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Issue #139

September 2014
Ma r i ne r
A P u b l i c a t i o n Fo r Wh e r e L a n d E n d s
www. ma r i n e r ma g a z i n e . c o m
A Magazi ne For The Mari na del Rey Boati ng Communi ty
The
Wheres the Dinghy Docks
in This Town?
Talkin Fire Extinguishers
New Book Published on
Marina del Reys History
2 The Mariner - Issue 139 2014
Seagulls are a part of our world down here by the seaside. For better or worse they are our everyday
neighborswe share food from time to time, engage in a quick hi-how-are-you, and maybe when theres
time to kill, engage in a good old fashioned staring contest - theres nothing like a staring contest with a
cocky seagull.
So, Im in the valley the other day and what do I see? Seagulls. No ocean in sight but these opportunistic
little beasts were hopping around, acting like it was perfectly fne to be hanging out on Roscoe Blvd. neck
deep in a Del Taco bag instead of soaring above the Pacifc surveying for baitfsh.
What happened to these birds? Did some of them just come to the conclusion that the whole fying
and hunting for live fsh deal was a giant hassle? Maybe they are the equivalent of human hobos. They
dropped out. F, it Im going to the valley where I dont have to deal with all this high stakes competition
for fsh. Just gonna hang around dumpsters and eat whatever.
Its sad. They are seabirds not lowly pigeons. I always thought they were a couple quarts low in the
dignity department, but sidewalks and dumpsters?
As a guy who once lived that urban lifestyle myself, I say to these wayward birds: Come back to where
you belong my majestic fying friends. Eat from the ocean, hover in its perfect breeze and wipe that
skanky ketchup stain off of your glorious wings come home for we miss you
The Mariner is
Editor/Publisher
Pat Reynolds
Columnist
Richard Schaefer
Contributors
Tim Tunks
Bil McNeely
Dave Kirby
For advertising rates and
Information contact
310-397-1887
email
editor@marinermagazine.com
Mailing address
P.O. Box 9403
Marina del Rey, CA 90295
The Mariner appears on the last
Friday of every month.
This issue Aug. 29 - Sept. 26
Important
Numbers
at a glance:
n Marina del Rey
Sheriff:
310-482-6000
n Los Angeles County
Lifeguard:
310-577-5700
n Vessel Assist:
800-399-1921
n Marine Life Rescue
800-39WHALE
FROM THE EDITOR
WHATS INSIDE
URBAN SEABI RDS
Coming Events 4
Of the Wire 6
Where Theres Smoke... 8
Tim Tunks Discusses Onboard Fire Preparation
New Book on Marina del Rey History 10
MdR Historical Society Releases Long Awaited Book
Show Us the Dinghy Docks 12
The Push for More Dinghy Docks is Coming to Fruition
Sickness at Sea 13
A Sailing Doctor Discusses Seasickness
Sorties of Thunder and Lightning by Richard Schaefer 17
Richard Refects on Dramatic Moments at Sea
Catalina Cruising by Bill McNeeley 18
Fall Fun on the Island
Racing - Martin 242 North Americans 20
Classifeds 25
Thanks for
picking it up!
Crewman by Pat Reynolds
Photo by Pat Reynolds
2014 The Mariner - Issue 139 3
Sistership
52 Californian cockpit MY 1990 $159,000
52 Californian cockpit MY 88 $169,000
46 Wellcraft 1994 Cockpit motor yacht,
twin dsls air cond, full tronics $110,000
39 Sea Ray Express 1988 Cat dsls $36,000
36 Sea Ray 1983 Express loaded $24,900
35 Sea Ray 1991 low hours, A/C, $39,000
31 Sea Ray Sundancer 1998 $25,000
37Alberg Yawl 1974, rebuilt diesel, several
sails inc 2 new, boat need work $16,000
60 Lien Hwa 1980 4 stateroom trawler, lowered price to sell. Very spacious staterooms
and living quarters. It does need some refnishing and detailing $169,000
60 Sunseeker Renegade 1993 rebuilt Detroit diesels. Family friendly - 3 cabs, salon,
dinette, galley. Fast cruising up to 40-knots! Amazing deal for a Sunseeker. $159,000
49 Gulfstar Flybridge motor yacht 1983 3 cabins, 3 heads and showers - spacious interior
$119,000
39 Symbol 1989 double cabin Caterpillar
diesels $69,000
33 Silverton 2007 Convertible $169,000
44 CSY full keel center cockpit 1978
Bluewater Cruiser needs work $25,900
37 Irwin 1974 Cntr cockpit, aft cab, spa-
cious layout, clean, priced to sell - $25,000
38 Carver 1988 motor yacht only $59,000
32 Luhrs 1974 sedan new lt fnish low
hours show as a 10 $22,500
42 Hunter center cockpit 2002 $139,000
42 Hunter center cockpit 1999 $124,900
37 Fisher Pilothouse 1975 bluewater ketch
upgraded 1991 new engine $89,000 TRADE
65 McKinna 2002 pilot house, Exceptional 800 hp Cat 3406s, stabilizers, bow thruster,
satellite TV, computerized entertainment center, dual helms 3 cabins, low hours $699,000
47 Lien Hwa Mtr Yacht 1995, loaded Great
family fun or live abrd, motivated $165,000
39 Bayliner 2000 Cummins diesels, AC
loaded 400 hours, AC only $109,000
38 Cruiser Inc. Flybridge,1994 Aft cabin
full elecs, low hours on engines $59,000
28 Sea Ray Sundancer, 2005, twin engine,
inverter, full electronics $59,000
41 Hunter 410 2000 spacious two cabin
layout loaded and motivated seller $110,000
34 Catalina 1992 the cleanest, well
equipped, motivated $55,900
Sistership
46 Moody 1985 Bluewater Cruising Cut-
ter, 3 cabins equipt to go now! $179,000
4 The Mariner - Issue 139 2014
August 30
Jimmy Walker Buffalo Chip Toss
at Two Harbors
Come test your athletic skills and compete for
the furthest toss at our 28th Annual Buffalo Chip
Toss. Choose your chip wisely! Prizes will be
awarded for the furthest throws. All chips will
be provided for the event. For more information
or questions on any of our events, please contact
Two Harbors Events at 310-510-4249, Harbors
Events at 310-510-4249 or lboutillier@scico.
com
September 7
Baywatch Race
Features a downwind start to a leeward mark,
followed by a one-sided beat to a special mark
that weve located exactly three miles off the
California coastline to provide the competitors
with a unique racing experience. The race
committee has suffcient course options to
work with to insure that this race will last
approximately three hours for all boats in all
classes.
September 11
U. S. Coast Guard Aux Boating
Classes
Sailing Skills and Seamanship
10 evening classes. An essential training course
for those new to boating or anyone in need of a
solid refresher. For info call 310 413-5903
September 11
Marina del Rey Farmers Market
Stack up on fresh produce and artisan favorites
at the Marina del Rey Farmers Market. Locally
grown, organic fruits and veggies, pre-packaged
meals, delicious desserts, and hand-crafted
jewelry, clothing, arts & crafts. Marina Beach
parking lot every Thursday, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. More
info - 310-305-9545
September 13th
Microbrew Fest at Two Harbors
Celebrate our 12th Annual Microbrew Fest on
the beach in Two Harbors. Sample a selection
of microbrews while listening to live music.
Call 310-510-4205 for more information or to
purchase tickets.
September 13
Catalina Island Womens Forum
Wine Festival
This 19th annual fundraiser features over 80
wineries, delectable hors doeuvres and smooth
jazz. Net proceeds help support mentoring and
scholarship programs. Tickets available at the
Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce.
310 510-1520, www.catalinawinefestival.com
September 18
Beach Eats
Gourmet Food Truck Event
Beginning at 5:00 pm Mothers Beach on
Palawan Way in Marina del Rey is transformed
into a waterfront food haven with Beach Eats
where popular food trucks gather to offer the
hottest bites in town. Enjoy a variety of favors
in a beachside setting from 5:00 - 9:00 pm.
