Fri. May 23rd – Block Island Race

Nice work TEAM!  2nd in class and 7th overall….AND we know exactly the few mistakes we made that kept us just out of first in class and even higher in the fleet!

 

J/44 Second in Class 2014 Block Island Race

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The 2014 Block Island Race is upon us!  The race begins on FRIDAY, May 23rd.  Dock Call will be FRIDAY MORNING at 10am at McMichael’s 447 East Boston Post Road.

 
We will have our full Bermuda Crew.  The start is off Stamford so we have some motoring to do to get to the starting area.  First Gun is at 2:00pm.  We will do some safety talks, tours and drills MOB, etc. on the way up.
We are now officially entered.  There will be at LEAST 5 J44’s.
YachtScoring page is located here with info of interest: http://www.yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=1070

Training Requirements

4.0 TRAINING AND SKILLS

4.1 Steering in an Emergency: A yacht’s crew shall be aware of multiple methods of steering the yacht with the rudder disabled, and shall have chosen and practiced one method and be prepared to demonstrate it while sailing both upwind and downwind.

4.2 Annual Man Overboard Training: Annually, two-thirds of the yacht’s racing crew shall practice man-overboard procedures appropriate for the yacht’s size and speed. The practice shall consist of marking and returning to a position on the water, and demonstrating a method of hoisting a crewmember back on deck, or other consistent means of re-boarding the crewmember.

5.2 Safety At Sea Seminar Attendance: At least 30% of those aboard the yacht, but not fewer than two members of the crew, including the Captain and Navigator or a Watch Captain shall have attended a one-day or two-day US Sailing Offshore Safety at Sea Seminar within the last five (5) years, or other courses as approved by US Sailing.

5.3 Routine Training On Board: The Captain and not less than 80% of each yacht’s crew shall, prior to the start of the race, participate in on-board training, including man overboard practice, sailing with the storm trysail, use of the life raft, lifejackets, safety harnesses, main boom preventer, communications equipment, pyrotechnics, EPIRB(s), fire prevention, firefighting and the procedures for abandoning ship, dismasting and rudder/steering loss or failure. All participating crew shall sign and date the On Board Training Certificate.

5.4 Safety Demonstration: A yacht’s crew shall be able to demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the BROC, an ability to return to a man-overboard in reasonable amount of time.
Rev. February 4, 2014 Page 14 of 18

5.5 Digital Selective Calling (DSC): If equipped, all crew shall review the emergency features of DSC, including the response to a DSC Distress Call.

5.6 CPR and First Aid: Two crew members must have current CPR and First Aid certifications.

Safety highlights from official Checklist

2.3.4 Potable Water: A yacht shall have an installed water tank
and delivery system. A yacht shall carry 5 gallons of
potable water per person, not including emergency water.

2.1.2 Hatch Boards: A yacht’s hatch boards, whether or not in
position in the hatchway, shall be secured to the yacht (e.g.
by a lanyard) for the duration of the race to prevent their
being lost overboard.

2.7.1(a) Fuel On Board: A Yacht shall carry sufficient fuel to
provide a cruising range under power of at least 100
nautical miles after finishing.

3.1.1 Lifejackets: Each crew member shall have a life jacket that
provides at least 33.7 lbs (150 N) of buoyancy, intended to be
worn over the shoulders (no belt packs), meeting either U.S.
Coast Guard or ISO specifications. Life jackets shall be
equipped with crotch or leg straps, a whistle, a waterproof
light, be fitted with marine-grade retro-reflective material,
and be clearly marked with the yacht or wearer’s name, and
be compatible with the wearer’s safety harness. If the life
jacket is inflatable, it shall be checked for air retention
regularly.

3.2.3 Lifejacket and Harness Use: Each crew member shall wear a
safety harness and lifejacket while on deck
3.2.3.1 from sunset to sunrise;
3.2.3.2 when the mainsail is reefed or being reefed;
3.2.3.3 when otherwise required by the skipper.

3.3.2 Spare Navigation Lights: A yacht shall have a second set of
navigation lights that comply with U.S. Coast Guard
requirements and which can be connected to a different
power source than the primary lights.

