Creating maximum space at the dock and general good manners.

  How do you maximize space when docking or anchoring in crowded harbors?  

  Maximizing space at docks and anchorages comes down to efficient line handling, proper fender placement, and minimizing swing radius. Boats that are tied too loosely or spaced poorly waste valuable room. Using correct spring lines, tightening scope, and positioning fenders evenly allows more boats to fit safely without contact or unnecessary gaps.

This is offshore from Smallpox Bay in Haro Strait

   Having just returned from a 200 mile sweep around the San Juan's, I am fresh with observations and thoughts on how to improve the experience.

      

Everyone knows that dock space is first-come, first-served and not to expect room for one more when you arrive.  

However, there is room for more if you try using some common sense.  Somewhere in the mountain of state park dock rules and regs is the suggestion to locate boats close together.  Spacing boats fifteen feet apart is not helpful and yet it is common. Tying ones dinghy to the float instead of rafting it is another obvious inconsiderate ploy that effectively exclude others.  By the way, did they pay for the extra dinghy footage?

 

Speaking of dinghy's

Many parks have designated dinghy docks but I see people with fifteen foot inflatables, complete with 50hp outboards, consoles, windshields and bimini's, side tied at the dinghy  dock forcing real dinghy's to make do as best they can.  What is really annoying is when you realize the offending dinghy belongs to the fifty five footer tied to the same float.

      

Speaking of  bigger or smaller boats

 A considerate skipper will let his longish bow area stick out beyond the end of the float, so his fifty-five feet only uses forty feet of dock.  Stop! I know this trick is a bad idea in some locations and for some boats. Obviously, I'm not suggesting being foolish, I'm suggesting being thoughtful and considerate.

      

 While we are talking about considerate  activities

 how long is long enough or too long to run a generator?  During my latest visit we were treated to a generator running for eight hour stretches.  It was during the daytime and it was fairly quiet but come on, at least get off the dock and anchor out a ways. I was anchored out myself, it must have been no fun at all for the people close by.

       

I spend some of my non-San Juan boating time around jet skis, water skiers, tubers, newbies, loud music and alcohol-fueled people enjoying the water. 

 As such, I expect close encounters, big wakes and general on-water mayhem.  But not in the San Juan's, the San Juan's attract an older more refined, mature crowd. We have miles of room to navigate, there is really no reason for close encounters. Jet skis are outlawed and proper boating is the norm.  On this visit, a thirty-five footer at high speed overtook us and passed by so close they would have hit us if I had turned unexpectedly.  I had no time to react, their wake rolled us so violently that one crew was thrown out of their seat and some of our belongings came crashing off shelves and out of cabinets breaking on the cabin sole.  I regret I did not get a picture or name of the offending boat.  I am not embarrassed that acting on reflex, I cussed them over the radio.  Then after realizing in my haste I may not have keyed the mike, I did it again clearly to make sure they heard.  I hope they heard me but my antenna was down with the inflatable on the roof so my range was greatly reduced.  I apologize for my last paragraph, I'm still reeling when I think about the incident.

     On an up note, at Jones Island, as we were anchoring, a skipper at the float yelled over to us that he was leaving in a few minutes. We aborted lowering the hook and moved over. Thank you very much.

     Also at Jones

We thought we lost a cell phone, trail mix, and passports in a dry bag at our campsite, only to find it two days later, where a raccoon had stashed it in the bushes, unharmed but chewed on.

Does the law require non-swimmers to wear life jackets (pfd) in the San Juan's - No it does not, but some folks on some boats must wear pfd's.

       What is required is not what we see every day on the water.  We have all seen bad boating habits and know the sometimes, tragic results.     

Oh boy, let's argue.

                  Seriously, you should be conversant with and follow PFD rules; they make sense and save lives.  

This article is a semi-non-serious look at the actual usage on board cruiser vessels.

        First of all I'm not trying to make an argument but make a point of different thinking. (just for fun)
Here goes -

        If, and I mean if only one life jacket is worn on board, most would say it should be worn by a clumsy non-swimmer because they will most likely need it.  I don't challenge that, but -

. In this intellectually challenged exercise I suggest that the one and only life jacket should be worn by the most capable person because no one else on board is likely to be able to save him.
       
