Sailing the Northwest

United States Coast Guard District 13 for the Pacific Northwest has launched a Vodcast series hosted by Petty Officer Tara Molle.  Every month, they will be highlighting news, video and other features from the 13th District.

We’ll be linking to each of the episodes as they launch so that we can stay up-to-date with these Guardians of the Pacific Northwest.  In the meantime, the Vodcasts started in January, so we are already three episodes behind.

Episode I: January, 2008
Watch the top 5 videotaped rescues of 2007, learn about the Coast Guard support for the Seattle Seahawks 2007 Wildcard Playoff game, find out about happenings in the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and recognize the 47th Anniversary of the loss of the motor lifeboat Triumph.

Episode II: February, 2008
Host Tara Molle visits the U.S. Coast Guard Museum of the Pacific Northwest, an interview with Rear Admiral John P. Currier, information on Operation Safe Crab, watch a rescue swimmer’s workout, learn about surge operations in the Port of Astoria, Oregon, and interviews with members of the USCG Auxiliary at the Seattle Boat Show.

Episode III: March, 2008
Host Tara Molle is aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mellon in this episode, which celebrates the 100th anniversary of Coast Guard station Tillamook Bay, flies with a paraplegic pilot in the Coast Guard Auxiliary, profiles the Active Duty and Reserve Duty District 13 Person of the Year, and highlights random facts of the role that women have played in the U.S. Coast Guard.

Nervous about your upcoming trip on your friend or co-worker’s sailboat?  Has been a bit too long since you were last on the water?  Don’t know the difference between port & starboard, fore & aft, or genoa & mainsail?

It might be time to order up a DVD and sit back in the comfort of your living room to learn a bit more about sailing before hitting the water.  While videos are definitely no replacement for learning to sail with a sailing school, they can be a great preparation for your first lesson or your next trip out.

One such video - Learn to Sail with Steve Colgate - is a comprehensive, easy-to-follow sailing course for beginning and intermediate students.  Aboard a 27-foot Soling, you are led through 106 minutes of exciting, easy-to-follow lessons by Steve Colgate, founder of the renowned Off-Shore Sailing School. This complete basic-to-intermediate sailing course will have you learning all the language, tips and techniques to make you ready for the water in no time.

Subjects covered include:

• Parts of a Boat
• Sailing Terms
• Sailing Knots
• Running and Standing Rigging
• Getting Underway
• Setting a Spinnaker
• Points of Sail
• Emergency Procedures

This DVD is available through Bennett Marine Video for $34.99.

Here’s a quick snippet of the course to get a taste of what you can expect from the DVD:

We previously posted links to online NOAA charts for Puget Sound and the Northwest, and today wanted to point you in the direction of an online site that publishes waterproof charts for Puget Sound and the Pacific Northwest.

I personally have always found these handy charts to be very useful for everyday cruising and racing on Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands.  Their size is much more manageable than the normal NOAA chart, and affordably priced at $24.95.  They roll up quite easily and also have a thin laminate covering the chart to guard against the accidental slip of the coffee cup or occasional rain we get here in the Northwest.  I would not recommend their use, however, as a complete replacement for your NOAA charts when it comes to navigating new harbors, passages or approaches - especially those with navigational hazards.

Five charts are available for the Pacific Northwest.  Unfortunately, there is no coverage for any Oregon or Idaho waterways.  I’ve listed the available waterproof charts here for convenience, along with their corresponding NOAA chart coverage areas.  You can visit the website to order the charts and have them shipped directly to you before your next cruise.

WATERPROOF CHART #30 - PUGET SOUND
Complete Coverage from Olympia through Seattle to Port Townsend and Skagit Bay. Details of Tacoma, Olympia, Pitt Passage and Gig Harbor on south side. Blown-up insets for Port Madison, Eagle Harbor, Agate Passage, Seattle, Kingston, Port Ludlow, Rich Passage, Port Townsend Canal and Liberty Bay on the north side. GPS WAYPOINTS are printed directly on the chart. Color Keyed Insets are easy to find.
Information from 6 Different NOAA Charts; 18445, 18448,18449,18446,18464 &18441.

