Sheraton Harbor
Island Marina
1590 Harbor Island Dr.
San Diego, CA 92101
Tel: 619-682-2249
E-mail Address
eric.holle@sheraton.com
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Phone:
619-291-2900
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From the Dockmaster
Welcome to the August 2008 Sheraton Harbor Island Marina e-mail newsletter.
The SCMA Boat Show Was a Big Success
The Southern California Marine Association Boat show was a big success, and I would like to give a special thanks to Jim Sadafore, Don Romley, Alex George, Dennis Becker, Kenny Manzoni and the Crew at SEATOW.
Without their help I would still be moving boats today.
That's It for Now
That's all I can muster up for now - I need a vacation - anyone need a deck hand for an extended cruise?
Enjoy the newsletter and I'll see ya around the marina.
Eric Holle - Dock Master
eric.holle@sheraton.com
Between the Sheets - Slow Economy; Fuel Costs Buoy Catalina Experience
- By Richard Benscoter
So what are the chances of getting a mooring in Avalon harbor on a Saturday or Sunday in July at 5:30 PM?
Almost as good as winning the lottery - right? Well, things have changed.
We departed our Shelter Island slip early on the July 6th, and after the 72 mile cruise from San Diego Buoy #1, we arrived at Avalon at 5:30 that afternoon, and were told we could pick up mooring #104. Now how cool was that!
As a frequent cruiser to Avalon, I naturally had a plan B in mind for the usual disappointment of being told the harbor was full as we passed the southern tip of Avalon. July is in the heart of Catalina's busy season, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Everyone knows that the availability of a mooring and the end of a summer weekend day is not likely to happen. Well it did happen; and in fact, there were even more moorings available.
I talked to the harbor master the next day and he said visits this summer are off by 25%, and they have not seen this number of available moorings in quite some years.
On Thursday, we left the mooring in Avalon and headed north for Two Harbors. Once again, there were a lot of available moorings, and even during the Catalina Yachts rendezvous that weekend there were still open moorings available.
The harbor master at Two Harbors said that this year an unusually large number of leased moorings were turned in (65), but not to get too get excited about that, because there are still 4,800 people on the waiting list. It's just that they used to have to make only one phone call to the person on top of the waiting list, but now they may have to make as many a twenty.
So what does this all mean? It's a great time to cruise to Catalina. I know the economy stinks and so does the cost of fuel, but it's still one of the most economical ways to vacation when you compare it to the cost of travel, lodging, food and beverage for four to six people (or as many as you can sleep) at a classy hotel or condo on the beach.
See you on the water or in Catalina!
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 - Use It or Lose It
- By Bob Simons
One of the safety items you should ask a Coast Guard Auxiliary Vessel Examiner examine to look at on your boat are the through-hull fittings and the way they are controlled, i.e. - with seacocks.
This is considered an important safety item for the obvious reason. If they aren't in good and reliable condition, your boat can sink.
What we look for is to make sure the valve looks like it is in good condition, and not suffering from any electrolysis. Badly rusted or corroded seacocks can suddenly break off or start leaking.
Another excellent idea is to tie a wooden plug of the proper size to the seacock handle so that it is immediately available as a last resort in case you experience a seacock failure.
Seacocks come in a wide variety of sizes depending on the usage. The most common are bronze fittings, but there are also stainless steel and nylon fittings. Each probably have their advantages but bronze is so tried and true, it seems like the best alternative. Make sure you don't connect dissimilar metals because the electrolysis it causes is deadly.
When you are dealing with as important an area as holes in the bottom of your boat, it's a also good idea to use double hose clamps and check the fittings on a regular basis.
Last, but not least, remember that a seacock is worthless unless it works when you need it. To keep seacocks functioning reliably, they need to be operated every once in a while, and lubricated at least once a year. Cone and plug type seacocks need to be disassembled to be properly serviced, but ball-valve seacocks are easily maintained by spreading a dollop of waterproof grease on both sides of the closed ball.
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.
A Really Really Fun Dock Party Theme
One of the best summer marina and yacht club dock party ideas we've come across recently is the "Boston Tea Party" theme.
Here's the setup - Invite your "party animal" dinghy friends from all over the marina or yacht club to participate in teams of "Red Coats" and "Colonials". (No engines allowed - paddles and life jackets for this one - it's more enjoyable if everyone survives the fun.)
Appoint one dinghy to hold George Washington, and one to hold King George III to lead their armadas into battle. Hats, costumes, flags, (thin t-shirts with no bras? - optional), and dinghy decorations of course add to the festivity.