             The most capable person will have to save himself when no one else is able, hence, he should wear the life jacket.  Because >> When the most capable person is gone the rest may perish, when the most capable person needs help, who will help him? So, with this way of thinking, we must preserve the most capable so that the less capable may then be helped.

       Was that clear? OK, try this scenario  -- The capable skipper gets knocked overboard (crazy crew screws up) and is unconscious in the water without a pfd.  By the time the clueless crew can recover (if ever) him/her, it's too late.    Now, the remaining persons on board are at greater risk without the numero uno.

        Next scenario  --The clumsy, helpless crewman trips and goes in the drink without a pfd. The immensely capable skipper springs into action, rescues the klutz in minutes, and saves the day.

        My backwards conclusion is that in the first scenario the skipper may have survived had he been wearing the only pfd, but the klumsy klutz crew probably would have survived without a pfd due to the skill of the skipper.

        What! What is he suggesting, that the skipper gets the only PFD? Outrageous! Blasphemy! What about the Master's responsibility to ship, crew, and passengers - Keel haul the laggardly sot.

      On a serious note:
        Look around the docks where all the boats are coming and going, and you invariably see the women and children  (even pooches) bundled up in the latest good-looking approved flotation apparel. Makes sense, right? - save the hapless and helpless from succumbing to a maritime accident lurking around the next slip or piling. Look closely and many times you see the person stepping (we never jump do we) from boat to dock or dock to boat, handling lines, pushing off, keeping track of passengers, other boats, etc, etc, is not wearing a pfd. All the passengers that are seated and doing nothing are properly belted in, but the one person really in harm's way, the one person all others depend on, the one person the others may not be able to save, is not wearing a PFD at all.

       I need to end this tirade by saying that simply having PFDs on board may keep the regulators happy, but won't help the unfortunate skipper over the side, while his helpless family watches him struggle.

        There are certain times (docking-working on deck) when all crew and skipper should be wearing safety gear - and that is just good seamanship.

Sobering thought!

Click below for a satellite view of Port Townsend

Sobering thought worth thinking about

 Are boating or cruising accidents in the San Juans avoidable?

Yes, accidents don't just happen, acts of god happen.  In boating, operator error is a major offender.

Common mistakes:

• poor decision-making due to inexperience
• inadequate knowledge of the area
• failing to understand currents and tides
• alcohol abuse
• operator inattention or distraction

Disaster narrowly avoided:

Crossing Rosario Strait and heading into
 Thatcher Pass

We were all staring out the front and not paying attention to our sideways set (side drift) when out of the corner of my eye I caught a movement that turned out to be rocks coming at us fast. (full flood must have been 3+ knots) The current was forcing us sideways straight onto the rocks of tiny Pointer Island. I swung hard over and pushed her to full throttle, our outboard barely pulled us away with one hundred feet and two or three seconds to spare. I shuddered thinking of my family on board and almost quit boating right then and there.

While we’re talking currents, I am sure you know that your boat will be dragged sideways whilst you drive forward when crossing a channel or fast water. 

 It is very easy to not pay enough attention to the currents “set and drift” and what’s on the side of your boat.

 Let’s put it simply, if you’re driving forward and looking forward, you will miss what you’re actually heading for sideways.   It is easy when close to hazards to allow yourself to be dragged into them because you are looking where you want to go, and not watching where you are really going.    

  Disasters take only seconds to happen.

I have located Pointer Island in Rosario Strait below. The link will take you to it and show you where we would have been.

Swinomish Channel thin water or "A Rising Tide Floats All Boats"

    Ever heard this old saying or something like it?   

 "A rising tide lifts all boats." 

 Most of us have seen a derelict boat on shore somewhere, half-submerged, half part of the driftwood. Those boats are long past rising on a flood tide.

           Let's think about when that boat went aground.  Did the skipper intentionally run aground?  Doubtful, maybe a storm, maybe mechanical failure, possibly.  In all likelihood, someone made a decision or series of decisions that eventually led to grounding and eventual loss of the vessel. I suppose you are now thinking, that's so obvious, and your post is boring me, get to your point.  Okay,

         Okay, here is a real-life boating decision I made that others may relate to.  When planning our departure time from Shelter Bay on Swinomish Channel, I consulted my tide forecasts, noting that low tide would be around noon.  I also noted that numerous skippers have reported shoaling and groundings within the buoyed channel near Goat Island, where I was headed.  So my decision was to delay departure and time my transit so that I would arrive at the problem area, at or after low tide.

