Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Introducing myself and test


This is both a test of posting to the blog and, by the way, me
introducing myself to other crew members. I will be on the return
voyage only. I live in Washington state and enjoy cruising the Puget
Sound and Inside Passage of Canada. Photo submitted here is with my
previous boat, a Baba 30. No photos of myself with my newer Beneteau
36CC. Looking forward meeting the rest of the crew.

Don Van Valkenburg

Some "Safety at Sea" notes from Eric



Kimber and I had a good day Saturday, and I took some notes in a semi-checklist format.
I bolded some items which I think are pending for us to do.

5/14/2016

General Items to Drill and Check:
-> Crew to disclose any medical issues that we need to be sensitive to.
-> Go over Medical Kit
-> Check that jacklines run into the companionway for unclipping. Don't unclip outside companionway.
-> Drill MOB in the water. Drill with Spinnaker up.
-> Check compass calibration.
-> Practice getting into survival suits.
-> Get Hawaii, SF, Southern California Coast Guard Phone numbers on speed dial.
-> Lifesling Block and Tackle height should be around 15ft above deck to ensure that it raises the MOB above the lifeline.
  --> Check Halyard Length is sufficient to reach the water for retrieval.
-> Life Raft ISO9650. Knife opposite painter line. Don't forget to tie painter to boat -- later cut or untie.
 --> Life Jacket UL1180
-> Make 1 crew member sit out MOB drill. eg - Skipper
-> 1 Liter H2O/person/day to stay minimally hydrated
-> SF Coast Guard recommended checking BoatUS MSSID registration. Rescue 21 System.
-> Group MMSI
-> 1gram of CO2 equates to roughly 1 pound of buoyancy. 35 lbs recommended. 
-> check shoe tread -- get new shoes/boots with better tread (slip injuries)
-> idea of using extra long headfoil tape when flying storm jib (prevent stripping from track thereby)
-> beam : wave height limit to being rolled (1:1)
-> most injuries are abrasion/bruises.

Navigation
-> Symbols and terminology. Tropical Depression, Tropical Storn, Hurricane. Squall Line, cold and warm fronts.
 --> Wind Direction and intensity.
 --> Find closest synoptic breeze
-> Surface Analysis/Forecast vs. 500 millibar chart

PacCup Contacts - People Met:
Wayne Koide - Encore, PacCup (Leaves a day or two after us, but will soon catch up)
John Woodworth - Single Handed Transpac (Leaves a week before us)
Michael Moradzadeh - Onyx Santa Cruz 50 
Glen Margolis - Ardea - Tartan 37. Direct Competitor. https://pacificcup.org/16/entry/ardea

Sincerely, Eric

Monday, May 9, 2016

Getting ready to go.


We have a Safety Inspection coming up, and one of the things that the inspector is going to check is our Personal Flotation Devices (PFD). Here's mine.

It is "self inflatable". If it gets (really) wet, or if I pull the release handle, a compressed gas cartridge is punctured and the PFD is inflated. There is also a tube to blow it up (or keep it inflated).

One side of the PFD above is opened up to show the inflation tube, a strobe light, whistle, and signaling mirror. In the right upper corner of the picture is a bag containing "Thigh Straps" to be used with the PFD. Years of experience with PFDs have shown that they can otherwise slip off over the person's head, especially if the person is unconscious.

In the middle on the right is a spare gas cartridge in case the one inside the PDF is set off by accident.

At the bottom of the picture is a tether. This particular PFD is more strongly constructed than average so that it also serves as a safety harness. Normally one end of the tether is clipped onto the PFD and the other end is clipped to the boat. This tether has two clip-on straps, a short one and a long one. Some people also carry a personal "Emergency Position Indicating RadioBeacon" (EPIRB). The boat has one of these. They can be used to signal to a satellite that you need help, and where you are located.

Sunday, May 8, 2016

Welcome aboard - Kimber Oswald (crew)

Kimber Oswald
  • Skipper of a Columbia 22.
  • 6 years sailing on San Fransisco Bay.
  • Delivery/crew SF to the Marquesas spring 2015.
  • Thinks about sailing 92% of the time.
  • An electrician by trade and enjoys working on boats.
  • Plans to purchase a blue water capable boat and set sail somewhere fun in 2018.   

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Navigator

Bill Myers
•    Retired nuclear scientist living in Hawaii
•    Nineteen Pacific Ocean crossings to date including two Transpacs  and eight Pacific Cup races
•    Detailed resume at nav.org
•    Email: navigator.bill @gmail.com

Monday, May 2, 2016

Skipper


Lad Burgin
I have owned Shadowside since 1986. My sailing experience encompasses more than 40 years. It includes six seasons campaigning a Morgan 42 and extensive crusing on the Great Lakes, San Francisco Bay, East and West Coasts.