At the appointed time, muster the dinghy teams on opposite ends of the fairway and line both sides of the fairway with British troops and revolutionaries armed with super soakers - Red Coats on one side; colonials on the other side.
Each dinghy should have three people - one to row; one gunner with super-soaker for defense; and one standing up to be the ranking officer.
On signal - The troops on the docks toss three to four dozen "tea bales" into the fairway (you can use inexpensive inflatable beach balls or other inflatables of your choice to serve as the tea bales).
Soldiers on the docks use their super soakers to drench the other side's team, of course, but they also use them to deflect the "tea bales" from the opposing side's grasp!.
The dinghies scramble to pick up the tea bales, and the three dinghy teams that recover the most "tea bales" after all of them have been recovered emerge triumphant.
After the battle - Award the first, second, and third place prizes - then have a great party, dry off, and raise a toast to today's friendship of Great Britain and America!
Editor's Note: If you decide to have a "Boston Tea Party", please send us a photo to pass along. If you have another creative dock party theme, let us know about it and we'll pass that along too!
San Diego's Festival of Sail Will Be a Sight to See!
There will be a ton of action along the embarcadero from Ash Street to Grape Street for dads, moms, and kids to see from Wednesday, August 20th through Sunday, August 24th at San Diego's 2008 Festival of Sail.
The festival kicks off with a majestic parade of tall ships on San Diego Bay on Wednesday. More than twenty tall ships and other fascinating vessels from around the world are scheduled to appear at the 2008 Festival of Sail hosted by the Maritime Museum of San Diego. Ships from several different countries will give the festival an international flavor.
Sure to be a favorite, the United States Coast Guard's tall ship Eagle will make her first visit to San Diego since 1999. The Eagle will be joined by other Class A tall ships: the HMS Bounty and the Gloria (from Columbia). Several tall ships will fight in cannon battles on San Diego Bay-Friday through Sunday.
Souvenir passports are a visitor's ticket to board the ships. Stamped by each ship open for tours, passports become treasured keepsakes. Passport holders will also enjoy free entertainment. Visitors to the festival can sample marvelous food and drink and shop for one of-a-kind items among the hundreds of festival vendors.
Click Here to see a schedule of events at the festival or to purchase tickets.
From the Waterline - A Dizzy Cephalopod Story
- By Bob Sherman
While preparing for a sea trial recently, my daughter Laurel and I were in the engine room looking down through one of those modern sea strainers with clear lids that let you see all the way through to the water below.
We were about to start the engines when we noticed that a baby octopus was comfortably nested in the port side thru-hull.
After banging and tapping on the sea strainer for a while, the octopus finally left, but a few minutes later we found that it had simply moved over to the starboard side strainer.
More tapping and banging - no effect. The octopus was not going to move again.
After much scratching of heads, we decided to briefly start the starboard engine to see if that would jar the octopus' nerves. The captain started the engine for a few seconds, and the octopus started spinning around like a kid on a tilt-a-whirl.
We stopped the engine and the octopus apparently had enough and swam away. Laurel figured that the moral of the story was that the octopus was lazy, but he left because he didn't want to "strain" himself.
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
From the Fishing Deck - The Three B's They Are a Bitin'
- By Jason Coz
The summer fishing in Southern California waters now is as good as it gets!
We took the Dolphin on a overnight charter out of Mission Bay last week, and on that one trip alone, our 16 anglers caught 61 yellowtail and 9 dorado.
Also, on our day trips, the "Three B's", barracuda, bass, and bonita are biting. And on almost every day we are landing a handful of yellowtail up to 25 lbs.
This is without question one of the best times of the year to fish, and as an added bonus, the weather has been classic San Diego perfect, capped off with our beautiful blue rolling Pacific waves.
What are you waiting for? Let's go fishin'!
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
Nautical Trivia - Over the Barrel
The most common method of punishment aboard ship in days of old was flogging.
The unfortunate sailor was tied to a grating, a mast or over the barrel of a deck cannon.
Thus today's meaning you have a great advantage over someone if you have them "over the barrel".
News Flash - President Bush Signs Clean Boating Act Into Law
Thanks in great part to the efforts of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), and in a significant victory for the recreational marine industry and the American boating and angling public, President Bush signed the Clean Boating Act of 2008 into law a few days ago on July 30th.
The Act protects the more than 17 million recreational boats throughout the U.S. from unprecedented and unnecessary federal regulations.
"The recreational marine industry and boaters throughout the U.S. can now rest easy and go boating without new federal or state permits, heavy penalties and absurd legal jeopardy," said Scott Guides, NMMA vice president of Government Relations. "We applaud President Bush and Congress for their bipartisan efforts to reverse the unintended and potentially devastating consequences of an overbroad federal court decision."
