February 2015 Annapolis, Maryland Volume 74, 1 Commander’s Message Kathy Nash, AP It is hard to believe that less than two more months remain in my term as Commander. It has been a quick, action packed and rewarding year. Please join me for our Change of Watch Ceremony on 11 April 2015 which will be held in the clubhouse at Renditions Golf Club, Davidsonville, MD. It will be an exciting time and provide me the opportunity to thank those who have been so very helpful to me during my tenure. We will also be presenting the Member of the Year Award and Senior Member Awards (Senior members are members who have been a part of the squadron for at least five years and have five Merit Marks). Most importantly we will be welcoming in your new bridge for 2015-2016 year. In support of the Change of Watch, election of nominees will be held at the March dinner meeting. Look for details on the March meeting in future emails and the next edition of the Anchor Watch. Founder’s Day will be held on Sunday, 08 February. I am very excited and pleased to welcome Gary Jobson as this year’s Founder’s Day speaker. Please see Lt/C Joel Hilden, P’s article for more details. This promises to be a fun and informative event! I am proud to announce that 58 of our ASPS squadron members received a Merit Mark this past year. To receive a Merit Mark you must contribute to the good of the squadron by volunteering your time for a position on the bridge or execu- tive committee, working at the boat shows, committees, vessel safety checks, etc. Approximately 8-10 hours or more are needed to qualify. We have been very fortunate to have an active group this year; however there are always opportuni- ties for more member involvement! Please consider helping the squadron over the next year so we may continue to stay active, be vibrant, and have fun! Would you like to become more involved with the squadron but not sure how or what you could contribute? We have so many options available. There are opportunities to: A. Become a vessel safety examiner B. Work on the newsletter C. Pass out brochures to local marinas, boat dealers D. Be on a committee for our picnic, crab feast, boating events, etc. E. Put up flyers on our courses F. Fill an opening on our Rules Committee G. Be a mentor to a new member H. Help with our website and much more….. Please email me at [email protected]if you would like more infor- mation on how you can help us! (Continued on Page 2) Table of Contents Commander’s Message 1-2 Executive Officer’s Report 2 Administrative Officer’s Report 3 Educational Officer’s Report 4-6 Slate of Nominees 7 Captain Chess A . Peake 8 Safety Article 9-11 Anchor Watch Deadline 13 Calendar of Events 13 Bridge Officers Contact Info 14 Change of Watch 12
Transcript
February 2015 Annapolis, Maryland Volume 74,
1
Commander’s Message Kathy Nash, AP
It is hard to believe that less than two more months remain in my term as Commander. It has been a quick, action packed and rewarding year. Please join me for our Change of Watch Ceremony on 11 April 2015 which will be held in the clubhouse at Renditions Golf Club, Davidsonville, MD. It will be an exciting time and provide me the opportunity to thank those who have been so very helpful to me during my tenure. We will also be presenting the Member of the Year Award and
Senior Member Awards (Senior members are members who have been a part of the squadron for at least five years and have five Merit Marks). Most importantly we will be welcoming in your new bridge for 2015-2016 year. In support of the Change of Watch, election of nominees will be held at the March dinner meeting. Look for details on the March meeting in future emails and the next edition of the Anchor Watch. Founder’s Day will be held on Sunday, 08 February. I am very excited and pleased to welcome Gary Jobson as this year’s Founder’s Day speaker. Please see Lt/C Joel Hilden, P’s article for more details. This promises to be a fun and informative event! I am proud to announce that 58 of our ASPS squadron members received a Merit Mark this past year. To receive a Merit Mark you must contribute to the good of the squadron by volunteering your time for a position on the bridge or execu-tive committee, working at the boat shows, committees, vessel safety checks, etc. Approximately 8-10 hours or more are needed to qualify. We have been very fortunate to have an active group this year; however there are always opportuni-ties for more member involvement! Please consider helping the squadron over the next year so we may continue to stay active, be vibrant, and have fun! Would you like to become more involved with the squadron but not sure how or what you could contribute? We have so many options available. There are opportunities to: A. Become a vessel safety examiner B. Work on the newsletter C. Pass out brochures to local marinas, boat dealers D. Be on a committee for our picnic, crab feast, boating events, etc. E. Put up flyers on our courses F. Fill an opening on our Rules Committee G. Be a mentor to a new member H. Help with our website and much more….. Please email me at [email protected] if you would like more infor-mation on how you can help us! (Continued on Page 2)
