Azimuth August 2016- QYC Newsletter

Aug 2016 Volume XV Issue 61

The AZIMUTH NEWSLETTER – QUANTICO YACHT CLUB – PO BOX 21 – QUANTICO, VA 22134 1

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Commodore’s Message (Art Corbett, QYC Commodore)

Talk around the docks indicate that QYC members have had an exciting summer to date, with a variety of Long Range Cruise itineraries in July and plenty of QYC participants in the Governor's Cup. Time afloat is always better than time ashore and I look forward to hearing the recounting of our many member adventures. I ran onto Shay before the Governor's Cup and invited her to give us a presentation on the Tall Ship she is crewing. She has agreed and we can look forward to hearing of her adventures in November. Laura and I thank all who participated in the renaming of our boat Aquila in June, with a special thanks to those who helped provide and consume the requisite libations. It would appear that the necessary gods were appropriately appeased, as we were truly God blessed with an invigorating cruise along the New England coast as Aquila's first flight. Our trip took us as far as Martha’s Vineyard and proved to be a great opportunity to sail with the whole family at one point or another. We had good wind, great weather, and plenty of new ports to explore and new seas to discover. A few fledgling sails before Aquila acquired her current moniker revealed a series of mechanical and systems challenges. Each challenge brought a new learning opportunity on some arcane aspect of some motor, pump or switch--or some obvious maintenance issue clearly overlooked. I was getting smarter than I wanted at boat maintenance, and thought that we had seen the last of the big issues when we finally put the new name decals on the hull. The gods of wind and sea may have been temporarily assuaged by our toasts and antics, but it appears the laws of physics are less easily influenced and equally vindictive. While discussing

Quantico Yacht Club

2016 Executive Board

Secretary

Dom Bee

Treasurer Jim Wallace

Commodore

Art Corbett

Vice – Commodore

Ken Beutel



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my concerns about dirty fuel that may have been accumulating as Aquila sat inert at the dock for a couple years before we bought her, Ken Beutel passed on some wisdom worthy of the gods—“You can get your dirty fuel professionally polished, or you can polish it one filter at a time.” He didn’t add “so let it be written, so let it be done” to his incantation, but the prediction proved more than accurate. I did quite a few dives into the motor compartment and along the fuel lines in the first week as we sailed north on our long range cruise to New England. Of course, all was well till a couple of short vigorous squalls thrashed us just short of Sandy Hook. With the fuel tank well shaken the trouble began and we spent a memorable hour on a dark night hoping not to go aground near Governor’s Island in New York Harbor. But we got over the fuel challenges to enjoy some great family time as we visited ports like Mystic, Block Island, Newport, Bristol, Martha’s Vineyard and Atlantic City on the home stretch. Some things we learned on this trip might prove helpful to those planning to cruise beyond the Bay. AMTRACK runs along the Connecticut coast and through RI and MA, so we had the opportunity to exchange crew as their vacation time allowed. We were able to dinghy within a short distance of the train stations. There are military marinas at Groton CT and Newport RI. We were able to anchor everywhere and since the temperature is much cooler in NE even in summer we didn’t need the air conditioner. Boat bikes are great, but with our big crew we needed to rent sometimes. Most ports have bike rentals and are a super way to see the town. Put UBER on your phone—you don’t know when you might want it and it is great to be pre-registered. Like to live dangerous? Mopeds are also available for rental in many island towns like Block and Martha’s Vineyard. Know your mast height for the occasional bridge when in canals and rivers. Yeah, there is a story there. . . Have a hand held GPS to find your way back to the boat when dinghy running in dense fog. Another story. . . Be sure to carry extra fuel filters—lots of filters. Art Corbett



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A Naval Perspective of the Revolutionary War by Dom Bee (S/V Careless Whisper)

As we celebrate our nation’s 240th birthday and marvel at the way in which we freed ourselves from the yoke

of oppression by the British Crown, we usually think of famous battles like Concord, Lexington, Saratoga,

Valley Forge and Yorktown. While this is understandable, as the Revolutionary Ward was won mostly with the

Continental Army, Minutemen and assorted Patriots fighting the British Army in land battles, there is quite a

bit of history that was made on the coastal waters and the high seas. While not decisive, they did start a

tradition of victory in naval battles that were memorialized in places like Midway, Coral Sea, Philippine Sea,

Leyte Gulf, and Okinawa. At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, the United States had no navy, but many

private vessels were employed as privateers, and the destruction of British merchant shipping was enormous.