September 19-21
56th Annual
Catalina Festival of Art
Longest running annual event on Catalina
Island. Artists from all over the country exhibit
along Crescent Avenue and sell their works of
fne art, sculpture, fne crafts & photography.
Highlights include charity art auction and kids
art show. Catalina Art Association. 310-510-
2788,www.catalinaartassociation.org
September 20
Coastal Clean Up Day
Beginning at 6:00 am join thousands of
volunteers for this traditional end-of-summer
clean up day for local beaches and marina,
including a kayak clean up site in Marina del
Rey. Visit www.healthebay.org for registration
information. More info - 800-432-5229
September 24-28
Catalina Film Festival
Annual celebration of Catalinas rich flm history
features approximately 100 flms screened at
multiple venues around the island plus nightly
events and entertainment. The festival is
competitive with awards in up to 10 categories,
including our festival partners prestigious
awards; the Ronald Reagan Presidential
Foundations Great Communicator Award, the
Chaplin Familys Charlie Chaplin ICON Award,
and the ISLA Earth Award - an honor presented
by the Festivals benefciary, the Catalina Island
Conservancy. Catalina Film Festival. 818-787-
1946,www.CatalinaFilm.org
September 25
CYC Yachting Luncheon:
SCUBA Adventures Underneath:
15 Degrees North, and 15 Degrees
South
Presented by CYC Port Captain Mike and Barbie
Blecher. At this luncheon, world-class SCUBA
divers Mike and Barbie Blecher -- two of the
most experienced dive expedition leaders in the
country will share their unique adventures
beneath the seas. Mike and Barbie have dived in
many places around the world, but return over
and over to the areas known as 15N (Lat) and
15S (Lat) because of the diverse and vibrant life
found on these incredible reefs. Dont miss this
captivating program to appreciate the couples
passion for exploring the marine environment
under the waves, near and far. Come early to get
a good seat! Happy Half Hour 12:00 Noon.
Buffet Luncheon - 12:20 PM Presentation
12:45 PM. $18.50 includes Luncheon, Tax,
Service and Parking. Open to all who enjoy
yachting and adventure, as a public service of
CYC. Reservations appreciated. California
Yacht Club. 4469 Admiralty Way Marina del
Rey 310.823.4567 www.calyachtclub.com
September 25
Beach Eats
Gourmet Food Truck Event
Beginning at 5:00 pm Mothers Beach on
Palawan Way in Marina del Rey is transformed
into a waterfront food haven with Beach Eats
where popular food trucks gather to offer the
hottest bites in town. Enjoy a variety of favors
in a beachside setting from 5:00 - 9:00 pm.
September 25
Marina del Rey Farmers Market
Stack up on fresh produce and artisan favorites
at the Marina del Rey Farmers Market. Locally
grown, organic fruits and veggies, pre-packaged
meals, delicious desserts, and hand-crafted
jewelry, clothing, arts & crafts. Marina Beach
parking lot every Thursday, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. More
info - 310-305-9545
September 27
National Museum Day at Catalina
Discover Avalons sole institution dedicated to
art, culture and the history of Santa Catalina
Island with FREE admission to the Catalina
Island Museum in celebration of National
Museum Day. Open from 10am to 5pm.
Catalina Island Museum. 310-510-2414, www.
catalinamuseum.org
October 2 5
Buccaneer Days
Aargh, mateys! Come celebrate our 25th
Co mi n g E v e n t s !
2014 The Mariner - Issue 139 5
Annual Buccaneers Weekend. Don your best
pirate attire and set sail for Two Harbors for a
weekend of treasure hunts, costume contests,
great food, live music and a lot of fun. For more
information or questions contact Two Harbors
Events at 310-510-4249 or lboutillier@scico.
com
October 4-5
3rd Annual Catalina Air Show
Celebrate the history of aviation on Catalina
Island. Air show is held off the Avalon Bay
breakwater and at the Airport in the Sky. Aviation
events include aerobatic aircraft performances,
displays and concessions. Catalina Air Show,
888-798-1118. www.catalinaairshow.com
Ongoing
Live Music - Yacht Rock!
Unkle Monkey at The Warehouse every
Wednesday -Steve Stafford & Casey Jones of
the popular local band Unkle Monkey will be
performing Island Music and Soft Rock at the
Warehouse Restaurant every Wednesday night
from 6-9 pm Using guitar, ukulele, congas, and
steel drum, they play music from the Caribbean,
Hawaii, and other exotic ports. Come have a
Mai Tai, watch the sunset and enjoy some great
live music, right here in the marina! Happy
Hour 4-7 pm 4499 Admiralty Way
Santa Monica Windjammers Yacht Club
We invite members, guests, and prospective
members to join us for cocktails, food, live
music, dancing and fun on Sunday afternoons
from 4:00 to 7:00 (food served at 5:00). No
reservations needed. This is a great way to end
your day on the water, or just to wind down
from the weekend. Live jazz or classic rock
bands are here for entertainment. We are located
at 13589 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey, CA
90292,(310) 827-7692. Please visit our website
at www.smwyc.org for activities, membership
details, racing, other events, directions, and
more.
Marina Venice Yacht Club
Social Sundays
Join Marina Venice Yacht Club weekly for our
Social Sunday Open House from 4:00 p.m. to
7:00 p.m. Food items are provided at a moderate
price. MVYC is located in the Marina City Club
West tower at 4333 Admiralty Way. Whether you
own a boat, are looking to buy one, or just want
to be around other water loving people MVYC
welcomes all who share in the Corinthian Spirit.
Follow the signs up the stairs or elevator to the
Club House on G2. For more information call
(310) 853-0428, visit our website www.mvyc.
org, or contact membership@mvyc.org. . 2014
Womens Sailing Association of
Santa Monica Bay
Meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at the
Santa Monica Windjammers Yacht Club, 13589
Mindanao Way, in Marina del Rey. The meeting,
held at 7:30, is preceded by a social hour, and
a light dinner is served. Each meeting features
a guest speaker discussing their adventures
and achievements. WSA invites boaters of all
skill levels to join. Its programs, include day
sails, seminars, parties, and cruises including
destinations such as King Harbor, Catalina and
the northern Channel Islands, For membership
information contact email membership@
wsasmb.org or on the web at www.wsasmb.org.
Marina Sunday Sailing Club
Since 1981 MSSC has brought together skippers
and crew in a friendly social environment for
daysails in Santa Monica Bay and cruises
to Catalina and other destinations. We meet
onthe2ndand4thSundayofeachmonthon the
patio at Burton Chace park under the Club
banner. Meetings start at 10:00 a.m. We hold
a brief business meeting and then head out for
an afternoon of sailing on the Bay after which
we gather at a members dock for wine, snacks
and more socializing. Visitors are welcome
and a one day guest membership of only $5
entitles you to brunch and a day of sailing, if
space is available. No prior sailing experience
is necessary. For more info call (310) 226-8000
or see website at www.marinasundaysailors.org
Catalinas of Santa Monica Bay,
Owners of Catalina Yachts
Join us for our monthly meetings at the Santa
Monica Windjammers Yacht Club on the 3rd
Tuesday of each month. We would like to
welcome Catalina owners to join our club. We
have speakers, cruises to Catalina, races and
other events throughout the year. Our doors open
at 6:00 for happy hour and then dinner around 7
to 7:30 and our main event after that. Join the
fun and meet other owners of Catalinas. For
more info email Jeanne Cronin at jeannecro@
gmail.com.
Single Mariners of Marina del Rey
Single Mariners of MDR meet at 7 p.m. on the
1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at the Pacifc
Mariners Yacht Club, 13915 Panay Way, Marina
del Rey, CA. At the meeting, Single Adults
meet other Single Adults to setup upcoming
Weekend Day Sails. There is a small charge for
a light meal during the meeting, however, there
is a courtesy discount if you RSVP for dinner
at rick.beauchemin@sbcglobal.net or leave a
message at (310) 990-5541 by the Wednesday
prior to the Thursday meeting.
