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From the Dockmaster
 Welcome to the Marina Cortez April 2008 e-mail newsletter.
I hope you're all enjoying the arrival of some warm weather, and looking forward to a great spring cruising season.
We've got a lot of great items for you in this issue, including the details of the return of the Red Bull Air Race on May 3rd and 4th.
Summer's Coming! And So Are Those Boat Maintenance Projects
With the warmer weather comes the usual "boat chores" that arose during the winter month.
Please remember that in order to comply with coast guard and coastal commission regulations, many of the exterior projects on your vessel must be performed at a boat yard, instead of in your slip.
Even for some " light " maintenance projects such as waxing and polishing, dropcloths must be used to prevent any particles from getting into the water.
Power sanders and polishers must have a bag or vacuum attachment. No spraying of paints is permitted.
Also, as a courtesy to your neighbors, please do not use any noisy power tools on the weekend days. With the exception of urgent needs for a mechanic, we ask that you do not schedule vendors on weekends as well.
That's it For Now
I look forward to seeing you all on the docks. In the meantime, don't forget to send those items you'd like to see in future newsletters or any great sea stories you have to share.
Carol Pagliuso - Marina Manager
Tel: 619-291-5985
Between the Sheets - Spring is Sprung; The Grass is Ris; I Wonder Where the Qualified Boaters Is?
- By Richard Benscoter
The wind was up, and we were on our outbound leg to buoy five for a fine day of racing. It was one of those spectacular San Diego Spring days, and all the boaters who hibernated during the Winter dusted off their vessels and headed out for the deep blue. It was the season again to play dodge-ball with boats.
Wait a minute - Here we were, the stand on vessel, and we were being overtaken by a power boat. A collision was imminent if we didn't do something fast! A 90 degree course change was the only thing that prevented the meshing of fiberglass, and as our phantom intruder passed by, the skipper was busy talking and not looking at where he was going.
If you think about it, the water is one of the few remaining places on earth you can't be certain that the other guy has at least a basic understanding of the rules of the road. On the streets, you can reasonably count on the fact that the other guy knows which side of the street to drive on and that a red light means to stop. But there is no such assurance on the water.
The point of this is that I can't imagine why in this day and age some people get behind the helm of a boat without the slightest understanding of the maritime rules of the road and what their responsibility is?
Editor's Note: Richard may get his wish to cruise in safer waters in the future if California's Assembly Bill #2110 is passed for mandatory boating education. In the meantime, Richard points out that the Coast Guard offers many free courses, both on-line and in classroom, to learn the rules of the road of boating.
 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.
Coast Guard Auxiliary Tip of the Month -My CF Number Looks Cool - Why Not?
-By Bob Simons
 If the only visible identification on your boat or dinghy is a CF number, it might aid in your rescue if you have a problem out there on the water...or not, depending on whether you know what we're going to tell you about here.
If you have a problem and report yourself in distress, your Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary is going to send out assets looking for you, and this is usually not going to be in the most ideal conditions. There are many vessels out there, and when we are called to assist, it is necessary for us to not only find a boat, but to determine exactly which boat is in distress.
Often there are multiple boats in the general area a distressed boat reports themselves to be in, and the description of a "white boat with blue trim" is the topic of many jokes among rescue crews. Knowing the length is a help, but from a fast moving rescue boat or a helicopter, subtle differentials of a few feet are difficult to determine. Frequently, the CF number is what we use to positively determine which boat is the one in distress.
For us to do that, the numbers must be visible and readable from a distance and be of contrasting color to the hull. They must be plain vertical block capital letters and numbers (not cutesy scrollwork or darling colors), no less than three inches in height that are permanently attached to the forward half of the hull. The letters should be separated from the numbers by three inches or a dash
"Visible" means they shouldn't be under the flare or flange of the boat, making them visible only to swimmers.
"Readable" means black on white or white on black. Other combinations might be a nice decorator ideas, but not appropriate for a rescue at sea.
Check your CF numbered boat or dinghy to make sure it meets these requirements - the day may come when you'll be glad you did.
 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. If you or your marina would like to set up a day for Vessel Safety Checks, Bob invites you to e-mail
Jim Mayfield or call him at 858 344-4878.
From the Inside - Red Bull Air Race
 The Red Bull Air Race World Series is returning to San Diego on Saturday and Sunday, May 3rd and 4th. We're the second stop on their nine nation tour this year.