Introduced by Senators Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Representatives Steve LaTourette (R-Ohio) and Candice Miller (R-Mich.), the Clean Boating Act permanently and fully restores a common sense regulation that excludes recreational boaters and anglers from the Clean Water Act federal and state permitting system designed for land-based industrial facilities, like sewage treatment plants. Without legislative relief, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was set to implement new permitting regulations for boaters by October 1, 2008. Read more
From the Eco-Detective - Moving Your Yacht Toward Greener Cruising a Step at a Time
- By Russ Grandinetti
The reversal of any decades-old trend is never achieved overnight. Neither will the transformation to a totally environmentally-friendly cruising world occur quickly.
But there are some products available now that can move you and your vessel toward that goal, and in many cases, even save you money in the process.
In my current position, I am responsible for overseeing the testing and evaluation of various environmentally friendly marine products, and in this new BlueSkyNews.com monthly column, I'll bring you the results of those tests.
This month we looked at a product called Barnacle Buster, made by Trac Ecological Marine Products, a bio-friendly product designed to clean marine growth like mussels from heat exchangers. This worked well, is safe to be discharged into the ocean, and replaces much more toxic and dangerous solutions such as muriatic acid.
Switching to a product like this is just one easy step you can take on your vessel to move to greener cruising. See you next month!
S.O.S. From the Galley - Hot Guacamole!
- By Monica Giobbi
For another hard to beat dock party hit, try this easy to make tasty recipe for guacamole and chips.
Chop the green onions, jalapenos, and tomatoes into small pieces. Scoop out the avocado meat into a mixing bowl; toss in the onions, jalapenos, hot sauce, lime juice and tomatoes, and smoosh with a fork until the mixture reaches a dippable consistency with small lumps.
Make sure to look out for what I call those little brown avocado "belly buttons" that you may have accidentally added to the mix when you scooped out the avocados.
Last, thoroughly mix in the hot salsa to taste. Use the "finger taste test" to check for that great burny lip, yee-haw reaction that makes the head sink into your shoulders at the first taste and make people go wow! Remember, if you're going to let the mixture sit for a while, the effect of the salsa makes the mix get slightly hotter as time goes by.
Serve with sturdy chips and bask in the accolades.
Bon Appetito!
Monica is co-owner of BlueSkyNews.com, a professional meeting planner, and an avid cook with years of experience entertaining on board using the limited space of the galley. If you have a favorite boating recipe to share or ideas for future articles, send an e-mail to monica@blueskynews.com.
From the Eco-Detective - Moving Your Yacht Toward Greener Cruising a Step at a Time
- By Russ Grandinetti
The reversal of any decades-old trend is never achieved overnight. Neither will the transformation to a totally environmentally-friendly cruising world occur quickly.
But there are some products available now that can move you and your vessel toward that goal, and in many cases, even save you money in the process.
In my current position, I am responsible for overseeing the testing and evaluation of various environmentally friendly marine products, and in this new BlueSkyNews.com monthly column, I'll bring you the results of those tests.
This month we looked at a product called Barnacle Buster, made by Trac Ecological Marine Products, a bio-friendly product designed to clean marine growth like mussels from heat exchangers. This worked well, is safe to be discharged into the ocean, and replaces much more toxic and dangerous solutions such as muriatic acid.
Switching to a product like this is just one easy step you can take on your vessel to move to greener cruising. See you next month!
Russ Grandinetti is a noted megayacht captain with a background in marine sciences and oceanography. He also spent many years consulting in the offshore oil industry in the Gulf. He is now the Green Products and Services Manager for Knight & Carver YachtCenter in National City, Ca. - You can e-mail Russ with your environmental questions and suggestions.
A Truly Sad and Tragic Boating Accident
Imagine you are out for a lake cruise on your friend's 27 foot sailboat. Your friend's fiancee is along for the ride.
It's after dark, and you're at the helm. Suddenly, out of the dark, a 24 foot speedboat traveling at an estimated speed of somewhere between 40 to 60 miles an hour smashes into your sailboat, killing your friend's fiancee.
Sounds pretty cut and dry? Fry the guy on the speedboat? Maybe; maybe not. In this actual Lake County, California case, the 39 year old guy at the helm of the sailboat is about to be tried for vehicular manslaughter involving a vessel, and boating under the influence of alcohol.
