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PostPosted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 12:20 am 
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Joined: Sat Jun 24, 2006 9:32 pm
Posts: 142
I hear you, brother.

My couple of Catalina trips by powerboat and my reading, online and off, make me want to learn the island and its waters. Compared to Northern California, most of the time Catalina is almost a tropical paradise.

I see this project as a great adventure in learning. I look forward to becoming a better sailor, paddler, pedaler, and ocean voyager. All of those things include learing how to judge myself and the conditions with care, including pressing through to sound judgments about some things that intimidate me like ocean navigation and water conditions.

All of it looks like a great journey to me!


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PostPosted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 3:42 am 
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CGRS edited his original post:

All:

Don had sent me a PM to ask me some questions about ocean safety. He asked me to post my reply on the open forum.

here it is:

Don:

Your Hobie Adventure should float regardless, but if you want extra flotation inside, making it a combo storage bag wont give you the flotation you need should the hull completely breach (unlikely). Pack light and install regular flotation bags fore and aft if you want that back-up.

As a guy who picks up the un-cautious for a living, I can add a few things that most don't think enough of:

(I am putting aside the obvious items like a constant wear PFD, A watertight boat, cold-water protection (not so obvious?) etc.)

1: A very detailed sail/paddle plan..left behind with someone you love / trust.

You want a detailed plan/schedule that includes:

Where you are going....
when you will be where...
when you intend to leave.
Possible bail- out points.
What equipment you have with you.
Your cell phone number (if you are carrying)...

You need to think like a rescuer and write down all the stuff you would want to know if YOU had to go look for yourself. This should all be on a single page, easily faxed to the Coast Guard.

Leave instructions with the person who is watching out for you...WHEN to call the coast guard and WHERE to send it. Already have the fax numbers of the Coast Guard ready for them.

Include a detailed description of your boat, your clothing, You (35 yo White male, 185 lbs etc.)..any medical history...drug allergies..etc.

A detailed and useful float plan is almost always overlooked. We usually get...."My husband wnt out Kayaking and he isn"t back yet!" Us, "Where did he go?" Wife, "on the ocean!"

2. Stick with your plan! Be flexible if you need to....but contact home base with any changes.

3. Stay in touch whenever possible.
Cell phone....vhf radio (a must have safety item) and .... VERY IMPORTANT and worth EVERY PENNY...A 406 (not 121.5) EPIRB in your vest! Worn ALL THE TIME. Yes, I know they are 500 bucks plus. Trust me, when you see the helicopter looking for you but they are too far away to be seen...you will wish you had spent the money.

(note: ALL EPIRBS need the antenna to be OUT of the water to transmit effectively....REGISTER your 406)

If the 20 miles between Catalina and the beach has cell phone coverage. Check in with home every hour. If there are dead spots, You would be better off calling just before you leave with your expected return time. Call as soon as you hit the beach.

If things get dicey but you think you can handle it, DO NOT be afraid to use that radio to call the Coast Guard and ask for a Radio Guard.

"This is Kayak 1, I am half-way between Catalina and the beach in position ## ## ##N by ## ## ##W heading for the ____ Marina....I am not having an emergency but would like to maintain contact with you until I safely arrive."

I would much rather here THAT call, than the one from your wife that you never made it to the marina and she hasn't heard from you for two days. Understand?

4.

Remember...as soon as you are out of your boat and in the water...the water is trying to kill you (and it is very good at it). The FASTER you get out...the better. Float plan alone: 36 hours is fast. Float plan and 406 EPIRB. 2 hours is average given your distance from shore. Your vest should include (at the very least) the EPIRB and (the all time best low-tech secret signalling device made) a flashlight! Waterproof: Pelican lights or the Q40 are my favorite. Point your light at a helicopter and shaking it back and forth is the international signal for "COME LOOK AT ME" to all Coast Guard aircrews.

Another great piece of low tech gear to have with you is a rescue streamer. AWESOME device. I carry one and look for people in the water for a living...nuff said.)

5. Know where you are. A handheld GPS (more money I know) is well worth the investment. (duh?)

Listen, I hope this helps. Its a little long winded and maybe very obvious, but I never find people that are this prepared. Why? They are far too prepared to get into trouble, and usually don't.

Safety at sea is easy....think.

You are doing a circumnav of Catalina. Have fun. But that is WHAT you are doing...it is NOT WHERE you are going.

Where you are going is this:

You are going to surround yourself on all sides by something that will not sustain human life. If you get in it and can't get out, it will slowly kill you (fast if its cold). (that is the ocean).

Remember WHERE you are going first...and then prepare for WHAT you are doing.

