The Cat's Tales

Catalinas of Santa Monica Bay and Catalina 36 – Fleet #1

March 2004

John Celick — Newsletter Editor\Treasurer

http://www.catalinasmbay.org/

From the Captain of the Fleet: March Highlights

Norm’s Short Cruise to Marina del Rey on Sunday March 7th

Support our membership drive – see the flyer (bottom of last page). “Someone Like You” is what we are hoping to attract, so bring along a Catalina owner and introduce them to our group. Bring your boat or drive; but come down to the guest docks adjacent to Burton Chase Park in Marina Del Rey around noon. Check out what other Catalina boat owners have done to their boats!

Dick McKinney and his crew will also be there to conduct 2004 Coast Guard Safety Inspections and give you a new sticker. Also see the USCG Vessel Safety Check (VSC) form in this newsletter.

Fleet Dinner – Tuesday, March 16th – Pizza night and Cruise with Chuck & Kay Russell

Chuck and Kay Russell will share the thrill of a cruise (aboard a cruise ship) they took from Cape Town, South Africa to Valpariso, Chile. They visited the most remote inhabited island in the Atlantic Ocean, the most southern city in the world and the continent of Antarctica. They have some gorgeous photos of this area, along with commentary on the political stability in Antarctica and the results of the continuing tensions between Argentina and the British Empire over the Falkland Islands. Come to the next fleet meeting and enjoy pictures of penguins, icebergs, flying birds, and other sea life unique to the area.

SMWYC Opening Day, March 20th

Santa Monica Windjammers Yacht Club makes their facilities available to us at no cost. On Saturday morning, March 20th, we have an opportunity to say “Thank You” again by assisting their members in preparation for the Opening Day festivities. Typically, we arrive around 6 am and do some kitchen duty and then help set-up chairs in the parking lot. Most of us are done by 8 am and a few stay to help with final preparations and serving. If you can assist us, please contact Hal.

Hal Avery, Your 2004 Captain

Safety at Sea

At the start of the sailing season, as you board your boat, glance at your fire extinguishers:

1. Check that the gauge indicators are still in the green area, and periodically weigh each to make sure it isn’t losing weight and the gauge is accurate.

2. Monthly, turn your extinguisher upside down once or twice (or shake upside down) to loosen the fire fighting agent inside the fire extinguisher.

3. Have them professional checked and tagged annually to comply with USCG requirements and be absolutely sure that they’ll be useable should you need them.

Tech Talk: “Chuck’s Catalina Chili”

In response to requests for the wonderful chili that Chuck and Kay Russell served us at our February dinner, here is the recipe:

1 to 1 ¼ lbs of chuck steak, diced into 3/8” cubes

2 TBS, plus 1 tsp of chili powder

1 TBS cumin

1 TBS oregano

1 tsp salt

½ tsp thyme

1 TBS flour

5 oz. Concentrated beef broth/consommé (Campbell’s)

1 onion chopped

2 stalks celery chopped

1 green pepper diced

1 garlic clove, minced

1 each can of 15 oz beans, Red, Chili and Pinto

1 30 oz. Can of whole peeled tomatoes

Olive oil

Brown meat in 1 TBS olive oil; drain off fat from pan; add to the meat the chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, thyme, flour. Stir to mix thoroughly sauté 3 minutes. Add beef broth: simmer slowly until meat is tender and most of the liquid has evaporated, approximately 1 hr. In a separate saucepan heat 1 TBS olive oil and sauté all vegetables 10 minutes. Drain and reserve liquid from beans and add beans to vegetables. Drain tomatoes and dice. Add to vegetables/beans mixture. When heated thru, add to meat mixture and adjust seasonings. Add additional reserved bean liquid for more moisture.

Serve with chopped onions, grated cheese, and warm flour tortillas with butter. Goes great with Caesar salad. Serves 8

 
Three New Members
 

Please welcome Derek Stevenson and his Catalina 25 named Ginger. Also welcome Thomas and Kay Kenngott and their Catalina 30 named Beachfront Property.

Last month I forgot to tell you about another new member. Did you know that Catalina made a powerboat? They did and we now have a Catalina Island 34 powerboat in the fleet owned by David and Wendy Calloway named Harbinger. He claims to be the only honest member among us willing to admit that he motors to the island every time.

