Sail Channel Islands: Good times on Sancerre
Heard on #16
We got a new vhf with a wireless mic for the cockpit. Until now, we were not particularly aware of much of the traffic on the hailing frequency, but now it's right at the throttle quadrant and it seems to be squawking all the time.
We've learned some interesting stuff:
Vessel Assist is doing a great business.
When the Coast Guard responds to a Pan, Pan or even a Mayday, one of their first questions is "are you in immediate danger."
If not, you're probably going to wait for Vessel Assist or some other private towing operation to come to your rescue.
The other thing we learned is that the CG doesn't use their charts in their initial effort to find the victims because the next question is what is you Lat/Long. Even if you report your position in the old manner, 2 nm south of Home Harbor, they're still going to ask for Lat/Long. I think you could be tied up to their pier and they'd still query you for Lat/Long
We listened to a very interesting conversation yesterday between a power boat that was DIW about 15 miles at sea and a would-be rescuer, not the USCG, in this case.
The captain of the stricken boat was having serious difficulty figuring out how to find his present position on the GPS readout.
We don't know why that was, for sure, but a couple of possible answers:
Didn't have the data bar turned on
Hadn't activated the "Find Ship" button
Was looking at the Lat/Long of a waypoint
Had just turned it on and was waiting for satellite acquisition
He was a long way from home, the visibility was bad and getting worse and he was ready to start whimpering. On the other end, the rescuers were plotting his position based on the coordintes he'd sent, and were frustrated because they plotted out in Indiana, not near the Channel Islands, which he had left an hour or so before.
Draw your own conclusions about what information you'll need to provide should you need some assistance.
No dumping areas:
The lastest Notice to Mariners has defined a new No Dumping area near Channel Islands Harbor/
Pt. Heuenme. http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/lnm/d11/default.htm
By no dumping, they mean no maceration, pumping of head holding tanks etc. etc.
No idea how this will be enforced, but it's near our beach, so I'm going to use the pump out in the
harbor even if the rule is unenforceable.
Conditions this weekend:
Friday..VARIABLE WIND 10 KT OR LESS...BECOMING W 10 TO 20 KT WITH
LOCALLY HIGHER GUSTS IN THE AFTERNOON. STRONGEST WINDS WESTERN
PORTION. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 2 TO 3 FT AT 8 SECONDS.
FOG...LOCALLY DENSE WITH VSBY 1 NM OR LESS EARLY IN THE MORNING.
Friday Night: W WIND 15 TO 25 KT WITH LOCALLY HIGHER GUSTS...BECOMING
NW 10 TO 15 KT LATE. STRONGEST WINDS WESTERN PORTION. COMBINED SEAS
3 TO 5 FT DOMINANT PERIOD 9 SECONDS.
SAT...W WIND 10 TO 20 KT...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER GUSTS IN THE
AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 3 TO 5 FT AT 9 SECONDS.
.SAT NIGHT...W WIND 15 TO 25 KT WITH LOCALLY HIGHER GUSTS...BECOMING
NW 10 TO 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. COMBINED SEAS 3 TO 5 FT.
SUN...WIND VARIABLE 10 KT OR LESS...BECOMING W 10 TO 15 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 3 TO 5 FT.
.SUN NIGHT...W WIND 10 TO 20 KT IN THE EVENING...BECOMING VARIABLE
10 KT OR LESS. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 3 TO 5 FT.
UV is at extreme levels. You probably need sunscreen indoors.
And stay near the ocean. It's going to be hotternhell everywhere else in California
Local notes:
Shoaling is getting more severe N. of the Channel Islands N. Jetty. Buoys mark the general position, but we were very close to breaking water just outside of them. Give the area wide berth.
Channel markers in Ventura Marina have been shifted - or so it seems - probably due to seasonal shoaling.
All Nav. lights are "watching properly" at Ventura according to the latest Notice to Mariners
Good sailing....
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