mariner 85

28
Issue #85 February 2010 Mariner A Publication For Where Land Ends www.marinermagazine.com A Magazine For The Marina del Rey Boating Community The One for the Woodies Abby Sunderland Update What’s New on Catalina Gray Whale Watching One More Time Regatta Hits MDR

Upload: mugsy

Post on 10-Apr-2015

288 views

Category:

Documents


11 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Mariner 85

Issue #85February 2010

M a r i n e rA Publication For Where Land Endswww.marinermagazine.com

A M a g a z i n e F o r T h e M a r i n a d e l R e y B o a t i n g C o m m u n i t y

The

One for the Woodies

Abby Sunderland Update

What’s New on Catalina

Gray Whale Watching

One More Time Regatta Hits MDR

Page 2: Mariner 85

The day that teen sailor Zac Sunderland returned from his inspiring round the world journey I was standing in Fisherman’s Village, with a tape recorder in hand, next to a TV news guy who was interviewing Zac. At the end of the interview he asked Zac what he thought of his sister Abby’s plans to make a similar trip. Zac looked almost surprised – as if he hadn’t heard it, but he gathered himself and said, “she better stay focused because it’s not easy out there.” I don’t know if Zac was surprised or not – maybe he just didn’t know the question was coming. For me, it was surprising. I’d seen Abby through the year at Zac functions and at the arrival – she always appeared somewhat awkward, perhaps a bit bashful – sort of like any other ninth or tenth grade girl – not an extraordinary adventurer capable of high-level

world-class feats. When the Sunderlands secured a boat for Abby and the project came more into focus, I found myself feeling differently about covering and essentially promoting this story. For Zac, I adopted a hometown hero angle, albeit a controversial one, but for Abby that story line didn’t resonate the same. Zac was a strong looking kid with a curious, humble and stoic demeanor – perfect for the task at hand. Abby looked more fragile to me and somehow conjured doubt and concern – especially given her more arduous mission. But I met Abby one day at the boat yard and while we didn’t say too much to each other, I realized that perhaps it’s presumptuous of me to decide who this person is and what she’s capable of based on her posture, age and appearance. I can guess where she’s at, but that’s all it is

– I don’t know her and I don’t know what she can do. All I can do is objectively watch it play out. As for the controversy of a parent allowing a teenager to face such danger, I think this concern is merited, but there’s also a controversy embedded in this story about people who pompously assume they know best. Perhaps their concerns will come to pass and they’ll be right, but at this point the fact is they truly don’t and can’t know for sure. So, given that fact, maybe most of us should simply watch, wish her well and hope all has been calculated and reviewed as thoroughly as possible.

The Mariner is

Editor/Publisher/WriterPat Reynolds

PhotographsPat Reynolds

ColumnistMookie

ContributorsDave Kirby

Richard Schaefer

Copy Editing AssistanceLisa Asahara

For advertising rates and Information contact

310-397-1887 - phone

[email protected]

Mailing address P.O. Box 9403

Marina del Rey, CA 90295

The Mariner appears on the 3rd Friday of every month.

This issue - Feb. 19 - March 19

Important Numbers at a glance:

Marina del Rey

Sheriff:

310-482-6000

Los Angeles County

Lifeguard:

310-577-5700

Vessel Assist:

800-399-1921

Sea Tow

866-473-5400

Marine Life Rescue

800-39WHALE

2 The Mariner - Issue 85 2010

FROM THE EDITOR

WHAT’S INSIDE

Thanks for picking it up!

RISKY BUSINESS

Coming Events 4

Off the Wire 6

Off and RunningTeen Sailor Abby Sunderland Departs MDR 10

Goin’ Old SchoolOne More Time Regatta for Classic Yachts 12

RepercussionsShoaling in the Harbor Entrance 14

Catalina CurrentsWhat’s New in Avalon by Richard Schaefer 16

PowertailsWhale Watching 18

Racing 20

Ask the Expect - Boat Inspections 23

Ask Mookie 24

Classifi eds 25

“Banshee” by Pat Reynolds

Page 3: Mariner 85

2010 The Mariner - Issue 85 3

766 Washington Blvd., Marina del Rey, CA 90292Phone: (310) 821-4958 * Fax: (310) 821-9591

E-mail: [email protected]

• Knowledgeable Sales

• Professional Installation

• Expert Repair

FCC Licensed, CMET certifi ed technicians on staff

Marit ime Communications “ E v e r y t h i n g E l e c t r o n i c Fo r Yo u r B o a t ”

Serving the Boating Community for Over 40 Years

Your EPIRB Battery Replacement CenterBe Safe!

Check the EPIRB Battery Replacement Date

Licensed Captains Are A Dime A Dozen...

310.829.2278 / CEL [email protected]

Serving the boating industry since 1966U.S.C.G. 100 Ton Master w/ Towing Endorsement, and FCC

Good Operators Are Hard to Find

Expert discreet instruction in boat maneuvering, docking and all the other

basics that will make your boating experience safe and fun!

• Deliveries • Fishing Instruction • Charters

Captain Skip Odell

PURCELL YACHTS

email: [email protected] Palawan Way #A MDR www.purcellyachts.com

310-701-5960 www. Purcellyachts.Com

39’ Bayliner Pilothouse. 2000, Loaded, Cummins dsls. $149,000. 38 Bayliner sedan dsls 2 from $79,00037/39’ Silverton 98’ dbl cabin $145,000

42’ Californian 1976 trawler 450 hours on 185 perkins dsls. Vonsider trade ins. fully equipt, livaboard slip if needed $79,000

42’ Chris Craft aft cab ‘87 loaded $84,00042’ Unifl ite 1978 Aft Cabin $59,900

38’ Dolphin Sundeck Trawler 1986 loaded very clean, twn dsls, generator. $99,00039’ Sea Ranger 39 Sea Ranger live aboard slip end tie 1981, twin diesels $79,000

35 Bayliner 1996 aft cabin twin dieselsloaded $11,4000

41’ Silverton Sedan 1995 loaded $115,00037’ Silverton 1984 Sedan $46,90036’ Silverton Sedan 1996 2 cabs $59,500 32 Luhrs 1975 sedan new ext fi nish $29,000

33’ Sea Ray Sundancer 94 $39,00032’ Bayliner Conquest ‘86 Ask $17,00030’ Sea Ray weekender 1989 $17,900 28 Chaparral 1993 twins $12,500

41’ Hunter 2001/2002 41 Hunter Passage 00&02, Two From 129,00030’ Catalina 1975 3cyl dsl dodger $10,900

42 Catalina 2000 loaded great price $119,000 consider 34-36 Catalina trade in.37 Irwin center cockpit aft cabin loaded and very very clean $39,000

38 Morgan/ Catalina 1994 ctr cockpit loaded to cruise or livabord $119,00045’ Morgan ‘92 Ctr cockpit $149,00029’ Columbia 77 wheel, reduced $6,900

41 Islander Freeport 1978 ctr cockpit, needs cosmetics and fuel tank Ask $59,000 36 Magellan ketch 1978 bristol condition $44,500

Livaboard slips available with most listings

Sistership

47’ Spindrift Ranger ‘86 convertible. 2 cabs, 450 hours on caterpillar dsls. Reduced $40,000 to $99,000

Page 4: Mariner 85

4 The Mariner - Issue 85 2010

To publish a community event email:

[email protected]

February 25CYC Yachting Dinner with

Pete MelvinOn Thursday, February 25th a panel of expert sailors and sailboat designers including Pete Melvin, member of the America’s Cup BOR Racing design team, will assemble on at the California Yacht Club in Marina del Rey for a dinner discussion of the 33rd American Cup race. Open to all who enjoy yachting and adventure, as a public service of CYC. Cocktails 6:30, Dinner 7:00 $19.50 inclusive To be followed by the presentation Reservations appreciated. The California Yacht Club is located at 4469 Admiralty Way – Marina del Rey – (310) 823-4567 – www.calyachtclub.com.

February 27Buffalo Run Half Marathon & 5K

This ultimate half-marathon course is a very challenging, hilly course on the east end of Catalina Island. The 5k course will be an out-and-back route down Avalon Canyon Rd via Sumner Ave with the turn around point at the Wrigley Memorial. Pacifi c Sports LLC (714) 978-1528.

March 8PSSA Speaker Series

Pacifi c Singlehanded Sailing Association is featuring Bruce Brown as its guest speaker at PSSA’s general membership meeting on Monday, March 8, 2010 at 8 p.m. at the Santa Monica Windjammers Yacht Club on Mindanao Way in Marina del Rey. Mr. Brown is the Past President of the United States Marine Safety Association, is an instructor for the Orange Coast College School of Sailing and Seamanship - USCG 100 Ton License program, and has skippered a NM 55 in the TransPac yacht race to Hawaii and has sailed over 25 races to Mexico. Bruce will speak and tailor his visual presentation toward short handed sailing safety issues, including crew overboard prevention or recovery for short handed sailing. For further information, see the PSSA website at www.pssala.com or contact Gil Maguire at [email protected], or (805) 644-4800. Directions to SMWYC are on the website.