We are certainly in the middle of the dark cold days of winter, but before you know it we will be launching our vessels for the 2015 boating season and attending our squadron’s Change of Watch. In consideration of both events, I have been working with incoming Ad-ministrative Officer Bob Olexy, P in developing the squadron’s Calendar of Activities for 2015. We have developed the following preliminary documents for the membership’s com-
ments and review:
Preliminary Itinerary for 2015 ASPS Rendezvous & Raft-Ups: http://bit.ly/181wwKv Preliminary Itinerary for 2015 ASPS Squadron Cruise: http://bit.ly/1yGZKsn Preliminary ASPS Calendar of Activities for 2015-2016: http://bit.ly/1CMoApO
Please remember that this calendar and itineraries are still a work in progress, but they will provide insight on what squadron activities are being planned for the coming boating season. The itineraries were complied with the results of last year’s member survey in mind. We plan to travel North and South of Annapolis and have a variety of local raft-up locations. Some of our rendezvous and cruise locations have hotels nearby which will allow non-boaters and those with smaller or open boats to attend the events and enjoy the fun. Please reference the dates shown on these documents when planning your summer schedules in hopes that you join us for as many squadron activities as possi-ble. I welcome all comments and concerns you wish to share upon reviewing these documents. Feel free to contact me via email, [email protected] or phone at 703-887-1836. The success of any squadron activity is directly dependent on the membership’s level of participation and willingness to take part in the event’s planning and execution. Bob and I are going to need a lot of your help in making these ac-tivities successful. Over the next few weeks we will start announcing planning meetings and call for volunteers to serve on event committees. Please consider becoming as involve as possible and offering your skills, experience and hard work in making 2015 a great year for ASPS. If you already know an event or committee that you want to volun-teer for, please let Bob Olexy, P, ([email protected]) or myself know at your earliest convenience. As some of you know, I serve as the USPS Port Captain for the Annapolis area. At times the Port Captain is asked to recommend local mechanics, sail makers, repair yards, marinas, medical, dental, veterinarian and workshop facilities to boaters visiting the area. I have compiled a list of recommended resources and facilities based on my own knowledge and personal experiences. I would like to draw upon the tremendous wealth of knowledge and experienc-es that collectively exists with our squadron’s membership to augment and refine that database. Please forward me any highly trusted recommendations you may have for the type of services listed above. Reference any particular person or contact information if appropriate. It is also important to know which resources or facilities not to recommend. Therefore, please forward me any information you wish to share on resources, facilities or individuals you would avoid recommending. I will keep confidential the sources of such information. I thank you in advance for your assistance.
Executive Officer Lt/C John Wesley Nash, JN
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Boating season is right around the corner! Check out our education report and consider signing up for a course or seminar. John and I recently took Mariner’s Compass Seminar held earlier this month. It is amazing how much you can learn, even when you thought you knew the subject well! USPS seminars and courses are top notch and ASPS has excellent instructors. I promise the time you spend learning will be time well spent.
In February we will have our annual Founder’s Day Brunch in lieu of our usual Thursday evening meeting. The brunch will be served buffet style with several tasty choices including French toast, bacon, London broil, grilled teriyaki chicken, vegetables, and dessert.
We are thrilled to have Gary Jobson as our speaker! Gary is a world class sailor, having won the America's Cup with Ted Turner, the Fasnet Race and many other ocean races. He is also an author, television commentator and Editor at Large of Sailing World and Cruis-ing World. Gary is President of the National Sailing Hall of Fame right here in Annapo-lis. Come out for our Founder’s Day and hear a fabulous talk! This is one not to miss!
When: Sunday, 8 Feb, 11:00 AM
Where: Annapolis Sheraton on Jennifer Road
Cost: $35/ per person, payable by cash or check at the door
Please RSVP by Thursday, 5 Feb, through our website at http://tinyurl.com/ASPSdinner or by calling ASPS Voicemail at (410) 263-8777. Choose Option 4 at the voice prompt.