This year the race is combined with the kick-off of San Diego's Fleet Week, which among other things means that the planes will likely be taking off and landing at the Naval Air Station on Coronado instead of from Brown Field and Montgomery like they did last year.
 There are so many great vantage points to see the action both on the Coronado and San Diego sides of the bay that it's hard to choose where to go. On Coronado, anywhere from the bridge to the Naval Air Station will work. On the San Diego side, Seaport Village North and South Embarcadero are the best viewing locations.
 If you can situate yourself near one of Red Bull's unbelievably huge jumbo-tron screens, they show crystal clear live shots and narration from the cockpit of the planes as they twist and turn through the pylons shooting for the best time through the course.
Another amazing thing to see is the full scale air traffic control tower they build on the grass behind the Convention Center.
Parking is definitely an issue, so if you're bringing a car, the advice is to bring your patience and arrive as early as you can. The best bet is to use the trolley system or one of the shuttles. The Harbor Police are working with the other city agencies to improve the parking situation substantially this year..
 Of course, if you're a boater, you can see the action on the bay. If you're going to take your boat out to see the race, here's what you need to know.
First, there will be periods of closures of portions of San Diego bay both during setup days and the race itself. There will be times when you can't traverse between Shelter Island and the bridge, and also some temporary access closures to places like the Marriott Marina.
Second, the Coast Guard will let you get as close to the safety zone as possible, but don't anchor in the channel. You can only anchor outside the channel and outside the safety zone.
We recommend you check the Red Bull Air Race web site before you head out for the show. They will have complete ticketing info, parking info, and tons of other tips about how to enjoy the event to the fullest; and of course, the latest schedule of events.
Enjoy the show, and don't forget to take the camera!
BlueSkyNews.com Fishing Report
The Fish Are-a-Bitin' and the Weather Couldn't Be Better
- By Jason Coz
What else can I say! The rockfish season is here and the fish are biting great.
We're seeing lots of Red Rockfish and the Lingcod have started to appear, which as of April 1st you're allowed to keep.
Lingcod are unique to the West coast of North America, with the largest abundance off the coast of British Columbia. In Alaska there are many that reach 70 lbs. They are usually found on the bottom, occupying rocky areas at depths of 30 to 300 feet.
There are still a few Yellowtail hanging off the coast of La Jolla feeding off the live squid, but since the water temperature is now above 60 degrees, the rest will probably be departing soon.
As we said - the fish are-a-bitin' and the weather couldn't be better - it should be a terrific sportfishing season.
 Jason Coz is the owner/operator of the 85' M/V Dolphin half-day sportfishing boat operating out of Hyatt Mission Bay Sportfishing. Jason has his 100 ton captain's license and runs ½ day fishing trips twice a day, 7 days a week. If you have a question for Jason, you can e-mail him at jasoncoz1@msn.com
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San Diego Approves Controversial "Bay-to-Bay" Canal!
Boaters to be Able to Cruise From Mission Bay to San Diego Bay Via "Venice-Like" Waterway
Dateline San Diego - April 1, 2008 - In a surprise move behind closed doors, the San Diego City Council and the San Diego Port District resurrected and approved the controversial plan to build a navigable waterway between Mission Bay and San Diego Bay.
The original plan was tabled in 2002 as unfeasible, but recent renewed interest by major development groups sparked the reconsideration of the plan.
Plans for the canal call for a 300 foot wide waterway with a mean depth of 12 feet, with bridges tall enough to accommodate the typical 40 foot sailboat. (See Bay to Bay Connection). The entrance to the canal on the San Diego bay side will be near the ASW school and Liberty Station.
Waterfront properties for private homes and condo complexes with boat slips will line both sides of the canal.
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders lauded the landmark decision to build the canal saying "This project will bring in enough money to wipe out the pension deficit in less than five years."
Port Chairman Michael Bixler added "We'll probably wipe out an endangered specie or two in the process, but hey, you can't stop progress!"
Councilwoman Donna Frye, the only dissenting vote, could not be reached for comment.
-April Fools!!!
From the Poop Deck - Local Fisherman Receives "Seal of Approval"
 O.K. - So there might just possibly be one or two cute animals other than yours truly! Personally, I don't think so, but if there were, this might be one of them.