March 13The Catalina Marathon

The Catalina Marathon will return in 2010 for its

33rd anniversary. The 26.2 mile trail run takes athletes from Two Harbors to Avalon, as they run through the interior of the island. Pacifi c Sports LLC (714) 978-1528.

March 21Puerto Vallarta Race Kick-Off

Del Rey Yacht Club’s 2011 Puerto Vallarta Race Kick-Off will be held on Sunday, March 21 at 10:30 a.m. For further info, please contact DRYC at (310) 823-4664 or email [email protected] .

March 25California Yacht Club Luncheon

“Recreational Boatersan Endangered Species?”

Join fellow power, sail and rowing enthusiasts for a critically informative forum addressing major issues impacting the recreational boating community. Happy Half Hour – Noon - Buffet Luncheon – 12:20 p.m. - Presentation - 12:40 p.m. - $14.75 includes Luncheon, tax, service and parking. To guarantee admission – reservations requested. (310) 823-4567. Open to all who enjoy yachting and adventure, as a public service of CYC - 4469 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey ~ (310) 823-4567 ~ www.CalYachtClub.com

OngoingMarina Venice Yacht Club

Social SundaysJoin Marina Venice Yacht Club weekly for our Social-Sunday Open House from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Food items are provided and there is no charge. MVYC is located in the Marina City Club - West Tower - at 4333 Admiralty Way. Whether you own a boat, are looking to buy one, or just want to be around other water loving people MVYC welcomes all who share in the Corinthian Spirit. Security will tell you where to park. Follow the signs up the stairs or elevator to the Club House on G2. For more information contact [email protected], call (818) 422-6368, or visit our Facebook Group page.

Sailing Singles of Southern California

Sailing Singles of Southern California is a Sailing Club centered in Marina del Rey but open to all sailing enthusiasts from the LA area. We meet twice monthly, at 7 p.m. at the Marina Venice Yacht Club, 4333 Admiralty Way located at the Marina City Club West Tower in Marina del Rey. There is a $10 Meeting donation per person that includes a light Dinner. Drinks are available at a full bar at reasonable prices. Club members will meet and socialize with sailboat owners and can arrange for sails in Santa Monica Bay. After sailing, club members can enjoy wine and cheese parties or full dinners on member’s Boats. Catalina Island trips and special events are also planned. (310) 822-0893

or email: [email protected] www.sailingsinglesofsoutherncalifornia.com

Marina Sunday Sailing ClubSince 1981 MSSC has brought together skippers and crew in a friendly social environment for daysails in Santa Monica Bay and cruises to Catalina and other destinations. We meet on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month on the patio at Burton Chace Park under the Club banner. Meetings start at 10:00 a.m. with a free Continental breakfast and socializing. We hold a brief business meeting and then head out for an afternoon of sailing on the Bay after which we gather at a member’s dock for wine, snacks and more socializing. Visitors are welcome and may attend two meetings free. No prior sailing experience is necessary. Married people welcome! For more info call (310) 226-8000 or visit www.marinasinglesailors.org

Single Mariners Meeting Social meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at Pacifi c Mariners Yacht Club on 13915 Panay Way in Marina del Rey. Meeting donation is $7.00, which includes a light buffet dinner. At these meetings, skippers and crew sign up for day sails. On sailing days the Single Mariners meet at 9:30 a.m. for breakfast at the Marina del Rey Hotel on 13534 Bali Way, spend the afternoon sailing and then return to the docks for a wine and cheese social. Novices are welcome and encouraged. For more info call (310) 289-3338.

Women’s Sailing Association of Santa Monica Bay

Meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at the Santa Monica Windjammers Yacht Club, 13589 Mindanao Way, in Marina del Rey. The meeting, held at 7:30, is preceded by a social hour, and a light dinner is served. Each meeting features a guest speaker discussing their adventures and achievements. WSA invites boaters of all skill levels to join. Its programs, include day sails, seminars, parties, and cruises including destinations such as King Harbor, Catalina and the northern Channel Islands, For membership information contact Sandy Penrod. at [email protected] or on the web at www.wsasmb.org.

Catalinas of Santa Monica Bay, Owners of Catalina Yachts

Join us for our monthly meetings at the Santa Monica Windjammers Yacht Club on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. We would like to welcome Catalina owners to join our club. We have speakers, cruises to Catalina, races and other events throughout the year. Our doors open at 6:00 for happy hour and then dinner around 7 to 7:30 and our main event after that. Join the fun and meet other owners of Catalinas. For more info email [email protected].

Page 5: Mariner 85

2010 The Mariner - Issue 85 5

[email protected] 427-2587

w w w . m a r i t i m e e x p r e s s i o n s . c o m“We come to your boat!”Available at Ships Store in MDR and

Captains Locker in Long Beach!

A SAFE, NON-TOXIC, ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, CLEAR LIQUID THAT DISSOLVES CALCIUM, RUST, MUSSELS and

SCALE!

Diesel Tank Cleaning & Filter Systems Installed

at Your Slip

Water, Sludge & Algae RemovedDwyn Hendrickson 310-722-1283

Since 1974

The MarinerPick it Up!

310-397-1887

marinermagazine.com

Richard Bauer

Woodworking & Fiberglass Repair

- Total Collision Repair- Jet Skis • Wave Runners

- Trailer Boats - RV’sServing MDR Since 1961

Coast Guard Auxiliary

Boating Classes and Vessel Safety Check Website

www.smbcgaux.org

Page 6: Mariner 85

6 The Mariner - Issue 85 2010

O F F T H E W I R E

The California Department of Boating and Waterways and the California Coastal Commission’s Boating Clean & Green Program will conduct more Dockwalker trainings this year. Dockwalkers will be trained to engage members of the public and the boating community in adopting clean boating practices. Once training is complete, these volunteers don their offi cial “Dockwalker” hats. Dockwalkers share clean boating information with boaters and distribute educational materials (boater kits) while visiting marinas, launch ramps, marine supply stores, boat shows and special events (regattas, opening days, among others). Training is free and Dockwalking is a fantastic way to interact with boaters to help keep California’s marinas, waterways, and oceans clean and healthy. The training provides an overview of environmentally-sound boating practices, information about how to conduct Dockwalking, and educational materials that Dockwalkers will distribute including the 2010 boater kits. These boater kits include: reusable canvas tote-bag; A Boater’s Guide to Keeping Pollutants Out of the Water; 2010 Tidebooks; oil absorbent pillow to capture oil leaks and drips in the boat bilge; a variety of informative clean and safe boating resources. In the last fi ve years, more than 500 Dockwalkers have distributed over 90,000 boater kits statewide. Hours spent training or educating the public qualify as community service. This program provides tons of benefi ts to boaters, marina, yacht/fi shing club operators, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadrons, mobile services, local governments, aquatic centers, boat dealers, among others. Contact Vivian Matuk at (415) 904-6905 or [email protected] for any questions or to register.

Be a Dockwalker

Santa Monica Windjammers Yacht ClubGreat People, Great Club!

Join Today!!!

Yacht Club of the Year 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007!For information: 310-827-SMYC or www.smwyc.org

13589 Mindanao Way Ca Marina del Rey 90292

Come see why SMWYC wins Club of the Year season after season. An involved membership, full calendar of events, and amazing location makes this club the one to

join! Hope to see you soon!

SMWYC member Al Berg and Ghost

Page 7: Mariner 85

2010 The Mariner - Issue 85 7

O F F T H E W I R E

MARINE INSURANCEPRIVATE/CHARTER/COMMERCIAL

HULL VALUES 60K & UP

Jim Dalby310-702-6543

Lic. # obo5231

OverseaOverseaInsurance Agencywww.overseainsurance.com

DAMIAN CANVAS WORKS

Dodgers

Cushions

Full Covers

Stern Rooms

Bridge Covers

- Satisfaction Guaranteed -

310-822-2343US COAST GUARD APPROVED SCHOOL

CAPTAIN’SCAPTAIN’SLICENSELICENSE

www.coastguardschool.com

email [email protected]

14025 Panay Way Marina del Rey

310-821-3433

Celest ia l Navigat ion

June 4

Organizers for Marina del Rey’s 2010 Holiday Boat Parade announced the theme for the 48th Annual Holiday Boat Parade. This year’s theme is “A Rock-N-Roll Christmas.”

The boat parade is scheduled for Saturday, December 11 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Beautifully decorated boats will circle the main channel of Marina del Rey at least twice for judging. “The Holiday Boat Parade is getting bigger and better every year and we’re thrilled to announce this year’s theme early so our boaters can start planning their design ideas”, states president Cindy Williams.

