DITTY BAG

A Note FromThe Helm

MAY/JUNE 20 16ISSUE 103

CALIFORNIA YACHT MARINACHULA VISTA

If you are a fan of good food, good causes or just having a good ol’ time you can always

find upcoming events in our newsletters. In the coming months we have our Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Lunches, the Annual Customer Appreciation BBQ as well as the 4th of July fireworks. There is also an article on page 2 on the International Summer Organ Festival at Balboa Park starting June 18th.

Another article we would like to highlight regards the new parking and gate control system (page 4). Please stop by the office at your earliest convenience...we’ll issue you a new access card and will be available to answer any questions you may have.

With the warm weather here we hope you have a great boating season and have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day! And please remember to mark you calendars for the BBQ on August 6th....see you all there!!!

Gerald Thomas, Kevin Ketchum & Bill Thomas

(Cont. on page 3)

ResolutionsHey, it’s nearly Memorial day! At last we can go boating in decent weather and work like crazy getting our boats in shape for the coming season.This month is a good time to reflect upon

some “New Season’s Resolutions” we all might make to ensure we’ll have a safe season of fun on the water. Here are some of our suggestions to this end:1. Have reasonably-current charts on hand for all waters in which you operate your boat, and use them. 2. Check your flares’ expiration dates and your fire extinguishers’ inspection dates to be sure they’re still legal. If not, replace.3. When you do your spring cleaning, don’t forget the bilges! 4. Are your lines in good shape for the season? Why not have nice ones all year. (The well-equipped boat has six lines: two stern lines each about 1/4-1/3 a boat length; two bow lines each 2/3rds as long as the boat; and two spring lines 2/3rds as long as the boat. The bow and stern lines are heavier than the spring lines. Braided lines are

New Boating Season

DITTY BAG

DItty Bag

05.07.16 --- NooN - 2pm mother’s Day LuNch

06.18.16 --- NooN - 2pm Father’s Day LuNch 08.06.16 --- NooN - 2pm customer appreciatioN BBQ

Upcoming Events

We welcome aboard our new Marina Office team member, Sue Ochoa. She brings with her a great deal of experience in office opreations. If you see her around the office, be sure to introduce yourself.

Welcome aboard Sue!

New parkiNg aND gate coNtroL system

the New gate coNtroL system is up aND ruNNiNg

aND the New access carDs are reaDy to Be

DistriButeD. pLease stop By the mariNa oFFice DuriNg

NormaL BusiNess hours aND pick up your access carDs. our staFF wiLL ruN you through the maNy BeNeFits oF the

New gate coNtroL system aND issue your New access carD aLL at the same time.

your cooperatioN, patieNce aND uNDerstaNDiNg is appreciateD.

Thank you!John D. and Adolph Spreckels donated the Spreckels Organ, one of the world's largest outdoor pipe organs, to the City of San Diego in 1914 for the Panama-California Exposition. This unique organ contains 4,530 pipes ranging in length from the size of a pencil to 32 feet and is housed in an ornate vaulted structure with highly embellished gables. Since 1917, San Diego has had a civic organist, who performs free weekly Sunday concerts.

The International Summer Organ Festival opens June 18th – celebrating 20 years of glorious organ music under the stars in Balboa Park. These free outdoor concerts are held on Monday evenings beginning at 7:30 onstage at the grand Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Thrill to the majestic sound of the world’s largest outdoor pipe organ played by world-renowned concert and theater organists.

For more information you can go to their website: http://www.balboapark.org

SPRECKELSORGAN PAVILION

The LaRue C. Thomas Bayside Pavilionis now taking reservations for 2016-17

The LaRue C. Thomas Bayside Pavilion provides the perfect backdrop for private and corporate events offering stunning views of the great San Diego Bay for your guests to enjoy. CYM customers receive 10% off!!!

The Pavilion is happy to offer a special 10% discount for the holiday season! The event has to take place in the months of November 2016 thru March 2017.

Please contact Sue at 619-422-2595 for more details and we look forward to your visit!

10% Off!!!

DItty Bag

Unfortunately, we’ve had two boats take on water recently. One was able to be pumped out before it sank but the other was unable to be saved and required Vessel Assist to use air bags and three pumps. The causes of both were hoses that were left connected from the domestic shore water to the boat.

Never leave your boat unattended with the dock water hose connected and turned on. In the event there is a failure in any part of the fresh water plumbing, an endless supply of water will fill your bilges. This in turn will exercise your bilge pumps, float switches, batteries, battery charger, and shore power system. If you are off the boat and it is not caught in time, a failure of any link in the chain can result in an inoperable bilge pump, and the eventual flooding and sinking of your boat. In fact, dock water flooding’s in the slip ranks very high as a cause of vessel sinking’s and insurance claims.

The best way to eliminate the risks associated with dock water is to completely disconnect the hose from the boat when you leave. This can be easily accomplished with the use of some quick-disconnect fittings (available at most any hardware store) installed at the boat’s water connection. If you rely only on remembering to turn off the faucet on the dock, but leave the hose itself connected, the odds of eventually stepping off and overlooking the faucet are not in your favor. Turning off the faucet and completely disconnecting the hose provides simple visual confirmation that the risks associated with enjoying all the benefits of dock water aboard your vessel have been eliminated.