After many years of fishing, Seaforth Marina's Eddy Torrez finally brought home a champion sized catch of the sea ... or was it the other way around???
 While fishing off La Jolla, a cute seal pup jumped onto the swim step of Eddy's boat, Seeker, and sauntered through the open transom door.
He immediately made himself comfortable on a cockpit seat, kicked his head back and thoroughly enjoyed the leisurely cruise back to Mission Bay!
 Eddy's not totally sure, but he could swear he thought he heard the pup ask for a brewsky.
Sea World was notified about the cute hitch-hiker, but when they arrived back at the marina four hours later, Eddy's catch decided to abandon ship and was last seen looking for a free ride back to La Jolla.
Editor's Note: Madeline is always on the lookout for boating animal stories. Click Here to send Madeline an e-mail about your animal story.
The Call of the Water
- By Russ Cornelius
If the saying "A boater's two best days are the day he buys his boat and the day he sells his boat," is true, then Mike Morse has had many great days.
 Mike's addiction to boating started in 1982 when he purchased a 12' Dolphin sailboat. A year later he moved to a 14' ski-boat followed the next year with a 25' Coronado. Betraying his subtle and complicated sense of humor, his Coronado was named "Semper Ubi Sub Ubi" which literally translated means "Always Where Under Where".
Being able to spend extended periods of time on his boats has guided Mike's career choices of being a professor at USD and being an expert witness in electrical injury. Lots of free time in the summer as well as the periodic sabbaticals was compatible with lots of boating time.
After a few years of owning a 37' Islander, Mike bought a 47' Gulfstar Sailmaster in 1994 which became his home. Adventure beyond sailing the coastal waters called to Mike in 2001, so he sailed to Hawaii and then Alaska with a crew made up of power boaters. The stories of camaraderie and near mutinies will last in his mind forever.
It's 2004, Mike is now newly married with instant children. So with the plan to have a home on the water roomy enough for everyone, Mike makes the move to a 60' Lien Hwa. Whoa Mike. Your passion for boating and living on the water does not catch on. Other than a summer cruise to the Channel Islands, Mike is tethered to living on land and cruising San Diego Bay.
What to do? In 2007, Mike gets a second boat, a 34' CHB which he keeps in Anacortes, WA. He spent most of last summer cruising the San Juan Islands with family and friends. And as this article is being written, he is on a shake-down cruise to test some modifications on his CHB before he starts a trek this summer up to Alaska. Oh, Mike's Lien Hwa is for sale, and once that is sold, he'll buy himself a boating toy for the San Diego area. Mike just keeps having "best" days.
 Editor's Note: Russ Cornelius is a yacht broker with California Yacht Sales. Counting his service in the Navy, Russ has been boating since the early 70s and is one of those rare yacht brokers who actually owns a boat. There's something addictive about being on the water. Boaters know the draw. Many boaters will give up so many other things just so they can have their boat. Large or small. Power or sail. Fishing or cruising. Russ' column is about these boaters. If you know someone who you think would be interesting for everyone to read about, shoot him an email and let him know about them.
Leech Lines and Longevity
- By Brad Poulos
All sails today come equipped with leech lines or cords that enable sailors to stop that annoying flutter between the batten pockets on your mainsail or up the entire leech of your genoa. This flutter usually gets more pronounced as the wind increases and in some cases can get so noisy, it becomes difficult to hear anything else.
In the days of Dacron sails, adjusting the leech line was a matter of eliminating a nuisance, nothing more. Today, many cruising sailors and virtually all racing sailors use laminate sails, which places a new importance on properly adjusting the leech line to prevent damage to the sail.
 For example, let's consider the leech area in your mainsail between the clew and the lowest batten pocket (see photo). At the very edge of the sail, there is a Dacron tape that encloses the leech line. This tape usually extends 1-2" into the sail and then you are left with whatever laminate the sail is made of. When the leech flutters, the laminate bends or hinges back and forth just inside of this tape and as we have all seen, this frequency of this bending can amount to hundreds of times per minute in a stiff breeze.
To get an idea of what this is doing to the laminate, straighten out a paper clip and flex it back and forth a couple of times. The result is obvious! Of course the metal in a paper clip isn't nearly as flexible as a sail laminate, but Mylar film and some high modulus yarns used in racing sails do break down rather quickly when flexed.
So I'd like to offer some words of advice:
- Pay attention to the leech of your sails and adjust the leech line when the edge of the sail starts to flutter.