Be Safe,

Mario

Not Bad
http://www.opticsplanet.net/pelican-mit ... light.html

The one I carry now: http://www.joediveramerica.com/page/JDA ... ghts/14010

http://www.rescuestreamer.com/

https://gpssignal.com/aquafix_406.htm

These links in no way represent an endorsement from the U.S.C.G. of the above mentioned equipment. Me personally? I love them.

[ September 05, 2006, 01:07 PM: Message edited by: CGRS ]


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 Post subject: Hey D.W.
PostPosted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:42 am 
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Joined: Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:50 pm
Posts: 494
Location: sacramento california
How ya goin D.W.
Sounds like you got all the right stuff to make this trip and are taking all the necessary steps to do it well. I agree it probably is more tropical water than we have up here in nor cal. I checked the Santa Barbara Bouy and the Santa Monica bouy off shore yesterday to see what it was doing out there. The Santa Barbara Bouy was reading 61 degree water temps with a 4.9ft swell at an 8 second period and gusting winds of 19 to 23 knots, not so good for yaks, but this is more north of Catalina and 12 kn mile off shore. When conditions are like this for surfing I call it "wind blown excrement". :x The Santa Monica Bouy #46025 which is closer to Catalina and is located 33kmiles west of Santa Monica was only reading 3.2 ft swells with a 6 second period 8.5 knot winds and water temps of 70.2 degrees. This is much warmer water , with better surface conditions and more managable in a kayak I would imagine. At any rate these NOAA bouys are good resources too check with when needing sea state information within specific zones. They are placed all up and down the west coast and worldwide. When storms push down from up north you can see the Bouys "light" up down our coast like neon signs in advance of oncoming storm surges. The readings get bigger and bigger as the surge heads our direction. For instance: a bouy reading a WNW 16.5 foot swell at a 17 second period would be huge huge surf and a few hours later it might even read 28.3 ft with a 21 second period which would be monster surf :twisted: . Most beaches facing the right direction with the first reading would be really super bad news if having to land a yak on shore. In fact if your were in between the waves closer to shore you would probably not be able to see the horizon from any direction just the back of the one wave and the front of the next one bearing down on you. So learn to keep your eyes on those Bouys to spot trouble's coming your way and to help get an idea of what things are doing out there. 8)
-kepnutz-

ps Any news on the A-Island from CCK yet ? I imagine you called them this week already for updated status :wink:


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 Post subject: Hey D.W.
PostPosted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 4:38 pm 
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Location: sacramento california
Just spoke to CCK and they said no A-Islands shipping in for two more weeks :cry: It could be a little longer than that before we might see one if something else goes off schedule. Thats October......! I usually plan to take a vacation in early October becasue thats when the surf gets bigger :D
-kepnutz-


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 Post subject: Lesson on NOAA buoys?
PostPosted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 6:42 pm 
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Thanks for the NOAA buoy info!

I ran across the Santa Monica NOAA buoy through another site, but I do not know how to look at all the coast buoys. Is there a NOAA site? How about some plain English instructions on how to interpret the readings?

If there is a site for both (no, I have not looked yet) the URL or a hyperlink is all I need.

I have been too busy to call CCK. Will try to do so tomorrow.


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 Post subject: Hey D.W.
PostPosted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 8:10 pm 
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Joined: Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:50 pm
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Location: sacramento california
I spoke with the manager at CCK today and he said two more weeks plus til the A-Islands get in. I was hoping to have at least a look at one this weekend :evil:
Here is the link I use for Buoy Data and I think they have some plain english. Mainly though the buoys are weather stations that give wave height, direction, period, wind speed, water, and air temps and pressure tendencies, This link does our coast and sometimes its off line but its the best one I have found : http://facs.scripps.edu/surf/buoys.html
This one is NOAA and its their buoys were looking at anyway http://www.noaa.gov/
Finally here is a surf site that has so cal forecasts and links : http://www.pacificwaverider.com/

-Kepnutz-


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 Post subject: Wind graphic
PostPosted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 11:40 pm 
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Joined: Sat Jun 24, 2006 9:32 pm
Posts: 142
Thanks to FN:

http://www.intellicast.com/IcastPage/Lo ... dnav=d1_00


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 12:46 pm 
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Joined: Wed Dec 07, 2005 11:04 pm
Posts: 598
Location: Hawaii, Big Island
A couple of items I would add.

1. A pump. I carry one just in case. Stows along the side next to the seat where the scupper hole column is so it doesn't take away from fwd cockpit storage.

2. How prepared are you for fog and/or night ops if somehing keeps you out? I would add:

A. Some sort of metallic radar relector to the top of your mast. Lots of traffic out there.

B. A wearable headlamp if you don't already have one in your camping gear. The red, beam light,and bright 3 way combo is a good one.