Annapolis Sail & Power Squadron Logo Clothing
Each Annapolis Sail & Power Squadron member may purchase Squadron logo clothing directly from the website of the Queensboro Shirt Company, the company we are currently using. Each member will make their own choices on the website, submit to Queensboro their individual order, and then pay in whatever manner you choose from the options given on the website. Purchased items will be sent directly to the address you give. This way there is no "middleman" so you will receive your order more quickly. To see the list of items in our Squadron account in order to make choices and to submit an order, type the following URL into the Internet address box at the top of you Internet screen ( do NOT use Google) & follow the directions given on the website:
http://www.asps.qbstores.com
Hats with our Squadron's logo are now available on the website. There are several different styles of baseball caps as well as other types of hats available. For sever-al of the hats there are 2 choices which appear to be identical. The difference is that the word "Annapolis" appears on the front with the burgee logo but the words "Sail & Power Squadron" are optional and appear on the back of the hat if that is what you choose. The hats without the writing on the back are $5.00 cheaper than the hats which have the writing on the back. Please pay attention to what you or-der so you will be sure to receive what you want. If you have any questions, please call Sherry Sandridge at 410-384-9101 OR email me at [email protected].
Educational Officer Lt/C Michael Maszczenski, Jr., JN
Congratulations! The following people successfully completed Piloting: David and Denise Boyer, Vincent Colemes, Robert & Wendy Olexy
The following successfully completed Marine Communications: Gary Greenip, Samuel Lyness, Anthony Martin, John Wesley and Kathy Nash The following completed the Mariner's Compass Seminar: Edward French, Martin Lutsky, Georgiana Maszczenski, John Wesley & Kathy Nash, Carol Rechner, Terry & Peggy Slattery. We also had 6 people get there Boating Safety Cards. Don't miss your opportunity to gain more boating knowledge. Check out the following course and seminar listings. Enrollment via our website is painless, but should you encounter problems please call me 410-739-7800 so we can get you on the list.
Courses:
Weather - New Dates- sign up now Feb 4 to April 14, 2015 Cost: $65.00 Place: Annapolis High School The safety and comfort of those who venture out on the water have always been weather dependent. In this course, students will become keener observers of the weather. But weather observations only have meaning in the context of the basic principles of meteorology — the science of the atmosphere. The course focuses on how weather systems form, behave, move, and interact with one another and reflects the avail-ability of all sorts of weather reports and forecasts on the Internet. Wx2012 is a general weather course benefiting those sitting in their living rooms, as much as those standing behind the helm. Each student receives:
a Weather Manual - USPS Weather - an explanatory text with full color photographs and drawings covering weather in the United States and its coastal and inland waters;
a set of three Daily Weather Maps - learning aids with a compete explanation of map symbols designed to develop weather map reading and analysis skills; and
NOAA’s Sky Watcher Chart - a reference to assist in identifying cloud types – helpful indicators of approach-ing weather.
DNR Boating Safety Class May 2 & 3, 2015 Saturday Sunday. Cost: $20.00 Place: Bacon Sails and Marine Supplies Saturday 9:00 to 3:00 (30 min break for lunch) & Sunday 12:00 to 4:00 PM Get your Boating Safety Class Card in one weekend. You need it if you were born after July 1972 to legally operate a recreational vessel in Maryland. This course awards the card for all who attend the course and pass the test with an 80% or higher. The class is being offered on a weekend session with the test at the end ( 3 to 4 PM). For those who register early, arrangements will be made to get study material ahead of the course. Attendance is necessary to be awarded the card. The basics of boating safety, Maryland boating laws, and more will be part of the class. All at-tendees will receive the Maryland Boating Safety guide. (Continued on Page 5)
February 2015 Anchor Watch