In 1775, Congress ordered the building of a national navy, and the following year thirteen vessels were

completed. Some of these never succeeded in getting out to sea; most of the rest were captured or burned

before the end of the war, but not until after they had done great service for the country. Three men achieved

great success for early America: Lambert Wickes, who made many prizes off the Irish and English coasts, and

who was drowned off the coast of Newfoundland; Gustavus Conyngham, whose bold captures in the English

Channel astonished everybody; and, of course, John Paul Jones, who alone of all the naval heroes of the war

has left a permanent and conspicuous name in our history.

Captain John Paul Jones Jones was a native of Scotland and a resident of Virginia. He

first achieved victory in the North Channel off Ireland as the commanding officer of

the sloop of war Ranger. In that engagement, he battled the HMS Drake for an hour

before achieving victory on April 24, 1778. However, it was off the coast of

Flamborough Head, Scotland that he became the hero of one of the most famous

naval duels in history. On the evening of September 25, 1779, the battle opened

with a squadron of three ships led by the Bonhomme Richard, a 42-gun former

merchant ship, met Captain Pearson on the Serapis and Scarborough convoying a

fleet of merchant vessels, and at once the two flagships engaged in a desperate

conflict. The two ships were lashed together by Jones, commander of the

Richard, and the bloody fight went on until the decks of both were covered

with dead and dying. The crisis came about ten o'clock, when a hand grenade from the Richard was thrown

into the hatchway of the Serapis, where it ignited a row of cartridges, and in the frightful explosion that

followed twenty men were blown to pieces. Still the two commanders doggedly continued the battle until

`CAPTAIN John Paul Jones, U. S. Navy



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both ships were on fire, and half their crews were dead or wounded, when at last the Serapis surrendered. In

the midst of the battle, Jones ceased firing for a moment, when Captain Pearson called out, "Have you struck

your colors?" "I have not yet begun to fight," was the now famous answer of Captain John Paul Jones. It turns

out that the captain who struck his colors that day was British. Nothing before, except the surrender of

Burgoyne, had called the world's attention to the rising nation in the West as did this signal victory in sight of

the British coast. The news of the victory made a profound sensation on the continent, as it was told and

retold in every language in Europe.

The Bonhomme Richard fights the Serapis in the most famous naval battle of the Revolutionary War

This story was partially based on information found on the Naval History and Heritage Command website

Sea Scout Ship 1935 makes history by Dom Bee (S/V Careless Whisper)

On May 14, 2016, Sea Scout Ship 1935 conducted its first ever official event by participating in the flag raising

ceremony for the beginning of the racing season with the Spring Tune-Up Race. Four of the new Sea Scouts

made up the color guard and they performed admirably in raising the colors and the QYC burgee. Ship 1935 is

the newest Ship and one of sixteen in the National Capital Area Council. The Ship’s name is the “The



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Waterdogs” and the number was chosen since it represents the year that the QYC was first chartered. Ship

1935 is led by Diane Wright, the Skipper and Patrick Wright, the Boatswain. Sea Scouts promotes better

citizenship and improved members’ boating skills through instruction and practice in water safety, boating

skills, outdoor, social, service experiences, and knowledge of our maritime heritage.

Ship 1935 Color Guard advances with the colors Ship 1935 Color Guard raises the National Ensign

The United States Coast Guard; Semper Paratus since 1790

by Dom Bee (S/V Careless Whisper)

Since August is the Coast Guard’s birthday and I served 32 years both in uniform and as a civilian, I thought I’d

choose that as my topic for the month. Semper Paratus means “Always Ready” in Latin and it’s the U.S. Coast

Guard’s motto. On 4 August 1790, President George Washington signed the Tariff Act that authorized the

construction of ten revenue cutters to enforce federal tariff and trade laws and to prevent smuggling. It was

then known as the Revenue Cutter Service and it expanded in size and responsibilities as the nation grew.

