Sailing

Sail Away with Westwind Sailing School

By: KATHERINE M. CLEMENTS

DANA POINT— Southern California loves sailing. Maybe it’s the perfect weather, or perhaps it’s the various desirable destinations. Whichever it is, Californians love sailing.

Located in the Dana Point harbor is Westwind Sailing school. Westwind Sailing was opened in 1987 by Diane Wenzel to provide public access to boating and safety instructions in South Orange County.

“Initially, it was just a few adult courses at the county park (OC Sailing and Events Center),” said Wenzel in an email from Sept. 21. “Today, Westwind is a highly acclaimed and award-winning sailing school.”

The Center is built on California Tidelands and is specifically dedicated to public access to community sailing, boating, and recreation. Westwind is a certified US Sailing Community Boating Center with instructors who hold US Sailing Level 1 certification.

Today, Westwind Sailing offers courses in adult sailing, family sailing, kids sailing camps, adaptive sailing, oneday introductory sailing courses, private lessons, special group programs, after-school sailing, sail and science courses, exploratory boating courses, paddleboarding classes, kayak lessons, and day camps.

The courses run throughout the entire year. In addition, after-school sailing and boating classes are offered in the fall and spring to match school schedules, adults sailing is every weekend, adult, and junior sailing clubs, and paddleboarding rentals are available daily. Courses are done both one-on-one and in groups.

“Beginner courses are typically 14 hours, four days [a week], three and a half hours per day,” said Wenzel. “Typical day: Land time with theory presentations. Then land drills on the dock— demos on the water. And then practice with students in sailboats and instructors in motorized safety boats.”

For someone who has never sailed a day in their life, Westwind Sailing’s introductory sailing course is a one-day course that is two and a half hours long. Students learn basic sailing skills on land and then practice on the water. The course is inexpensive and doesn’t require a long-term commitment.

“We also offer interactive sail rides, which can be booked by appointment for an hour,” said Wenzel. “Rides are instructor-led. Passengers may work the tiller and sheet as conditions allow.”

Westwind Sailing does more than teach; they also get involved with the community. Each year they host The Cardboard Class/ Dinghy Dash during the Festival of Whales, where competitors construct a vessel made only of cardboard and duct tape and race around Baby Beach. In addition, they host the annual Aquafest along with the Dana Point Aquatic Foundation to usher in National Safe Boating Week, a free festival in the Dana Point Harbor. Lastly, they are heavily involved with Stand-Up To Trash and host California Coastal Cleanup Days, where they gather the community to clean up the beaches.

Westwind Sailing offers private and semi-private lessons for individuals who need to refresh their sailing skills or whose personal schedule doesn’t allow participation in regular scheduled courses.

Each year, Westwind Sailing hosts the Cardboard Classic/ Dinghy Dash at The Festival of Whales, an event this is fun-filled, family-oriented, and includes a cardboard boat building contest and race. Westwind Sailing offers dockside instruction for paddleboard and kayak use.

Off-Season Sailboat Maintenance and Storage Suggestions with Dockside Yacht Care

By: KATHERINE M. CLEMENTS

Ahoy sailors, skipping the step of winterizing your boat before the off-season could do more damage than leaving it out, from not replacing old oil to letting water sit in the chambers. Winterizing is essential even if the weather doesn’t get cold. The length of time that the boat is sitting unused is the killer. With the help of Bob Cacciarelli, the owner of Dockside Yacht Care, here are preventative maintenance tips for taking care of your boat while not using it so that there is less work for you when summer comes around! Stay tuned for next week when we further discuss propeller maintenance.

Long Term Sailboat Storage and Maintenance suggestions provided by Bob Cacciarelli, Owner of Dockside Yacht Care:

Prep the Engine

The engine is a very important part of your boat, let alone any machine. That makes it especially important to inspect for maintenance requirements during the off-season. Begin your inspection by checking the oil level in your vessel.

According to Bob Cacciarelli, owner of Dockside Yacht Care, for long-term boat storage, you should fill up the gas tank to prevent water vapors from entering, then add a fuel stabilizer to the tank to prevent degradation of your fuel.

It’s best to change your oil every 50100 running hours. You should run the engine to warm it up during the oilchange process; this helps drain the oil. You should also check for leaks and repeatedly inspect the oil levels between oil changes to confirm you’re not running low.

Interior

Dockside Yacht Care suggests that if you are storing your boat outdoors, you’ll need to protect your vinyl from cracking with a vinyl cleaner/protector • Make sure your cover is well-vented to prevent trapped moisture from causing mold or mildew. This is an extremely common issue with winterizing for first-time boat owners. • Remove everything you can from the boat, such as personal floatation devices, flares, fire extinguishers, etc.