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Seminars: Anchoring Saturday February 28, 2015 Cost $10.00 Optional Materials $30.00 Place Bacon Sails and Marine Supplies Time 10:00 AM to Noon The Anchoring Seminar has been prepared to assist boaters in understanding the issues and problems involving the theories of anchor weight, the methods used to anchor, and the choices of anchor types for the area of boating. The slides and notations on anchoring are intended to raise awareness of the need for correct anchor choices and the me-chanics of proper anchoring techniques. The knowledge gained from completing this seminar will increase the stu-dent’s understanding of the conditions and situations involved in anchoring a boat and the need for a proper anchor choice. Mastering Rules of the Road Cost $10.00 Wednesday March 11 Optional Materials $33.00 Place Bacon Sails and Marine Supplies Time 7:00 to 9:00 PM This seminar provides an explanation with examples of the 37 Rules of the Road for both the U.S. Inland Rules and the International Rules (COLREGS). It simplifies the sometimes complex law relating to boat operation for the rec-reational boater. It is a starting point for study preparation for the USCG License examination. This Optional seminar kit includes McGraw-Hill's The One Minute Guide to the Nautical Rules of the Road by Charlie Wing, Seminar Guide. Partners in Command Tuesday April 28 Optional Materials $30.00 Place Bacon Sails and Marine Supplies Time 10:00 AM to Noon This seminar provides an introduction to boating for crew members who need basic information and who may or may not have taken a boating course. It is designed to provide essential information one may require to assist a skip-per in the safe operation of a recreational boat. Included in the seminar are actions in response to emergencies. This seminar includes an optional text, a knot practice board useful to practice tying knots. The student kit also includes the student notes booklet, a completion certificate, and a patch. If you would like to add your name to a class list for any of the offerings, please use the ASPS registration link below to make a reserved seat now. You may cancel your reservation at a later date, but putting in your name early gives me approximate numbers to facilitate ordering materials. To suggest an additional course or seminar offering, please contact me. Locations Annapolis Sr. High School, 2700 Riva Road, Annapolis MD 21401 Bacon Sails and Marine Supplies, 116 Legion Ave., Annapolis MD 21401 410-263-4880 (Continued on Page 6)
February 2015 Anchor Watch
ANNAPOLIS SAIL AND POWER SQUADRON 6
Courses offered by our friends at Kent Narrows Sail & Power Squadron
Mariner’s Compass — 10 February 2015, 1900 Electronic Navigation—-starting 09 March 2015 Advanced Powerboat Handling — 10 March 2015, 1900 America’s Boating Course3 — 20 April 2015, 1830 Most of their courses are offered at the Kent Island volunteer Fire Department. Please contact Lt/C John Locke, AP if interested in any of these courses. John’s email is [email protected]. Keep up with their schedule at http://www.uspsd5.org/squadrons/Kent_Narrows.html.
(Continued from Page 5) It’s easy to register for a class or seminar: To register or to reserve a space in a future offering, go online at the ASPS registration tool by clicking on this link: http://bit.ly/qKN8ad You can also send an email to [email protected]. Please include your full name, the class you want to sign up for, and a phone number in case further information is needed. Take some time to check www.aspsmd.org/education.htm for the latest information on courses, seminars, and other educational opportunities. If there is a registration problem, please contact me at 410-739-7800. Don't see it in our schedule? Remember KNSPS is just across the Bay. Check out their classes listed below.
Sad News
Annapolis Sail & Power Squadron recently lost two long time members. It is with sadness that we announce the passing of:
ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER GARY ANTONIDES, AP
ASSISTANT SECRETARY KATHY SLATTERY
ASSISTANT TREASURER WENDY OLEXY, P
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (8 Members)
Jeff Short, P (4 of 3 years) Lars Lindenhall (4 of 3 years)
Chris Ruemke, S (3 of 3 years) Jackson McDonald, P (2 of 3 years)
Susan Crandall (2 of 3 years) Frank Slattery (1 of 3 years)
Grant Woodside, JN (1 of 3 years) Linda Sweeting (1 of 3 years)
PAST COMMANDER Kathy Nash, AP
NOMINATING COMMITTEE (5 Members)
Lee Myers, AP (3 of 3) Bill Museler, AP (3 of 3)
Marianne Ponzio, AP (2 of 3) Denise Lindenhall (2 of 3)
Kathy Nash, AP (1 of 3)
AUDIT COMMITTEE (3 Members)
Homer Sandridge, N Carol Rechner, JN
Rich Hughes, JN
RULES COMMITTEE (3 Members)
Sherry Sandridge, AP Sam Lyness, N
____________________________ (Open Slot)
ANNAPOLIS SAIL AND POWER SQUADRON Slate of Nominees
2015 -2016
February 2015 Anchor Watch
ANNAPOLIS SAIL AND POWER SQUADRON 8
Captain Chess A. PeakeCaptain Chess A. Peake This section of our newsletter is the “Captain Chess A. Peake” column. Mostly serving as an educational and review column in keeping with the goals of the United States Power Squadron, Safe Boating through Education. Captain Chess A. Peake wants you to sharpen your nautical knowledge.