To list a coming event,
email editor@marinermagazine.com
VIKING
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Corrosion Control
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Craig Cantwell
310-827-1473
6 The Mariner - Issue 139 2014
O F F T H E W I R E
Rare Sea Turtle Spotted in Local Waters
The Ocean Conservation Society research team out of Marina del Rey had
an unusual encounter out at sea this past month. In addition to common
dolphins, bottlenose dolphins and a minke whale, the crew spotted a green
turtle swimming just a couple of miles off Los Angeles. This was the frst
encounter with a sea turtle offshore in the Santa Monica Bay in over 16
years of year-round marine mammal research off Los Angeles.
The reason for this rare sighting is likely correlated to the warm ocean
temperature recorded in these last weeks. Sea turtle were not the only odd
encounterslately, there have been sightings of other species not usually
observed in this area, such as by-the-wind sailor jellyfsh, a high number
of sunfsh, and more subtropical fsh species.
Its interesting, said Maddalena Bearzi, President of the Society.
People talk about sea turtles in this area and I know they are around the
San Gabriel River, but mostly turtles are found from San Diego on down
to Mexico. The water in Santa Monica Bay is usually too cold for these
animals.
Like any science of this type, the presence of the animals is important in
respect to the population and sustainability of the species itself, which in
this case is endangered, but it can also be a powerful telltale for whats
happening in our own environment.
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Photo courtesy of Ocean Conservation Society
2014 The Mariner - Issue 139 7
O F F T H E W I R E
Take Part in Cleanup Day!
Varnishing Polishing Wax
Carpet Steam Cleaning
Weekly or Monthly Washdowns
Email - dennisdetail7@aol.com
310- 466- 8267
Los Angeles, CA (August 25, 2014) On
Saturday, September 20, from 8:15am
1:30pm, The Bay Foundation (TBF) will host
its 10th Annual Marina del Rey Kayak Cleanup
Day Event as part of the greater annual Coastal
Cleanup Day (CCD) which draws over 14,000
volunteers from across Los Angeles County
to hundreds of events. As the longest-running
kayak and SUP cleanup site, the TBF event is
immensely popular each year and spaces fll up
early.
TBF invites eager volunteers to come and
participate with their own (or rented) kayak,
SUP board, or boat; there are a limited number
of these items available, but they are going
fast. In other words, BYOK! or bring your
own kayak! TBF will provide small nets for
volunteers to pick up trash from the ocean. For
questions on signing up with your own kayak or
being added to the wait list for Sept. 20, please
contact Carrie Baldwin, CCD coordinator,
cbaldwin@santamonicabay.org.
Last year, the TBF kayak event drew 114
volunteers and collected 114 pounds of trash
and 30 pounds of recyclables. To everyones
happy surprise, there was less debris collected
last year compared to prior years.
The goal of TBFs kayak clean-up is to change
peoples behavior and habits so that they will
recycle more, use less plastic (i.e. zero waste
lunches, packaging, etc.), and help protect the
benefts and values of Santa Monica Bay and
our coastal ocean.
There will be a post-event celebration featuring
lunch donated by Chipotlea TBF-certifed
Clean Bay Restaurantand raffe prizes
provided by various sponsors. TBF event
sponsors include: The Arbor Collective, Bristol
Farms, The Cheesecake Factory, ChicoBag,
Chipotle, The Counter, Islands, Klean Kanteen,
Kurmalliance, Patagonia, Pro Sup Shop,
Starbucks, UCLA Marina Aquatic Center, and
ZJ Boarding House.
C U S T O M C A N VA S
www. i n t r e p i d ma r i n e . c o m
310-827-7686
NEW REPAIRS
COMMODORE YACHTS
Phone 310.821.6817 Toll Free 877.369.3582
www. commodor eyacht s. net
Let Us Sell
Your Boat!
Chris Craft Commander $89,000 41 Cheoy Lee Pedrick $79,000
31 Tiara Express $25,999
52 Californian CPMY $169,000
Catalina 30 - $16,000 35 Hunter $35,000
Mechanic Available
Repairs
Upgrades
Maintenance
Coast Guard
Auxiliary
Boating Classes and Vessel Safety
Check Website
www.d11s.org
8 The Mariner - Issue 139 2014
was surprised early one morning by a
cabin full of smoke while motor-sailing
in light wind on a solo passage from
San Carlos, Mexico to Puerto Vallarta.
I remembered what a freman friend
had taught me long ago when I worked
designing theatrical special effects.
The frst principle is that you should be
prepared to fght your way out of a fre
to escape, and also be prepared to fght
your way into a fre to extinguish it. On my 37
sailboat there was one fve-pound extinguisher
mounted by the navigation station opposite the
galley which could help me fght my way from
the front of the boat past a galley or engine fre
to safety outside. Outside the cabin, each of
three cockpit seat lockers gave access to a fve
pounder to fght into a fre down below or for
above deck events like a BBQ spill or a fuel fre
in the dinghy. There was also one small two and
a half pounder mounted in the head just in case
of fammable fatulence.
My fve-pound extinguishers were all hose
equipped, chosen on my friends advice that
hoses make them much more effective in
aiming the extinguishers contents precisely to
concentrate the output where most needed. The
hose option is not available on the compact two
and a half bound units, but its is so valuable, I
believe it well worth the extra space required.
I grabbed one of the cockpit dry chemical
extinguishers from its bracket, hoping I wouldnt
have to use it. I went below to cautiously open
the engine room door to frst ascertain whether
the old fxed Halon unit had discharged. As it
had not, I was reassured that nothing caught fre.
Luckily, my smoke came from a transmission
that suddenly decided to self-destruct but did
not ignite anything. However, it certainly made
me think about fre extinguishers.
Many of you readers have never used a common
ABC dry chemical type extinguisher, so be
aware that it works by spraying dry powdered
Monoammonium Phosphate, a chemical that
melts onto the burning material and smothers the
fre. After I saw the aftermath of an extinguished
galley fre, which resembled a bakery explosion
with yellowish powdery stuff everywhere
except for the hot surfaces where it had cooked
into a hard coating, I became a devotee of the
fre blanket.
Just what it says, a fre blanket smothers a
fre by depriving it of oxygen and separating
the fuel from the fame. They are packaged to
permanently mount in handy locations readily
available for emergency use. Although I never
had to use my boats fre blankets onboard, I did
fnd them quite useful around welding projects.
Now it is twenty years later and I decided to
update my knowledge with a phone call to John
Korkis at Pacifc Fire and Marine.
He frst checked to see if I understood the basic
fre triangle we studied in grade school. It
expresses the interdependence of heat, fuel, and
oxygen at the three legs of the stool that supports
a fre. Removing any one leg will extinguish the
fames. Removing two is even better, like the
way a well-placed bucket of water can deprive
the fre of both heat and oxygen as it smothers
and cools the fre. We all extinguish fames by
removing the fuel every time we turn a gas
appliance off.
John started his lesson telling of familiar CO2
fre extinguishers that produce a cloud of frosty
snow with a great whoosh. They function
by smothering the fre as the cloud of carbon
dioxide displaces the combustion-supporting
air. However, this smothering effect decreases
dramatically in open areas, making them
impractical outdoors where air quickly dilutes
the CO2unless the extinguishers are very
large and deliver their contents very rapidly.
A hazard with CO2 fxed-fre extinguishing
systems inside a closed space, like a boats
cabin, is that humans need to breath the fre-
supporting oxygen that the CO2 displaces,
which introduces the danger of suffocation.
Then DuPont Halon arrived on the market.
It is a material that can quickly food a space
and extinguish a fre, doing this at low enough
Halon concentrations to leave suffcient oxygen
in the atmosphere for human safety.
I
Where Theres Smoke...
Its easier to extinguish small fres early than large fres late
By Tim Tunks
2014 The Mariner - Issue 139 9
Then manufacture of basic Halon was
discontinued in 1994 because of its negative
environmental impact and has been replaced
by new chemical stuff (halocarbon fuorinated
ketones or hydrofuorocarbons, for you folks
who need to know that sort of thing) that is
much friendlier to our planet. Recycled original
Halon is still available for servicing pre 1994
systems and devices.