3.4 Fire Extinguishers: A yacht shall carry fire extinguisher(s)
that meet U.S. Coast Guard requirements.

3.6 Flares: A yacht shall carry:
3.6.1 Two (2) SOLAS orange smoke flares not older than
the expiration date.
3.6.2 Six (6) SOLAS red parachute flares not older than the
expiration date.
3.6.3 Four (4) SOLAS red hand flares not older than the
expiration date.

3.8.2 Handheld VHF Radio: A yacht shall have a watertight
handheld VHF radio or a handheld VHF radio with a
waterproof cover. After 1/1/2015, this radio shall have
DSC/GPS capability.

3.8.3 Emergency VHF Antenna: A yacht shall have an emergency
VHF antenna. After 1/1/2015, the emergency antenna shall
be equipped with sufficient coax to reach the deck, and have
a minimum length of 15″ (381 mm).

3.21 Sail Numbers: A yacht shall have the ability to display sail
numbers and letters of the size carried on the mainsail by an
alternative means when none of the numbered sails is set.

3.24.1 Searchlight: A yacht shall have a watertight, high-powered
searchlight, suitable for searching for a person overboard at
night or for collision avoidance.

3.26 Radar Reflector: A yacht shall have an 11.5″ diameter or
greater octahedral radar reflector or one of equivalent
performance.
3.27 Buckets: A yacht shall carry two (2) stout buckets of at least
two gallons (7.6 liters) capacity, each with a lanyard
attached.

3.28 Safety Gear and Through Hull Diagram: A yacht shall post a
durable, waterproof diagram or chart in the main
accommodation area where it can be seen easily locating the
principal items of safety equipment and through hulls.

 

3.40 Grab Bag(s): A yacht shall have for each life raft a grab bag
with a lanyard and clip. Each grab bag shall have inherent
flotation and be of a bright fluorescent color, and at least
one grab bag shall contain a properly registered 406 MHz
EPIRB and a watertight handheld VHF radio or a handheld
VHF radio with a waterproof cover. The VHF radio and
EPIRB need not be in addition to the other requirements
contained herein.

 

 

THE LIST

OK…time to start making the big list as daunting as that is…

  1. Epirb battery replaced/serviced
  2. locate liferaft and MOM paperwork (or get duplicates)
  3. Apparent Wind Indicator issue? (Send in for service?)
  4. Confirm AIS is transmitting and receiving
  5. Plug Cat cable into KVH and the female butt connector.
  6. Test KVH data connection
  7. Determine how to get Iridium functioning as a backup for voice (and data?)
  8. Determine method for storing Diesel cans on deck for return.
  9. Fix outhaul block/cleat
  10. Acquire old class main and have second reef added
  11. Schedule Inspection (Done…Tuesday after Memorial Day, 6pm at McMichaels) PASSED!
  12. Acquire 6 leg straps for HONAHLEE’s sospender harnesses DONE
  13. Oxalic acid hull and wax
  14. Get cover made for sprit (Jeff measured 5-20-14)
  15. Attempt again to feed NMEA 0813 position from Raymarine to Ockam and VHF
  16. Pipe Berths? Some progress made 6/1/14
  17. Call Brian McCauley to ask about bottom condition
  18. Begin thinking about Newport Logistics, freezer food, diver for last minute clean…etc…
  19. Possible new shackle for outhaul so pin doesn’t wear on boom.
  20. Install two new shackles at masthead for the spin halyards…wire tie!
  21. Get Larchmont, NY hailport onto transom
  22. Tension uppers more, tune rig properly
  23. CLEAN BOAT (Hire John’s son?  Maybe work alongside John’s son and John? SWAT team?)
  24. Check on order for McMurdo S20 units with Landfall/Sea Safety (Some have arrived…others will make in time for Bermuda)
  25. Ask crew to inform me of all details of any PLB’s that will be aboard and rescue “procedure”
  26. Confirm Med Kit with Hank/Bill
  27. Touch up/seal some raw varnish areas?
  28. Purchase ALL NEW FLARES and FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
  29. Fill Diesel for Block Island Race
  30. Hire diver for Newport cleaning?
  31. install Go Pro somewhere
  32. Install Forespar floating strobe
  33. New Lower Rudder bearing installed.
  34. Throughly wash with fresh water the upper rudder bearing.
  35. Repack rudder stuffing box.
  36. Re-install rudder, quadrant, autopilot arm, steering cables re-tightened and greased.
  37. Gather paperwork from inspection and make sure everything properly initialed and reviewed again.
  38. Silicone port side of binnacle wire feed for the SeatalkNG so no water egress on terminal strip below…considering other preventive measures also.
  39. Sharps hunt.  Wire tie shackles everywhere!
  40. Redo bobstay?
  41. Bobstay retainer?
  42. Mount the sidemount XCS0819 for pole out!!!!!!
  43. Install new gasket for seat locker and propane compartment…also lazarette?
  44. Install additional line bags and cup holders.
  45. Boatspeed offset calibration and other calibrations!
  46. STC paperwork for Bill, Carter, Pete, Jon
  47. Emergency water/rations review!!!!
  48. FOOD!!!! confirm the plan…
  49. MEAT Freezer for basement?  Ralph’s Electric!?
  50. Call Tylaska about the pins slipping on some of the T12’s and T10’s on halyards…
  51. Hot knife #1 luff ropes down 6″
  52. Hot knife the tack area of sails previously cut to be above pre-feeder…
  53. Disinfect bilge