Nautical Knowledge: Can you identify these types of sailboat rigs com-monly found on the Chesapeake Bay?
A. B.
C. D.
E. F
1. ___ Cat 4. ___ Schooner
2. ___ Cutter 5. ___ Sloop
3. ___ Ketch 6. ___ Yawl
Trivia: Match the meaning with the appropriate nautical term: 1. A tool for opening the strands of a rope while
splicing. 2. At right angles to the centerline of the boat. 3. Away from the direction of the wind. Opposite
of windward. 4. The sides of a boat aft of amidships. 5. To swing or steer off course, as when running
with a quartering sea. 6. A line secured at both ends in order to
distribute a strain between two points.
A. Yaw
B. Alee
C. Bridle
D. Marlinspike
E. Quarter
F. Athwartships
Answers— 1F, 2C, 3D, 4A, 5B, 6E
Answers— 1D, 2F, 3B, 4E, 5A, 6C
February 2015 Anchor
ANNAPOLIS SAIL AND POWER SQUADRON 9
Safety Officer
Capt. Al Ponzio, AP
Gods Bowling for Dollars, Yours. An interesting analysis by Beth Leonard who writes for Seaworthy of Boat U.S. followed 10 years of lighting claims and came to some interesting conclusions. The most notable of which is for my
multi-hull sailboat friends who like to travel South for the winter. Lightning seems like the ultimate "act of God." Unpredictable, capricious — it can come as a literal bolt out of the blue (or out of a glowering, black, anvil-shaped cloud). As the “Lowering the Lightning Odds” article in the July 2014 issue of Seaworthy discussed, somewhere around one in a million people gets struck by lightning in any given year. Which means that someone must have it in for boats — two separate analyses of 10 years of lightning claims data from the BoatUS Marine Insurance files have found that about one in a thousand boats has a lightning claim each year. When people get struck, it seems to be random. Yes, men get struck more than women (82 percent of lightning fatali-ties from 1995 to 2008 were men according to Popular Science), but that's only because men spend more time out-doors and won't stop what they're doing for a little lightning. No one has yet suggested that tall people get struck more than short ones, or blondes are more at risk than brunettes. The same cannot be said for boats. The data shows that when it comes to lightning, not all boats are created equal. Certain boats are significantly more at risk than oth-ers. So which boats get hit, in which parts of the country, and how badly? Which Boats? Table 1. The probability of a lightning Table 2. The probability of a lightning
strike by type of boat, 2003–2013 strike by size of boat, 2003- 2013
While any boat can be hit — BoatUS Marine Insurance has even had some lightning claims for personal watercraft — lightning is most likely to go for that tall, tree-like metal pole sticking straight up toward the sky. The taller the better. That's why sailboats have significantly more lightning claims than powerboats (Table 1), and almost certainly why larger boats have more lightning claims than smaller ones (Table 2) — overall size is closely correlated to mast height, which is probably what really matters here. And as far as lightning is concerned, two hulls are better than one. Multihull sailboats are almost twice as likely to have a lightning claim as monohulls. But that's only true if that big, pointy thing is in the middle of the boat. The frequency of pontoon boat lightning claims is well below the average. According to Martin Uman of the University of Florida's Lightning Research Group, the average lightning bolt is an inch wide and five miles long. On the face of it, it seems unlikely that 20 or 30 feet more height — roughly the dif-ference between the mast on a 35-foot and 45-foot sailboat — would almost triple the odds of the boat being hit. But (Continued on Page 10)
Type of Boat Chances per 1,000
Multihull Sailboat 6.9
Monohull Sailboat 3.8
Trawler/Motoryacht 1.5
All — Overall Average 0.9
Bass Boat, Runabout, Pontoon Boat
0.1
Type of Boat Chances per
1,000
0-15 Feet 0
16–25 Feet 0.2
26–39 Feet 2.1
40–64 Feet 6
February 2015 Anchor Watch
ANNAPOLIS SAIL AND POWER SQUADRON 10