These liquids gasify and food the fre area,
extinguishing the fre with a physical mechanism
quite different from the CO2 types. In the
words of the manufacturer: They suppress fre
primarily by physical mechanisms due to their
relatively high heat capacity with minimal effect
on the available oxygen. This allows people to
see and breathe, permitting them to leave the
fre area safely. In other words they remove the
heat leg of the fre triangle while leaving enough
air to breathe.
These types are the overwhelming choice for
fxed protection systems because they are
effective without the associated mess of the dry
chemical types. Costs for these systems vary
according to the volume of the engine room
and how many additional alarm bells, whistles,
monitoring sensors, cockpit displays, and drive-
in restaurant window trays you add. Basic pre-
engineered systems start at around $600 for
the smallest sailboat engine rooms and run to
$6,000 (and up) for larger power boats requiring
more extensive installation, remote alarms, and
the like.
Besides the peace of mind these systems
can offer, the benefts are huge with fast fre
suppression and no clean-up required. There are
portable fre extinguishers that also use these
same types of chemicalstypes that would be
my frst choice to extinguish an electrical fre
in the navigation area where delicate electronics
could suffer tremendous damage from dry
chemical type discharges. Had they been
available 25-years ago when I was prepping my
Scallywag for cruising, I would have replaced
the dry chemical one I had in the navigation
area.
A far better option is having a fre extinguishing
gas that can food into the interior of radios and
such to extinguish a tiny fre buried deep inside
- leaving no mess to clean up.
All this led me to think generally about fre
extinguisher education for the boater. Perhaps,
a campaign that encourages timely service and
inspection of serviceable units and replacement
after 12-years for disposables would be a good
idea. Maybe Ill talk with the board of my yacht
club about sponsoring a replacement promotion
program, maybe with discount pricing for
disposable extinguishers and a certifed
inspector on location. Making it a social and an
educational event with some basic fre safety
talk and supervised opportunities to fght actual
fres (outside in a safe area) could make this an
ideal service club activity for land or sea folks.
Afterwards you can recycle the exhausted
disposables or save them for an art project.
You can even arrange to have required annual
inspections of rechargeable extinguishers
performed in the feld at your event, keeping
them current for insurance or other regulations.
John Korkis is a loyal Mariner advertiser and
can be reached at Pacifc Fire and Marine in
Long Beach, (562) 480-0532. Give him a call if
youd like some more guidance in producing this
kind of program for your club or neighborhood
organization, or ask him anything about fre
safety aboard and hell help you out.
Tim Tunks has always been curious about stuff
and takes great pleasure in learning new things.
He hopes that those who share his curiosity
enjoy reading his stories. Please visit his new
website www.timtunks.com to see more or say
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10 The Mariner - Issue 139 2014
ext year we will be celebrating the 50
th
anniversary of Marina del Rey. As we speak, plans and events are being devised to commemorate this
little man-made community and celebrate its history. A half a century is quite a landmark and much has changed since the days when oil rigs
could still be seen on the landscape or when privately owned seaplanes would land in the main channel.
While the number 50 will be the focus of the proverbial day, the fact is the history and inception of Marina del Rey dates much further back. What was
once a great marshland for duck hunting has become a world-renowned recreational harbor. Its quite a story and fnally someone has gone to the trouble
of assembling and documenting this history through images and words. Arcadia Publishings popular Images of America has now included Marina
del Rey as part of the series. Written by local authors from the Marina del Rey Historical Society the book features more than 200 vintage images that
chronicle the formation of this unique spot on the map.
In 2007, long time MdR resident and sail-loft owner Willie Hjorth realized that this area, where she had lived most of her life, had no cohesive written
history. She arrived before the marina was completed and owned one of the frst boats in the harbor. Hjorth has watched it grow from a sparsely
occupied rural scene to what it is today. Based on her knowledge of the landscape and place in the community, Willie knew she was in a unique position
to begin a Historical Society, so she did.
Hjorth immediately roped fellow community member and photographer Greg Wenger into the fray. Wenger arrived in MdR in 1969 and has been
photographing the town ever since. He started shooting for the Argonaut newspaper in 1971 and has thereby photographed much of the Marinas history.
Wengers photographs formed the basis of the Marina del Rey Historical Society collection that has since been enlarged.
As President of the Marina del Rey Historical Society, Hjorth has worked tirelessly in building up the organization. Since she began, MdRHS has grown
by leaps and bounds. Shes formed a comprehensive website, grown membership, raised funding and has even opened an operating Historical Society
Gallery located in Fishermans Village. But during most of this forward progress she has also been slowly assembling this book. It has been a labor of
love but a labor to be sure.
Now the endless scanning and caption writing by the Societys volunteers and board members is in the past and this long-awaited book is complete. It is
full of images and documents that, for those who have curiosity of local history, are nothing short of fascinating. It features images from the County of
Los Angeles Fire Department, the County of Los Angeles Department of Beaches and Harbors, and the County of Los Angeles Department of Regional
Planning; Security Pacifc National Bank Historical Collection; Summa Corporation; Greg Wenger Photography; and named individuals who have also
donated their collections.
Chapter highlights of Marina del Rey include:
Marshland, Port Ballona, Oil, Mud Lake, Hoppyland
Vision, Ground breaking, Water Infrastructure
Storm Surge Destruction, Solution, Success
Land Development, Fishermans Village, Public Services
Boating, Recreation, Yacht Clubs
Visionaries, Celebrities, Community
Through the hard work of the organization, Marina del Rey now has a compiled history that can be referenced going forward. To support the Society,
pick up the 128-page soft cover book at the MdRHS Gallery in Fishermans Village, area bookstores, independent retailers, online retailers, or through
Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665.
MdR Hi stor i cal Soci ety
Rel eases New Book on
Ar eas Hi stor y
N
2014 The Mariner - Issue 139 11
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12 The Mariner - Issue 139 2014
f theres one thing that yields consensus with boaters in Marina del Rey, its the want for more dingy docks within the harbor. Its bad enough that
there arent many cruising destinations beyond the breakwall, but not being able to take the dinghy to a restaurant seems, to many, ridiculous.
There are over 4,000 boats in the harbor and currently there is one legit dinghy dock where boaters can tie up and get a bite. Killer Shrimp at the
end of E Basin made it happen and by all rights, it appears to be an easy success.
For the optimists in the crowd, it looks as though this inadequacy might soon change. At the last Small Craft Harbor Commission meeting there were
very clear signs that the ball may be rolling in a favorable direction. Commissioner David Lumian has spearheaded the drive to make this happen by
taking meetings with interested parties and getting some defnitive commitments on the record.
One of the big issues we have in Marina del Rey is that theres so few places to go, Lumian said at the meeting.
Michael Pashaie, part owner of Fishermans Village, agreed and was very accommodating and willing to get things moving right away towards that
end. Pashaie spoke about his desires to get Fishermans Village into shape, indicating he and his team want it to be a destination residents are proud of,
including this element of creating a dinghy destination.
We are going to implement dinghy docks within the next 45-90 days, maximum, said Pashaie. It will be done. Its something thats been recommended
by many people - its absolutely necessary and we are going to do that.
The tentative plan is to possibly dedicate one of the existing large slips as a destination area, where small boaters and others could tie up and enjoy what
the area has to offer, which at the moment, is weekend bands, a few stores, restaurants, parasailing and the Marina del Rey Historical Society outpost.
This will be great, Lumian said of the commitment. It will allow people to ride their dinghys over, their stand-up paddleboards, their kayaks, other
small craft and be able to go over to Fishermans Village and get an ice cream cone, buy a tee-shirt or whatever.
Director of Beaches and Harbors Gary Jones was also present and made assurances that although he had some reservations concerning the actual
specifcs of the proposal; he is also onboard to make it a reality.
I did provide Mr. Pashaie with some concerns I had, but I think after our discussion theres a way that we can make available some docks within their
existing footprint, said Jones. My concern was displacing a longtime tenant boat thats currently at their docks. But if we can assist in some way, then
we will well continue to work with him on that.
