PAGE 18 • SPRING 2009 THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SAILING ASSOCIATION
SPRING 2009 • PAGE 19
FEATURED FACILITY • WINDWARD SAILING
SAFETY AT SEA
Symptom on gravity-fed holding tanks: Most catamarans
continued from page 8
but also a good number of monohulls feature gravity-fed
By Tony and Cindy Jones
holding tanks that rely on self-drainage once a seacock is
Symptom: Pump handle moves up and down without
opened. The principle is simple and looks compelling in a
much resistance (together with 1) and 2). Truly a case
brochure! Once a tank is used for a day or two though,
H
aving been in retail
for a Dr. Welby SRTASTSWME. The likely problem is that
enough sediment accumulates at the bottom and drains are
management for over 20 years,
the handle and rod detached from the piston (which
clogged as the tank continues to fill even with an open
I had decided to move on and
remains idly at the bottom of the pump cylinder). A
seacock. This can lead to problems within a short period of
was enrolled in a Real Estate school for
rusted threaded rod and too much elbow grease during
time. Identifying a brave soul that is capable of operating a
what I thought would be a fun career. In
the pump action is usually the precursor to this failure.
coat hanger or other contraption into the throughhull from
the middle of the course, I learned that
The clean top part of the pump will have to be
outside and can then swim away fast resolves the problem.
Windward Sailing School was for sale. I
disassembled and the right replacement parts need to be
Attempting to remove the plug from the inside (e.g.,
dreamed that sailing for a living would
installed. This is usually beyond the resources available
through an inspection port on the tank) can be difficult or
be awesome. I talked it over with Cindy,
onboard a charter vessel.
impossible depending on the tank geometry.
my wife, and she said to go for it. I
couldn’t believe my ears! She was
Symptom: Water pumps in, waste pumps out but the
The marine head is one of our most trusted pieces of
supposed to say something like, “are you
downward push is quite difficult and accompanied on
equipment onboard. Life onboard can become
crazy?” Instead, she was very supportive
deck by the characteristic smell of “human activity.” In
unpleasantly basic without it. Used properly it will work
of the whole idea. And so, we acquired
many cases, including a particularly memorable one in
without problems for a long time until perhaps requiring
Windward Sailing in August of 2005.
St. Martin a few years back, this scenario is the
a rebuild. Only the very brave will want to tempt this
signature of a full holding tank. The downward stroke
intricate system.
The school had been in operation since pushes the contents of the tank through the vent line
1988, so we had a good customer base, and out of the vent fitting, which is usually mounted
Capt. Christoph A. W inter has been an ASA Sailing Instructor
as well as a wonderful staff of captains. somewhere topsides. Depending on the wind direction
for over 12 years, teaching more than 1,000 students mostly in
The former owners, Charley and Sandra
W indward Sailing’s historic facility allows students to work in a comfortably
this situation may not be easily spotted since nobody
advanced courses and navigation. He is a USCG-licensed
Weaver, shared a great deal of time and
remodeled environment that still retains its old world charm.
follows SRTASTSWME. The solution is to pump out the
Captain and received the ASA Outstanding Instructor award
information during the transition holding tank properly but it may also require cleaning of
twice. He also holds a doctorate in nuclear physics from the
process, making it very smooth. Charley continues to do the vent lines/fitting.
U niversity of Goettingen, Germany.
some teaching for us, and holds Instructor Qualification
For more information
Clinics (IQCs) at the school.
Contact Tony & Cindy Jones by calling 904-261-9125;
emailing wsailing1@yahoo.com or visiting their website at
The school offers Basic through Celestial and Docking
Endorsement, plus IQCs. We teach Basic Keelboat and
www.windwardsailing.com.
Basic Coastal Cruising on 24- to 31-foot boats, and
Bareboat Chartering on 31- to 34-foot boats. Windward
Cross, US and Confederate. The Amelia Island lighthouse
also offers an “Intro to Sail” three-hour course, and we
is further west than any lighthouse on the eastern coast
do private charters. We have two bareboats as well, with
(our longitude is equal with Cleveland, Ohio). It is
discounts for former students.
Florida’s oldest working lighthouse as well.
Beautiful Fernandina Harbor
Because of our location, we are able to sail immediately
Windward Sailing operates the boats out of Fernandina
upon exiting the marina. Cumberland Sound, a wonderful
Harbor Marina, which is right on the ICW on Amelia
sailing venue, is 15 minutes away by sail, and is
Island, and we also have a satellite location on the
surrounded by parks and the Atlantic. Between the sea
Ortega River in Jacksonville, Fla. Our main office and
breezes, land breezes, northeasters and westerlies, this
classroom are in historic Fernandina Beach, in a 1907
area nearly always has wind. To the north of the sound is
two-story house. Our students can walk to the boats,
Cumberland Island, Ga., a national seashore that boasts
classroom and 30 restaurants in a quaint Victorian-era
wild horses, while Fort Clinch State Park is on the south
setting. There are many shops, bed-and-breakfasts and a
end of the sound. The fort is pre-civil war. Just north of
Hampton Inn, as well.
the sound off the ICW in Georgia is Kings Bay, a
submarine base, which is home to eight Navy Ohio class
Fernandina is the historic town on Amelia Island and was
subs. This is the only place I know of in the world where
founded in 1562. Amelia Island is well known for its
you can see a 560-foot Trident sub with its navy escort
resorts, including Amelia Island Plantation and the Ritz
gunboats and wild horses at the same time!
Carlton. It was voted one of the top five islands in North
America by Conde Nast magazine. The island is the only
We hold Basic Keelboat in the ICW and the sound. In
place in the US to have been under eight national flags:
Bareboat Chartering we venture into the Atlantic.
French, Spanish, English, Mexican, Patriots, Green continued on page 21
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