(Continued from Page 9). understanding how the electrical charge that passes through a lightning bolt moves between the clouds and the ground makes lightning seem just a bit less capricious. Lightning is a direct result of the electrical forces built up in the clouds during a thunderstorm, where the bottom of the storm cloud becomes highly negatively charged. Only 20 percent of lightning strikes actually reach the ground — the rest are cloud-to-cloud strikes. A typical cloud-to-ground lightning strike occurs in less than 1/100 of a second but actually proceeds through four distinct phases. The following is an abbreviated version of the National Weather Service's JetStreamMax Online School for Weather's lightning discussion. 1. Development of the stepped leader from the cloud base. A very faint, negatively charged channel emerges from the base of the cloud and propagates toward the ground in a series of small steps about 150 feet in length and 1 mi-crosecond in duration. The stepped leader carries about 100 million volts of charge relative to the ground. It usually branches out as it approaches the ground, pausing between each step and "looking" for an object to strike. 2. Development of streamers from objects on the ground. The strong, negative charge of the stepped leader at-tracts vast amounts of positive charge. The attraction is so strong that the stepped leader induces electric channels up from the ground known as streamers, most readily from tall, pointy objects. When a cloud-to-ground strike occurs, one of these positively charged streamers connects with the negatively charged stepped leader, at 100 to 300 feet above the ground on average.
3. Negative charge flows downward. When that connection occurs, the negative charge from the cloud starts flow-ing down the established channel. 4. Return stroke shoots up the channel. Once the channel is open, the return stroke flows up and produces a ground current that peaks in about 1 microsecond at an average of around 30,000 amperes. The return stroke produc-es 99 percent of a lightning bolt's luminosity, and, though it travels from the ground up to the cloud, to the unaided eye the opposite appears true. Sailboat masts, like tall trees, seem to be at just the right height and of just the right shape to develop streamers that the stepped leader can reach when it's "looking" for a place to touch down. That doesn't explain why one mast in a particular marina wins the lightning lottery, nor does it mean that the highest object will always be struck. But when looking at probabilities, the claims data suggests that sailboat masts must make better lightning rods than other ap-pendages on other types of boats. Understanding why multihulls get hit so much more frequently than monohulls is more problematic. Several theories have been put forward including the lack of a keel, the increased wetted surface area, the larger footprint, the location
(Continued on Page 11)
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(Continued from Page 10)
of catamarans at the edges of marinas, the overall size of catamarans, and the average height of their masts. Unfortu-nately, we do not yet have enough data to be certain of what is driving this finding.
Where? Not surprisingly, boats get struck where there is a high density of lightning and a high density of boats. The frequen-cy of the BoatUS lightning claims by state fairly closely resembles the incidence of cloud-to-ground lightning strikes. If an area has a high incidence of strikes, that includes a lot of masts, it's not too unlikely that one of those strikes will find its way to ground through a boat.
Six of our top 10 states in terms of the frequency of lightning claims — Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, South Carolina, and North Carolina — are part of the big "hot spot" in the Southeast and midsection of the country. Maryland ties for second with Mississippi, which might surprise you. But there are a lot of sailboats there, and any-one who has boated on the Chesapeake Bay in the summer has experienced the fast-moving and violent thunder-storms that sweep through the area several times each month from June through September.
At the other end of the spectrum, the frequency of lightning claims is about 1 in 10,000, or one-tenth the average, along the Pacific coast. That doesn't mean that BoatUS Marine Insurance doesn't ever have lightning claims there, only that if you are the one with the claim, you've been very unlucky indeed.
