March 2007 - Fairwind Yacht Club

COME CELEBRATE OPENING DAY
SATURDAY, MARCH 17!
Marina Venice Yacht Club’s Opening day ceremony
will take place on Saturday, March 17 at 2 pm.
Fairwind’s “Club of the Year” award will be represented
by an SCYA officer at that ceremony. All
Fairwind members are invited to attend.
That same morning at 9 am at Santa Monica
Windjammers Yacht Club I will be leading the Opening
Day ceremonies. As this year’s Commodore of SMWYC
I hereby invite all Fairwind members to come and
celebrate with me!
Does one need to wear traditional YC attire (blue
blazers, white shirt, shoes and pants/skirts, etc.) at an
Opening Day? If you are an officer of a visiting club,
yes. If you are not, smart casual is fine. So are Hawaiian
shirts.
The events are free. Refreshments will be served and
are usually pretty yummy!
Please come and celebrate!
SMWYC MEMBERSHIP
FAIRWIND YACHT CLUB
NEWSLETTER
March 2007 Editor: Robert Baron Vol. 35 No. 3
COMMODORE’S
LOG
I want to remind Fairwind members that you have the
opportunity to belong to SMWYC at half price and no
initiation. This is the result of a reciprocal agreement
that allows SMWYC members to join FYC for half price.
SMWYC offers strong social, racing, educational and
cruising programs.
Why might you consider joining SMWYC? I like to
think that Fairwind is a wonderful club to go to get on a
FYC MEETING MARCH 21
On Wednesday, March 21, the Fairwind Yacht
Club Board of Directors and General Meeting will
meet at the Marina Venice Yacht Club (MVYC)
located at 4333 Admiralty Way located in the
Marina City Club’s West Tower in Marina del Rey.
The Board meeting will start at 6:30 pm. The
General meeting will begin at 8 pm. All members
are invited to attend.
To attend the meeting enter Marina City Club’s
main gate. Tell the guard that you are going to the
yacht club. The guard will give you a parking pass
and a map.
Once parked, go to the West Tower. Take the
elevator or stairs up to the G2 level.
boat. SMWYC is a great club to go to when you get off
the boat!
NEWPORT ENSENADA SEMINAR
MARCH 22
Ever wanted to know more about the Newport
Ensenada Race? The Newport Offshore Racing
Association, who hosts the race, is holding a seminar at
SMWYC on Thursday, March 22, 7 pm at Santa Monica
Windjammers Yacht Club. The event is free and open to
the public.
SAILING & SAFETY SEMINAR APR. 4:
SKIPPER OF SUNK BOAT TO SPEAK
ASMBYC’s Third Annual Sailing & Safety seminar will
take place at Cal Yacht Club on Wednesday, April 4 at 7
pm. A highlight of this year’s seminar will be Nick
Barran, the skipper whose boat was sunk by a sperm

whale on “Lessons Learned: What to Do if Must
Evacuate a Yacht.” The program also provides
information about required safety equipment, MOB
return methods and a round table with the local
rescuing agencies; Lifeguards, Harbormaster and Coast
Guards. Fairwind plays a leading role in this awardwinning
program. I need volunteers to help out. Please
email me at dlumian@aol.com if you can help.
BBQ SATURDAY, APRIL 7 AFTER
WORKDAY
Following the first Saturday workday/open house/free
sail on April 7 there will be a $5 BBQ at the Marina
Venice Yacht Club. It will run from 4 pm to 7 pm and
feature hamburgers, hot dogs, salad, etc. Let’s party!
AFTER SCHOOL SAILING NEEDS
VOLUNTEERS
The FYC Junior sailing program resumed after the
holidays. Members of the Boys and Girls Club of
Venice will be sailing on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and
Thursdays after school. This program is volunteer run
and needs help. Please contact Captain Adam Colson at
adam_colson@yahoo.com.
EMAIL LIST
We have most members on an email list. This will allow
the Club to send you updates and news between
newsletters. If you are not receiving emails, please
email Jenson Crawford at fleetcaptain@fairwind.org.