This includes electrical components like radios, etc. • Wash your carpets and deck. • If you live in a particularly humid area, use a commercial moisture absorption product like Damp Rid.

Hull

Fiberglass hulls can split and crack, causing leaks if the boat is not covered correctly. Here are suggestions from Dockside Yacht Care: • First, look for stress cracks and blisters in the fiberglass gelcoat.

These should be addressed before putting on the cover. • Barnacles and residue should be scraped and/or pressure washed off the hull. • To cover your boat, find a polytarp or polyvinyl cover. You might look for one to fit your exact model to ensure hull integrity and prevent mildew.

This is usually better than a standard cover that doesn’t fit perfectly. • Do not wrap your boat in plastic unless advised to do so by your marina or boatyard, as this type of cover is more prone to mold and mildew.

Battery

According to Dockside Yacht Care, if you are storing a boat in water, leave the battery on board so the bilge pump can continue functioning. If you are storing out of the water, disconnect the battery and keep it at home or in your unit on a battery charger.

Bilges

Dockside Yacht Care suggests you use a wire brush to clean up any oil spills, then spray with a lubricant.

Trailer Tires

According to Dockside Yacht Care, if you are storing a boat on a trailer, be sure that your trailer tires and hubs are in good condition and are not damaged. If you are storing in grass or a storage unit, use wood blocks to keep the rubber off the ground.

Storing Your Boat Securely

As you can see, preparations for storing a boat can be time-consuming and laborious. But Dockside Yacht Care believes it’s worth protecting your prized investment to keep your boat safe and happy year-round.

Other Suggestions:

Clean Up Your Boat

Thoroughly clean your boat inside and outside before putting it away in winter storage. Everything from the hull, propellers, and shafts to interior drawers, cabinets, and upholstery should be checked and washed.

Before cleaning, remove items from the boat, such as electronics, flares, and fire extinguishers. Cabinets and drawers should be emptied and wiped out. Remove cushions and store them in a climate-controlled location if possible. Otherwise, turn the cushions on their sides to allow for more airflow.

Depending on your winter climate, you may need to take measures to limit moisture within the boat while it’s not being used. Installing a dehumidifier or using desiccating products can help maintain the moisture levels inside your boat.

The exterior of your boat also needs to be cleaned as well. First, pressure wash the hull to remove dirt and other residues accumulated over the previous months. For soft surfaces like Bimini tops or vinyl windows, make sure to use the manufacturer-specified cleaning process to keep them in top condition. Next, inspect the rudders, propellers, shafts, and other exterior surfaces for barnacles, and make sure they are removed.

Propeller Maintenance

Propeller maintenance is easier for boat owners who use dry dock storage in the off-season, meaning your boat is kept in any storage that is not a wet slip. With the boat out of the water, you’ll be able to check for any necessary maintenance. Check for routine repairs like bad bearings, corroded zinc anodes, or leaky seals. These repairs can be made while the boat is in the water but are much easier during the off-season at a dry dock.

Check your propeller carefully for any signs of damage. If any is found, you’ll have time to decide whether to repair or replace the prop. Check the blades for dents or breaks; if you find any, consider past performance before deciding. If the boat already had lousy fuel mileage and poor performance, it’s likely time to replace the propeller.

Many boaters store in bodies of saltwater. But saltwater can be corrosive for propellers, causing the metal to appear pitted. It causes the alloy to leave the metal in small amounts. The saltwater will begin to transfer electrolytes, pulling the less noble metal from the alloy material. Suppose your propeller’s anodic protections (propeller anodes are small metal devices you can attach to your boat to prevent corrosion) aren’t correctly bonded. In that case, the corrosion can effectively put holes in your blades, rendering them useless.

Bronze and aluminum alloy propellers are more prone to corrosion, but those made from stainless steel are also susceptible. The only difference is that stainless steel blades may be salvageable if caught early enough. In general, significant pitting requires a replacement propeller, so ensure you take care of your propeller.

Cover Your Boat

Don’t cut corners when it comes to your boat cover. Spending more for a cover made with premium materials may seem unimportant when it’s only used in the off-season. Still, your cover is necessary for preventative boat care and maintenance.

Simple tarps can be used as a cover, though you’ll need to add a barrier layer between the tarp and the boat. Tarps tend to be made from abrasive materials that, when exposed to wind, will shift and damage your boat’s finish.

