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