          Now, some may think that was dumb thinking, intentionally looking for thin water, and waiting until the water was the thinnest, of course, you are going to get into trouble. But they're wrong, I was thinking if I do run aground, the rising tide would soon release us, and away we go.  If, on the other hand, we went ahead and left early and still ran aground on a falling tide, we could suffer damage as the water fell further, our stranded boat with its five-and-a-half-foot deep keel could tip over, and when the tide rose, we could down-flood before the boat righted and essentially become another derelict.

           So my decision to wait a few hours may easily have resulted in another enjoyable outing, versus who knows!

         Very, very sad proof of what happens when you run aground on a falling tide  Nightmare on Swinomish Channel

          Let's see, how does the saying go?  "All skippers have run aground, or will run aground, and the rest are liars," or something like that.

        While were on the subject of decisions and choices. I would be remiss if I didn't expand a little beyond driving my boat into the dirt, but I will avoid lecturing. You can just add your own thoughts while glancing over the list below.

Decisions and Choices we make

• PFD's "life jackets," everyone has them, but do you insist on wearing them at certain times?
• fire extinguishers?
• anchors
• routine maintenance
• alcohol/drugs
• Second skipper (huh), can others besides you run the boat when you fall overboard
• checklist(s)
• float plan
• non-swimmers
• handling fuel on board
• first aid and medicines
• emergency plan, supplies
• Go or no go into poor conditions
• wake or no wake (huh)

Try adding to this list, I'll bet you can.

It's October, and I'm going out this weekend. How about you?

10 things Experts say you need for Sailboat Cruising

What does every cruiser need in the San Juans?

I came across this article/list and thought it was worth posting.

1. Sailing Knife and Marlinspike

Carry a
knife and marlinspike on your belt at all times (not in your pocket, and
not down below in your bag). You need it ready to use in an instant. A
knife will cut through sailing rope or free a Genoa sheet wrapped around
your leg. The marlinspike helps pry open strands of rope for splicing.
Folding knives with a 3" blade and marlinspike are fine, but require two
hands to open and close. A better choice would be a straight blade,
rigging knife with a 3" blade and a separate marlinspike in a sheath.

Always secure a knife with a lanyard to your belt. This keeps it
attached to you even if it slips out of your hands. This can be critical
if you have to go aloft or slip over the side with a rope wrapped
around your leg (this has happened more than once to sailing crews offshore!)

2. Personal Flotation Device (pfd) and Sailing Harness

Pack your own PFD and sailing harness. Do not rely on the sailboat you
crew aboard to have a spare. Try on several inflatables and find one
that's easy to adjust and comfortable. Simulate sailing motions when you
put it on. Squat down, lean over, raise your arms above your head, and
pretend you are grinding on a sailing winch. It must hug your body and
give you comfort at all times; otherwise, you will not wear it!
Purchase
a separate sailing safety harness. Better, find an inflatable PFD with
an integrated harness. Make sure it has oversize D-rings rated to a
breaking strength of at least 4,000 pounds. A separate harness should
mold to your body like a glove. Again, do not rely on the sailboat you
will board to provide you with a safety harness that fits your body.
Ask
the sailing skipper if there are tethers already onboard. The tether
attaches to your harness D-ring and then clips onto a jackline ( a long
piece of line or webbing that runs from bow to stern). If you need to
make your own, use webbing or three-strand sailing rope. Make one tether
4' long and the other 6' long. Attach strong one-handed clips with a
breaking strength of at least 4,000 pounds to the end. Attach the other
end to the harness D-rings with an oversized snap-shackle. Attach a
lanyard to the snap shackle for quick-release, in case your tethers get
hung up, and you need to shed them fast.

3. Caps and Hats

You
need protection from the sun, the cold, and rain. Double everything you
pack for cats and hats. You can expect to lose at least one hat over
the side on each trip. Pack two peaked caps, a good brim hat, like those
made by Tilley, and two or more knit watch caps. A good brim hat
provides more protection in the Tropics than slathering sunscreen on
your face and neck.
At nighttime, even in summer, the sea weather
will cool more than you ever thought possible. A good watch cap will
keep you warm. Those made by a company like Under Armour are microfibers
that breathe and provide comfort without sweating (which will cause
your body to cool!).