Members of the public that are interested in being a part of the planning committee for the 2010 Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade should contact Parade headquarters, at (310) 670-7130.

Visit the Boat Parade website at mdrboatparade.org to view pictures of the 2009 parade and for updates to the 2010 parade.

Boat Parade Announces 2010 Theme

While it wasn’t all good news in the recently published Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission report such as unknown contaminants and urban runoff in our local waters, there were some positives. Here are a few from the 2010 report:

Wastewater Treatment. Initial efforts to clean up the Bay focused on point source discharges. In the last several decades, pollutant loading from wastewater discharged to the Bay has decreased dramatically. This improvement has been achieved through rigorous source control programs and treatment upgrades at the two largest publicly owned treatment works in the Bay. As a result, the severely degraded ocean fl oor habitats surrounding the sewage outfalls have made a remarkable recovery.

Beach Water Quality. Santa Monica Bay beaches are safer for swimming than they were fi ve years ago because of reduced pathogen indicator contamination during summer dry weather. This reduction has largely been achieved through the installation of low-fl ow diversions and on-site treatment facilities in many storm drains throughout the Bay watershed. Also, the City of Los Angeles, other cities in the Bay watershed, and the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County have taken signifi cant steps to reduce sewage spills.

Habitat Protection. Since the late 1990s, SMBRC and its partners have acquired and preserved more than 8,000 acres of open space in the Bay watershed, including streams, wetlands and coastal sage scrub habitats. After acquiring habitats, the next step is often restoring them, which has been initiated or completed at many locations. Acquiring habitats and restoring them also increases public access to natural areas, provides critical habitat for wildlife, and protects the natural processes that help to clean and enhance natural water supplies.

Restoration Commission Posts Some Good News

Page 8: Mariner 85

8 The Mariner - Issue 85 2010

O F F T H E W I R E

Woodworking Wizardry

Custom Woodwork at its BestBill Borneman 310-977-0050

SHIPS STORE INC

BOOKS, CHARTS, VIDEOSOver 700 Nautical Titles in Stock

Special!Save 15% On most items

in stock or our catalogs (some

exceptions apply) with this coupon.

Must present coupon before

purchase. Not good on sale items.

[Exp. 3/22/10]

Open 7 Days

14025 Panay Way

(1/2 Block Off Via Marina)

310-823-5574Don’t Forget to Grab Some Ice!

Sale! $34.99Schooner Gold Varnish

Proud Carrier of Interlux Paints and Varnishes!

15% Off With Coupon

$66.99

$79.99On Sale!

reg.

Advertise in T h e M a r i n e r

310-397-1887Effective & Affordable

Daily Up to Date News from the World of High Level Yacht Racing.

Visit www.xsracing.org and fi nd out what’s really going on!

BMW Oracle Wins America’s Cup!

This was an historic race for the oldest trophy in international sport, featuring two of the most innovative boats on the planet. BMW ORACLE Racing’s trimaran, USA, powered by the largest wing sail ever built, proved to be the faster of the two multihulls, overpowering Alinghi’s catamaran in both races.

Today marks the culmination of the San Francisco team’s 10-year quest for the America’s Cup, sailing’s pinnacle event. Founded by Larry Ellison (USA), the team is led by CEO Russell Coutts (NZL), now a four time Cup winner, and James Spithill (AUS), the skipper and helmsman of USA.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” said Spithill. “The amount of work the whole team has put into this boat and now to go two races without any issues – you just have to hand it to the shore guys, the boatbuilders and all of the support team and designers. They gave us an awesome tool.”

“It’s absolutely an awesome feeling,” added Larry Ellison. “I’m really proud to be part of this team. I couldn’t be more proud.”

After a long postponement on Sunday afternoon, racing started at 16:25 in 7-8 knots of wind.

There was an unusual start to the race, with Alinghi entering the start box very late. In fact, they were on the wrong side of the start box at the 5-minute gun, forcing the Umpires to assess a penalty.

BMW ORACLE Racing started with more speed, but Alinghi held the right hand side of the race course and prospered early when the wind shifted to the right. At one point, the advantage line was as big as 600-meters to the Swiss.

But before the top mark, the BMW ORACLE Racing crew made a perfect layline call. After tacking on the line to the mark, BMW ORACLE Racing saw Alinghi cross ahead, but cede the

inside position at the mark to USA, and that was all the advantage the challenger would need to lead around the mark by 28 seconds. From then onwards, the powerful USA boat extended its lead, to cross the fi nishing line ahead by 5.26.

“It was an awesome race. It was touch and go,” Spithill said. “We didn’t see that shift going as far right as it did and that made it pretty exciting early on.”

At one point, Alinghi was fl ying a red protest fl ag, but the team quickly confi rmed after fi nishing there would be no protest.

With the win, BMW ORACLE Racing becomes the fi rst U.S. challenger to win the Match since Dennis Conner hoisted the Cup with his Stars & Stripes team in Fremantle, Australia in 1987. Today also marks the fi rst win for an American team since 1992 when Bill Koch’s America3 successfully defended the Cup in San Diego.

Page 9: Mariner 85

2010 The Mariner - Issue 85 9

O F F T H E W I R E

Ed’s MarineVolvo, Mercruiser & OMC Sterndrives

Yanmar, Universal & Perkins Diesels

Specializing in:

310-301-7079

Plus

POPEYE‛S PUMPOUT CO.Holding Tank Pumpout Service

e-mail: [email protected]: popeyespumpout.com

Quiet Clean Reliable

VOICE & FAX

310-822-8312

Paul’s RefrigerationSales ❄ Service Installations

U.S. Coast Guard Trained

310-712-2550

For a cool Deal....call Paul

Tom Blada310-320-9022

The Master’s VesselCustom Yacht Carpentry

30 Years of Woodworking Experience

RepairsRestorations Complete WoodshopAll Types

of Woodworking

Marine Resource CenterSince 1976

Boating Instruction, DeliveryInsurance Performance Evaluations

Captain & Charter Services

Senior Skipper FANTASEA ONECaptain Joel Eve 310-210-0861

marineresourcecenter.com

Check Out the Website!www.marinermagazine.com

USA, complete with wing sail was too much for the enormous Alinghi 5 catamaran in Valencia Spain where the Deed of Gift America’s Cup match was held in light to moderate winds. It was the best two out of three and the big tri nicknamed DoGzilla was dominant. Photo Gilles Martin Raget.

Page 10: Mariner 85

10 The Mariner - Issue 85 2010

hile the s a i l i n g f o r u m s e x p l o d e about a sixteen year old girl who

set off from Marina del Rey on January 23 in an attempt to break the record for the youngest person ever to sail around the world alone and unassisted, Abby Sunderland sails south with the Central American coast to her right. Sunderland was forced to stop in Cabo san Lucas Mexico to remedy a problem with her charging system sparking a bonfi re of opinion, indicting the family and the Sunderland team for rushing the trip in pursuit of the record, given the fact that sixteen-year old Australian Jessica Watson is over half way around the planet in pursuit of the same record.

Over 35,000 posts have been counted so far on the popular Sailing Anarchy website arguing about how prepared the teenage girl is for a

trip of this magnitude, bringing attention to the lack of shakedown passages and accusing the Sunderland team of not properly calculating the power consumption involved.

“As far as preparation is concerned, there is absolutely no substitute for time in the boat,” said one poster in a common sentiment that ran through the thread. “In Abby’s case, singlehanded miles in Wildeyes would not only have revealed many of the obvious shortcomings

of the boat and its systems, but also would have allowed her to practice sail changes, reefi ng and systems management by herself.”

As it turns out, Sunderland’s shakedown sail was this trip to Cabo and now that these issues have been addressed, she feels she is ready for an record breaking journey around the world.

“Although Abby had sea trialed Wild Eyes after her refi t, the team would have liked to have seen extensive sea trials, which time did not permit for meeting her

weather windows,” Abby’s father Laurence said of the stop-over. “We knew we had the option to bring Abby into Cabo san Lucus to critique equipment, increase battery capacity, add fuel for charging, and fi nalize any equipment alterations that might be needed. Although having received some criticism for this, the extensive, local sea trials would not have revealed the issues that the 1,350 nautical mile trip did. The technical team are second to none and should not be doubted.”

W

Off and RunningSixteen-year-old Marina del Rey sailor Abby Sunderland is traveling south en-route to

one of the most dangerous areas on earth.

Page 11: Mariner 85

2010 The Mariner - Issue 85 11

Not surpisingly, Abby herself agreed saying in her blog: “Even though it wasn’t intended that way, I’m looking on the past as a sea trial. I found a few problems, and now they’re fi xed.”

Unlike her brother Zac, who is now the fi rst person under eighteen to sail around the world alone, Abby’s journey is being scrutinized at a much higher degree. Charlie Nobles, executive director of the American Sailing Association, who sang great praises about Zac’s circumnavigation, publically questioned the timing of Abby’s journey and the organization didn’t support her effort.