- Make sure the leech lines and cleats are adequate for the job. For instance they should be a low stretch line and of sufficient diameter to hold in the cleat. On large genoas, you may need a mechanical advantage (2 or 3:1 or even a small tackle). If your leech line cleat gets stripped and fails to hold the leech line, tighten the leech line and then tie it off until you can get the cleat replaced.
- Your mainsail leech line should be able to be adjusted when the sail is reefed; notice the cleat just above the reef in the picture. Cleats on the leech of the sail cannot be adjusted when the boom is eased out over the water; therefore, some offshore mains have two leech lines, where the second one is led over the top of the sail and down the luff to a cleat at the tack.
 Editor's Note: Brad Poulos is the General Manager at UK Sails 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.
Seasickness is No Joke! How to Avoid It
- By Bob Sherman
Those lucky few who have never experienced sea sickness say that it's all in your head, but It's not.
For sure, if it has happened often enough to someone, they may get nauseated by just stepping aboard as a conditioned response, however, seasickness happens more often to ordinary folks than you'd think, and it can turn a fun day into one of the worst experiences of your life.
It has been said about seasickness that at first you feel that you may die; then you worry that you won't.
Having been there myself on occasion, I am very sympathetic to anyone who is so disposed. Prevention works best. Keep updated on the weather and swell condition prior to your trip, and plan accordingly.
When in doubt, medicate! Discuss susceptibility with guests ahead of time. If they are susceptible, they should take medications a full two hours ahead of reaching open water. As a minimum, keep over-the-counter remedies aboard, such as Bonine or Meclizine, wrist bands, Saltine Crackers, Gatorade or similar drinks with electrolytes. Make the remedies readily and discreetly available to your guests. No one wants to admit they are getting queasy, until it is too late. (Then, everyone usually shares their worst motion-sickness stories, making the afflicted person feel even worse. )
I'm not a doctor, so anything I'm talking about here with reference to drugs is purely a personal observation. You should consult your physician to make sure any drug is safe for you to take. Also, be aware that some seasickness medications generally make you drowsy, and may impair judgment. The skipper must weigh these risks compared to incapacitation by seasickness. This makes the alternative use of natural remedies attractive, if you can find one that works for you
The only drug I've found to work once you're feeling bad is Phenergan, also known as Promethazine. It is by prescription, but it often works so well that if you can keep one down, it will work. It is available as an IM injection, if you have someone qualified to administer it. Once it starts to work, you'll need a nap, and probably be wiped out for the rest of the day, but it's better than being miserable.
Check out the internet. The newest products include ginger-based "Queasy Pops", gum, lozenges, and an oral spray called Vita-Motion. Different products work better for different people. The Transderm-Scop patches work well for some and lasts 3 days, but must be taken hours in advance. There is a new pill called "Scopace", that has the same active ingredient, but can just be taken for the day.
A few more tips:
- Don't go out with a hangover. It will be many times worse, combined with seasickness.
- Don't go to sea on an empty stomach, but avoid rich or greasy foods.
- Avoid going below. Use the head before reaching open water. Make sandwiches in advance. Keep them in a cooler in the cockpit or flybridge.
- Plot your course ahead of time; minimize time at the nav station, or staring at the chart plotter.
- Advise everyone to avoid alcohol until reaching port, except on the calmest days. One beer can feel like six. Avoid drinking alcohol if taking medication; it causes extreme drowsiness.
If afflicted, position guests outside, downwind, and where the least motion is. Don't have sick passengers in the head; they will feel even worse, and the head may become unusable for others. Often they will be cold; try to make them as comfortable as possible. Try whatever remedies you have. Saltine crackers may help. Consider a course change, or diverting for the nearest port, if things get bad.
Find a place to stand relatively stationary, hanging onto something, letting the boat move under you, as it rides the waves. Watch the horizon. If you can use a landmark as opposed to the compass, sometimes steering the boat brings immediate relief.
On a multi-day trip, I find it works best to medicate myself the first day, as a precaution. I take one Phenergan. If it's rough, at the slightest hint of nausea, I take another. On the second day, I halve the dose. After that, the motion actually seems pleasant, and no medication is required.
The key is finding what works best for you. Good luck!
 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. You can send an e-mail to Bob at bobsherman@BlueSkyNews.com
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