4. Foul Weather Gear

Pack a full
set of foul weather jacket and bib-pants. Match the jacket and pants to
the type of sailing. Use lighter gear for tropics and heavy gear for
cold weather passages. Go for the "breathable" type fabrics that protect
you, but allow air to circulate next to the skin to help lower
perspiration.Ask the sailing skipper if you should bring sea-boots.

5. Under Garments

Pack
thick, heavy socks to wear with sea boots. These protect your heels to
ward off blisters. Under layers should be considered part of any foul
weather gear offshore equipment. You need garments that wick the sweat
from the skin to keep you dryer and prevent cooling. In warm or cold
weather, go with the modern microfiber synthetics for superior comfort

beneath your foulies.

6. Sailing Gloves

Unless you
sail all the time, your hands will not be used to handling the sailing
ropes of synthetic material common on sailing yachts. These can cause
blisters or "rope burn", where the line runs out fast between your
hands, peeling away the skin.
Purchase full length sailing
gloves--also called "3/4 length"--that cover all except the tips of your
fingers. These offer the best protection when working sailing sheets,
halyards, and boat anchoring rode.

7. Oversized Plastic Freezer Bags

Crazy
as it sounds, zip-lock type bags are worth their weight in gold. Pack
10-20 of these. Use them to segregate clothes so you don't have to dig
in a bag (i.e. one for socks, one for underpants, one for t-shirts) Use
them for dirty clothes to cut down on odors. Seal wet clothes inside
until you have a chance to dry them. Fill them with valuables like your
wallet and cellphone. Zip up snacks inside for late-night watches or
quick meals when it gets rough.
Make any zip-lock type bag more compact or keep foods fresh longer with these three easy steps:
1. Seal all except one-half inch of the bag. Press as much air out of the bag as possible
2. Insert the straw into the opening. Seal the bag next to the straw with your fingers.
3. Suck on the straw to remove the rest of the air. Seal the bag as you withdraw the straw.

8. Personal Grab-Bag

If
you need to leave the boat in an emergency, you need one bag that you
can grab-and-go. Use one of your zip-lock bags for storage. Include your
wallet, keys, passport, visa, cellphone, and a separate notepad with a list
of emergency contact names and phone numbers (this should include your
insurance policy # and phone numbers, doctor's name and numbers, pharmacy
numbers), cash, travelers' checks, and at least 10 days of medications.

9. Seasick Medications

Pack
some form of seasickness prevention for any offshore trip. More than 66% of
all sailors experience some form of seasickness (mild to severe) in
rough weather. You must be able to stand watches, help with sail changes
or reefing, and work with the sailing crew, even when you aren't
feeling your best.
Use the mildest type of seasick remedy that
gives the maximum effect. Start with natural, non-medication forms of
seasick prevention (ginger, emotional freedom technique (EFT),
wrist-pressure bands). Next, consider over-the-counter types of
medication. If necessary, use prescription medications.
Check with
your doctor before taking any type of seasick medication--even the
natural forms. Each individual has a different body chemistry, and you
want to be on the safe side. Start your medication at least 24 hours
before you set sail so that it will be in your bloodstream before you
leave the pier. Keep hydrated at all times to lessen the onset of
seasickness.

10.Hand and Head-band Lights

Carry your
own flashlight. Buy one of the small high-intensity lights that come in a
sheath. Look for those with pop-on, pop-off red filters. You need red
filters to keep your night vision in tact. In addition, purchase a
head-band type light with the same features--high intensity white light
with a toggle for red filtered light.
Use the head-band light for
hands free chart navigation, engine space maintenance, and to check sail
trim at night. Pack at least three changes of batteries for each type
of light. Buy a plastic soap dish, place the batteries inside, and strap
them shut with heavy-duty rubber bands.

Use these ten sailing
tips to know the absolute essentials you need to pack for any offshore
sailing trip. You will be able to enjoy your time underway worry-free,
with the knowledge that you are ready for whatever comes you way!
================
Courtesy of:  Captain John teaches sailing skippers the
skills they need to learn to sail like a pro!  

Click below to go to Orcas Landing ferry dock