…Gisel Dawson, Membership Chairperson

Tech Talk: Notes on the “Man Overboard” Presentation by Peter Damisch of Blue Water Sailing

The following are a few highlights from the excellent presentation by Peter Damisch of Blue Water Sailing on “Man Overboard”. The good news is that Crew Overboard Rescue (COB) situations are extremely rare. The bad news is that the most experienced seaman aboard is probably the one to go overboard. There are many ways to effect a rescue, none easy and some less effective than others. Time is of the essence and confusion will hamper your rescue efforts, so be prepared.

Of the many ideas he presented, the most important idea was “Have a Plan”. Review your plan periodically with your crew. Be prepared to respond at any time and have your mate prepared to respond because it is likely that you are the one going into the drink.

I’m sure that you are familiar with the key parts of a COB rescue: Prevention, Safe and Rapid Return, Recovery on Deck and Hypothermia Treatment. Here are only the new and important information from Peter’s presentation.

Prevention: Strobe lights work. Nothing else was effective at night in locating the victim.

Safe and Rapid Recovery:

Assign a spotter. Throw lots of stuff overboard to assist in marking the approx. position of the victim…paper, cushions, ice chest…anything! “Make a trail of bread crumbs.”

Practice the figure 8 maneuver (see latest West Marine Catalog, page 914) and consider approaching the victim so that the victim is upwind (this new!). The old method of placing the boat upwind puts the victim in an uncomfortable position of potentially being run over and it puts all the rigging overhead of the rescuers on-deck which risks knocking another crew member into the water. Also, Peter is against starting the motor which risks lines being tangled in the prop.

The life sling product and pick-up method (water-skier like) wasn’t much praised by the speaker. Beware of the newer life slings. They are so buoyant that they blow around and don’t trail effectively.

Recovery on Deck:

This has always been one of the biggest difficulties which can be magnified when the victim is physically injured or unconscious. Peter recommends using the main halyard as the lifting device with a simple sling under the victim’s arms. If the victim is unconscious consider placing another, life-jacketed, person in the water and consider using your dinghy.

Hypothermia Treatment:

Don’t wrap a wet person in a blanket. Don’t rub extremities. Don’t force warm liquids. No alcohol. Do cuddle…make a sandwich of two warm, dry, bodies with the victim in the middle (editor’s note: I guess this makes up for no alcohol!). Do treat for shock

John Celick, editor

FLOTSAM & JETSAM (Sell, Buy or Giveaway)

New Fleet Burgees

Our new fleet burgee is available for $20 at our March meeting

Outboard Motor Locks from Garhauer Marine

Bill, of Garhauer Marine, is now making a polished stainless steel outboard engine lock. It is similar to the unit Master Lock makes, sold at West Marine, uses the same hardened brass padlock. In case you are not familiar with this lock, you 1st remove the padlock, then slide the square tube over the OB handles, then put the padlock back on. The West Marine unit is painted steel, which is guaranteed to rust in just a few years. Plus, they make it much too long, for a 10 HP or less outboard. Bill's version is about 7.5" long between the two OB handles. Bill sells these for $40 at boat shows. He is offering them for $35 for our fleet members. See the photo below showing two views of the unit.
 
See me at the next meeting and I’ll arrange for a purchase and bulk shipment.
 
 

Coming Events

Date:	Event:	Remarks:
Tuesday, March 16th	Dinner	Pizza Dinner at SMWYC, Speakers Chuck and Kay on the Cruise from South Africa to Chile
Sunday, March 7th	Short Cruise	“Show ‘n Tell,” Norm’s Very Short Cruise to MdR Guest Docks – CG Aux. Safety Inspections available. Starts around noon, lasts until sunset.
Saturday, March 20th	Tradition	SMWYC Opening Day - Fleet members assist to say, “Thank you!” for use of the facilities at SMWYC.

Meetings are on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at the Santa Monica Windjammers Yacht Club, 13589 Mindinao Way,

Cocktails at 6:30, Dinner at 7:30

Come join us!….

Catalinas of Santa Monica Bay

“Norm’s Short Cruise”

Sunday, March 7, 2004

At Burton Chace Park Guest Docks, Marina del Rey, 12:00 Noon

Catalina sailboat owners meet to show off their boats, get ideas for improvements, munch on goodies, consume libations, talk tech, get a safety inspection for a nominal fee and mix and mingle with other Catalina enthusiasts.

Sail your Catalina boat over to the Marina del Rey Guest Docks or drive and park in the Burton Chace visitor lot at the end of Mindanao Way (bring quarters for the parking meter). The parking lot is to the left as you approach the park, then walk down to the guest docks.

Bring snacks and refreshments to share.