 
Rum!
New watch!
Call Newport yachting center to confirm reservations
Dry good shopping
Review thru hull chart

Sat. May 17th – NYAC Stratford Shoal Race

  1. Official Race info: http://yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=1091
  1. H.L. DeVore (Skipper)
  2. Pete Carpenter (Watch Captain)
  3. Dan Fallon (Navigator)
  4. Hank Kosinski
  5. Ryan Zupon (Bow)
  6. Markus Lahrkamp (Watch Captain)
  7. Gerry Canet
  8. Adam Hudson (Bow)
  9. Bill Padin 
  10. Roland Schulz
  11. John Mawe
  12. John Fallon

Bill Slattery (Co-Skipper, Co-Navigator)
John Fallon (Bow)
Steve Csenge (Bow)
Kevin Fallon
Jared Balanoff

Personal Safety Gear Details

Starboard Watch

1) Markus – Harness? – Tether? – PLB? – AIS(y)
2) Bill S. – Harness? – Tether? – PLB? – AIS(y)
3) John F. – Harness? – Tether? – PLB? – AIS(yh5)
4) Gerry C. – Harness? – Tether? – PLB? – AIS(y)
5) Jared B. – Harness? – Tether? – PLB? – AIS(y)
6) Kevin F. – Harness? – Tether? – PLB? – AIS(yh6)

Port Watch

1) Pete C. – Harness(Y) – Tether? – PLB? – AIS(y)
2) H.L. DeVore – Harness(Y) – Tether(Y) – PLB? – AIS(Yh1)
3) Dan F. – Harness? – Tether? – PLB? – AIS(yh4)
4) Steve C. – Harness(Yh) – Tether(Yh) – PLB? – AIS(yh3)
5) Katie DeVore – Harness(Y) – Tether(Y) – PLB? – AIS(Yh2)
6) Hank K. – Harness? – Tether? – PLB? – AIS(y)

 

 

Watches

This is an image so your names are not searchable on the internet FYI…

Watches2

Optimal Course running in Expedition

Prior to running an Optimal Course Expedition needs:

1) Boat Polars
2) A Course
3) Weather and Current Gribs

Here is the Weather settings window showing a GFS (wins) and RTOFS (current Gulf Stream) grib are both loaded, selected and ready for an optimal course to be run:

Optimal Course Weather GRIBS

 

Though…when you first select a GRIB for download via the direct connection mode it automatically loads and you don’t visit this screen.  It may be important to visit this screen to know with certainty what GRIBs are being included in the Optimal Course run…