The Mainsheet - April
COMMODORE’S COMMENTS
Fellow Members, I am pleased to announce that our membership is at its highest level since 2015. This is an incredible display of loyalty and a testament to the vibrant spirit of our club. My gratitude goes out to all returning and new members. We appreciate you!
Big thanks to our OD Dinner Hosts for January: Jolene Darland, Mack and Renee, and Todd and Sarah Turner. I am sure I can speak on behalf of all who attended that the food was beyond expectations. Also a big thanks to Dan Decesare for being our gracious food server for the St Patrick's Day Dinner. April 2nd marks the introduction of First Fridays, an Open House Event. The night will begin at 5pm for drinks and snacks at the club. At 6pm invited guests will be taken out for a sunset harbor cruise on club boat Piper from the public guest dock. Afterwards we will enjoy dinner at our clubhouse, delivered by our neighboring restaurants. I look forward to your participation at the Open House, making our guests feel welcome and helping answer their questions about membership opportunities.
Beginning on April 2nd (and every Friday thereafter) our bar will be open at 5pm for drinks. Dinner delivery/pickup is available at neighboring restaurants. Members and guests are encouraged to arrive at the club via dinghy or electric boat. After dinner, we can depart on a moonlight harbor cruise. Others can stay at the club and enjoy music and cocktails
Last and certainly not least is our Opening Day Festivities. This year the parade will begin at 10am in the middle of the main channel. Our clubhouse will open at 11am where we will enjoy a continental style breakfast, mimosas and all the great ceremonial traditions...including the firing of the cannon! On behalf of the Bridge & Board, we look forward to seeing you on the water and at the clubhouse. Make sure to bring your favorite baked goods to share.
I look forward to opening the 2021 yachting season with you all!
AYC Commodore: Eric Swartz
Club Dinners plus Cruising and Social Events beginning April 1st:
APRIL CLUB DINNERS (please RSVP)
April 3: Easter Weekend - Hosted by Joleen Darland
April 10: Dinner Delivery (Neighboring Restaurants)
April 11: Opening Day - All members in attendance to bring baked goods (individually wrapped)
April 17: Hosted by Mike & Cheri Taylor
“We have had a fantastic turnout on the dinners this past month, the 13th was Sarah and Todd with homemade pasta spaghetti. For the St Patrick's Day dinner and the traditional food was great. Then on the 27th was Chris made a delicious jambalaya. Now that the weather is nicer we're able to have tables outside comfortably, but also we can be in the club according to covid rules.”
Bar Manager: Joleen Darlan
UP COMING RACING EVENTS
Welcome to the beginning of AYCs Wet Wednesdays. This year promises to be a great year on the water for AYC as the premier racing yacht club. Please mark the following dates on your calendar, also visit the AYC Race Calendar.
April 7 - First Wet Wednesday for 2021
April 14, 21, & 28 - more Wet Wednesday races
April 11- 2021 AYC Opening Day
April 17 - 2021 Anacapa Any Way Race, around Anacapa Island. Check for N.O.R.
Newly added Class “D” is for new racers to hone their skills. See AYC website “Racing” for more.
Reminder: A.Y.C. Wet Wednesday racers must have current PHRF certification to officially place and be considered for end of year recognition. Boats without current PHRF Certs. are encouraged to race and will be given a provisional rating by AYC Race Committee. See you at the start line !
RACE COMMITTEE REPORT
For the month of March, there has been a race every weekend. (like the old days) PBYC had the Spring Series # 3 on the 13th and as we were leaving the CI Harbor the wind went from 6 - 8 kts to 15 - 18 kts within ten minutes, prompting the majority of the boats to turn back. Stampede being in 2nd place and Jedi in 1st place for the spin B fleet held out the longest before it was clear that the weather was not going to let up. The race was postponed for a later date ( 3-27-21 ). On Saturday, the 20th AYC held our traditional Saint Patrick's day race, the weather was predicted to build in the afternoon, so it was decided to keep the racers close to shore. They started at Mandalay, rounded Gina , then Port Hueneme buoy, back to Wes mark and finished in the CI harbor. The results for the spin fleet were Magic Dragon first place, Predator 2nd place, No Comp 3rd place and Paradise Found in 4th place. The results for the non spin fleet were Wild Horses in first place and Serendipity in 2nd place. The feedback from the racers was encouraging and supportive. We had a great turnout for our dinner, big thanks to Mack and Renee for their delicious dinner. The month is finished with the 3-27-21 make-up for the spring series (PBYC) is the OA. Then we move into April with our very own Wet Wednesday races starting on 4-7-21 NOR's and SI's are posted on our website. Thanks!
AYC Jr Staff Commodore & Racing Chair: Todd Turner
CRUISE TO SMUGGLERS
First of the Season Cruise Smugglers Cove, March 27/28
It was one of those spring days, bright sunshine, no clouds, wind 5 to 8 knots NW. We cleared CI breakwater at 10:00 AM and headed to arch rock on Anacapa Island on a close reach, hundreds of dolphins no whales. Motor sailed up the back side of Anacapa and across the channel into Smugglers and anchored in 25 feet south of the coast guard buoy.