What Type Of Damage? Yes, the old wives' tales are true. Lightning can blow a thru-hull right out of the boat, but more commonly its pas-sage through a metal fitting damages the surrounding fiberglass. This can be severe enough that the boat sinks. Boats on the hard often fare even worse than those in the water — the lightning will find its way to the jackstands or chains, often leaving a visible track across the hull. But extreme damage from lightning is the exception, not the rule. More than 75 percent of lightning claims in the BoatUS Marine Insurance files over the past decade were for less than 30 percent of the insured value of the boat. And nearly all of those claims were for damaged electronics. Here's how it normally goes. Joe and Jane Boater arrive at the marina looking forward to a lovely weekend on the water. They begin loading all their stuff onto their sailboat. Jane goes down below to put things away and says, "Joe, did you leave the breaker for the fridge off?" A bit later, Joe tries the chartplotter but it won't fire up. Then the micro-wave won't work. It takes awhile before the penny drops. One of them looks at the other and says, "Remember that big thunderstorm last week? Maybe our boat got hit."
If this ever happens to you, don't assume the damage s limited to the electronics. To make sure your boat is safe, you should do the following: 1. Unplug the shore power cord and turn off all battery switches. You don't want a short circuit to start a fire. 2. Check the bilge and make sure it is dry. If it is not, arrange a haulout immediately. This will probably be covered by the insurance company, but even if it isn't, you need to make sure everything is OK below the waterline. 3. Call your insurance company. Tell them what is happening, and don't forget to discuss a haulout if you are taking on water. 4. Once you're sure the boat isn't sinking or you have hauled it out so it can't, your insurance company will assign a marine surveyor to do a damage assessment, inspecting the electronics and all electrical panels to figure out what does and does not work. Electronics may need to be bench tested to establish that lightning was the cause of the dam-age. If you haven't been hauled out and the damage appears extensive, the insurance company may require a haulout now to ensure there is no below-waterline damage. 5. Don't throw away any damaged equipment unless your insurance company says it's OK to do so.
So, if you have a sailboat in a lightning hot spot, especially if it has two hulls, you are more at risk than average. What can you do about that? The general consensus is, you can't do much to keep your boat from being struck. The ultimate act of God, remember, though God seems to have it in for sailboats and doubly so for multihull sailboats. But lightning protection systems can help to minimize the damage if your boat does get struck.
REMEMBER SAFETY IS A LEARNED HABIT
February 2015 Anchor Watch
ANNAPOLIS SAIL AND POWER SQUADRON 12
CHANGE OF WATCH
11 April 2015 6-9pm
Renditions Golf Club 1380 West Central Avenue Davidsonville, MD 21035
6pm Cash Bar 7pm Dinner
7:45pm Ceremony
Meal will include salad, rolls, butter, vegetable and potato along with dessert
You have your choice of the following entrees: Grilled Rib Eye
Please mail payment (made out to ASPS) and meal choices to: Cdr Kathy Nash, AP
2805 White House Road Riva, MD 21140
February 2015 Anchor Watch
ANNAPOLIS SAIL AND POWER SQUADRON 13
Calendar of Coming Events
Member Events 8 February 2015 Founder’s Day-Annapolis Sheraton 5 March 2015 Dinner Meeting-Annapolis Sheraton 11 April 2015 Change of Watch-Renditions Golf Club Executive Committee Meeting 26 February 2015 Annapolis High School 26 March 2015 Annapolis High School District Events 21 February 2015 Officer Training 27-29 March 2015 Spring Conference-Ocean City National Events
AS&PS Web site http://www.aspsmd.org/ District 5 http://www.uspsd5.org/ National USPS http://www.usps.org/
Anchor Watch Deadline When: 20 February 2015 Direct all material to: Cdr Kathy Nash, AP [email protected] Home: 410-956-2781 Cell: 410-703-9559
For updates to your telephone number, address, e-mail, etc., please call the ASPS Hot Line 410-263-8777 and select option number 7, or email
Members-at-Large of the Executive Committee: Jeff Short Lars Lindenhall Tom Campbell Chris Ruemke, S Jackson McDonald Louis Maassel, SN Susan Crandall G. Bill Crandall
Audit Committee: Art Howard Jonathan Jacobs, P Rules Committee: Carol Rechner, JN Sherry Sandridge, AP Sam Lyness, N
Nominating Committee: P/C Richard Hughes, JN P/C Marianne Ponzio, P P/C Lee Meyers, AP P/C Bill Museler, AP Denise Lindenhall
Members Save Money Great Benefits available to USPS members include: Up to a 38% discount on boat insurance Boat U.S. Membership and Towing discounts Map and Navigation software discounts Hotel discounts Rental Car discounts