WATERPROOF CHART #43 - SAN JUAN ISLANDS
This waterproof chart covers the San Juans from Whidbey Island and Victoria north to Galiano Island and Includes Bellingham Bay. Blown Up Details for Henry Island and Roche Harbor, Fisherman Bay, Patos and Sucia Islands, Stuart and Johns Island, East Sound Friday Harbor, Anacortes and the Guemes Channel, Skagit Bay and the Swinomish Chanel, Deception Pass, Bellingham Bay, Jones, Crane and Wasp Islands and West Sound, Lopez Island and the San Juan Channel. 12 Different Insets are clearly explained with a key and letter system.
Information from 8 different NOAA Charts; 18423, 18427, 18434, 18430, 18432, 18431, 18433, 18421

WATERPROOF CHART #86 - GULF ISLANDS - BRITISH COLOMBIA
From Victoria and Discovery Island one side covers the area north to Mayne Island and then northwest to Gabriola Island and Nanaimo. This side also covers the Strait of Juan de Fuca from Sooke Inlet east to Victoria and south to Port Angeles Harbor in the U.S.13 detailed insets are provided on side B for the following areas; Active Pass, Tsehum Harbor, Sansum Narrows, Pender Canal, Ganges, the Gut, Nanaimo Harbor, Pirate Cove, Dodd Narrows, Enterprise Channel, Gabriola Passage, Porlier Pass Montague Harbor. A color keyed harbor locator makes it easy to find each area.
Information from Canadian Charts

WATERPROOF CHART #87 - STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA TO DESTRUCTION ISLAND
Covers the area from Port Townsend north to Lopez Island and west to Cape Flattery and Neah Bay then south in the Pacific to Destruction Island. Detailed insets for La Push, Neah Bay, Sequim Bay and Port Angeles. GPS Waypoints are plotted directly on the chart. Colored designators for details make them easy to find.
Information from 6 different NOAA charts; 18485, 18480, 18465, 18468, 18471, 18441.

WATERPROOF CHART #89E - SAN JUAN ISLANDS CRUISING CHART (large print)
Coverage of the heart of the San Juanswith uncluttered clarity and large print is very easy to read. Large Place names are easy to find. State Parks and Public beaches and Landing Areas are highlighted in green. East side shows detail of Lopez, Thatcher, Peavine and Obstruction Pass west to Friday Harbor with detail for Friday Harbor and Fisherman Bay. Reverse side has greater detail of West Sound, Wasp Passage, Roche Harbor and Reid Harbor, Stuart Island.
Information from 5 NOAA charts; 18432, 18433, 18434, 18430, 18429. GPS Datum

The Pelicans are Racing Again! Phinney Bay (South end of Dyes Inlet) will again be the site of the 2nd Annual Bremerton Pelican Regatta April 26 and 27. Viking Fleet #3 is a Northwest sailing club that sails 12′ lug rigged San Francisco Bay Pelicans (pdf). These heavy-weather dinghies were designed in the 50’s for San Francisco Bay winter sailing by Capt. William H. Short, a retired tugboat captain. The Pelican’s balanced lug rig with colorful sails on a beamy 12′ pram shaped hull are unusual but practical for the strong winter winds. In addition to racing, the Viking fleet also goes on camp-cruises to the San Juans and Canadian Gulf Islands. With flat bottoms and swing center boards they are easily pulled up on the beach at a campsite.

The annual regatta had been held in Sequim Bay for many years but is now organized by Sam & Barb Throm of Bremerton (who can be contacted through the Bremerton Yacht Club).

There are other organized and active dinghy fleets in the Northwest. One of them is the Minto Fleet which we will discuss on this blog in the near future.

Washington State passed legislation in 2005 requiring all boaters to carry a Washington Boater Education Card if they are operating a sailboat or powerboat with a 15HP or larger engine.   This card is not like a drivers license, however, in that it does not need to be renewed - once you obtain your knowledge of basic boating safety and obtain your Washington Boater Education Card, it is yours for life.