Among items at issue - Did the sailboat have its running lights on? Some witnesses say yes; some say no. Was the guy at the helm of the sailboat under the influence of alcohol? Most probably he had a few - he allegedly had a blood alcohol level of 0.12 the night of the crash. Also, it later came out that he had a previous DUI (is that different from a BUI?).
Anything else? Oh yes, the guy driving the powerboat is an off-duty chief deputy with the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
You can click here to read more about this emotionally charged and controversial case, or just type the accused man's name, Bismarck Dinius, in your search bar - and see what you would do in a case like this if you were the judge.
Secrets About Sails - Mainsail Options
- By Brad Poulos
There is occasionally some confusion with respect to mainsail area. Most sailmakers, including us, compute mainsail area as if the sail were a right triangle with three straight edges. With this method, area equals the luff times the foot divided by two. Most mainsails are, in fact, somewhat larger than that by reason of the extra area at the leech, called roach, which falls outside the straight line triangle.
The promotional material distributed by boat builders and dealers sometimes includes this extra area as part of mainsail area. If they're using the same luff and foot dimensions, they're talking about the same sail in spite of the different figure for area. When we make mainsails, we'll include as much roach, not only on the leech, but also on the luff and foot, as is practical and proper for the particular sail.
Shelf-Foot vs. Loose-Foot
The Shelf-Foot and Loose-Foot constructions are options that allow us to add a substantial degree of extra fullness in the lower portion of the mainsail in order to improve racing performance on reaches and runs. In very light air, the improved performance is achieved even to windward. The extra fullness is removed by tightening the outhaul.
When the outhaul is eased, the sail maintains an airfoil shape down to the boom. With the Shelf-Foot option, a light piece of material connects the sail to the boom. With the outhaul eased, the connecting material unfolds and forms a shelf between the bottom of the main and the boom. When the outhaul is pulled tight, the shelf closes up and lays against the side of the boom.
Loose-Foot construction does away with the shelf material. The sail is only attached to the boom at the tack and clew. This attachment method is equally as strong as that of the foot attached to the boom. Many boats are switching to Loose-Footed mains because they make it easier to bend on your mainsail and to remove the sail from the boom — and it's less expensive.
Reefs
Mainsail reefs are used to depower a boat in strong winds. Reefing makes the mainsail smaller. Each row of reefs consists of a heavily reinforced patch with a grommet at the luff for the tack horn and a grommet at the leech for the reefing outhaul. Between the reefed tack and clew may be a row of evenly spaced smaller grommets (called reef diamonds) to provide a means of gathering up and tying off the excess sail.
This row of holes is omitted in the case of a flattening reef because there is not enough excess material to worry about. The number of area-reducing reefs varies with the size and anticipated use of the sail.
Full Battens
We use the term Batmain to describe a mainsail with full-length battens, meaning the battens extend all the way across the sail from leech to luff. Full-length battens have many virtues for cruising sailors including better shape holding ability, longer life and easier handling. The sails last longer because the full-length battens prevent flogging - the violent snapping back and forth that happens when you're tacking, reefing, hoisting or lowering your sail.
As conventional sails flog, the sailcloth breaks down, especially at the front end of the battens where the leech of the sail "hinges" back and forth. Flogging is the prime culprit in sail wear-and-tear. The full-length battens induce a smooth airfoil shape to the sail, which improves performance in all conditions. In light air the Batmain holds a smooth airfoil shape instead of sagging like a wrinkled bed sheet.
Also, the Batmain won't slat as the boat rolls in the waves. In heavy air the Batmain doesn't flog when the sheet is eased out to reduce heeling. The Batmain does not flail and snap when depowered, the silence is a pleasant surprise. Full-length battens also restrict the draft of the sail from moving aft in heavy air when sailing upwind. Downwind, the full-length battens hold out the leech of the main giving you more projected sail area.
The Powerhead
The Powerhead main is a long-life racing design. Whether you are buying a Tape-Drive, Tri-Radial or Cross-Cut main, the Powerhead's full-length top batten gives you many of the durability benefits of a full-batten main, while offering performance benefits. The Powerhead gives you more control over the shape of your main, especially the draft's depth and fore-and-aft positioning because the full length battens prevent the sail from changing shape much.
The Powerhead is easier to trim than a full-batten main since the leading edge of the sail is free to luff. And the Powerhead is a lighter sail than a Batmain since it uses shorter battens and no special luff hardware.
The long top batten stabilizes the highly loaded head area, and stabilizes the leech allowing us to build a maximum-roach sail that gives you more sail area. The full-length top batten also increases longevity by dampening the damaging effects of luffing and by preventing the draft of the sail from moving aft over the years.
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.
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