The Coast Guard is one of the oldest organizations of the federal government and until Congress established

the Navy Department in 1798 it served as the nation's only armed force afloat. The U. S. Coast Guard is

simultaneously and at all times a military force and federal law enforcement agency dedicated to maritime

safety, security, and stewardship missions. The Coast Guard protected the nation throughout its long history

and served proudly in the majority of the nation's conflicts. The Coast Guard's national defense

responsibilities remain one of its most important functions even today. In times of peace it operates as part



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of the Department of Homeland Security, serving as the nation's front-line agency for enforcing the nation's

laws at sea, protecting the marine environment and the nation's vast coastline and ports, and saving life. In

times of war, or at the direction of the President, the Coast Guard serves as part of the Navy Department.

The service received its present name in 1915 under an act of Congress that merged the Revenue Cutter

Service with the U. S. Life-Saving Service. The latter consisted of dozens of stations placed around the nation’s

coastlines that were manned by dedicated crews willing to risk their lives to save those in peril on the sea, a

role that meshed well with the Revenue Cutter Service’s core missions. The Coast Guard began maintaining

the country's aids to maritime navigation, including lighthouses, when President Franklin Roosevelt ordered

the transfer of the Lighthouse Service to the Coast Guard in 1939. In 1946 Congress permanently transferred

the Commerce Department's Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation to the Coast Guard, which placed

merchant marine licensing and merchant vessel safety under its purview. The nation now had a single

maritime federal agency dedicated to saving life at sea and enforcing the nation's maritime laws. On 1 April

1967, Executive Order 167-81 transferred the Coast Guard from the Treasury Department to the newly-

formed Department of Transportation and on 1 March 2003, the Coast Guard formally transferred from the

Department of Transportation to the newly-created Department of Homeland Security, where it resides today.

The Coast Guard packs a lot of punch. With only 36,235 active, 7,351 Reserve, 7,064 Civilian and 29,620

Auxiliary members, on an average day, it:

Conducts 45 search and rescue cases; Saves 10 lives; Saves over $1.2M in property; Seizes 874 pounds of cocaine and 214 pounds of marijuana Conducts 57 waterborne patrols of critical maritime infrastructure; Interdicts 17 illegal migrants; Escorts 5 high-capacity passenger vessels; Conducts 24 security boardings in and around U.S. ports; Screens 360 merchant vessels for potential security threats prior to arrival in U.S. ports; Conducts 14 fisheries conservation boardings; Services 82 buoys and fixed aids to navigation; Investigates 35 pollution incidents; Completes 26 safety examinations on foreign vessels; Conducts 105 marine inspections; Investigates 14 marine casualties involving commercial vessels;



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Facilitates movement of $8.7B worth of goods and commodities through the Nation’s Maritime Transportation System.

While the equipment has changed over the years, the Coast Guard’s missions really haven’t with guarding the coast being a core mission being carried out every day by brave men and women who exemplify the service’s core values of Honor, Respect and Devotion to Duty.

U.S. Revenue Cutter Bear circa 1890 on Patrol Off Alaska.

A boarding party from the Revenue Cutter Morris prepares to board the passenger vessel Benjamin Adams on 16 July 1861



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USCGC Joshua James, a National Security Cutter, commissioned in 2015, is one of the newest ships in the USCG

This story was partially based on information found on the Coast Guard’s History website

Sea Scout Ship 1935 serves other and has fun by Dom Bee (S/V Careless Whisper)

Sea Scout Ship 1935 had two outstanding activities in July. The first activity involved taking some Scouts from

Troop 333 in Newport News, VA out for a day on the water. Since Boy Scouts do not typically go out on boats,

a good friend of the Committee Chair asked him if that would be possible. Always eager to sail and provide

opportunities for others to enjoy the water, Diane Wright, Skipper of Ship 1935 agreed so on 23 July 2016, on

a beautiful and hot Saturday morning, everyone involved met at Quantico marina and boarded Dixie Chicken

and Careless Whisper for a day of adventure on the Potomac. After a short run, a suitable anchorage was

found and the boats rafted up. Several Scouts then swam ashore or used Dixie Chicken’s tender to explore the



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beach and look for fossils. When they returned, burgers were cooked up for lunch and relaxed. While there

was not much wind, both boats were able to put up their sails for a bit while returning to the dock. It was a

very hot but very enjoyable day. The following Saturday, a similar event was held for the young women from

the Aquia Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints but this one involved a few more boats. In

addition to Dixie Chicken, Leap of Faith, Music Maker and Gatsbyesque also participated. Since the winds were

favorable, the sailboats sailed to Mattawoman Creek to raft up alongside Gatsbyesque who had anchored

ahead of the pack. Once all boats were alongside each other, a floating little island was launched and became

the star attraction of the day. After great enjoyment of the cool water on a really hot day, lunch consisting of

burgers and hot dogs were cooked up and enjoyed. After another round of watery fun, it was time to return

home. To say that great fun was had was an understatement to be sure. This event would not have been

possible without the generosity of time, talent and resources from Chuck, Charlie, Ken and Diane. Thank you

all for serving the community. You exemplify service to the community.