The timing Nobles is concerned with is when Sunderland will reach the Southern Ocean, particularly Cape Horn and what state will this Arctic area be in when she gets there. Most sailors who need to traverse this part of the world try to do it in the summer as fellow teen solo-circumnavigator Jessica Watson just did. While Watson rounded the horn in the middle of January in a tame 40-knots of breeze, she was viciously hammered a week later by gale force winds recorded at 65-knots. The durable little Aussie seemed to take the hit in stride saying:

“We experienced a total of 4 knockdowns, the second was the most severe with the mast being pushed 180 degrees in to the water. Actually, pushed isn’t the right word, it would be more accurate to say that Ella’s Pink Lady was picked up, thrown down a wave, then forced under a mountain of breaking water and violently turned upside down.”

Since Sunderland is going to be entering the notorious area in the next few weeks, which will be autumn, there is cause for concern, but Team Abby’s weather router seems to believe there is a relatively safe window to make the passage during this time.

Abby is now sailing her high-speed Open 40, towards the southern latitudes and only time will tell what will become of her. She has stated that becoming the youngest to go around non-stop is important, but not so much that she’ll be careless. Before she left she told The Mariner in an interview:

“It’s just an attempt and if I have to stop I’ll be just as happy with the adventure. If I’m able to do it, it will be one of my biggest accomplishments in my whole life. But if not, I’m just as happy with that. I don’t need a piece of paper saying that I am the actual youngest.”

SEVEN SEAS ELECTRONICS, INCServing the Boating Industry Since 1978

TroubleshootingRewiring,Panels

AC/DC AccessoriesInverters, Batteries

Tel: 310.827.SEAS Tel: 310.574.3444

Specializing in Custom Installation of Navigation Equipment

Sailing Solutions

Visitukhalsey.com

Monday - Friday 9-51731 Abbot Kinney Blvd. MDR

310-822-1203

Not sailing because your boat is too hard to handle? Requires too much physical strength? Is a poor performer, slow, and sluggish?

We offer proven solutions to transform your cruiser into a new boat that’s easy to rig and handle, heels less, sails faster and higher. And, there will be less to do when you’re fi nished sailing and want to go home.

Call us for a no obligation consultation to see how your boat can be transformed!

• LP Painting - Sprayed or Brushed

• Fiberglass & Gel Coat Repair

• Custom Fabrication & Modifi cations

•Teak Deck Restorations & Replacement

• Complete Cosmetic Maintenance

• Detailing - Washdowns

With Over 25 Years of Experience and an Impeccable Reputation for Top Notch Craftsmanship, Spectrum Marine is the #1 Choice in Marina del Rey for High Quality Custom Refinishing.

2814 Abbot Kinney Blvd. Mdr • www.spectrummarine.netRick Baker - 310-306-1825

Spectrum Marine

Q ualityC u s t o m R e f i n i s h i n g

Since 1982

Page 12: Mariner 85

12 The Mariner - Issue 85 2010

“It’s like a 1960s Lincoln Continental with the suicide doors,” said wooden hull enthusiast Ruck Godreyer, owner of a Kettenburg 38 named Blondie. “The feeling of going through the chop and waves is totally different on a boat like this. It just powers through and holds on beautifully.” Godreyer’s sentiments are shared by many Southern Californian classic yacht devotees who will gather on the Santa Monica Bay Saturday February 27 for the 35th Annual One More Time Regatta. The event is open to all wooden hulled boats, big and small, so long as they are made of wood. The event is presented by the Wooden Hull Yacht Club and sponsored jointly by Del Rey Yacht Club and Pacifi c Mariners’ Yacht Club and it is the only regatta run in Marina del Rey exclusively for wooden hulled vessels. The original regatta was called the Bicentennial Regatta and there was so little wind that only one PC fi nished. Greg Alexander and Kathy Hellman decided to run the race “One More Time” and the fi rst offi cial One More Time Regatta was born.

The race was sailed two months after the one-fi nisher Bicentennial Regatta and that day racers were practically blown off the water. Keelboats were surfi ng and waves were so high that people on the committee boat couldn’t see some of the fi nishers because they were so deep in troughs.

One fi nisher, on the crest of a wave, took out all the windows on one side of the committee boat. It pelted rained and seas were confused. The race has seen its share of well-known classic boats; the most famous perhaps was Santana, Humphrey Bogart’s 55-foot Sparkman and Stephens yawl who won her class in 2005. Other notables included Baruna, Circe (nee Niuhi) and the gracefully aging Lady Gwendolyn, a 1916 Sea Bird yawl. A couple of the 1976 participants returned in later years: Lark, a 46-foot PCC and Robin, a PC 32, both having won their classes in 2007 and 2006 respectively.

It’s quite a scene when the fl eet is full and there aren’t a lot of other boats on the water. It’s easy to feel as if time as been reversed.

“It looked like Newport Rhode Island in the forties,” said Wooden Hull Yacht Club Commodore Jerry Klein skipper of 1934 gaff rigged Webfoot after a race in 2008. Organizers say the race is an ‘equal opportunity regatta’ as split rigs have won as many overall trophies as sloops. Split rigs won overall in 2002, 2007 and 2008, the latter having been won by Patience, a 36-foot Herreshoff ketch. “The only boats I have ever owned are classic wood,” said Chester Salisbury owner of another Herreshoff design, the 36-foot Ketch Siouxzi.

“These boat hold a special place in the hearts and imagination of sailors, and romantics. They are the real deal, and while they certainly require more love and attention than a modern plastic boat, they give a lot more back. I hope that more people will realize that these are some of our most important connections to our maritime history.”

And while the positive spirit of gathering so much history in one place on one day is the transcending feeling in the air at the One More Time, it’s still a competition. Since the fi rst event, skippers have complained that there is not enough or too much. Occasionally there has been ‘just enough’ to carry the boats to the fi nish.

The latest races have incorporated a shortened course in which the boats round the Santa Monica Buoys and ‘S’ mark before heading in for the fi nish off Chace Park.

This came in handy in 2008 when Santa Ana’s forced aircraft at nearby LAX to land the wrong way and sideways rain necessitated the short course. All wood boats are invited to participate. To enter the race call or email Chris Frost (626) 437-5806 - [email protected], Steve Kincaid (310) 809-7681 - [email protected] or Andy Kopetzky (818) 324-5872 - [email protected]

Goin’ Old School

Page 13: Mariner 85

2010 The Mariner - Issue 85 13

Enter NowPay by March 1, 2010

Enter Today and Win Monthly Prizes

w w w . X S R A C I N G . o r g / 8 0 0 - 3 6 6 - 8 5 8 4

Newport to San DiegoApril 24 and 25 - 2010

Page 14: Mariner 85

ith the winter, comes waves. Nearly every season, the Pacifi c will throw down a beating on Marina del Rey’s breakwall

with waves that climb over and make their way into the protected sanctity of the MDR harbor. When wave action becomes that aggressive, what lies beneath is often effected and boaters need to be careful and watch their depth gauges in areas that used to be plenty deep.

Since the middle of last month when a number of storm systems passed through Southern California the North entrance of the harbor has become a bit more treacherous and challenging to navigate. With strong waves pushing and pulling the sand in that area – shoaling has begun, making the area somewhat unpredictable.

“This morning, the boat I was on ran aground on an unmarked sand shoal while exiting the north entrance at MDR,” said one boater who ran into shallow water. “Fortunately, the boat was going at clutch speed and was not damaged at all. The boat was in the middle of the channel between the North Jetty and the Breakwater, about 25 feet from the Jetty. The Depthfi nder said “18 ft.” A split-second later, the boat was aground on sand and the Depthfi nder read “0.0”. Looking at the water, you can’t see the difference in the depth.”

According to former science teacher Stacy Sinclair, the shoaling is basic Earth Science:

“Given the prevailing direction of our current, it would only make sense that the sand would end up in the north entrance to the marina. Since the breakwater is designed specifi cally to reduce the force of the waves, the sand, once behind the breakwater, no longer is carried by wave energy further south, but stays behind the protection of the rocks until it is moved slowly by gentle wave action or by equipment.”

The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors issued this statement for local boaters to adhere to:

The north entrance is open to mariners with approximately 100 to 120 yards clearance, with the majority of the entrance at approximately 15- to 17-foot depth, county offi cials said.

The Marina del Rey Sheriff’s Department has placed additional “aids to navigation” (green buoys) and “hazard buoys” (white buoys) to help guide boaters through the north entrance for a minimum depth clearance of ten feet at low tide. Mariners are urged to stay outside the buoy area and should use extreme caution when traveling the north entrance since conditions are changing and buoys can move, department offi cials said.

Boaters are also advised to pay attention to astronomical low tides during monthly full and new moon periods, as well as to stay clear of the jetties and utilize the south entrance to Marina del Rey. These areas are being monitored by the Sheriff’s Department Marina del Rey Station. For north entrance shoaling update information, (310) 482-6000 or VHF Channel 16.

