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Kingston Cove Yacht Club
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 81
Kingston, WA 98346-0081
(360)297-3371
KCYC is a 501C7 - Social Organization
Club Address
25815 Washington Blvd NE
Kingston, WA 98346

News / Articles

2021 Spring Boater Education Series

Janiece Christian


  • It’s Not Nice to fool with Mother Nature! Nancy Langwith, Presenter

    Although it is important to recognize and have some understanding of synoptic weather, most people are interested in what is impacting them right now where they are.  There are many good weather courses that focus on what you need to know about synoptic weather, but this presentation is not one of them.  Putting aside for a moment the low and high pressure systems, 500 mb charts, frontal passages, troughs, hurricanes and storms, sometimes generic terms, local resources and local knowledge will keep you out of trouble or point out where trouble might be lurking.  Although I forecasted the weather for 12 years aboard our sailboat and kept us out of most trouble, I didn’t know anything about Pacific Northwest weather, which is very different from Atlantic and Continental weather, when we began cruising locally.  This presentation is about how I gained an understanding of the Pac NW weather and how it can help you with your Go-No decisions and passage planning.

    Presenter Bio:  With over 40,000 miles under the keel, I lived aboard an ocean cruising sailboat with my husband for almost 12 years in the Caribbean and Mediterranean Oceans, crossed the Atlantic Ocean twice and traversed the Atlantic Ocean between Florida and the Caribbean 5 times.  During those 12 years, I was the designated weather “person” aboard. The only formal training I had was various weather short courses and one university course in meteorology.  The remainder of my weather education was through self-study and experience.  My on-board weather-related equipment while sailing was 1-3 computers (navigation also), a single side band radio (HF), anemometer, barometer, weather fax receiver, satellite phone (later years only), OCENS infrared and visible satellite receiver (later years only), radar, 2 eyes, local knowledge and the hair on the back of my neck. Our current equipment for coastal cruising is far less, but still includes 2 eyes, local knowledge and the hair on the back of my neck.




  • Boater Electrical Safety, Bob Mehm, Presenter

    PURPOSE OF TRAINING - Awareness of electrical safety and practical steps boat owner can take to prevent an electrical malfunction that can cause a stranded boat or worst case a boat fire. The percentage of electrical causes of boat fires has been increasing due to fuel systems becoming safer.
    AGENDA:  Introduction; Purpose of Training; Basics of AC/DC Power; Measuring Power; Safety Prior to any Work; Proper Tools / Parts & Supplies; Inspecting Electrical Connections; Repairing Electrical Connections

    Presenter Bio - Recreational Boater for over 40 years; Owned boats in NJ, NY, FL & Hawaii, over 500 hours off-shore sportfishing. Professional Background - Started Career as USAF Electronics Technician, Electrical Engineer, Field Service Engineer, Medical Imaging Systems, Air National Guard Officer, 17D Cyber Warfare, Telecommunications Infrastructure Engineer, RCDD
    Click here for presentation—Boater Electrical Safety


  • Where’s my Anchor? Jack Lott, Presenter

    The presentation will touch on general information regarding types of anchors, test data on their functionality in various holding grounds, anchor chain and rode combinations, scope to depth recommendations.
    Specific information regarding:
    • Recommendations on anchor weight and chain length to boat length and vessel type.
    • How to lay down an anchor and chain/rode to assure a good set.
    • How to anchor over a solid granite bottom using a stern line to shore. 
    • How to use current weather conditions to understand where other anchors of nearby boats are.  A video will be shown to demonstrate a common misunderstanding of where anchors are in a bay with other boats.
    • What nearby boats should be avoided with surveying a location to anchor.
      Recommendations on anchor alarms.
    • Use of single line verses bridal snubber lines to reduce shock load and reduce porpoising.
    Presenter Bio:  An active boating and sailing history for over 50 years.  Upon reflection, I estimate that I’ve anchored over 600 times in waters ranging from the Caribbean, Adriatic Sea, the West Coast  North America, and extensively in the greater Puget sound and Canadian water ways.  With only one incident of dragging (Port Townsend, heavy ell grass in 50 knots of wind), I’ve learned through experience techniques that assure a safe and secure situation in all conditions.


  • The Discipline of Marine Survey, Jeff Kutz, Presenter

    The Discipline of Marine Survey and its potential benefits to the recreational boater.
    Summary: The presentation will discuss the needs / benefits of having a Marine Survey report and when it may be required and frequency of the inspection. The presentation will feature quick read thru of a current Marine Survey Report, discussing the high points, and the benefits of the inspection and subsequent report. At the completion, I would like to open the presentation up for comments and question and answer discussion.

    Presenter Bio: The presenter (me) Jeff Kutz has been a Marine Professional for his entire working career and currently has his own business, Jeff Kutz Marine Survey and Consulting LLC. for the past seven (7) years. I have operated company owned fish packers in excess of 120’ L.O.A. in Alaskan Waters from Ketchikan to Nome Alaska, Operated Bering Sea crab fishing vessels, Port Engineer Trident Seafoods, project manager on new vessel construction and major vessel refits. The presenter has surveyed vessels including Mega Yachts, commercial Fishing Vessels up to 270’ L.O.A., Tug Boats and recreational vessels. Additionally, I have surveyed most common vessel building materials including wood, including “stitch and glue”, FRP, Fiber reinforced Plastic (fiberglass), marine grade Aluminum Alloy, steel alloy.  Currently Member Navtech US Marine Surveyors Assoc.; Graduate, Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology.; Marine Engineer Degree.


  • Crew Overboard Recovery Introductory Presentation, Bob Doyle, Presenter

    The Sailing Foundation method focuses on the most difficult Crew Overboard (COB) situation, specifically that of a two-person crew with one overboard which necessitates a single-handed pickup in fresh wind and sea conditions exacerbated by cold water commonly present in northern waters. The clinic is typically presented in a three-part format. This presentation is the first - lecture, slides and video. In the future we may have an opportunity to do the next parts - Manually rigging each boat and On-the-water drills. This presentation includes a tested and proven method for a successful single-handed pickup of a COB. The method also works very well in picking up someone with a full crew.

    Presenter Bio - Bob was involved in the first on-the-water Lifesling testing and continued to host Lifesling clinics for multiple years associated with various Yacht Clubs. Sailing has been a lifelong interest of Bob’s. He began boating at an early age and was a member of the local Junior Yacht Club. He has sailed and raced both center board and keel boats. He has owned 14 sailboats ranging from 22 to 56 ft. He also owned and operated a sailing school for over 15 years and has been rigging sailboats for over 30 years. While no longer current, Bob possessed US Coast Guard license for over 20 years.
    Click here for presentation—Crew Overboard Recovery