TOSCA Winter Dinner – marks the start of the 2012 season
The TOSCA Winter dinner meeting, held on Saturday, 28 January 2012 was a lively success. Holding down the back room at Fiddler's Green Restaurant on Shelter Island were well-known crews from our TOSCA boats including the Jonvilles, Browns, Ryans, McLennans, Thomas, Hayems and Solbergs. New to the scene were Fraser and Debbie Fisher. On hand for the factory were owners Stephen and Stephanie Malbasa. We had the opportunity to meet Don and Debra Aitken, originally hailing from Canada. Don is associated with the new Tartan dealership in San Diego (Suncoast Yachts).
We had the pleasure to meet new members Debbie and Fraser Fisher, who are proud new owners of a 2001 T3500 berthed in Newport. We are fortunate to have the Fishers with us, sharing their enthusiasm for the Tartan brand and TOSCA.
Amid breaks in the wine and dinner, Captain Nicholas Jonville and crew Fred Hayem and Don McLennan presented a slide show on their most successful Baha cruise, 2011. We all took away a lesson from this dedicated crew -- prepare well and enjoy your time on board. Particularly impressive was that this crew was able to fly various spinnakers (they had three on board) nearly all the way. A tactical move to bend the wheel towards a nearshore run provided enough wind to carry sail while others motored. Cheers to vessel Sans Frontieres!
Steve Malbasa, owner of Tartan Yachts, brought us more good news from the factory floor. The fabulous new T4000 captured not one, but two boat-of-the-year awards in the prestigious Cruising World and Sailing World magazines. The new C&C 101 is almost ready to go out the door. Stephen reported that we now have dealers in the Northwest, San Francisco, and San Diego, in addition to the boats offered in Marina del Rey by Blue Pacific Sailing. Of particular note is the fact that Tartan is well on the road to establishing a growing international market -- in the Far East, Middle East, and Europe.
Don Aitken, VP Sales and Marketing, Sun Coast Yachts and wife Debra were on hand to formally meet our fellow TOSCAns. Don has many years of experience in the yachting industry, and just plain exudes his love of boats and the opportunity to serve new Tartan owners. I guarantee that you will like what you see when you meet Don. Darrell Allen, President of Suncoast Yachts will direct the new Tartan dealership in San Diego. We look forward to seeing this highly motivated team in action at the San Diego docks.
Overheard in the conversation. Doug and Sandy Mills (ELAN) have scored the Isthmus Yacht Club for our Saturday cocktail party at the 2012 Cruise. This historic venue will really give the party a kick. Thanks Doug and Sandy! Pascal Hayem (TAINA) finds her new position with the Jonville Team SANS FRONTIERES) to be greatly rewoarding. She apparently has captured the French real estate connection in San Diego. Martha Thomas (CORGI) is now our resident expert in green boating, what with her wind generator and solar outfit going well. Fraser Fisher, (MAJA SEA) being an engineer and IT guy, seems to be enjoying the challenge of tweaking of his new T3500. Watch out for some snappy upgrades on this vessel. Debbie Fisher is the purser, administrator, and general manager of Maja Sea - she is really involved. Veteran cruisers Karen and Jeff Brown (DAWNSEA) have promised to attend the June 2012 cruise, once and for all. We may be seeing them more at Catalina, as Karen, a nurse, will retire in the near future. Paul Ryan, (PETER RABBIT) showed up after having a day great day sail. He introduced us to his lovely friend Madhu, who hails originally from India. Don McLennan (INTUITION) is well on the way to earning the boat-of-the-year yacht management and varnish specialist. As you probably know, Don is the administrator of our very successful www.gotosca.org Web site. Laura McLennan continues to encourage his perfection amid taking time to sail apart from a busy law practice. Bill Solberg just put on the 100 percent winter JIB in preparation for some breezy passages this spring. He has been carving carousel animals up in Albany Oregon in his spare time. Stephen and Stephanie Malbasa (ASPIRE) have their T4300 berthed at the Cal Yacht Club in Marina del Rey. It is a beauty!
WE ARE INDEBTED TO TARTAN YACHTS FOR SPONSORING OUR WINTER DINNER MEETING. THANKS TO STEPHEN AND STEPANIE MALBASA FOR THIS SUBSTANTIAL SUPPORT.
Reported by Bill Solberg
Wind Dancer Cruises to San Miguel
Our very own Bill Solberg and crew Bob Mahon recently completed a 7 day trip from Marina del Ray to San Miguel, stopping at Santa Barbara and Santa Rosa islands. Bill reports: "We had a perfect weather window for San Miguel, so good that we elected to forego the usual wee-hours passage to the island. Still, from Johnson's Lee on Santa Rosa, it was a quick 20 nm trip as we were pushed along with 20 knot following winds. The passage was special, as we sailed wing-and-wing from Santa Rosa to Miguel, arriving about 1400 hours in brisk wind from the ESE. This posed another issue: we had never anchored here in anything but NW winds. As it turned out, one anchors in this generously large anchorag in the usual location regardless of wind.
Here are some details of our passage.
Fuel. We cruised approximately 210 nm on 37 gallons + 5 gallons in a jerry can. The objective was to avoid having to re-fuel. We arrived back with four gallons reserve.
Anchoring. We anchored in the NW area, off the palm trees, searching for sand and avoiding kelp. In 20 knots of wind, we had 250 feet of rode (including 100 feet of chain). We augmented this with a 33 pound sentinel and a rigged riding sail.
Regulations. I applied for a permit, but received no response. Speaking with a long-time seaman who frequented the Island, we got the opinion that things are not so regulated as it would seem. Still, it might be best to check with the ranger to get permission to walk unaccompanied on the trails.
Incident report. On Sunday, September 11, we beached our 5HP assisted dinghy near the palm trees, but careful not to encroach any sea lions. We then set out for Nidiver Canyon, where the ranger station is located. We met a rugged rock outfall on the beach, requiring passage through this area. As I proceeded, I lost my footing and fell, severely lacerating my left index finger, among other contusions to the lower extremities. I got a bit concerned when I could look at my finger and see the glistening white tendon sheath -- a real anatomy lesson. Having prepared for some calamity like this, we had an adequate hemorrhage kit along. Ultimately, it was apparent that I needed stitches, so we left the anchorage and made out way to Santa Barbara in calm seas. I was repaired by 1930 hours. Lessons learned: even a benign walk through boulders gives risk when you are in the wilderness -- be aware of all risks. I owe my decisive first mate, Bob Mahon a lot of gratitude for getting me to my medical help quickly and safely.
Final thoughts. Would I take this trip again? Definitely yes! It is the Mount Everest of Southern California sailing destinations. The required skills and gear are straightforward: solid reefing system, anchoring gear capable of 35 kt true winds, at least a 5 HP outboard and good dinghy, willingness to depart for safer anchorages at any time. For those not familiar with the anchorage, buddying up with another vessel is recommended. Those who are super-timid might first elect to take the charter Island Packet catamarans that arrive daily with tourists so as to better get their bearings.
Be sure to watch Bill Solberg's short YouTube video! or another video on the passage to San Miguel.
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