14 The Mariner - Issue 85 2010

❂Wash Downs❂Underwater ❂Diving Service❂Varnishing❂Electrical Specialists

❂Sailboat Rigging❂Heads-Plumbing❂Bottom Painting❂Custom Boat Cushions and Covers

310-827-7686

We accept VISA, American Express, Mastercard & Discover

Serving MdR Since 1978

Intrepid Marine Yacht Service

www.intrepidmarine.com

Repercussions

W

Local boaters contend with shoaling problems at the harbor’s north entrance caused by recent storms

Page 15: Mariner 85

2010 The Mariner - Issue 85 15

w w w . O P E N S A I L I N G U S A . c o m

310-928-6570

4601 ADMIRALTY WAY

MARINA DEL REY

• Sportboats • Tactical Equipment • Parts• Apparel

Where Per formance Rules!

pure sailingya ch t i n gaos

13555 A Fiji Way • Marina del Rey

3 1 0 - 8 2 1 - 8 4 4 6

in fo@naosyacht ing.com

Marina del Rey’s Beneteau Dealership is Under New Management and at a New Location!

n a o s y a c h t i n g . c o m

In Stock Now!New 2010 Beneteau 43! Loaded!New Design Beneteau 34!

Beneteau 40 2009 SAVE SAVE SAVE 3 Cabin loaded with all the right gear...Radar, GPS, Tridata, autopilot, Wind System, C 80, duel helms and more. Save $20,000. In stock and waiting for you to pick the bottom color!

Last of the Beneteau 49’s. SAVE SAVE SAVE 2 Cabin loaded with all the right gear. Radar, GPS, Tridata, autopilot, Wind System. Excellent opportunity to save $60,000 off retail!

E U R Om a r i n e

3 1 0 - 3 4 3 - 2 5 5 7

[email protected]

e u r o m a r i n e c e n t e r . c o m

• Fiberglass

• Wood Repair

• High Tech Materials

• Rigging

• Painting

• Spray Booth Equipped

OO nn F i j i WWa y i n M a rr i n aa d ee l R e y

Page 16: Mariner 85

16 The Mariner - Issue 85 2010

C A T A L I N A C U R R E N T S

ne of the things I like best about Catalina is that it doesn’t seem to change much. I’m happy with the old and familiar. But it seems most folks like “new

and different”. I suppose that majority opinion is what prompted the Island Company to add a handful of new attractions to Avalon. They spent 11 million dollars so let’s hope it works out for them.

There’s a new restaurant in town, right across from the Green Pier on Crescent. “Discovery Tours” has been relocated and the corner location is now the site for the “Avalon Grille”. The marketing folks describe the eatery as an “American tavern styled restaurant”. I don’t know about that description - when I hear, “American Tavern”, I think of grizzled, bearded men with coonskin caps and muskets, drinking a toast of hot buttered rum to Daniel Boone - under a deer head. Or, maybe Ahab and Strabuck poundin’ their fl agons on the bar of a Nantucket pub. Sorry boys, “Avalon Waterfront” doesn’t come to mind.

According to the website there will be indoor and outdoor seating in a “family friendly location”. They will serve, “micro brews, wine and cocktails” - sounds more like “yuppie friendly” to me. (Say, what do they call “yuppies” these days? I know they’re not extinct ‘cause I still see them driving new cars around the westside - somehow magically protected from the Dot-Com collapse and the subsequent defl ation of the Real Estate bubble that crippled all non coastal areas - certainly a resilient species.). Anyway, the bottom line is, can I afford to feed my family there? Avalon’s prices are not known to be “family friendly”. But, I suppose that’s understandable - like most resort areas, they only have a few months in which to “gather their nuts” .

Maybe those marketing guys should have paid me about 1% of that 11-million to come up with better marketing copy. I’d have been happy to oblige. Let’s hope the grub is better than the press release.

For years the Descanso Beach Club, lying just west of the Casino, has been one of the best kept secrets in southern California. For a few dollars a day you could lounge on a private beach while sipping one of those little tropical, umbrella drinks as your kids frolic on the beach. There is a cabana and bar a few paces from the beach - if you prefer bar stool conversation and big screen T.V..

The Island Company has added a few new attractions to the scene. For starters, an outdoor restaurant is open for day and evening dining. There is live music on weekends, and fi re rings and wood are available for beach fi res.

Also, a new activity center set to open in April that will focus on recreation venues within Descanso Bay and Canyon. Added to the existing kayak, paddle board and snorkel rentals will be “Snuba Tours” (basically scuba without the tanks and hassle - utilizes hooka/hose set up from a fl oat), and a Zip Line Tour of Descanso Canyon.

The Zip Line Eco Tour sounds pretty cool. The adventure begins about 600 feet above sea level, a few hundred yards up Descanso Canyon, and ends at the shore of Descanso Beach. The tour consists of 4,000 feet of Zip Line starting from a platform at the top of the run. There are fi ve separate “zips” across the canyon - platform to platform. Some runs are over 300 feet above the canyon fl oor, and speeds of over 5 miles an hour are reached. The platforms will have informational plaques for each stage of the descent as well as terrifi c views of the canyon and ocean below. The full tour should take

approximately 2 hours and costs $89.00. For those of you with little or no Tarzan DNA it may be necessary to spend an hour or so in the bar ingesting courage - Save me a seat - I’ll be joining you there.

The Island Company is also attempting to add an undersea adventure to compliment the mountaineering experience -” Sea Trek Undersea Adventure”. This stroll along the sea-bottom will begin on the west side of the cove. Diver/Walkers will wear a lightweight diving helmet, and walk along an undersea trail among rocky reefs and kelp forests. There will be guides and each diver/walker will have a waterproof, informational clipboard.

This tour was scheduled to open in the Spring. However, enviros became concerned that walking on the sea bed might disturb the little creatures lurking under the sand and so have fought to stop it. Added to this are the usual governmental hassles that often take years (and lots of money) to resolve. It is not clear at this time whether or not the “hard-greens” will be successful in their efforts to stop the undersea foot path.

Just a couple of thoughts; A) If we can have tens of millions of paths and roads on land than why can’t we have 1 or 2, little teeny-weeny ones on the sea bottom? B) Don’t we already lay cables and pipes, set mooring blocks, build piers and breakwaters on the ocean bottom, and walk on the seabed at the beach? Sort of makes you wonder what the enviro’s agenda is. But, as is the case with any sort of human endeavor - you know they’ve got issues.

In any event, the future of the undersea “nature walk” remains uncertain.

There will also be a GPS guided walking tour of Avalon. Visitors will carry a hi-tech, multimedia

What’s New on the Island

O

By Captain Richard Schaefer

Page 17: Mariner 85

2010 The Mariner - Issue 85 17

C A T A L I N A C U R R E N T S

GPS unit that will guide them through the streets of Avalon, answer questions and point the way to historical buildings and landmarks. Tourists can amble around town at their own speed.

These new, Avalon based, attractions will add even more dimension to an already extensive venue which includes; para-sailing, fl ying fi sh and glass bottom boat tours, “ghost walks”, segway excursions, walking tours, the Avalon Museum, kayaking, snorkeling, miniature golf, 9 hole golf course, the Casino, boat and jet ski rentals, and the Wrigley Gardens.

If all this entertainment seems overwhelming then there is always the west end for a slower more relaxed pace. The west end /Two Harbors does have weekly events throughout the boating season. You can pick up an event calendar on the pier or online.

There is one wonderful family attraction at Two Harbors that most visitors aren’t aware of. The Marine Lab at Big Fisherman Cove has tours every weekend. There are touch tanks, moray eel feedings and aquariums. It’s a great, educational way to spend an afternoon - truly a wonderful venue for families with children and,

here’s the best part - it’s free. You can contact the Two Harbors, Harbor Department for further information at (310) 510-4210 or, for more specifi c, up to date information, contact the USC Lab personnel directly at, (310) 510-0811 Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Next month, after complete details of the new State Water Resources Control Board’s proposed regulations are made public, I plan to write about this Draconian and costly plan, and its negative effect on recreational boating. In the meantime, you can get an idea of this expensive scheme, and its consequences, by Googling - California Water Resources Control Board Plan - Pollution, Water Monitoring Proposal. Or, go to, “Recreational Boaters of California”, web site for information and other links. This could get real ugly folks.