When do I need the Washington Boater Education Card?

The requirement did not go into effect until January of this year for Washington boaters twenty years old and younger.  You will need to carry your Boater Education Card based on the folowing schedule that will be phased in through 2016:

January 1, 2008 - All boat operators twenty years old and younger;
January 1, 2009 - All boat operators twenty-five years old and younger;
January 1, 2010 - All boat operators thirty years old and younger;
January 1, 2011 - All boat operators thirty-five years old and younger;
January 1, 2012 - All boat operators forty years old and younger;
January 1, 2013 - All boat operators fifty years old and younger;
January 1, 2014 - All boat operators sixty years old and younger;
January 1, 2015 - All boat operators seventy years old and younger;
January 1, 2016 - All boat operators over 12 years of age
(All persons born before January 1, 1955 are exempt)

How do I get the Washington Boater Education Card?

The card requires completion of a basic boating safety course or passing an equivalency exam in order to obtain your Washington Boater Education Card.  Both the US Coast Guard Auxiliary and US Power Squadrons offer a variety of boater saftey courses. 

If you’ve already received a certificate of completion from an approved boating safety course (such as one by the USCG or US Power Squadron), you just need to complete the Boater Education Card application form, and supply a copy of your certificate of completion.

Online boating safety courses are available as well.  Adventures in Boating -Washington offers an online boating safety course and charges you $24.95 to take the online examination, after which point you can print out a certificate of completion and apply for your card. Best of all, they only charge you if you pass your exam!

How much does the Washington Boater Education Card cost?

There is a $10 application fee to obtain your Boater Education Card the first time.  Replacement cards are available for a $5 replacement fee.

For more information regarding the Washington Boater Education Card and boating safety, visit the Washington State Parks Boating Program website.

Almost 80 percent of all boating-related deaths occur by drowning.  Approximately 50 percent of all recreational boating deaths occur in calm water.  Wearing a life jacket while sailing can help you from becoming an unfortunate statistic.

The U.S. Coast Guard recommends that everyone wear a life jacket while boating or sailing.  In the state of Washington, any passengers under 12 years of age are required to wear a life jacket while on board your vessel.  If any of your passengers are new to sailing, it would probably be a good idea for them to wear life jackets as well, as the motion of sailboats can be at times unpredictable.

What type of Personal Flotation Device should I get?

A life jacket is also known as a Personal Flotation Device, or PFD. There are many different types of life jackets, and the type you choose depends on the conditions in which you will mostly be sailing. 

Type I: Offshore Life Jacket
A Type I PFD can be at times hot and bulky, but provides the most floatation and will also keep most adults turned face-up, even if unconscious.  Any non-swimmers or large people in your group would probably benefit most from a Type I PFD. If you spend a considerable amount of time racing your boat in heavy conditions, this may also be the best life jacket for you.

Type II: Near Shore Life Jacket
A Type II PFD is an excellent choice for the children on your boat, as many models have a collar handle and crotch strap for added safety.  The Type II PFD provides less buoyancy than a Type I PFD, and will also turn an unconscious person face up in the water.

Type III Life Jacket
A Type III PFD is more of a flotation aid, and will not turn an unconscious person face-up in the water.  These are commonly used in boating/sport activities such as water skiing, tubing, kayaking, fishing, etc.  They are usually also the most comfortable of the three types of PFDs.

 

Finding the correct fit for your Life Jacket

Perhaps the most important consideration in choosing a life jacket is comfort!  After all, the best life jacket doesn’t do you much good if you do not wear it. 

After you’ve chosen the correct type of life jacket for your needs, spend some time finding one which fits properly and comfortably.  PFDs are sold at many large stores (Wal-Mart, Target, Costco, etc.) depending on the season, but we recommend looking at your local Marine retail store (such as West Marine).  Marine specialty stores will usually carry a higher-quality PFD designed for sailing or boating instead of boating sport activities such as water skiing.