Skeptics wonder if more dinghy docks in Marina del Rey will indeed be built or made available, considering how long the call has gone unanswered
despite the obvious want and desire. The bureaucratic machine has squashed more than a few good ideas in the past, but this time things seem more
probable. Commissioner Lumian appears optimistic, encouraging the county to create even more docks throughout the harbor:
I think itll be a big improvement in Marina del Rey and I hope that we look for dinghy docks in other places as well.
I
Talk of more dinghy-docks to
arise in Marina del Rey
Show Us
the Dinghy Docks
2014 The Mariner - Issue 139 13
Sickness at Sea
The Mariner asks a sailing doctor whats the deal on seasickness
Dr. Michael Melman has been practicing medicine for 37 years. He
was part of the 1986-2006 Major League Baseball Team Physicians
Organization and President in 2000-2001. Currently he is a practicing
physician in El Segundo and part of the Physicians Organization of the
NHL. Hes also an avid sailor and board member of Lifesail, a charity
organization devoted to teaching life lessons to children through the
vehicle of sailing.
What is the root of seasickness? Why does it happen?
Dr. Melman: Whats happening is that the brain is receiving a lot of
information that it cant resolve. Theres an overwhelming amount of
sensory input to the brain that tries to keep us upright. What the eyes see
is motion and the horizon and then theres a balance center in the ears that
tells the head its position relative to the body. There is also the sensation
of the bottom of the feet that tells the brain what type of surface youre on
and what its doing and whether its moving or not.
So what we think happens is, in some people, theres just a great sensitivity
to all this information coming in and theres just an overload of sensory
input and in some instances it cant be resolved or its just too much for
the brain to handle and thats motion sickness.
Is this psychosomatic?
Dr. Melman: Psychosomatic refers to a condition where thoughts create
an illness and I dont think thats the casemost of us think that some
people simply get sick attempting to process all of the contradictory
motion senses.
Can it sometimes be treated with mind over matter?
Dr. Melman: Theres lots of ways it can be handled for instance, when
someone is getting seasick on my boat I give them the helm. I give them
a course and an objectivewhat happens is that their eyes, that are now
focusing on the responsibility, tends to override all the other input. Then
there are others who close their eyes and go the lowest point of the boat
where there is less motion and they dont get seasick.
Why do some get sick and others dont?
Dr. Melman: No, I think its just the way the brain handles the situation.
Some people are better at handling all that information or theyve gotten
used to the fact that all this motion occurs and getting sick isnt going to
do anything but make it worse and through experience they just dont get
sick.
How does Dramamine work?
Dr. Melman: Its a chemical that works on the brain to blunt sensitivity
to neural input.
Are there any concerns when taking Dramamine or other motion
sickness remedies?
Dr. Melman: Well, if youre new to taking any of these motion sickness
drugs, you shouldnt take them for the frst time when youre getting
on a boat. It should be done when they are home and in a controlled
environment.
The other important thing to remember is to always inquire before
someone gets on your boat. I do that before anyone gets on my boat. Ill
ask whats your risk of seasickness, whats your health condition, what
medications are you taking.
Are there other circumstances that occur that induce sickness?
Dr. Melman: Theres a real issue with regards to the eye-wear that people
wear. When you have someone with bifocals or progressive lenses, where
there focus is being changed on the boat. If theres someone with glasses
like this and theyre suffering, youll fnd that you can remove the glasses
and the seasickness will go away.
Get the newly
released book on the
history of
Marina del Rey!
Available at area bookstores, independent retailers,
online retailers, or through
Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665
14 The Mariner - Issue 139 2014
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2014 The Mariner - Issue 139 15
Wash Downs
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16 The Mariner - Issue 139 2014
MarinaFest
Whats Going on Around Town?
MarinaFest
More than an awe some annual e vent !
I ts an organi zat i on de voted to the
Mari na del Rey boat i ng communi t y!
Brought to you by the MdR MarinaFest Committee:
Steve Curran, Marina del Rey Yacht Sales//Boating Services of MdR
Russ Carrington, ActionWatersports
Paul Skipper, S&K Dive Service
Daivid Maury, The Argonaut, Marina del Rey Historical Society
Christine Rohde, Classic Yacht Association
California Yacht Club Sunset Series
Wednesdays - 6:30 - 7:30
View MdRs largest sailing event from waterfront restaurants, Fishermans
Village or the north jetty as scores of racers fnish the race. 310-823-4567
Rendezvous at the Isthmus on Catalina August 2!
Info/reservations 310-822-9814 - www.boatingservicesMdR.com.
Hosted by Marina del Rey Yacht Sales
MdR Summer Concert Series
Live outdoor concerts at Burton Chace Park 7 p.m.
Symphonic Thursdays August 7 & 21 Pop Saturdays August 2, 16 & 30
FREE Marina Movie Nights at Chace Park - 8 p.m.
August 9, 14 & 23. For info call 310-305-9596
2014 The Mariner - Issue 139 17
L O C A L C U R R E N T S
Stories
of Thunder
and lightning
By Captain Richard Schaefer
t the end of July, my 21-year old
son, Nathan, and I decided to get
in a quick four-day trip to Catalina.
I rarely bother going to the island
for less than a week, but now that
Nathan is an adult, working full time as a
sailboat rigger (and going to school), its pretty
hard to scrape together more than a few days; so
we take what we can get.
We departed on Sunday despite thunderstorm
warnings and gusty winds, and set a closed
hauled course of 180 degrees. We hadnt
reached the mooring feld off El Segundo when
the thunder and lightning began. At frst, the
strikes appeared over Palos Verdes but another
cell appeared to be working over the Venice area
off our stern.
I have been caught in a few lightning storms
at sea, and compared to previous experiences
this one seemed fairly distant and tame. We
decided to keep going, staying as high on the
wind as possible, and away from the darkening,
lightening streaked skies to the south and east.
Around us were four or fve other sailboats
within a mile or so, on roughly the same
heading, obviously headed for the west end, as
we were. The clouds loomed darkly closer and
the interval between the lightening fash and the
thunderclap grew shorter (after the lightening
you count the secondseach 5-seconds equals
about one mile). At frst the interval was about
fve or six seconds and we could plainly see the
fashes up close and personal.
A few minutes later, the sky above us turned
into the fying farmhouse scene from the
Wizard of Oz. The center of the massive cloud
seemed to open up above us revealing its
black soul. Lightning fashed out of this vortex
and we barely had time to count to twothe
strikes were getting close. At this pointone
by onethe sailboats around us came about,
setting course for Marina del Rey. Nathan and
I exchanged glances; both of usbeing either
dumb or stoicalshrugged our shoulders and
hunkered down under the dodger to escape the
splatting raindrops.
Being both a considerate skipper and good
father, I chose that moment to relate one of
my near-death boating experiences during a
lightning storm.
You knowthis reminds me of the time, I
began, but Nathan cut me off and said sourly, I
know that story.
Well of course you do, but now we have the
special effects to go along with it. I said as a
clap of thunder underlined my words.
It was back in 82...or was it 83...well, no
matter. My girlfriend and I were sailing to
the island and we had a small engine fre; just
enough of a blaze to burn the wiring, hoses and
melt the distributer. We sailed our boat, John
Galt, onto a mooring and spent three days at the
islandworrying later about the sail back.
On Sunday, we asked Harbor Patrol to give us a
tow out to the wind-line. Once there, we hoisted
our sails and set course for Marina del Rey.
The forecast was for a borderline small-craft-
warning - 20-25 knots. But we fgured our little
Ranger 30 was up to the task - engine or not.
By the time we got to the shipping lanes, the
wind was hooting at about 25-knots. Despite a
reefed main, we were having trouble keeping
her bow down and on course. It was then that
the roller furling lapper blew out with a loud
snapping rip.
I had to go forward and get the fogging tatters
down. Before I did so, I contacted the Coast
Guard and explained the situation - telling them
I could not make Marina del Rey under main
alone, but thought I could make King Harbor.
They said to keep a 15-minute radio watch with
them and assured us they would notify King
Harbor of our situation.
By the time I got to the foredeck, the sail was in
tatters and wrapped around the furler, causing
the mast to pumpthe racket was ugly and
potentially dangerous. I hunkered down in the
bow pulpit, and between breaking waves, fought
the sail downinch by inch. The ordeal seemed
like an hour, but was actually 10 or 12 minutes;
time passes slowly on a plunging foredeck.
