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PowerTime Novice to Captain November Edition to embark Friday with a new crop of Captains!

The PowerTime N2C crew will be departing on Friday Nov. 7 2008 for its bi-annual flotilla.  We are excited to have upwards of 11 boats participating from all over the US and the UK with members as Captains of their own boats…many for the first time.  Watch this space for more details as they unfold with stories and pictures.

N2C Participants, Captains

 

N2C participants, Captains, and Guests,

After review of our check out procedure @ Sunsail, I would like to add additional thoughts, as well as add emphasis to our trip . . . in a spot where I won’t lose it.

MAKE SURE YOU WRITE DOWN THE CHARTER COMPANY EMERGENCY CONTACT PHONE NUMBER AND VHF FREQUENCY.

During initial check-out at dock, physically see, touch, and operate:

1) Water Tank Valves. Verify that both tanks are full. Know how to switch tanks.

2) Check isolators for batteries. Starting battery should be isolated. Have staff show you how to switch to different batteries.

3) Propane cut-off valve – make sure all burners work, including oven.

4) Turn on Nav system, find boat impeller, clean if necessary, spin to make sure it registers on instruments. Has impact on true/apparent wind speed indicators.

5) Holding tank discharge valve. Dump holding tank ONLY in open water – NEVER IN HARBOR OR ANCHAORAGE.

6) Radio check for VHF – send and receive

7) Are Frig/Freezer as cold as they should be without shore power?

8) Hanging 12v cockpit light works.

9) For mooring balls, use 2 lines, one from each bow cleat, loop each thru mooring pendant, and cleat off at original cleat. Helps prevent chafing. Better than one line looped thru pendant, and secured to each bow cleat.

Run engine without shore power for at least an hour before departure. Are all batteries individually charging above 12v under engine only? Check prior to dock departure. After departure, use as little DC as possible and run your engine in morning and evening, for about an hour, at 1500rpm.

Practice backing up at your home base prior to heading to islands

Find a boat with non in-mast furling, and practice hoisting and reefing main prior to N2C trip to BVI.

Check and understand all running rigging. Show guests how winches and clutch stoppers work. Wind and time permitting, once in the BVI, practice reefing your main before departing Sunsail dock. Identify #1 and #2 reefing lines. Don’t forget to release reefing lines prior to first main hoist.

When hoisting main, release main sheet, and vang, and ease lazy jacks.

When dropping main for the day, run halyard down from head shackle, around lower mast cleat, and then tension main halyard. This prevents main from sliding back up mast, and prevents batt cars from clanging against each other.

Google “Breeze Booster” prior to trip south.

Run outboard motor on dinghy. Put in forward and reverse. Check fuel. Make sure dinghy is holding air. Mark dinghy so that yours can be recognized at night, at the end of an evening, from all the others tied up together.

When departing BVI, remember to save $5 cash (when using ferry) for each person for departure tax. May be more for airlines.

Blue and white mooring balls for overnight use, (generally $25 per night). Make sure you ask about free ice and water with mooring use. Small solid blue buoys for dinghy tie-up.

Capt. Dave Wilbar, Mgr, PowerTime VA Beach

revised 12/29/08

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