vessel towing another
d. Vessel engaged in fishing
e. All of the above
Question #5 You decide to anchor until conditions improve. The signal you give is:
a. Prolonged-short-short
b. Short-prolonged-short
c. Rapid ringing of bell for 5 seconds
d. Three strokes of the bell
e. Either B or C.
ANSWERS: 1: b / 2: e / 3: d / 4: e / 5: e
Notes: Occasionally, it's a good idea to practice a slow harbor approach, using your radar and GPS in clear daylight conditions, before you find yourself in reduced visibility. Warning: This is tricky with boat traffic - you need qualified crew to keep watch and you must obey all right-of-way rules during your simulation! Make sure you know how to 'tune" your radar, and bear in mind that small vessels may not show up except at very short range, but lives are still at stake.
While we believe the information in this short quiz is accurate, it was published just to get you thinking about how familiar you are with the rules of the road, and is not approved by the USCG. You should have a copy of the USCG Navigation Rules on board your vessel at all times, and refer to it for all official rules.
Fog photo courtesy of Richard Benscoter of Mariners Woodshop.
Editor's Note: Bob Sherman has over 19 years of Yacht sales experience and is the owner of YachtSource. He is also qualified to instruct on all vessel types, and has held 100-ton Captain's license since 1982. He is an avid sailor, and scuba diver.
Sunroad Boat Show Takes Shape
Plans for San Diego's newest boat show are moving full speed ahead with the full support of the San Diego Unified Port District.
Created to continue the tradition of a major annual San Diego recreational boating event, the San Diego Sunroad Boat Show will be held January 28-31, 2010 at the Sunroad Resort Marina on San Diego's scenic Harbor Island.
The show will feature over 200 land side and in water exhibits. Unlike previous shows which display only new boats, the Sunroad show will also showcase quality used boats and yachts, plus the latest products and services for boaters.
Located on the East end of Harbor Island in San Diego Bay, the show will have plenty of parking available with free shuttle transports. For more information, Click Here.
Happening in San Diego in December
San Diego's 38th Annual Boat Parade of Lights
The Port of San Diego's 36th annual "Parade of Lights" will be held on Sunday, December 13th, and Sunday, December 20, 2009 from 5:30 PM until 9:00 PM.
Fireworks on both Sundays begin at 5: 30 p.m.; the Light Parade begins immediately following the fireworks The parade takes approximately one hour to one and a half hours to pass any given point along the parade route.
If you've never witnessed San Diego's Parade of Lights before, plan to be entertained by the imagination of San Diego's recreational boaters, who deck out their boats with lights in creative and entertaining themes. Bring the chairs and blankets early to stake out a good viewing place along the waterfront, and prepare to have a fun evening.
For boaters wishing to view the parade from their boats on the bay, a good viewing area is where the parade route turns for Coronado, near the 10th Street Terminal. For those viewing on land, the north and south ends of the Embarcadero as well as the pathway along Coronado are good spots as they tend to be less crowded. If you plan on viewing the parade from Harbor Island, get there early and be aware that parking is at a premium. Another good spot is the park behind Seaport Village.
Mission Bay Christmas Boat Parade of Lights
Bundle up the kids, grab the lawn chairs and the cooler, and head for Mission Bay on Saturday, December 12th for the popular Mission Bay Christmas Boat Parade of Lights.
Sponsored by the Mission Bay Yacht Club, the parade of over 100 brightly decorated boats starts at 7:00 p.m. at Quivira Basin and ends up by the Sea World tower for the 9:00 p.m. lighting up of the sky by the Sea World fireworks.
There are lots of great viewing points including Riviera Shores, Crown Point, Santa Clara Point, the east side of Vacation Island, and the west side of Fiesta Island.
For a map of the parade route or to sign up to participate Click Here to visit the parade's official web site or call 858-488-0501.
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