We fell off the wind, and set course for Redondo.
With reefed main alone, in choppy seas, we
made little headway but reached King Harbor
about sunset; and the Harbor Patrol was waiting
for us, just inside the entrance. They towed us to
their dock and said we could stay there for up to
a week to affect the needed repairs.
The next week I shuttled back and forth between
Marina del Rey and Redondo, with parts and
tools. I was lucky to fnd a good used 110%
headsail, and by the end of the week I was ready
to bring the John Galt back to Marina del Rey.
It was a beautiful spring day and I asked several
continued on page 23
A
18 The Mariner - Issue 139 2014
n many ways, one could argue, September and October are the best months for Santa Catalina Island boating. Crowds drop off as school starts
after Labor Day. Mooring availability improves. Days are still long, with sunset no earlier than 7 p.m., until about the end of September. Water
temperatures are still warm. And, maybe best of all, Catalina breaks out in a series of festivals.
If someone insisted there is nothing to do at Catalina, their excuse just evaporated. Here are four of my favorites, running through mid-
October. One at Avalon and one at Two Harbors.
At Two Harbors, Saturday Sept. 13, 2014, will be the 12th Annual Two Harbors MicroBrew Festival. Lovers of craft beers will be out in force to sample
brews from about 30 different beer makers on the beach at Isthmus Cove. A $40 ticket gets you unlimited beer tasting, an offcial glass, and appetizers
from the Harbor Reef Restaurant. Mad Mikes Sausage usually appears too. Info/tickets at (310) 510-4205.
At Avalon, Sept. 24-28, 2014, marks the date for the Catalina Film Festival. Centered around the Casino Theater, the frst movie theater built for talking
pictures, there will be lots of screenings and discussions of motion pictures and where things are going now that no one uses flm anymore. A one-day
pass for all screenings that day is $35. Info/tickets at catalinaflm.org.
Back at Two Harbors, Oct. 2-5, 2014, marks the 25th Anniversary of Buccaneer Days. For this one, if you want a mooring, show up on Thursday. I
enjoyed and reported on the frst ten of these, so blame the crowds on me! This is summer camp for adults, and often the best party on the west coast.
Bring a costume (or not) and transform into your inner pirate. Buccaneer Days is no longer free of chargetickets for the whole weekend are $20.
Tickets/info at (310) 510-4249.
And back at Avalon, for two weekends, Oct. 9-12 and 16-19, the 28th Annual Jazztrax Festival, with six smooth jazz performances each weekend.
Promoter Art Good has the formula down perfectly. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday shows are all in the Casino Ballroom, and there are no bad seats.
$40 will get you a roughly three-hour show starting at noon on Saturday or Sunday. The best part may be walking out on the balcony between sets and
watching your boat riding on its mooring. Info/tickets at www.jazztrax.com.
Dont feel bad I cannot do them all either, and there are more festivals I havent listed here. But by all means, take advantage of at least one Catalina
festival.
Bill McNeely is the author of Cruising Catalina Island 2nd Ed., the only cruising guide to Catalina on the market, available at Amazon.com. He
also teaches a 2.5 hr. seminar on cruising at Catalina, and a four session Marine Weather course. Check dates and locations at the Bills Yacht Club
Facebook page.
C A T A L I N A C R U I S I N G
I
Fall Fun on the Island
By Bill McNeely
Photo by Pat Reynolds
2014 The Mariner - Issue 139 19
Its pretty clear to most active
fshermen that the warmer waters
and (what many believe is) El Nio
have arrived. From Point Dume to
San Diego the pelagic fsh from
down south are on our grounds.
Right here in the bay kelp patties
have been holding yellowtail, a
few yellowfn, and dorados!
There are a few things to consider
while traveling to your spots.
1. Bring the right bait with
you anchovies and small
mackerel are best even if
you have to make it yourself.
2. Bring the right tackle light
line For 15 to 25 lb., hook
size should be in the #4 to
2/0 size when fy lining or
using split shot.
To the north of us Channel
Islands still has yet to slow down
on the white seabass bite - the
squid is locked in on that area.
For myself, were heading
towards the 289 to look for
Marlin.
Happy hunting for the rest of the
season - should be a good one!
Until next time............tight lines
According to Dave
Fishing Update by Marina del Reys
Master Fisherman
Captain Dave Kirby
Call 310-823-1458
We Take Pride in Our Marina!
Clean
Well Maintained
Attentive Staff
24-Hour Security
Wide Variety of Slip Sizes
Amenities
DOLPHI N MARI NA
20 The Mariner - Issue 139 2014
R A C I N G S C E N E
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Sail Repairs/Cleaning
Shade Sails
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Awnings: Boat/Home
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The California Yacht Club hosted the Martin
242 North Americans this past month
demonstrating that this class continues to be
durable and resilient. While other one-design
classes have come and gone through the years,
the 242s remain strong and competitive.
Fifteen boats were on the line with some
well-known local talent participating. Duncan
Cameron, Brack Duker and Will Peterson, were
all in the mix, to name a few. Most of the boats
hailed from CYC but there were four boats out
of King Harbor (Redondo Beach) and it was a
visiting boat that won the championship. Paul
Zambriski sailing Pau Hana took home the
hardware with 18 points over eight races. Peter
Stazickers Trolleycar (from CYC) was poised
to win going into the last race of the series
having sailed very well through the regatta,
posting four bullets, but came in ninth in the
fnal contest. He was able to throw out the 9 but
had come in eighth in race four, which he had to
keep, and that did him in.
For full results visit www.calyachtclub.com
Left: Fifteen Martin 242s lined up not far off of the Venice Pier for the Martin 242 North
Americans. Above: Winning skipper Paul Zambriski, out of King Harbor Yacht Club at the helm
of Pau Hana. Photos Pat Reynolds.
The Mariner
Pick it Up!
310-397-1887
marinermagazine.com
Get the newly
released book on
the history of
Marina del Rey!
Available at area bookstores, independent retailers,
online retailers, or through
Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665
22 The Mariner - Issue 139 2014
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2014 The Mariner - Issue 139 23
friends if they would like to make the trip up
with me. None could, but my friend Doc Bob,
drove me to King Harbor. It is only about a two-
hour run up from King Harbor and the day was
gorgeous. I wore only shorts, teeshirt, Ray-Bans
and fip-fops.
In a few minutes I had cleared the breakwater,
raised the mainsail and was power- sailing north
with an 8-10 knot northwesterly under deep
blue sunny skies.
I was just off El Porto when I noticed the wind
increasing and veering north and east. Within
minutes, the wind was gusting to 25-30, and
from the east, mountainous black clouds,
streaked with lightning were roiling toward
me. I quickly reefed the main and put on a life
jacket.
Within a few minutes the formerly calm water
was a mass of spray and white caps, and even
with the mainsail reefed the boat was heeled
on her ear. Lightning and thunder fashed and
boomed in a steady barrage - fash on top of
fash, crashing clap over clap, as sheets of rain
swept the boat.
Soon the rain turned to pea-sized hail and the
air temperature dropped 25-degrees, with an
ugly dose of wind-chill. It wasnt long before
I was standing in an inch of hail-stones, with
no shoes, shivering like a mad dog and holding
tight to the steel wheel in an intense, thundering,
storm.
The fashes seemed to overlap each other and
the crashing thunder was now one continuous
roar. It was then that I began smelling ozone
like electrical wires shorting outand my hair
would stand on end before each fash. I fgured I
was toastliterally.
Suddenly the engine alarm sounded and the
smell of burning rubber mixed with the ozone.
The cooling water intake was out of the water
because of the excessive heeling and the engine
temp was pegged in the red. I quickly shut down
the motor. Thankfully, by this time I was nearing
the south entrance.
However, I soon realized that with no motor,
and the wind out of the northeast, I would need
to tack down the main channel under reefed
mainsail alone. As I tacked back and forth I was
shivering uncontrollably, teeth chattering like
a Vegas crap shooter trying to shake life into
a cold set of dice, my hands numb against the
steel wheel, while horizontal hail stung my face.