MAXIMIZING LEARNING
EFFICIENCY
Ken Murray, Sailing Instructor
I just recently completed checking out on the entire
small and mid-sized boat fleets, and as I worked
through the boats as an instructor, I noticed the way
that other instructors and students have approached
learning.
What I have observed, is that there are some things that
really accelerate the learning process, and some of our
Club members have made a real science out of this.
DRY SAILINGCapt. John Wintrode uses a technique
some call “dry sailing” while learning a boat. What he
does is go onto the boat and run through the checklist
and operations of the boat, including raising and
Page 2
lowering the sails, while docked. He runs through
every operation that one does under sail, without
loosening the dock lines. Even if the boat is not moving,
he visualizes the Crew Overboard sequence of “Beam
reach, come about to a Broad Reach, up to a Close
Reach,” which wires the sequence and the timing of the
sequence. After the first lesson on a boat, there is no
reason that you cannot spend as much time as you
want Dry Sailing a boat. For example, the mainsail on
the Catalina 270 (Zephyr) folds down in a different
manner than most of the rest of the boats. Once you
understand how it works, it is actually very easy to fold
this sail on the boom, by yourself. Until you work
through it, you will be fighting the sails to lie cleanly.
There is no reason that you cannot learn this on your
own, doing Dry Sailing! In a couple of hours, running
through the boat-specific training list, and the boat log
for that boat, you can learn every adjustment of the
boat, every maneuver of the boat, where everything on
the training list is located, and how to set up, and take
down, the boat. The next time you go out with an
instructor, you will tremendously accelerate the
process!
RUNNING THE SYSTEMSInstructor John
Stephenson has a great way of evaluating a boat that he
is learning. First, he opens every drawer, every cabinet,
every box, every compartment… to see what is in it.
Many students stick to the checklist, but do not look
everywhere. To really master a boat, you need to know
everything about it, not just the minimum to take it out.
On the midsize boats, I observed John use an
interesting technique, where he “runs the systems.” For
example, following the path of electricity as it would
run along the boat… from the batteries, to the Perko, to
the engine, to the various end functions. Likewise,
running the plumbing systems, and the fuel systems.
This really acquaints one with the way a system is set
up.
ONCE YOU’VE CHECKED OUT
ON A BOAT:
By Ken Murray, Sailing Instructor
Finally, you’ve checked out on your first boat, or on
that next boat in the line of boats of your dreams…
what next??
Here at Fairwind, we take you through a
comprehensive training program, designed to test you
in all facets of a boat’s operation. However, we are not
making sure you are an expert on that boat, simply safe

to sail that boat. Once you’ve checked out on the boat,
you really need to take the boat out and do some
sailing! It is tremendously different to sail a boat on
your own, rather than do so under the watchful eye of
an instructor (not to mention a heck of a lot less
stressful!) I see people check out on one boat, then run
to start their training on the next boat. While there are
exceptions, generally, this is not the best idea. Since
different, even similar, boats operate in very different
ways, starting on another boat will really introduce
some confusion in boat operations. I would advocate
that you really want to gain mastery of the first boat,
which simply requires some time on the boat. If,
instead of “getting through” a Crew Overboard
scenario, you really can do it with grace and
proficiency, you will find it much easier to do on any
other boat!
People often ask, “How can I give back to the Club?”
And here is one very useful way: now that you have
gotten checked out on the boat, use the boat, but list the
reservation as a “crew wanted” sail if you have extra
room on the boat, opening it up to some other Club
members who can’t yet skipper. You may get some
people who are quite experienced, or you may have
some people relatively new to sailing. If you get
someone junior to you in experience, answer any
questions they have, as best as you are able. In reality,
this is the way that most people actually learn how to
sail. All of us who have some experience on the water,
have something to contribute to those less experienced,
and that is the beauty of Community Sailing!
CRUISING STARTS THIS
MONTH!
Ken Murray, Cruise Chair
We start our cruising program this month, with our
Whale Watches out of MDR, and for the first time, out
of Oxnard!
