Where Are You In Lake Washington?

Posted on October 3, 2013 by captnmike
Locations in Lake Washington, Seattle

Locations in Lake Washington

This is a chart showing locations in Lake Washington I made to help the Seattle Harbor Patrol train new members on locations in Lake Washington.

If a friend asks you to meet them somewhere on Lake Washington and you don’t know where the place is, that is an annoyance and you need to get more information from your friend.

However, if you are the Harbor Patrol even a few seconds delay in heading to the proper place on or near the water when an emergency happens can mean the difference between life and death.

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Videos on Americas Cup Technology

Posted on September 29, 2013 by captnmike

Americas-CupRecently I was sent several videos of the amazing technology of the Americas Cup AC 72 boats.

I have arranged the videos below with a short description of each video so you can watch the ones you want.

I hope you enjoy the videos as much as I did.  The technology is amazing.  25,000 man hours to build one of the wing sails, boats under sail that fly above the water both upwind and down wind.

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A weather radio can save your life (even if it doesn’t float)

Posted on September 25, 2013 by captnmike

Ear to the Ground's avatarEAR TO THE GROUND WITH DNR

Gov. Jay Inslee has proclaimed October as Washington State Disaster Preparedness Month and NOAA Weather Radio Awareness Month. Consider a weather radio as your “first-alert” to the many types of hazardous events for which we are at risk in Washington State — from wildland fires and avalanches to floods, landslides and earthquakes, to name a few.

Here are the basics of what a NOAA weather radio provides:

  • “All-hazards” warnings — not only for floods and storms, but for immediate life-threatening hazards like tsunamis, volcanic activity, AMBER child abduction alerts, and secondary hazards from terrorism and earthquakes;
  • Warning alarm to alert you to fast-breaking, potentially lifesaving warning messages around the clock;
  • Immediate emergency warning information via the Emergency Alert System that also serves television and radio broadcasters;
  • Programmable features so you can select which warnings you want to receive by location and type of event;
  • Battery backup;
  • Broadcasts of the latest weather…

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The Untold 9/11 Boat Lift Story

Posted on September 25, 2013 by captnmike
Evacuation of 500,000 people from Lower Manhattan on 9/11 by boat

Evacuation of 500,000 people from Lower Manhattan on 9/11 by boat

Following the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers in 2001, a problem faced by many New Yorkers was how to get home.

I remember pictures of people walking across bridges and other images of mass migration as people tried to get home.

The boat lift of half a million people from Lower Manhattan was done by a volunteer civilian flotilla that just showed up when the call went out.  The flotilla just materialized when the Coast Guard put out a Marine Assistance Broadcast asking any vessels that could help, to please report to Lower Manhattan to help evacuate stranded commuters.

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Special Notice To Mariners

Posted on September 23, 2013 by captnmike
District 13 Special Notice To Mariners

District 13 Special Notice To Mariners

Need to know how to contact the Coast Guard, either by phone or VHF radio?  Or what to do in an emergency on the water?

Never fear, there is a FREE guide from the District 13 Coast Guard, covering these and many other safety questions in their Special Notice To Mariners.

The 2014 Special Notice has been released and the links have been updated.

The Special Notice to Mariners is available as a free PDF download that you can print your self.  The Special Notice is updated yearly to keep it current.

Chapter I covers Emergency Procedures, who to call and how, preparing to be towed, how to operate Coast Guard Dropable Pumps, Helicopter Evacuation Procedures, and other information that could save the life of you or your crew.

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Three Stopper Knots

Posted on August 21, 2013 by captnmike
Three stopper knots for your boat

Three stopper knots for your boat

Here are three different stopper knots for use on your sailboat. The Figure Eight Stopper Knot is probably the most popular Stopper Knot in use, named as it looks like a Figure 8, it’s in every sailing book. The Figure Eight can also be tied slippery as a temporary stopper knot to help keep lines from dragging in the water.

The Double Figure Eight Stopper Knot looks like the Ashley knot #522 – which he calls a Stevedore Knot (use this in slippery lines when a high load is expected). The last Stopper Knot is my favorite Stopper Knot, I learned it from an instructor at the J World San Diego Sailing School when I was first stating to sail.

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Posted in Boating Safety, Sailing and Boating Skills | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Alki Point Lighthouse History & Tours

Posted on July 22, 2013 by captnmike
Alki Point Lighthouse in West Seattle

Alki Point Lighthouse in West Seattle

Have you ever wondered what the inside of a Lighthouse looks like?

The Alki Point Lighthouse in West Seattle is open for FREE tours most Weekends from the first weekend in June to the last weekend in August (Current Tour Information). The hours of operation are 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm with the last tour starting around 3:40 pm. The tours are conducted by volunteers from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. The Alki Point Lighthouse is located in the back yard of the residence of the Commander of the 13th District of the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard 13th District covers Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.  So set your GPS Navigator to 3201 Alki Avenue SW Seattle, WA 98116, and stop on by. Continue reading →

Posted in Boating Safety, History, seattle | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Washing Your Sheets, Halyards and Lines

Posted on June 4, 2013 by captnmike
A dock line in need of washing

A dock line in need of washing

Washing the lines and halyard that have been exposed to the elements over the winter is one of my spring rites of getting the boat ready for another sailing season.

Washing lines can make them easier to handle, extend their useful life and they look better, especially in an area like Puget Sound where green stuff tends to grow on any lines left exposed to the elements over the winter.

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