I decided then that I couldnt sail into, what was
now, my downwind slip. So I set a course for
the Harbor Patrol dock. I fgured its an upwind
dock and just maybe there might be someone
around to lend a hand.
As I neared the dock two Harbor Patrolmen, in
yellow rain gear, frantically waved me off. But
I was too cold, and it was too late. I brought
the boat in for a hard docking, but I had made
it. The patrolmen ran down the dock but their
words seemed to come to me in slow motion.
I found it diffcult to concentrate. But slowly
I came to understand that the dock I had tied
to was breaking away from the pilings. I knew
my condition was not good and I was reluctant
to cast off, but as the docks creaks and groans
grew louder I knew I had no choice, unless I
wanted to end up tied to a broken dock drifting
out toward the seawall.
The two patrolmen stood there helplessly as
John Galt blew off the damaged dock. I knew
I was in no shape to sail much longer, and with
my last bit of strength, heaved them 30-feet of
halyard. They caught it and pulled me into a
secure section of dock.
They spoke to me, but I could only mumble.
They assumed I was drunk and brought me up
to the offce. Soon, they understood that I was
hypothermic but they just asked me to sit in the
waiting area and told me to use the pay phone
outside and call someone to get me and the boat
out of there ASAP. With slurred words I said I
had no change, reluctantly one of them fipped
me a dime which of course I didnt catch and
had to crawl around the foor to retrieve it.
A half-hour later my friend Rich Smith showed
up with hot coffee and donuts. He told me that
he just heard on the radio that the storm blew the
monorail off the tracks at Disneyland and they
closed the park. Somehow I wasnt surprised.
After I had gulped down the coffee and donut
and regained the use of my voice, I asked him
for a dollar. I went to the Harbor Patrolman
and tossed it on his deskI told him keep the
change.
I spent the rest of the day at home, with a quilt
over my shoulders, squatting over the foor
furnace, trying to warm the core of my guts...it
seemed I was froze clear to the bone.
The story over and thunder becoming more
distant, Nathan stirred and shifted.
Did you change some of that one? He asked.
Nope...well...I dont think so anyway. Is this
version worse or better than you remember?
About the same, but I thought you got killed
in that one.
No...that was a different one.
Oh yeah.
It was just before sunset when we picked up
a mooring; the thunder and lightening had
temporarily moved off into the distance. Nathan
and I made our way to the Harbor Reef for a
drink and soon heard that nine people had been
hit by lightening, next to Venice Pierone of
them was dead, eight in the hospital. And in
Avalon, another guy was hit on the golf course
and was in the hospital. Maybe we had a little
luck after all.
Within the hour, the rain and lightning moved
over us again and the show lasted almost til
dawn.
This was one of our shortest trips, but it was the
kind stories are made of.
Captain Richard is a U.S.C.G. Licensed Master
of Sailing Vessels. He has skippered charters
and deliveries, taught sailing and seamanship,
managed yachts and written for boating
publications for nearly 30 years. He can be
reached for comments, sailing instruction,
charters or consultation at 310-460-8946 or
e-mail at, sailinlonesome@gmail.com
Continued from page 17 Stories of Thunder and Lightening
L O C A L C U R R E N T S
24 The Mariner - Issue 139 2014
The Magic of Beeswax!
Beeswax is used primarily as a sealant,
as it has been for centuries. For instance, I
had an old cotton Bimini top that, toward
the end of its years, began to suffered from
leaks in places where it had been abraded.
By melting some beeswax into these thin
spots, I was able to stop the leaks and use
the top for another fve years. Ive since used
this technique for leaks in a canvas deck, a
winter cover, some faded foul-weather gear,
and even an old souwester. It seems to work
just as well with new, synthetic fbers as with
cotton cloth.

Beeswax also works beautifully as a
non-toxic putty for pressure joints in the
freshwater system. Warmed in your hands,
its pliable enough to fll just about any
space. I have also used it as a coating on
unrefrigerated eggs. The eggs stayed good
for months!
But it must be beeswax. Canning paraffn or
other wax substitutes dont have the some
versatility, and beeswax has a stickiness
thats all its own. You should fnd it easily
in your hardware store or any natural food
store.
Courtesy of Sailing Secrets, an awesome book
for cruising and all round boat ownership
Ti p of t he Mont h!
766 Washington Blvd., Marina del Rey, CA 90292
Phone: (310) 821-4958
E-mail: maritime@maritimecomm.com
Knowledgeable Sales
Professional Installation
Expert Repair
Electrical/Electronics Parts & Accessories in Stock
FCC Licensed, CMET certied technicians on staff
Mari t i me Communi cat i ons
ELECTRONIC
Find us on Facebook
FOR YOUR BOAT
EVERYTHING
Since 1966
Handy nugget s of pocket si zed
i nf ormat i on t o make your
t ravel s easi er, saf er or j ust a
bi t more enl i ght ened
DIRTY YACHTS Cleans Boats
RI GHT !
310-717-0462
www. d i r t y y a c h t s . c o m
Wash Downs Wax Maintenance Detailing Isinglass Treatment Interiors
We Are a Prof essi onal Company
Well dressed, available 7-days a week and reputable. Trust your investment to a pro!
Hire a Legal Professional Who is Bonded & Insured
We Care About Your Boat!
Well beat any LEGAL topside competitors prices!
Over 20-years Serving Marina del Rey
2014 The Mariner - Issue 139 25
Sailboats
Beneteau Oceanis 400
Timeshare/Partnership on Beneteau Oceanis 400.
Tri-cabin model - two heads. Full electronics, refrig-
eration, inverter, dinghy and outboard, windless, roller
furler, full canvas. Professional lessons available if
needed. No equity buy in. 3 Days, $300.00 per month
- no long term commitment. Call Captain Richard
Schaefer 310-460-8946
Challenger 35 1976.
Well equipped, roomy, ready for Mexico and beyond.
Fresh rig and new main/mizzen. Professionally main-
tained. David 310 597 3971
1975 Islander 30 Mark 2
Contact: 310-405-4639. Islander is a turnkey boat.
Ready to sail today with no work. Im selling her
because I have bought a bigger boat. This Islander
has new two-coat gel paint on the entire boat. Bot-
tom is clean and was repainted two years ago. It has
an inboard diesel that purrs. Recently tuned. refrig-
erator and freezer built into counter. New led lighting
throughout the boat. New holding tank. Sails all in
great condition - roller furling. I sailed her twice a week
at least. $13,500. Contact: 310-405-4639
Ericson 27 1974
Mercury outboard 8hr, Many sails, needs some tlc
$4,500 obo - Pls call rick at 818-445-9882
14 Classic Enterprise sloop
Ku u ipo
(Euro Lido) Beautiful mahogany FRP epoxy. Spruce
spars. $10 K all inclusive w/trailer. Fractional own-
ership available. randy@tightship.biz 805 798-0493
Power Boats
42 1981 Californian Trawler
2 3208 Cat diesels w 1400 hrs, all fberglass hull, 2
heads w showers, sleeps 8, one level walk around
deck. Owner will carry or trade. Located in slip D-701
on Panay Way stern out endtie. $69,000 Call for Appt
- Al Lee 310-392-4193 or Gary at 310-293-9200.
36 Hatteras Sportfsher
1986 Sedan Cruiser in Pristine condition with ONLY
300 hours on diesel Caterpillar engines! Located in
MdR. 818-200-9770 - steveklein01@gmail.com
1994 Boston Whaler Outrage 19
With 1994 Yamaha 150 and 81 gallon fuel tank. Dog
House has new bottom paint, Standard Horizon
Eclipse DSC VHF radio, Apelco 460 fshfnder, and
new Pro Sport 20 smart battery charger. No trailer.
$16,750.00. Contact Doug at (310) 384-4549.
Dinghys
Infatables
8.5 Bombard/Zodiac AX3, PVC, Slatted Floor $500
9.7 Bombard/Zodiac AX4, PVC, Air Floor $600
10 Mercury, Hypalon, Air Floor $1200
10 Achilles, Hypalon, Air Floor $1000
310-822-8618.