Captain Richard Schaefer is a U.S.C.G. Licensed Sailing Master. He has instructed, skippered charters and delivered sailing vessels for more than 25 years. He can be reached for instruction, consultation or questions at (310) 460-8946 or e-mail, [email protected]

donate...

w w w . l i f e s a i l . c o m

Boats, Resources, Time or MoneyBecome a Part of a Child‛s Future

800-249-6213

Page 18: Mariner 85

18 The Mariner - Issue 85 2010

P O W E R T A I L S

n an area where cruising grounds are limited, powerboaters need stuff to do. There’s fi shing of course, but not everyone has the equipment, knowledge and/or desire to go out on an ocean fi shing trip. There’s predicted log racing, but that takes navigational abilities not everyone possesses. So what to do? Go out and burn a bunch of gas watching the knot meter? There’s a nice alternative this time of year that works for the whole family – gray whale watching. Whale watching is the perfect activity for a day trip in Southern California and now’s the time when a gray is most likely to be spotted. Between late February and late March both southbound and northbound gray whales are making their way to or from the warm waters of Mexico during their yearly migration.

While some advise heading out towards Point Vicente where the American Cetacean Society performs their gray whale census project, other head towards the Point Dume area in Malibu. In fact, the local press recently reported a 20 to 30-foot-long baby gray surfacing around the Malibu Pier where a crowd gathered and watched. Most believe that the majority of migrating grays will either head around the west side of Catalina Island or travel an imaginary line from Point Dume to Point Vicente.

“For gray whales on a south bound migration, typically the whales are around three miles off shore and for the northbound they can be as close as a mile off shore,” said Diane Alps, Operations Manager, American Cetacean Society National Headquarters and Programs Coordinator, of the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. “But the real mass of the migration goes behind [Catalina] Island.”

Since December 1, there had been about 270 whales sighted by the census organization, but that number is expected to grow by leaps and bounds in the next month as many northbound whales with calves will be heading back to the feeding grounds of the Pacifi c Northwest.

Cetacean experts ask that private boaters be very cautious when entering into these animal’s migratory behaviors. While it’s tempting to get as close as possible during a whale watching trip it can be potentially dangerous for all involved. Whale experts urge boaters to abide by the law that states to keep back at least 100-yards.

“The best thing to do is maintain the motor’s speed and try to keep 100-yards between you and the whale, you’re not supposed to approach any closer than that,” said Alisa Schulman-Janiger, Project Director of the American Cetacean Society Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project. “Now if the whale decides to come around closer to you – that’s a different story.”

Janiger is quick to remind boaters that a migration is a sensitive situation and concern should be taken when witnessing these creatures.

“You shouldn’t rush up on a whale or cut it off and it’s best not to change your engine speed or get between mothers and calves,” said “The problems that we generally see are with private boaters. There are a lot of people who may not be aware that there’s a whale migration going on out here. I sometimes see people on personal watercraft zipping around almost hitting the whales. I’ve seen one whale breach to avoid being hit by a PWC.”

To see a daily count of the whales that past by Palos Verdes log onto www.acs-la.org/daily.htm. To learn about programs and volunteering opportunities go to www.acs-la.org.

W h a l e S p o t t i n g

I

Page 19: Mariner 85

2010 The Mariner - Issue 85 19

Burrr!!!! The water temps in the bay have dropped to a chilly 57-degrees. With all this recent rain it’s looking like El Nino is upon us.

The fi shing has been inconsistent, as it often is this time of year, with sand bass and sculpin being the mainstay for local fi shing. We’re all waiting for the bottom fi sh opener to happen in March.

If you read any reports from Orange County to San Diego they have been getting those giant squid. They put up a nice fi ght and when prepped the right way, taste alright. We should be glad they are not up here because they eat anything in their path.

Catalina has had squid as well, but bait size, in turn producing a few white seabass and yellowtail to be had if you’re lucky.

On the Bait Seine: Larry and Mike over at Inseine Baits are still holding a mix of anchovies and sardines. I’m looking forward to a good season ahead.

Until next time…………Tight Lines

According to DaveFishing Update by Master

Marina del Rey Fisherman

Captain Dave Kirby

VIKING DIVE

SERVICE

Underwater Maintenance

Corrosion Control

A Commitment Towards Excellence

Est. 1985

Craig Cantwell

310-827-1473

CMUNDERWATER SPECIALISTHire a Quality Dive Service

CHASE MAINTENANCE

Bottom CleaningUnderwater Repairs

Zinc & Prop ReplacementRecovery

Eliseo Navarrete - OwnerServing the Marina for 20 Years

310-415-1344

Varnishing Polishing Wax

Carpet Steam Cleaning

Weekly or Monthly Washdowns Dennis Vasquez

310-466-8267

Advertise in T h e M a r i n e r

310-397-1887Effective & Affordable

◆ Vinyl Repair◆ Leather Repair◆ Plastic Repair◆ Re-dyeing◆ Deodorizing

• Cigarette Burns• Restoration of Faded Materials• New Colors for Cushions & Interiors• Marine Specialists• Dockside Service

w h y ? replace it,when we can repair it?

Don’t Throw it Out Until You Call Us!

An Innovative New Concept

310-720-2698

The MarinerPick it Up!

310-397-1887

marinermagazine.com

Page 20: Mariner 85

20 The Mariner - Issue 85 2010

R A C I N G S C E N E

New High Performance Sailing School Opens in MDR

On Sunday March 7, a new addition to the Marina del Rey racing community will open its doors. The Open Sailing School located at 4695 Admiralty Way will be beginning their classes that specialize in high performance boat-handling and tactics taught by the owners of Open Sailing who have a combined 30+ years of racing experience.

Classes will be taught on the popular one-design boat, the Open 5.70, which is the fastest growing one-design fl eet in Marina del Rey and Sailing World magazine’s 2008 One-Design Boat of the Year.

“It’s stable and forgiving with a large spacious cockpit making it a great teaching platform,” said instructor/owner Nik Vale about the boat.

For advanced courses, Open Sailing plans to utilize the ultra-sleek, super fast all carbon Open 6.50 - a high performance sportboat that has generated tons of attention around the racing world over the past few years. In addition, in the near future, courses on short-handed and single-handed racing will also be available on the Open Sailing built Pogo 2, an ocean going Mini designed specially for short-handed sailing. And the school plans to offer ASAs Basic Keelboat course (ASA 101) for beginner sailors as well.

“We offer a comprehensive Progressive Racing Program that includes various classes that cover everything to do with sailboat racing,” said Open Sailing President Jerome Sammarcelli. “We have courses about the basics of racing, tactics and strategy, sail trim, spinnaker trimming, the rules of racing, match racing, and starting techniques.”

The new school will also offer private coaching on the Open 5.70, Open 6.50, Pogo 2 or on the student’s boat.

Contact the school at (310) 928-6570.

Open School instructor and founder Jerome Sammarcelli sailing his Open 5.70 in the 2009 Long Beach Race Week.

“Open” for Bus iness!

Page 21: Mariner 85

2010 The Mariner - Issue 85 21

south bay yacht racing club

It is with great pleasure that I take over the helm of South Bay Yacht Racing Club for 2010. I’ll do my best to lead our organization; our director and chair positions are fi lled with dedicated and energetic racers, many of whom are already forming exciting plans for this year. With the dynamism of the incom-ing board, this year is poised to be a great one for SBYRC.

The new decade started with zero wind on the fi rst week, to change dra-matically to thunderstorms, bringing a lot of rain in the Santa Monica Bay with high winds in the 35 knots. Then the weather changed all of a sudden, the rain stopped, the sky cleared up the day before the Champagne Series Re-gatta giving us a great weather to race; then the bad weather came back a few days later bringing the thunderstorms, the high winds and even a tornado. That unfortunately led a lot of the rac-ers to stay home, trusting the weather man.

The daring sailors who came out to play and raced the second day of the Champagne Series Regatta, had a blast sailing out on a beautiful day on the water with great winds and no rain. Yes, we were blessed with a wonderful weather for our fi rst regatta of the year, I agree. Let’s hope for great winds all year long!

South Bay Yacht Racing Club is made up of racers for racers, if you are in-terested in joining our efforts, please let us know.I am looking forward to a year of chal-lenges, fun and growth of the club.

Nora Feddal - Commodore

Commodore Corner

S B Y R C

SBYRC promotes the sport and art of sailing throughout the South Bay and encourages new sailors to join and grow via sailboat racing – at the most inexpensive rate in town.

SBYRC Calendar CornerBe sure to mark your calendars for these great upcoming events and races! Opening Day! Co-hosting with MVYC March 13th Start Racing Clinic Free and for all Fleets! April 3rd Pas De Deux Double handed racing July 24th Match Racing 2 days of Matchless Racing Sept. 11th and 12th WOW and WAH Women on the Water Sept. 18th and 19th

WWW.SBYRC.ORG

Newsletter

The Champagne Series was a fi ve race regatta that managed to dodge all the bad weather SoCal has had for the last few weeks! WinnersPHRF A - John Staff PlanktonJ80 - Curt Johnson AvetOpen 5.70 - Jerome Sammarcelli - Semi AquaticPHRF B - Cheda/Thomas/Fleck - BanditMartin 242 - Denise George - All In

Jerome Sammarcelli won the Champagne Perpetual Trophy on Semi Aquatic.George Moll was the winner of the Kleeve Perpetual Trophy for the One Design on his Open 5.70 Sonic.