Fairwind has an active cruising program that consists
of sailing to a defined destination, sometimes for the
day, and sometimes overnite. Also, we do whale watch
trips to observe our large friends! This is a great way to
meet other members, and to learn the boats at a more
intimate level. Also, you may bring guests that are not
Fairwind members, at the same membership price! The
2007 schedule is below (as well as on the Club
Calendar). Skippers please note that the first three do
(Continued on page 4)
FOUND!!!
Someone left a GPS aboard the MKIII, might have
been there since the King Harbor Dinner Cruise. It
works, and seems fairly new. Also someone left a
Kodak camera aboard the Hunter "Collective
Effort." To identify and claim these items please
contact Rear Commodore Susan Bonner (310) 559-
7419.
VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH
Marty Epstein has won the first of the new "Volunteer
of the Month" awards for his outstanding participation
in the Fairwind Jr. Sailors program, in conjunction with
the Boys & Girls Club of Venice and the L.A. Co.
Sheriff's Dept. During this school year, Marty has
volunteered many times for the after-school sailing
program at Burton Chace Park. He is very patient and
nurturing with the children, who are ages 7–12 years
old. He demonstrates a genuine concern for the their
safety and comfort. He has been conscientious about
scheduling himself, and he has shown commitment to
the program by driving long distances to help. Thanks
so much for all you do, Marty. The after-school sailing
program happens on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and
Thursdays, 3:15--4:45 PM. To volunteer or get
information, please contact Capt. Adam Colson, (310)
826-9699, adam_colson@yahoo.com
Page 3

not require a cruise checkout to skipper a boat on the
trip! On the overnite trips, we will try to make it a
cruise checkout, as well. One thing new for 2007: On
June 29 th ,we will have our first “Kid’s Cruise” to
Catalina, designed for Fairwind families that have kids.
March 10 Whale Watch (MDR)
March 11 Whale Watch (Oxnard)
April 15 King Harbor Brunch
May 11–13 Paradise Cove (start both MDR/
Oxnard)
June 8–10 Avalon Harbor
June 29–July 1 Kid's Cruise to Isthmus
July 13–15 Isthmus
July 27–29 Nick Rendezvous (preliminary date)
(Oxnard)
August 10–12 Santa Cruz Island (Oxnard)
Sept 9 King Harbor Dinner
Please consider signing up, people are doing so,
already! We charge $5/pp for the day cruises, and $20
for the overnites, to cover the boat/fuel costs. On the
overnites, the food is bought/decided by the
participants. If you would like to crew or skipper any of
these, PLEASE contact me as soon as you can commit,
so we can arrange the boats appropriately. There has
been a problem with e-mail going through the
Cruisechair@fairwind.org address, so please contact me
directly at: kmurray@pol.net
WHALES TAKE OFF!
This year’s whale watches start on March 10, out of
Marina del Rey, and we have both Island Side, and the
Mark III going, with lots of room remaining! Also this
year, we are adding another whale watch on March
11th, out of Oxnard, on our deepwater 40-foot cruising
yacht, Angelsea. We also have lots of room on that boat.
For only $5 to cover fuel, as we chase the giants of the
sea all over, it is a great way to see the ocean! If you
would like to go, please e-mail me at kmurray@pol.net,
or call my number in the member roster.
BOAT RESERVATION SHEETS
A volunteer prints, delivers and files the Boat
Reservation Sheets every week. On rare occasion, they
were only printed and delivered, but at least they got to
the dock box. Thanks in advance for the courtesy to
all other members that you file them into the binder.
Also there is a three-hole punch in the bottom of the
main dock box. Peter Griswold
Page 4
MIDWINTER REGATTA.
Photos from the Hobie Wave class. The races were
hosted by Fairwind YC in Marina del Rey.
Dave at the Midwinter race on a Hobie Wave.