Achilles Infatable
9 Achilles - 310 823-1105
14 Novurania. - 310 823-1105
Trailers
0 - 13 Boats $400-$1200
14 - 16 Boats $600-$1200
17 - 21 Boats $750-$1200
24 - 29 Boats $3000
310-822-8618.
Outboards/Engines
Various Outboards
3.5 Nissan $450
4 Mariner, Long $600
4 Mercury, Long $600
4 Mercury, Long $900
4 Suzuki $800
6 Evinrude $800
6 Mercury, Long $900
6 Mercury, Internal Tank $1150
6 Nissan $750
6 Nissan $1000
6 Tohatsu $800
6 Tohatsu $1000
6 Yamaha, NEW-3yr Warranty $1299
8 Honda $1000
9.9 Yamaha, High Thrust, Elec Start, Long $1200
9.9 Yamaha, NEW-3yr Warranty, High Thrust, Power
Tilt, Elec Start, XLong $2799
20 Honda, NEW-5yr Warranty, Long $3299
20 Yamaha, NEW-3yr Warranty $2799
310-822-8618.
Outboards
6 Suzuki. 2 x 9,9 Yamaha high thrust remote 25. 20
Johnson remote 20. 40 Evinrude remote 20. 50 Mer-
cury remote 20. 75 Mercury trim 20. 125 Force trim
remote. Price is right! Call 310 823-1105.
Other Stuff
Portable Dehumidifer
Soleus 40Pint Portable Dehumidifer. Very light use
like new. Weighs 30 lbs. Auto off or drain by hose.
$125 (310) 398-1430 Please leave message.
Buoyant Vests
4-Type II adult near shore buoyant vests in original
storage bag with whistles; never used - $30
Call 310-569-7991
Spinnaker
With pole and sock and sheets hardly used off 35
boat I-45.77 J-13.42 P-42.16 $1200 or best offer 310-
804-6002.
Tiller
5 ft. long it fts a Catalina 38 in excellent condition $25
reaching strut for catalina 38 in excellent condition
$40. 310 866 9439
Gale Sail
ATN Gale Sail - 100 sq ft. Like new. $700 or best
offer. 310-871-5260.
Extra Long Whisker Pole
Want to win sunset races (cruising class)?
With this extra-long telescoping whisker pole on
downwind legs your wung-out headsail will spread
wide and your boat will go signifcantly faster. Made
of very lightweight carbon-fber tubes. As new condi-
tion. Is a spinnaker pole, too. It adjusts anywhere be-
tween 13 to18 ft. (Cost new: $2500) Priced at $1350;
310-776-0800. Displayed at:Hasley/UK Sailmaker:
310-822-1203
Alternator, Steps and a Ladder
Motorola 72amps 12 volt Marine alternator never
used $75.00 3 steps dock boarding steps fberglass
$75.00 bof. Boat ladder teak 45 long $30.00
818 701 0782
Stuff - TV, Mounts, Chairs, Fender
Holders
Stainless dinghy mounts $100, four large stainless
fender holders $75 ea. stainless/wood chairs, $25 ea.
Samsung fat screen $100 - all in xlnt condition. 310-
913-5533
Trailers
0-13 Boats $400-$1200
14-16 Boats $600-$1200
17-21 Boats $750-$1200
24-29 Boats $3000
310-822-8618
Mainsail
From 40 ft. Cal - $450 call 310-823-2040
Sails
Spinnaker,2 drifters and a genoa for sale from a 28
Lancer. Very good condition. Call 213 706 8364
Anchor
Fortress FX-23 Anchor $150 - 310-391-6174
Boat Share
Looking for use of 34ft-36ft Catalina/Ericson or
similar. Experienced (owned 41ft Islander Freeport
MDR). Please email me at laurencejarnold@gmail.
com. Larry
Need Boat Share for LA Meetings
Lets make a deal! Palm Springs executive, former
yacht owner, need use of boat 3-days per week for
meetings when in LA. Mr. Troupe 760-285-9488
Donate Boats
Looking for Boat Donation
Marine Mammal Research
The Ocean Conservation Society, that conducts
valuable research of marine mammals in the Santa
Monica Bay, is looking for boat donations. There are
many benefts to donating your boat. Please email
csaylan@earthlink.net.. www.oceanconservation.org
Cash For Your Boat !
Power or sail, Yachts to dinghys 310-849-2930
Donate Your Boat
LA Area Council Boy Scouts of America need your
boat or boat gear as donation to support essential and
formative youth programs, please call 310-823-2040
or E-mail gerry@purcellyachts.com
Donate your boat
To SOS, a non proft organization helping and thank-
Free Classifeds!
Under 25 Words
Must be emailed to editor@marinermagazine.com
Two issue run (non-commercial)
26 The Mariner - Issue 139 2014
ing our past and present Veterans. Www.supportin-
gourservicemen.org. 888-658-8884
Donate Your Boat
Receive a substantial tax deduction. Support youth
boating programs. S.O.S. Please call 888-650-1212
Donate Your Boat
Bringing the classroom to the ocean.Turn your
donation into tomorrows scientists and doctors. 310-
908-9198. www.city2sea.org
Services
Professional, U.S.C.G. Lic. Sailing
Master, 25 years experience.
Available for boat purchase sea trials and
consultations, local deliveries, sailing instruction and
charters. 30 years local experience. 310-460-8946
or Richard Schaefer sailinlonesome@gmail.com.
Canvas Boat Covers and Repairs
New boat covers, canvas repair, restore water
repellency to marine canvas. Dan 310-382-6242
Come Sail with Capt. Royall!
Fun Charters, professional deliveries, sail or power-
boat lessons, video or photo shoots, private skipper,
personable and experienced.
www.royallcharters. com 310-367-3415
USCG Licensed 100-ton
Master Captain
Deliveries/Lessons/Private Captain. Experienced,
Courteous, Safe and Fun! Contact Jeffry Matzdorff
323.855.0191 earthakat@msn.com. Jeffry Matzdorff.
323.855.0191
Photographic - Video
How about an awesome in-water photo shoot for
your pride and joy. When you are at your desk and
cant be with her, you can stare lovingly at a profes-
sionally shot photo. OR how about a mini-doc video
of your next race? 310-397-1887
Wanted
Information on Americas Cup replica
nine-foot sailboat.
Any and all will be appreciated. Please send to
bobby3237@anet.net
Looking for a 36-40 Yacht
Something like a Carver with 2 state rooms to live
aboard - on a live aboard slip, Preferably in D Ba-
sin. Please email mike@peprinting.com or call
310.314.3537
Cruiser Meeting
Cruisers Forum meets twice monthly to discuss
boat systems and cruising preparations. Contact Tim
Tunks: Sailmentor@Gmail.com
(310) 210-0861
marinaresourcecenter.com
(310) 210-0861
marinaresourcecenter.com
(310) 210-0861
marinaresourcecenter.com
(310) 210-0861 (310) 210-0861 (310) 210-0861 (310) 210-0861
marinaresourcecenter.com
(310) 210-0861
marinaresourcecenter.com marinaresourcecenter.com
(310) 210-0861 (310) 210-0861
marinaresourcecenter.com
(310) 210-0861 (310) 210-0861
marinaresourcecenter.com
(310) 210-0861
marinaresourcecenter.com
(310) 210-0861
Captain Joel Eve
Marine Consulting Services
Since 1976
Boating Instruction
Yacht Management
Delivery
Captains Services
Make the Ocean Your Treadmill!
Phone: 310-822-7600
www. p h i n s c l u b . c o m
Rowing in
Marina del Rey!
Affordable and
Fun
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Captain David Kirby
Fishing
Diving
Movie & Music Industry
Yacht Management
Deliveries
Charters
949-275-4062
Check Out the Website!
www.marinermagazine.com
2014 The Mariner - Issue 139 27
28 The Mariner - Issue 139 2014
FIBERGLASS REPAIR
SINCE 1969
Gel Coat Specialists
Custom Fabrications
Expert Color Matching
Cosmetic to Major Collisions
Custom Instrument Dashboards
310/ 306- 2149
Harry Gibson

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