The Cat's Tales

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

February 2004

John Celick — Newsletter Editor\Treasurer

http://www.catalinasmbay.org/

From the Captain of the Fleet:

Greetings to all:

Our many thanks to Chuck Wright for his presentation at our January meeting on the Catalina Conservancy. His in-depth awareness of the many activities and programs carried on by the Conservancy gave us all a new insight as to what is happening at the island. The Conservancy deserves our support.

DINNER AND SPEAKER – PETER DAMISCH

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 17^TH AT SMWYC

MAN OVERBOARD!! What Do You Do?? – Have You Thought About It Lately?

We are pleased to sponsor a presentation on this important topic. As a boating organization, we feel it is our responsibility to make available the latest information on overboard rescue to our members. The techniques of how to achieve a rescue need to be understood by all boaters before the need arises, particularly with just two people aboard.

Peter Damisch, Managing Director of Blue Water Sailing, located here in the marina, is our speaker. With many years experience in a variety of boating activities, this retired Navy Captain is well versed in this subject.

Peter has conducted literally tens of thousands “Crew Overboard” lessons for students on board a wide variety of boats under highly variable weather conditions. He also participated in the exceeding realistic “National Crew Overboard Test” utilizing live victims in the waters of the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. These daytime and night evaluations of various methods were featured in Cruising World, Sail and Sailing World magazines. This should be an interesting and beneficial discussion.

A CHILLY FEBRUARY!? – A CHILI DINNER

CHEF “CHUCK RUSSELL”

In response to requests for an alternative to our “Pot Luck Dinners”, our Fleet members, Chuck and Kay Russell, have volunteered to cook and serve Tres Amores famous “Chili dinner” with all the trimmings. Over the years, with a successful career in the food industry, Chuck has developed and honed his skill and knowledge in food preparation, and his Chili is one of his all time greats! This will be a tasty treat for us.

SAFETY AT SEA: Flare Guns That don’t work!

Seaworthy, the safety magazine of Boat U.S., has learned that some of the plastic flare guns made by Olin (now Orion) can’t be opened wide enough to accept a flare cartridge and would be useless in an emergency. A spokesman at Orion safety products confirmed the problem: Nylon material used to keep the breech closed can deform and jam the opening mechanism. Any Olin plastic flares are suspect, as are Orion guns made before 2000, the year the mechanism was re-engineered. Orion recommends checking the operation of the guns now and at the beginning of every season.

FLOTSAM & JETSAM (Sell, Buy or Giveaway)

For Sale: One (1) Lewmar #30 two speed self tailing chrome winch. Excellent condition, reasonable price – Hal Avery.

PHOTO OP:

If you didn’t get your picture taken for the 2004 Roster at the January meeting, please be sure to attend in February to have it taken at the meeting. Our thanks to Brian Frankish and John Celick for taking the photos. Heck, now that they know what they are doing, you may want to have your picture retaken.

NORM’S SHORT CRUISE – (AND SAFETY INSPECTION) – Sunday, March 7th

More to follow on this will be e-mailed to you, but please remember to have a potential member come down with or without their boats to join us and ”meet our members”.

Your Fleet Captain, Hal Avery

Coming Events

Date:	Event:	Remarks:
Tuesday, February 17th	Dinner	Chili Dinner by Chuck and Kay Russell at SMWYC, Speaker: Peter Damisch, of Blue Water Sailing Man Overboard Rescue Techniques
Sunday, March 7th	Short Cruise	“Show ‘n Tell,” Norm’s Very Short Cruise to MdR Guest Docks – CG Aux. Safety Inspections Available

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