TRUE CONFESSIONS:
THE SECRET OF WHY MARGARET’S SO
POPULAR WITH LOCAL SAILORS…
I’ve gotten 2 or 3 calls a day recently from my Fairwind
friends and other local sailing buddies. Why? Because I
live right on the harbor next door to the MdR Coast
Guard station, and took a marine weather forecasting
class last Fall. Friends who live in other areas call me to
see what the conditions are like before they decide to
make the long drive here to go sailing. “Is the MdR
Coast Guard station flying the small craft warning
flag?” some ask, knowing that they’ll be limited to
sailing in the harbor if it is. Others ask, “Do you think it
will rain this afternoon there?” to decide if they should
pack foulies. Some wonder, “How’s the wind?”
I love to feel useful. So I pause for a moment, then
report “Yep, the red flag’s up,” or “It’s raining now, but
looks like it will clear up in an hour or two,” or “Wow,
there’s a NE wind gusting well over 20 knots.” My
friends thank me, imagining that I’ve been pondering
cloud formations and flagpoles outside my window.
Here’s my secret: usually the only window I use to
answer their questions is the Microsoft kind. For casual
local day-sails, three websites give all the weather
information a sailor needs in fairly clear, concise
formats. The first is Accuweather for Marina del Rey
for rain and temperature predictions. The other two
are:
http://www.watchthewater.org/ Select ‘Marina del
Rey’. On the right hand side of the screen is a webcam
you control with arrow keys. Turn the webcam towards
the flag pole to see if the small craft flag is flying, as it is
in the above picture:
This site also gives other useful information for
planning your sail, such as what time the sun sets,
tides, and surf height. When the small craft flag is
flying during beautiful, calm conditions (like the
picture above), optimistic sailors sometimes dismiss it
only to be knocked on their beam ends by wind or
waves a couple of hours later. Remember it may be
flying for forecasted conditions, not just current
conditions. Many marine insurance policies (including
Fairwind’s I understand) state that they won’t cover
damage incurred when a small craft warning is in
effect, regardless of the cause.
http://marinaaquaticcenter.org/weather/
MAC_Conditions.htm The UCLA Marine Aquatic
Center is everyone’s favorite for current wind
information, including average speed, high wind speed
(gusts) and wind direction:
Now that I’ve shared my secret, I hope that my sailor
friends will still call me once in a while… and invite me
to go sailing!
Page 5

FAIRWIND YACHT CLUB
Robert Baron, Editor
1425 Stanford St., No. 3
Santa Monica, CA 90404
CALENDAR
Sunday, Mar. 18, 2007 Oxnard Workday / Club Sail Day 9:00 AM Channel Islands Yacht Club
4100 S. Harbor Blvd
Oxnard, CA 93035
Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2007 Board meeting 6:30 PM,
General meeting 8:00 PM
Association of Santa
Monica Bay
Yacht Clubs
FAIRWIND NEWSLETTER
Mar. 2007 Vol. 35 No. 3
Visit our Web site: www.Fairwind.org
Marina Venice Yacht Club
4333 Admiralty Way, MdR
Thursday, Mar. 22, 2007 Newport Ensenada Seminar Santa Monica Windjammers Yacht
Club, 7:00 PM
Thursday, Mar. 29, 2007 Racing Rules 102 Seminar SMWYC Santa Monica Windjammers Yacht
Club
Wednesday, Apr..4:, 2007 Sailing & Safety Seminar Cal Yacht Club, 7:00PM
Saturday Apr. 7, 2007 Workday / Club SaiMdR l Day MdR Dockside 9:00 AM till ???
Saturday Apr. 7, 2007 BBQ Saturday, After Workday Marina Venice Yacht Club 4–7 PM
Wednesday, Apr. 11, 2007 Sunset Series Racing Seminar Cal Yacht Club
Sunday, Apr. 15, 2007 Oxnard Workday / Club Sail Day 9:00 AM Channel Islands Yacht Club
4100 S. Harbor Blvd
Oxnard, CA 93035
Sunday, Apr. 15, 2007 King Harbor Brunch MdR Dockside
California Clean
Boating Network