The Cat's Tales
Catalina
36
February
2002
John Celick — Newsletter
Editor\Treasurer
From the Captain of the
Fleet:
“I'm
very sorry that I was sick last month and missed the meeting, but I understand
it was a very nice evening.
“We recently took some friends from the snowy, cold, East sailing on a warm, sunny day before they went home. It was a beautiful day! After whale watching for twenty years this was the very first time I'd seen a whale breach, not once, but twice. This was a beautiful forty-five foot charmer that we watched for about two hours. He was cruising at about four knots.
“Speaking
of the snowy, cold East, Phil and I attended the Atlantic City Boat Show
January 25 through 27 where the weather was warmer the entire weekend than it
was in
“I
have a source to order additional burgees for any of you that need one, also we can order tee shirts with a nice Catalina
design on them. I'll have the
information at the meeting.
“I look forward to another year of good times with all of you. We'll present the slate of officers for 2002 at our meeting on Tuesday, February 19 as well as our 2002 calendar of events. For those of you that love pizza, this is the night."
Ouida Rojas, Captain of the Fleet
Gregory Daley on
Navigation Tips at our Last Meeting:
Once again
Charlie provided us with an interesting and knowledgeable speaker at our last
meeting. Gregory Daly, a boat delivery captain, long distance racing navigator
and electronic instrument instructor, presented his ideas, experience and tips
for successful navigation for both long and short trips. His main points to
consider were:
Define
objectives:
In addition to
reaching your destination – what is the purpose of the trip? Factors of speed,
safety, comfort, fun and training should be considered and lead to the next
step.
Planning:
One should do a
review of the navigation equipment necessary to achieve the objectives.
Consider such factors as weather patterns, effects of tides and currents,
necessary way points, steps for an easier, more comfortable trip, and possible
download from home computers way points.
…continued on the back
Contingency
Plans:
An alternate route or destination should be planned if weather or other unanticipated factors can affect the trip. If primary navigation equipment fails - use of radar, celestial or battery operated equipment along with dead reckoning.
Final
Checks:
Receive a
current weather forecast and possible “Notice to Mariners” regarding the route
or destination.
Execution
of Plan:
He emphasized the need for constant crosschecking between instruments to ensure all are working properly. Learn the value of cross track error. Use of radar on a contingency basis. Periodically check everything by dead reckoning. It is also important to pay attention to your ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) compared to plan (increase or decrease speed in order to arrive at proper tide or current for example).
Feedback:
Review your trip
upon arrival.
What equipment
should I have had?
What happened
that was not anticipated?
Was it a good plan on both long and short
trips?
Hal Avery
Dues are Due!
Enclosed is an audit sheet we’d like you
to review and change as necessary. Please enclose it with a check made out to
John Celick for $15. Please do this right now, while
you are think about it and maybe we can get the roster out before May of 2002.
Thanks.
Gisela Dawson, Membership