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The Potomac River as its meant to be enjoyed

Careless Whisper and Dixie Chicken rafted up Scout from Troop 333 at the helm of Careless Whisper

A fout boat raft up in Mattawoman Creek



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Governor’s Race Recap, Ray Williams

Now the 2016 Governors Cup Race is a fond memory. I suspect the key highlight of our race was when we passed the

finish line in light air and my crew was all asleep except for Cathy who remarked that is was a shame after working so

hard all night they did not make it to the finish. I have to complement my crew that for three guys who had no sailing

experience they did very well.

After passing Pt Lookout we were treated to bioluminescence in our wake as well as a spectacular view of the sky with

the occasional meteor streaking across the sky. In that area of the river it is so dark you can a whole lot more stars than

you can normally see. Pretty spectacular viewing. The race results for the race are below:



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At 2:20 into the race the fleet was

starting to spread out a little after all

the boats had to start with long tacks

downriver. Te-Keel-La went to the

north of the river following Rogue and

what appeared to be stronger winds

as well as a better angle to head

down river.

At 4:55 into the race the fleet is

spreading out a little.



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At 8:37 into the race there is definitely a spread out.

On Te-Keel-La we felt that we had 4-5 boats behind us,

but looking at the tracks it is clear we lost some ground

from Coles Point to MOA-A.

At 10:30 into the race Te-Keel-La is heading up the St Mary’s River in some

pretty light air at this point. As you can see it appears that Ramble On and

Evergreen have completed the race and are already heading out.



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History of Sailing in the Olympics by Bernie Rogan (S/V Journey)

With the Olympics in full swing I thought it might be interesting to include an article on the history of

competitive sailing and how it was introduced to the Olympic Games.

America’s Cup

International yacht racing began in 1851 when a syndicate of members of the New York Yacht Club built a 101-

foot schooner named America. The yacht was sailed to England where it won a trophy called the Hundred

Guineas Cup in a race around the Isle of Wight. The trophy was renamed The America's Cup and remained in

the hands of the United States until 1983, when an Australian yacht finally brought to an end the New York

Yacht Club’s 132-year winning streak.

Evolving Design



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Sailing was first contested as an Olympic sport at the 1900 Paris Games. Since then, the classes of boats

allowed to compete have continually evolved to reflect advances in yacht design and technology. Equipment

advances over the past 20 years have created a trend towards smaller and lighter craft, placing ever greater

demands on both the athletic and technical capacities of the sailors.

Class Rules

The sport is organized under a single set of rules for racing published by World Sailing. Olympic racing is now

conducted with boats categorized into one-design classes based on similar weights and measurements.

Fleet Racing and Match Racing

Races are sailed in what is known as a fleet racing format: fleets of equally-matched boats racing around the

same course area at the same time. Courses are designed to

incorporate a variety of different sailing angles: upwind,

downwind and reaching.

There are two new additions for the Rio 2016 Olympic

Games. The 49erFX skiff has been introduced for women’s

sailors and a mixed multihull for male and female sailors to

compete side by side.

This story was based on information found on the

International Olympics Committee website

https://www.olympic.org/sailing



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Note from the Editor

I want thank our regular contributors for their previous submissions and contributions and to solicit

your assistance in keeping this newsletter alive as an active feature of our Yacht Club. Articles of any

topic relevant to boating and/or boat ownership are welcome…to include sea stories, maintenance tips,

navigation, or boat safety to name just a few.

I look forward to hearing any feedback or suggestions from our readers, and we are always looking for

articles or pictures to include in our next edition.

This newsletter is now being published once a quarter or more often based on article contributions.

Please have your inputs to me by end of the first week of each month.

You may contact me at [email protected] anytime! Cheers, Bernie Rogan (s/v Journey)

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Documents

Azimuth August 2016- QYC Newsletter