The hospitality after the two days of racing was held at MVYC and all had a great time enjoying the camaraderie with many awesome raffl e prizes from our sponsors!

SBYRC Winner’s Corner

Membership CornerThe South Bay Yacht Racing Club board and members would like to welcome our newest members: Kieran Shocklee, Mark Spector, Sayoko Adachi-Edwards, Wayne Brandow, Ray Durand, David Messier.

Good luck racing and we’ll see you on the water! Michael Shocklee VC and Membership Director

For information on how you can help the club, be part of a Race Committee and learn more about racing, send an email to [email protected] or contact any of the board members anytime.

New Members and Renewing Members can receive a $10 discount on club dues when pro-viding this code on their payment: SB-2/2010

** Sign up with us ASAP if you are plan-ning on entering the Ensenada Race and

need to be affi liated with a yacht club!**

Special New Member and Renewal Promotion

Champagne Series Racers and Winners

Page 22: Mariner 85

22 The Mariner - Issue 85 2010

C r u i s i n g

Local sailor Laurie Pane was born and raised on a sugar cane farm in North Queensland, Australia and had visited, lived and worked in more than 100 countries before moving to California; their circumnavigation adventures included being arrested by the secret police in Sudan, surviving a lightning strike in Panama, enduring depth-charges in Sri Lanka, escaping land-mines in Egypt, chasing dragons in Indonesia and dodging whales in Tonga. Laurie Pane’s fi rst book, Chasing Sunsets, recounts the circumnavigation of a family who dared to be extraordinary. Here are some comments from Laurie on some of the interesting destinations that they visited on their family adventure. Check out chasingsunsetsthebook.com for more info.

IndonesiaThe ladies in our group were a little put off by the piles of live dogs, all neatly trussed, ready for the market, and then the pot. For some reason, the similarly stacked chickens excited no comment. Ryan expressed a desire to try dog, rat and snake, but Carole turned pale green, so the subject was quickly changed.

YemenThe best show in town was the chicken seller. His little stall was surrounded by banked cages of chickens. He would select one, pluck it, gut it, and chop it into quarters so quickly that the legs were still kicking as they were hung on hooks. I am unsure, after long and close observation, as to whether he actually killed the chicken beforehand, or left it to the procedure. A return trip to Aden will need to be made to clear up this controversy.

EritreaDinner was a four-foot diameter platter, lined with pancake-like sour bread, and covered with heaps of various local dishes, all meat. Correct procedure was to tear off a piece of bread and scoop up some food with it, all with the right hand of course, as the left is reserved for more intimate cleaning functions. Left-handed me had some etiquette problems.

GreeceThe other yachts tried to tie up to the town quay, about half a mile from us. There were so many of them that they were often two or three deep. Still they seemed to prefer the smell and wash and noise, for the doubtful benefi t of paying for the night, and the facility of being able to crawl over other boats to get to shore. We dinghied casually up to our restaurant of choice, tied up next to our table, ate and drank, then indulged in an after-dinner stroll past the chaos of tangled lines and anchors, and the sound of grinding fi berglass, before returning to our peaceful abode. As the King of Siam was wont to say, “Is a puzzlement.”

CariacouThe market stalls were all under cover, except for one. When I asked its lady vendor why there were fi sh eyes in the pile of tomatoes, she pointed at the overhead tree where birds perch and drop beak-loads. Not wishing to make further discoveries, we moved to the inside stalls.

ItalyWe are some 55-feet long, bow anchor to stern anchor, and draw 7’6.” The canal was less than 60-feet wide and 8’6” deep in the middle, with a sloping rock wall on one side and the tall concrete wall on the other. The space for us was between a 30-foot sailboat and a 70-foot powerboat. Reversing into the space wasn’t an option, so we headed in, and had to spin “Dolphin Spirit” around in the canal. An extra coat of paint would have been scraped off, but we made it. The applause from the awestruck crowd on the wall was thunderous.

Chartres CathedralOur English guide likened taking a one-hour tour to reading the fi rst page of an encyclopedia. He has been guiding people through, and talking and writing about the Cathedral since 1958, and clearly recalled my previous visit around 1963.

Memories From Around the World

Page 23: Mariner 85

2010 The Mariner - Issue 85 23

ASK THE EXPERT

Steve Lee is a certifi ed vessel examiner with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. He is also the Public Affairs Offi cer for the Los Angeles based Flotilla 12-4, a member of the Boat-Helicopter Operations Training Team and active in patrolling the local waters. He grew up boating on the Long Island Sound, has captained sailboats in offshore racing and even endured a Category 4 hurricane while afl oat, an experience that underlined for him the importance of safety preparation.

Lots of people don’t know that the Coast Guard Auxiliary performs free vessel safety checks in Marina del Rey. What is involved?

With the winter weather keeping many boaters on land taking care of annual maintenance, it’s a good time to go through your vessel and take stock on all your safety equipment. Safety gear that is expired, worn out or damaged won’t help you when that unexpected moment comes and you actually need it. It also won’t help you avoid a fi ne if you get boarded by a Coast Guard boarding team conducting law enforcement. That’s why the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary provides free Vessel Safety Checks (VSC) year round to help you out. If you are out of compliance somewhere, we will simply alert you to that so you can correct the issue. When you do pass, you receive an offi cial Coast Guard decal signifying your “passed” status. But did you know that VSC decals are only valid for one calendar year? So even if you already had an examination in the past, you will need to get a new one this season. This is simply to ensure that you are maintaining the level of safety necessary and that you are meeting all state and federal regulations.

Almost every type of boat is eligible for a Vessel Safety Check, from kayaks and infl atables to luxury yachts. Your local vessel examiner can answer this and any other questions you might have about the process ahead of time. To get your boat checked, simply contact an examiner in your area. We are happy to come to your boat by appointment (whether in the water or on a trailer). You can also look for us at launch ramps and around marinas during various weekends throughout the summer. So here are some general tips of things to look for to help you get started preparing for the examination. The following is not a complete list, but rather

an overview, so please see our website below for detailed specifi cations.

Registration / Documentation

Often boat owners can’t locate their legal paperwork. Make sure all your boat’s registration or documentation papers are on board and accessible, just as you would in your car. If you have a larger vessel documented with the Coast Guard, be sure that number is permanently marked on a visible part of the interior and that the boat’s name and hailing port are properly displayed on the hull.

If you are registered with the state, check that your hull markings and sticker haven’t come off or faded from the bow as often happens. The letters and numbers must contrast the hull color and be at least three inches high.

Life Jackets

Are your life jackets buried under fi ve feet of fenders and line? Are they moldy and disintegrating? Well they need to be in good condition and readily accessible in case of an emergency. Remember: one for each person on board. Do you ever have children along? If so, you must have correctly sized life jackets for each of them. If your boat is over 16 feet, then you must have one throwable fl otation device immediately available, not just stowed away. Note: California state law requires any child on board under the age of 11 to be wearing a life jacket. This infraction is punishable by fi ne.

Visual Distress Signals

One of the most common reasons for a boat not passing a vessel examination is expired fl ares. Flares expire fairly quickly and if you

think they will still work after that date, think again. All boats 16-feet and over must carry either three day and three night pyrotechnic distress signals, or a certifi ed non-pyrotechinc day signal (such as an orange distress fl ag) and non-pyrotechinc night signal (certifi ed distress light), or a combination of those. There are fl are kits available that come with the needed items. But even if you already have them, you must check the expiration dates.

If you’d like to gain some experience in shooting off your old fl ares, as well as properly disposing of them, then contact the Auxiliary to fi nd out when and where our annual Flare Day event will be (usually sometime in Spring). You might be surprised by how many duds there are.

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed civilian volunteer component of the United States Coast Guard. Created by an Act of Congress in 1939, the Auxiliary directly supports the Coast Guard in all missions, except military and law enforcement actions. To schedule a VSC or get more info on the Auxiliary, call the hotline: (818) 239-4770 or email: [email protected].

How to Pass a Coast Guard Vessel Safety Check

- Steve Lee -

Page 24: Mariner 85

24 The Mariner - Issue 85 2010

Dear Mookie,

The older I get the more judgmental I become. I fi nd myself criticizing my son’s choice of clothing and hairstyle, I complain to my husband about how his friend’s act and I want to ring my sister’s neck for acting like she’s in her twenties instead of her late thirties. I know it’s not good – what can I do?

Signed

Judge of MDR

Dear Judger,

I can tell you, as a dog, people do stuff around me you can’t even believe. I have seen some very inappropriate and disgusting things. I try to cast a gaze that says, “wow, you’re kind of gross...” but nothing changes. I guess when you walk around naked and urinate in public people feel comfortable around you.

Perhaps that’s what you need to do - walk around naked and urinate in public. People will see you differently, but more important, you will see them through a whole new prism as well.