Other boat covers are cotton, vinyl, acrylic, and polyester. They can either be customized to your boat’s structure, or you can purchase a pre-made cover. For the best protection and longevity, a polyester fiber boat cover with a vinyl coating is the best choice. This material is more water-repellent and mildew-resistant than any other less-expensive fabric.

Dana Point Boaters Association Host First Poker Run

By: JORDAN B. DARLING

DANA POINT— The Dana Point Boaters Association is set to host the first annual Poker Run and Fall Fiesta Party on Oct. 15.

The event is open to boaters who make their home in Dana Point Harbor and the public. The event runs from 9:30 a.m.2:30 p.m. Participants are invited to take part in the poker run at the beginning of the day, where they can navigate the harbor and collect five poker cards from volunteer boats for the chance at prizes for the best and the worst hand.

After poker, the DPBA will host a Fiesta Party in the harbor with food, drinks, live music, games, and prizes from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. There will also be a guest speaker to talk about animal conservation, art, and news highlights on the worldwide parade of elephants and a silent auction.

The silent auction will include a custom Calstar GF700M Grafighter Offshore Series EGlass rod rated at 20-40 pounds, with Fuji reel seat and guides with hypalon fore grip, and cord rear grip from Moon Custom Rods. The rod is great for dorado, yellowfin, and yellowtail.

Tickets range from $30-$75; $75 includes one hand for the poker run and admission to the fiesta party with lunch and two alcoholic drinks.

For more information or to purchase tickets, see the DPBA website at https:// www.danapointboaters.org/. The event, in support of the Dana Point Boaters Association, will run from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Oct. 15.

ON THE HORIZONS

By: JORDAN B. DARLING

2022 SWYC Charity Bay Race and Scavenger Hunt

(Oct. 7-9)

SAN DIEGO— The Southwestern Yacht Club will host a full weekend of fun the second weekend of October to support ElderHelp of San Diego. The weekend will start with a Buy Up/Buy Down Party on Oct. 7 from 6:30-9 p.m., where competitors can change their chances as well as their competitors’ chances of winning by buying a new rate for themselves or someone else. For $20, competitors can increase their own rating by three seconds for the Charity Bay Race or add three points for the Scavenger Hunt. There will also be snacks and bottomless champagne during the party. On Oct. 8, boaters can take part in a scavenger hunt that will take them on a tour of the bay to some of San Diego’s most iconic spots. The weekend wraps up with the Classic Charity Bay Race, a classic pursuit handicap race open to all sailboats with an overall length of 20 feet or greater. The race will take place in San Diego Bay and will start in the vicinity of the east end of Harbor Island. It is a random leg course between 9 and 18 nautical miles. There is a $50 entry fee per boat, which includes two postrace BBQ tickets. For more information or to register for the race, see https:// www.southwesternyc.org/.

2022 Around Catalina

Races 1 & 2 (Oct. 8)

LOS ANGELES— The Los Angeles Yacht Club will host the second of two Around Catalina Races on Oct. 8. These races are separate events, but they do follow the same course. The race will start inside the Los Angeles Harbor, east pier 400, and the course will leave Catalina Island to port with a finish line between FL G and FL R at Angel’s Gate. Upon finishing, all competitors will email their finish time to the PRO, David Collins, at davidcollins@mindspring. com or text (310) 310 4914. The race is open to yachts with a current Southern California Area “C” Random Leg Rating PHRF handicap. In addition, skippers will need to provide a current PHRF certificate. There is a $75 registration fee for each race. Entries for the Oct. 8 race need to be in by 6 p.m. on Oct. 6. To register for the race or find more information, see the LAYC website at http:// www.layc.org/. This race follows the COVID-19 protocols set by federal, state and county restrictions.

2022 Fall Regatta (Oct. 15)

VENTURA— The Ventura Yacht Club will host the 2022 Fall Regatta on Oct. 15. The race will start approximately one-half mile south of the Ventura whistle buoy. The race is open to skippers of monohull boats who are members of the United States Yacht Racing Union recognized yacht/sailing clubs and, as appropriate, possess a current/valid one-design certificate or a current/valid PHRF certificate. The bar and dining room will be open on Friday night. A grill night is scheduled for Saturday at 5:30 p.m. after the races, and a complimentary buffet with trophy presentation following racing on Sunday afternoon. Registration must be submitted by 8:30 a.m. on the day of the race. There is a $40 entry fee before Oct. 8 at 5 p.m. and $50 after. For more information or to register for the event, see http://www. venturayachtclub.org/.