C. Reflector tape at various strategic spots including the bottom of your hull and ama(think about it).

3. I paddled the Catalina channel race and about froze on crew change. Never got back in a canoe faster than that race. And I was wearing a light surf jacket. Think over your clothing carefully. You won't really have a problem in daylight sunny hours if you stay dry, but you will get wet to some degree depending on weather.

4. If you have any room left over stuff in some pool noodles.

Wish I was going. Good luck.

Dan

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 Post subject: Thanks AD
PostPosted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 3:24 pm 
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My gear list keeps geting bigger - and better; my budget a bit strained. But I will not go without most of the stuff suggested, even if it means delaying the trip until 2007.

My buddy in the powerboat / mothership and a daylight crossing are important parts of the plan. I am hoping to get a few more experienced folk to join in the actual trip, or at least parts of it.

I appreciate all the posts from those who have been there.

Thanks.


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 Post subject: good one
PostPosted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 7:21 pm 
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Location: sacramento california
A good looking wind forecast/real time site for Catalina and beyond 8) http://www.sailflow.com/windandwhere.iws?regionID=129&siteID=571&Isection=Forecast+Graphs
- kepnutz-


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 Post subject: Nice tip on wind site
PostPosted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 9:51 pm 
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Thanks for the wind site tip. Here's another one to check:

http://www.intellicast.com/IcastPage/Lo ... dnav=d1_00


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:40 am 
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Joined: Fri Nov 19, 2004 6:56 am
Posts: 822
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Hey Don,
Awesome trip planned! Having made the crossing a couple of times myself by both sail (in a schooner) and powerboat, I have a question. It is about 26 miles from Newport to Avalon--that is a fur piece to make in a single day in a yak, especially if the wind/swells are not cooperating. What is your (Plan A) estimated time of crossing if all goes well, and (Plan B) your estimated crossing time if it does not go well? Are you planning on paddling/sailing/pedaling at night (all night??) if you get caught out?

Personally, I would not like to be caught out in the Channel at night, especially if the swells/weather turns nasty. In my newbie ignorance, it seems like you might have two excursions here. The first shakedown-type cruise might be to, say, Avalon or the Isthmus, from Newport and back again, taking a couple of days, and staying over at Catalina. The second trip then would be to mothership the yaks to Catalina, and then to circumnavigate the island, say Avalon to Avalon for the second trip. Just wondering?
Best,
Dick

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PostPosted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:04 am 
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Apalach, great questions, here is the plan so far:

1. Get AI, rig, test sail close to home in NorCal. Apparently boat to be delivered in October.

2. Outfit for touring and camping.

3. Test sails out of Newport, just heading out and back; to Long Beach and back, etc. Powerboat mothership along. Re-rig and re-plan as experience dictates.

4. Power boat to Catalina and power boat circumnavigate for close-up scouting. Re-rig and re-plan as experience dictates.


5. Crossing by sail with powerboat escort, prepared to either turn around and cross back the next day, including just putting the 'yak on the powerboat, or sail around the island (or as much as time, conditions, and resources allow). Perhaps "camping" on the power boat. Hopefully with another AI or two as a "fleet."

6. Re-rig and re-plan as experience dictates. Eventually, fleet sail without powerboat but with powerboat on standby just in case.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 12:07 pm 
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Location: Tallahassee, FL
Don,
Sounds good--both advance planning and flexibility--WTG! I'm assuming you're leaving Crew at home for this excursion? :D

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 Post subject: Crew to Catalina?
PostPosted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 11:29 pm 
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In Captain's absence I wanted to pose the question Apalach raised, would Crew (aka darn cat) go on the Catalina circumnavigation? Because I lacked security clearance, I was forced to wait in the front hall of the base and hope to catch Crew in passing.

Problem: Crew apparently has a thing about doors.

First, Crew never opens or closes a door. Perhaps understandable given crew physiology, but still it meant I could never catch Crew at the door for a brief word.

If the door was opening or closing, Crew would race at it full tilt and eel his body through the narrowest conceivable space at the first or last possible moment. It was always startling and caught me by surprise. I don't know how Crew timed it so precisely each time and can only guess it has something to do with cat-fu training.

If the door was standing open, Crew would sidle up, look through from one side, stroll away as if changing his mind, stop, look back, patrol across the opening a couple times, inspect one side and then the other, sniffing at something un-guessable, wag and wave his tail for no apparent reason (perhaps a military signal of some kind), then just when I gave up on trying to time my approach to him, Crew would idle slowly through without apparent purpose as if his entry or exit was an inadvertent afterthought. Until I approached or called his name, when he would rocket off on some presumably high priority secret mission.

On reflection it seems to me these behaviors are studied and precise techniques used by Crew to deal with anyone trying to pin him down. I know it worked on me, I failed in my mission, sorry Apalach.


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