Hope that helps - good luck!

Quality Advice From A Two Year Old Black Lab

Puppy

Santa Monica Marine

• Yachts and Captains for the Movie & Music Industry • Grips, Rigging and Location Services• Electronic Installations• Maintenance Programs

Dave Kirby 949-275-4062 [email protected]

Managem

ent

www.smmarinemanagement.com

Advertise in

The The MarinerMariner

Affordable Effective

310-397-1887

Page 25: Mariner 85

2010 The Mariner - Issue 85 25

“One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s .......”

SailboatsBeneteau Oceanis 400Time Share. $325.00 for 5 days per month.Vessel is fully equipped with all the bells and whistles imaginable. Well maintained. Catalina ready. Profes-sional lessons available if needed. Call Captain Rich-ard Schaefer 310-460-8946 or email at [email protected] 36’1968 Beautiful classic, 2 owners, resent haul out and com-plete overhaul, pristine condition. Serious inquiries only. Price $ 21,900. Call Peter at 310-864-48421980 Catalina 30Wheel, Autopilot, Atomic 4 engine, 4 headsails. Needs bottom paint, minor blister repair, shaft log. $12,500 310.418.67081916 Seabird Yawl 26’Two masts, gaff-rigged, 7 sails. New paint. Ready to sail. Lessons available. $2,500.00. (310) 821-5926.

Power Boats 34’ Bayliner 1989Avanti Express Cruiser. Twin 454s gas. Radar, GPS, depth fi nder. 2 staterooms, bath w/shower. Great liveabard slip. $37,000. Tony 310-920-147832’ Unifl ite. Great liveaboard. Twin Crusaders, sleeps 6, full galley and head. 18,000 OBO. Call 818-886-4602.Wellcraft Airslot 24ft. 1974Cuddy cabin.Compl.restored.Seeps fuel!! $ 5900- Call Peter 310-864-484213’ Boston Whaler w/25 Evinrude $3,900 OBO call 310-823-204013’ Boston Whaler With 40 HP Honda - $6,500310-822-8618Membership AvailableMid Valley Sailing Club, a 30 yr old non-profi t org., in MDR, has a membership avail.. Plenty of use of a 1982 Catalina 27, diesel, GPS, head, all upkeep, in-sur., slip rent , Vessel Assist, included in annual $700, plus $150 initiation. Applicants must be experienced sailors. For quick response Email your phone no. and short sailing resume to: [email protected].

Outboards/EnginesYamaha 252 stroke outboard $1400. 310-701-5960Used Outboards310-822-86184 HP Mercury, short shaft, 4 stroke $9005 HP Honda, , short shaft, 4 stroke $8008 HP short shaft, 4 stroke $14008 HP Honda, short shaft, 4 stroke $1,3008 HP Mercury, , short shaft, 4 stroke $1,3009.8 Mercury HP, , short shaft, 4 stroke $1,50040 HP Honda, long shaft 4 stroke $3,50040 HP Suzuki, long shaft, 4 stroke $4,00090 HP Mercury, long shaft, 4 stroke $4,500

310-822-8618

Other StuffJetdock For SaleUniversal 16’ Boat Dock, 2008. $5,500 OBO Was $7,440 delivered. In A basin MDR. Mike 310-819-5146 www.jetdock.com Two 2-speed Barient 22 winches Grey/black in great condition! Barrels (rope facing part of the drum) were sent to a machine shop to be knurled to eliminate slippage of loaded jib sheets. Great Primary winches. Serviced and ready. Call 310 398-1430 leave message, I’ll call you back. View on weekends or after workProfurl 420 furler 2500.extra extru-sion available. 310-213-6439 cellMainsail From Catalina 27’. $600. 310-701-5960Aluminum Spinnaker Pole 9.7’ In use till boat sold. Surface scratches but sound tube and ends. Includes wire bridles and trip lines. $140. Call 310 398-1430 leave message, I’ll call you back. View on weekends or after work.Wooden BoomComplete 12 ft, make offer. 310-213-6439Bimini topWith stainless bows fi ts 42 motor yacht bridge $650310-701-5960150ft 5/16” High Test ChainNew @ West Marine over $5/ft. Clean up and good to go. $150. 310-279-1200.Winch ConversionTurn your winches into power winches with this Mil-waukee 28V cordless right angle drill with extra 28V battery. bought in ‘09. Light use. $285.00. 310-739-0303MainsailFrom 40 ft. Cal call 310-823-2040Northern Lights Generator4.5 KW- $3,000. 310-823-4821Universal Diesel GeneratorUsed- 8.5 KW- $2,200. 310-823-4821Catalina 27 Genoa North Sails mylar 150% genoa for a Cat 27. Excellent condition, hank on luff. $350. Call Bob at 310-306-2657. 2003 Honda Super Quiet Generator EU1000i. Less than 10 hours use. Exact same new retails for $790 plus tax. Asking $600.00. 310 -339-1748SailsUsed sails in stock 310 827-8888Donate BoatsCash For Your Boat ! Power or sail, Yachts to dinghys 310-849-2930Donate Your BoatLA Area Council Boy Scouts of America need your boat or boat gear as donation to support essential and formative youth programs, please call 310-823-2040 or E-mail [email protected]

Need Cash Fast?I’ll buy your boat 310-827-7686Donate Your BoatReceive a substantial tax deduction. Support youth boating programs. S.O.S. Please call 888-650-1212ServicesCanvas Boat Covers and RepairsNew boat covers, canvas repair, restore water repelency to marine canvas. Dan 310-382-6242Boat Detailing.Outstanding service. Interior/exterior, dockside/dry-dock. Cleaning, polishing, anti foul work. Meticulous, guaranteed. Estimates philip (310) 351 1502. Dance LessonsBallroom, Swing, Salsa and Country Western Dance lessons. Great party idea! Pro. instructor Ms. M.C.Callaghan also available for privates, groups.Info- 818-694-7283 or email [email protected] a business to sell? Call Pramod Patel at 310-933-6236. DRE R.E. Broker License #01340920Will Crew For You!!Hi there, my name is Charlie and I am new to the Los Angeles area. I am interested in crewing on your sailboat. I don’t have experience, but I am honest, hardworking, motivated and dependable. Please contact me if you need a hand. Charlie [email protected] 619.227.4187Biography WriterI will write your biography, a living testimonial to your adventures at sea. Experienced pro, ex-Life Magazine editor. CNN Traveller (U.K.), Huffi ngton Post, Modern Luxury Magazines, Travel & Leisure Golf, The New Yorker, New York Post, Redbook. Jim Calio - (310)-578-5094 - [email protected] Names LetteringServicing MDR with boat lettering over 12 Yrs. Now offering Full Color Vinyl lettering, and graphics. Blue-water Boat Lettering 310.433.5335Custom Marine Carpentry & FiberglassHardtops, swimsteps, extensions, doors, mold making. Large portfolio. Movie experience. Small boats & props. 310-592-5915.Marine Mechanic Ignition and repair and boat systems. Repair questions answered promptly. John – 562-313-7600.Professional, U.S.C.G. Lic. Sailing Master, 25 years experience.Instruction, yacht management, insurance surveys, deliveries, pre-purchase and repair consultation. Serving Long Beach to Santa Barbara. Local references. Captain Richard Schaefer 310-460-8946.Help WantedGeneral light part time maintenance:Offi ce, boats, autos, computer use, etc CSA 310 821 3433

Page 26: Mariner 85

26 The Mariner - Issue 85 2010

donate...

w w w . l i f e s a i l . c o m

Boats, Resources, Time or MoneyBecome a Part of a Child‛s Future

800-249-6213

Free Classifi eds - Under 20 words - No pics - 2 Issue Run!

EMAIL ONLY

Free Classifi eds!

Winter Special

[email protected]@marinermagazine.com

The MarinerPick it Up!

310-397-1887

marinermagazine.com

SEE THIS SPOT?

OTHERS WILL TOO

Let ‘em know you’re out there. The season starts now. Advertise in

310-397-1887 or [email protected]

Page 27: Mariner 85

2010 The Mariner - Issue 85 27

Page 28: Mariner 85

FIBERGLASS REPAIRSINCE 1969

Gel Coat SpecialistsCustom Fabrications

Expert Color MatchingCosmetic to Major Collisions

Custom Instrument Dashboards

310/306-2149

FIBERGLASS REPAIRHarry Gibson

XSRACING.ORG

We’ll Get You Back on the Water

Always wear a personal flotation device while boating and read your owner’s manual.

2007 American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Buy •Sell • Trade• Service

OUTDRIVE SPECIALIST!

Largest Outboard & Infl atable Repair Shop in MDR - Pick Up & Delivery

310-822-8618310-822-8618REGENCY BOATSREGENCY BOATS

13468 Beach Ave.

All boats powered by Honda Marine.

CHECK OUT OUR DEALSON MARINE GENERATORS!