Dock Watermuch easier to use.) 5. Don’t neglect the zincs, including your engine zincs. Service them all. 6. Check your fuel lines and propane connections. If you have hydraulic steering, check all its connections and cylinders. Repair any leaks at once. 7. Check the rudder and shaft stuffing boxes. Repair if needed. Lubricate all control cables and pulleys, and be sure all operate smoothly. 8. Make sure everything electric and electronic works. Blow your horn. Check your radio. Turn on and check all lights, including instrument lights and interior lights. 9. Is everything secure? Check to be sure all fittings, especially deck fittings, are tight. Be sure permanently-stowed items are secure. (Now would be a good time to improve your storage systems with tote boxes or crates. Offload all those unique items you’ve been carrying around!) Sailors, be sure the rigging is good, especially at wear points like clevises, turnbuckles, and cable joints. 10. Finally, get a free U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Courtesy Examination of your boat at the beginning of the season. If anything is out of compliance, fix it.Have a great 2016 season: We’ll look forward to seeing you on the water!

(Cont. from page 1)

Free saFety examiNatioN

caLiForNia yacht mariNa aND the uscg auxiLiary, are aNNouNciNg a Free saFety examiNatioN For your vesseL.

you may sigN up For a Free saFety examiNatioN that caN resuLt iN the awarDiNg oF a saFety examiNatioN DecaL For your vesseL. the exam wiLL Be carrieD out By a traiNeD aND certiFieD memBer oF the uscg auxiLiary.

you caN make aN appoiNtmeNt By emaiLiNg uscg Fso-ve reggie steveNs at: reggie.stevens@netzero.net

Fair winds and saFe boaTing!

Dock Carts

pLease keep them iNsiDe the gates.

wheN they are LeFt outsiDe it ‘iNvites’ peopLe seem to thiNk they are our giFt to them.

rememBer, the more they Disappear the Fewer there are For your FeLLow Boaters.

Thanks!

Dock carts are BecomiNg scarce agaiN.

DItty Bag

619.422.2595SLIPS@CYMCHULAVISTA.COM

Cabrillo MarinaSan Pedro

(310) 732-2252

CYM Chula ViStaChula ViSta

(619) 422-2595

Glorietta baY MarinaCoronado

(619) 435-5203

Port roYal Marinaredondo beaCh

(310) 376-0431

CYM WilMinGtonWilMinGton

(310) 834-7113

C a l i f o r n i aYa C h t M a r i n a . C o M

Boating Season Is Here!So here are a few reminders for good luck:

1. Docks. Only houses and boarding steps are permited on the dock fingers.2. Pets. Please be sure to keep your pet on a leash and under control at all times while in the marina. Also be sure to clean up after your pet.3. Life Vests. Required for all children 12 and under on the docks and on the deck of the boat. Also recommended for those who can’t swim well.4. Quiet Hours. Please be considerate of those around you and remember that quiet hours are from 9PM to 9AM.

“Good Luck Mariner”

Good Luck Superstition? Much of the history of superstitions began at sea. Here’s a collection of common superstitions that sailors of old believed brought good luck to a voyage.In an environment over which they had very little control, sailors of old believed in the power of superstitions to bring them safely home from the sea. Evidently they didn’t have much faith in their Captains to bring them home.Meaning was found in commonplace events like an overturned shoe or an encounter with a black cat. Superstitious old tars would seek to repeat events that they believed were responsible for a previous successful journey. If one threw an old pair of shoes overboard as they departed on the last voyage, and the ship and crew stayed safe, obviously it was the shoes (wink).Sometimes voyages lasted for years and many sailors and boats never returned from their journey. Going to sea was scary stuff and superstition gave the sailors a sense of control over their circumstance. Anything that might have occurred just prior to a successful voyage could become a good omen.Following are some popular old nautical superstitions that mariners believed brought good luck.

1. Smash a bottle against the hull of the boat before beginning a voyage to ensure a safe return. Make sure it breaks! If it doesn’t, it could bring bad luck

2. An old Good Luck Superstition includes stepping aboard using the right foot first to start the journey off on the right foot.

3. Having a black cat aboard brings a sailor safely home from sea.

4. Wearing an earring ensures that a sailor won’t drown5. Tattoos provide protection for sailors.6. A child born on the ship brings good luck to all aboard.7. Toss an old pair of shoes overboard as you depart on a journey

and good luck follows you on the voyage.8. The caul of the head of a newborn baby is protection against

drowning and will bring the owner good luck. (eeeuuuwww)9. Neptune likes rum and the offer of a shot overboard ensures

his protection for the duration of the journey. Mariners usually share whatever they’re drinking with neptune when they’re beginning a voyage. He seems to like tequila and wine too.

10. Swallows seen while at sea are a happy sign.11. Good luck abounds when dolphins are seen swimming with

the ship goes an ancient Good Luck Superstition.12. Placing a silver coin beneath the mast (heads up) ensures the

vessel has successful commissions.13. To keep storms away secure a horseshoe to the mast.

The other side of the coin is bad luck superstitions. Things or events to be avoided lest they put the crew in peril. Many old tars would go to considerable effort to avoid salty superstitions that was said to bring bad luck.

Nautical Trivia