Follow these steps to find the correct fit for your PFD:

1. Put the life jacket on and make sure all the zippers, ties and/or straps are adjusted appropriately and fastened firmly.
2. Raise your arms up over your head and have someone pull up on the shoulders.
3. If the life jacket does not stay in place and rises above your mouth/nose (indicating water will as well), try adjusting the life jacket some more, or choose another size/model.

Testing your Life Jacket

After you’ve purchased your life jacket, test it out in a pool or down at the beach.  You want to make sure that your PFD keeps your chin above water at all times.  Try feigning unconsciousness to see if your life jacket will support you without any swimming/treading water, and that it also “rolls” you onto your back to keep your mouth clear of water.

When to wear your Life Jacket

The best option is to wear your life jacket at all times when you are on your sailboat.  If for whatever reason you don’t, however, here are some conditions in which you should definitely consider wearing your vest:

1. You are new to sailing
2. You are sailing in severe weather with high seas and/or high winds (15+ knots)
3. You are sailing solo
4. You are sailing at night
5. You are sailing/boating in dangerous water conditions (rip-tides, hazardous navigational areas, high-current areas such as the Hiram-Chittenden Locks or narrow bodies of water) 
6. You are sailing off-shore or a considerable distance from land (Strait of Jan de Fuca, as an example)

The most important thing to remember is that you don’t carry life jackets on board your boat just to satisfy your state and federal boating safety requirements.  PFDs save lives, and the next one could be yours.

We recently detailed the required safety equipment you need on your boat in Washington State. But did you know that you can also get a free Vessel Safety Check conducted by the US Power Squadron or US Coast Guard Auxiliary? 

The program is voluntary for both you and the boat examiner, and will result in the awarding of a Vessel Safety Check decal for your vessel.  The VSC decal will attest to the fact that your vessel complies with all Federal and State boating safety requirements.

But the Vessel Safety Check is much more than just an examination - you should view it as a one-on-one educational opportunity to gain the knowledge from an experienced examiner.  Their primary mission is to minimize the loss of life, personal injury, property damage and environmental impact by recreational boaters while at the same time maximizing the safe us and enjoyment of our waterways.

If, for some reason, your boat does not meet all safety check requirements, your examiner will explain what correction actions are necessary.  You will be able to schedule another safety check once you have remedied any of the identified issues.

To schedule a Vessel Safety Check, you should first conduct a search of the Vessel Safety Check Examiners Database.  Simply enter your zip code, and you will get a listing of volunteer examiners located near you.  You will then have an opportunity to email the examiner you desire to schedule your Safety Check.

At this glorious time of year, many of us boating folks are not just working in our gardens but also on our boats and not just for the coming season but for one or more of the Springtime parades coming up. The Northwest’s biggest and best known marine parades no doubt are the Daffodil Parade in Tacoma (April 19) and the Opening Day Parade (May 3) through the Mountlake Cut in Seattle. Both encourage spectators to come by boat or on land and a lot of information can be found on respective Web sites as to where to go and how to behave (e.g. on the log boom).

The hosting clubs (Tacoma Yacht Club & Seattle Yacht Club), of course, also invite other clubs and their sail- and motor boats to participate in the parades themselves and compete for the various awards for decorations, seamanship, etc. Thus, many clubs from around the Sound, Lake Washington, Lake Union & Portage Bay are — as we write this — busily recruiting workers and cleaning and preparing their volunteered flagships for these events. Again this year, the themes of the two parades are so similar that one suspects collusion: “Carnival, a Parade and Circus” for the Daffodil Parade and “A Three Ring Circus” for Opening Day. Clearly, there could be scale economies in responding to the circus theme if a club sends boats and participants to both parades, just think of learning and practicing the desired circus skills to be performed on the boat deck!

No doubt there will be similarities in the decorations as well, as there were last year with overlapping musical themes inspite of the fact that the use of thousands of Daffodils are required in Tacoma. There are rumors that the colossal “heads” and moving (singing) lips of the entries of the Bremerton Yacht Club (which won the overall awards in both parades!) were based on the same basic skull structure. You can find clips of these two award winning entries on YouTube: Daffodil and Elvis at Opening Day.

(Photos by Bremerton Yacht Club)

See you at the parade(s)!