The anchorage was a millpond, no wind, warm and sunny. We enjoyed the scenery, did a little fishing and toured around in the dingy. A full moon rose at dusk over Anacapa Island and was an inspiring sight. At 7 PM a sundowner came up and blew down the canyon till about 9, was good test for the anchor and gear, quiet the rest of the night. The morning brought more sunshine, and looking across the channel you could see oil rig Grace, the main land mountains and maybe Gina if you used binoculars. It was very clear with the promise of some wind.
The wind did not disappoint, we came home on a broad reach full sail, main, yankee and staysail averaging 5.8 knots on a smooth sea. We entered the harbor about 3:30, it was the lowest tide I think I have ever seen.
It was an enjoyable sail, thanks to everybody we met, hope to see you again next time. Michael Gram, Cruising Chair AYC. aboard SV Compass Rose . See AYC website under Cruising for more upcoming events.
DID YOU KNOW?
If You find yourself in Hot Water, Ready to leave the dock, fuel checked, battery good, and oil topped off. You’ve left the dock and moving down the harbor, checking the engine instruments you notice the water temperature is rising, you obviously have a cooling problem what should you do? The following are suggestions to try if you choose, there is always “Tow Boats US” Ch. 16. If your boat is equipped with only indicator lights you should really consider gauges. If your cooling light goes on it means it’s probably too late and you may have damaged your engine. After you turn on the ignition switch and before you crank the engine all the lights should go on as a test and off after the engine starts. Idle the engine down to minimum RPMs and try to get to the nearest dock. If the temperature goes above 210 degrees shut it down and anchor, always your best insurance. Overheating the engine will warp the engine head and blow the head gasket. If that is the case, a check of the oil will reveal a white milky liquid. If it is Looks normal after the engine has cooled a little, restart and check for water flow out of the overboard exhaust. If there is minimal or none shut the engine down and follow these suggestions.
1) Make sure the engine through hull valve is open ( the valve handle should be parallel to the fitting and is located on the inside of the hull close to the engine) be careful if there is a 90 degree fitting in the line as it may make it confusing.
2) Recheck cooling water level in opaque white overflow container.
3) Check the seawater filter, it will be between the through hull valve and the engine. It will need to de cleaned. It consists of a fine metal mesh basket inside a usually clear glass or plastic container, it screws together. Don’t forget to turn off the through hull valve before opening and cleaning out the water filter, then back on.
4) Last and most challenging task. The water strainer located on the outside of the hull below the water line may be clogged usually due to inadequate or no hull cleaning / maintenance of the strainer. You will need to remove the hose from the through hull valve, make sure your bilge pump is operable, turn the intake valve to the closed position 90 degrees to the flow. Unscrew the hose clamp and remove the hose from the end of the fitting. Place the palm of your hand over the valve end and turn open the valve. Slowly remove your palm, the water should gush out like a garden hose, of it doesn’t it’s clogged. Push a long enough screwdriver down through the pipe in a circular motion, if it is, plugged junk should flow out followed by strong water flow. Turn off the valve, replace the hose, retighten the clamp, reopen the valve and restart the engine and monitor the temperature. Don’t try this one unless you feel competent, there is a definite “pucker factor”.
This information is provided through my research on the subject and my hope to pass on valuable information I have learned, most of it the hard way. Boat maintenance is solely the responsibility of the boat owner / skipper and this information should be used only as a guide. Safe boating!
AYC Cruising Chair: Michael Gram
PIPER UPDATE
Care on Piper included rewiring the charging system and the installation of the charge relay and new battery switch. This was to simplify the operation of the electrical system to make it easier for members to use the boat. We installed a new battery dedicated to starting the engine and removed two dead house batteries. It was a big project and turned out great. Big thanks to Dominic and Gavin for the help.
Piper was used as the committee boat to start a race, and all went well. Thanks!
AYC Director: Jeff Birdt
MEMBERSHIP
Thanks you for all the Membership Renewals! If you’ve not seen your’s in the mail please contact the club treasurer at your earliest convenience.
CLUB ENTRY
The club re-keying has now taken place and a new key code system is in use. You are asked to provide us with your 4 digit combination of choice, so your code can be activated. Care is being taken to assure that this change to a more secure electronic entry is a seamless transition.
PHOTOS
IF YOU WOULD LIKE A PICTURE OF YOUR BOAT’S MAINSHEET( OR A PHOTO OF ONE, YOU TOOK) FEATURED ON THE NEXT PUBLICATION OF THE MAINSHEET PLEASE SEND IT IN AN EMAIL TO photos@anacapayachtclub.org. THE CHOSEN PICS WILL BE GIVEN CREDIT. WE’D LOVE TO SHOW OFF YOUR CREATIVITY.