“Red and white canes were strewn all over the grass. There might as well have been a sign: Disabilities left behind. Gone racing!!!”

This quote from 48th North (July 2003) almost says it all about this remarkable organization and its members & participants. You may have seen them on Lake Washington, run into them on the docks of Blake Island, or you may have been one of the volunteer members without whom this very special sailing club could not function: Members of Seattle’s Footloose Sailing Association are either physically handicapped or willing to be part of the team which accomplishes the almost unimaginable, namely allowing wheelchair-bound or otherwise mobility-impaired individuals to get into appropriately equipped boats and sail out of Leschi on Lake Washington. Their Mission Statement is even more inclusive:

Footloose Sailing Association offers sailing as a recreational and therapeutic outlet to adults and children of all disabilities. We are dedicated to bringing independence on the water and competence in the sport of sailing.

Launched in 1991, founder and past president Bob Ewing [himself an incredibly mobile, wheel-chair-dependent C(ervical) 6/7 quad(raplegic)] has created an admirable feat through years of dedicated physical and promotional, including fund-raising, work.

The Association now owns a fleet of eight sailboats which are designed for safe and fun sailing and can accommodate a wide range of disabled people. There are eight scheduled sail days during the summer beginning after Opening Day and the launching and cleaning of the boats, in addition to social and fund-raising events and a number of special occasions, most importantly the annual cruise to Blake Island on the weekend after July 4th. This popular adventure (which is particularly dependent on volunteers and volunteer boats) includes the sail from Elliot Bay Marina to Blake Island on Saturday and the return sail on Sunday, an (optional) dinner and show at Tillicum Village and a variety of activities includung a beach-side marshmallow roast.

Have a look at the pictures on the Web site and study the other pages including the page describing the volunteer opportunities!

Raingear…. check!  Food for your three-day cruise… check!  Sunglasses for that rare glimpse of sun…. check! Fire extinguisher and visual distress signals…. what???

Before going out for your first cruise of the year, make sure you have all of the Coast Guard required equipment on your boat, and that it is all is up-to-date and functioning.  We usually carry ours in a separate bag conveniently located in the boat for quick access.

Here’s what you need:

1. Current vessel registration
   Your numbers and decal must be properly displayed on the hull of the boat .
2. Washington State Boater Education Card
   A Boater Education Card is required if you are operating a boat with a 15HP or higher engine. You can apply for your card from the Washington State Parks Department.
3. Personal Flotation Devices (PFD)
   All vessels are required to have at least one USCG-approved Type I, Type II or Type III life jacket for each person on board (here are some tips on Choosing the Right Personal Flotation Device).  In addition, you must have at least one Type IV (throwable) personal flotation device if your boat is longer than 16 feet.In order to qualify for this requirement, your life jackets must be:
   • U.S. Coast Guard approved (look for USCG approval number)
   • in good and serviceable condition
   • readily accessible
   • the right size for each of the passengers on the boat
4.  Fire Extinguisher (Type B)
   You are required to have a Type B fire extinguisher on board if your boat:
   • has an inboard engine
   • is more than 26 feet long
   • has permanently installed fuel tanks
   • has enclosed living spaces
5. Sound-producing device(s)
   You must have a sound-producing device on all waters.  For most boats, this means an air horn or whistle, whether it be mouth, hand or power-operated.  If your boat is longer than 65 feet long, your vessel must carry a bell in addition to a whistle or horn.
6. Flares or other Visual Distress Signals (VDS)
   All boats used on coastal waters must have USCG approved VDSs - usually flares.  These are usually red flares, and it is recommended to carry both the hand-held and arial types.  You are required to have at least three flares that are not past their expiration date.
7. Navigation Lights
   If you are operating your boat between sunset and sunrise, you are required to display navigational lights from the bow (red & green), mast (white) and stern (white).

**Update 4/14** Don’t think you’ll ever be boarded on Puget Sound? Check out this story about a recent Coast Guard boarding at Point No Point on Navagear, and then re-read this list to make sure you have the latest required gear on your boat!