Typically we dive on Saturdays and sail on Sundays, but that’s subject to change on the slightest whim. Times for diving are usually predicated on tidal movements, but the security measures for the Pearl Harbor channel have played hob with that for the time being. The boat is docked at the fishing pier on Hickam Air Force Base.
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To “sign on” for a trip, the easiest means is to respond to my e-mail or e-mail me at spengelm001DELETETHIS@hawaii.rr.com. The next preference would be to leave voice mail for me at 255-SAIL. Once you’ve let me know you’ll be going out with us please also let me know if your plans change. I usually have to tell some people the boat’s full, so a “no-show” deprives them of an outing they might otherwise have enjoyed.
I don’t accept any payment or contributions toward expenses, but often ask for help with some maintenance tasks. Everyone pitches in to help get the boat ready to go out, secured and cleaned on return, and sailed while underway.
When diving we'd like to get people into the water within a few minutes of each other. Otherwise some people are surfacing from their dive about the same time others are first descending. Please get your dive gear on before we anchor. On return to the pier please unload ALL your belongings as soon as the boat is secured to the dock. Then, one or two people will help me get the boat taken care of. All others are asked to pitch in cleaning dive gear at the dive club as a group rather than cleaning individual gear or to help in refilling tanks.
When you come along, and unless you’re sure you don’t have problems with sea sickness, please take Dramamine or one of the other sea sickness prevention medications. Bring whatever you want to eat and drink (no booze, drugs, or smoking). Bringing something to share is always appreciated by the others aboard but don’t get carried away.
You’ll need to wear boat shoes, shoes with white soles, or go barefooted which isn’t such a good idea; the decks get hot and there are lots of things to bang a foot on. The reason for not wearing street shoes or slippers is that they leave black marks on the deck that are really a pain to remove. Sunburn preventative is a must. On sailing days we usually stop for a swim if the sea conditions permit, so you’ll want to bring snorkel gear. Skinny dipping isn’t unheard of. We put all the stuff that needs to be cooled in the on-board ice chest and leave the individual ice chests in the cars to conserve space aboard.
Please
help keep the below decks area dry by not going below in wet gear.
When leaving the boat make sure you take EVERYTHING you brought; I already have a collection of towels, sunglasses, and suntan oil. Leftover food has attracted rats, and I’ve had to throw away lots of cold drinks...of course, please take your trash off the boat. Someone always forgets their darned water bottle.
The boat, the Duke Kahanamoku II, is a 41’ Down Easter pilot house sloop sail boat and it has a 65 hp auxiliary diesel engine. We’ve had 18 folks out sailing (too many) and have had as many as fourteen divers with two tanks each aboard (also too many). The toilet aboard is out of commission by design. Ask and I'll explain. When we stop to swim I notice smiles of contentment on several faces right after people hit the water. “Swim” stops can usually be made on request. Some bold souls simply lean against or sit on (gender predicates) a leeward rail after asking other members of the crew to focus their attention on some object to windward. We often come in shortly after sunset when there’s a bit of a chill in the air so bringing a sweatshirt is a good idea. Light rain gear is sometimes useful, too. Sitting below decks during a shower isn’t very comfortable because the hatches and companionway must be tightly closed - there’s no other way to keep the area dry. We carry two VHF radios, a cellular phone, a 2-meter band ham radio, a CB radio, and an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). We’ve got more first aid gear than I know how to use but usually have some medical ne’er-do-well aboard who understands such stuff. We also have a DAN Oxygen Provider Kit aboard and several qualified oxygen administrators among the crew. We have about 25 life jackets and all the rest of the Coast Guard mandated safety equipment aboard, too - flares, flags, horns, etc.
Non-divers are welcome on dive outings if there’s room, but being a passenger on one of these trips requires a pretty strong stomach; the boat will be anchored for, usually, two periods of about two hours. Boats at anchor in choppy seas have a motion that induces mal de mer in all but the most immune. For lengthier trips such as to Maui, Molokai, Lanai, etc., there is a scuba compressor installed aboard and racks for scuba tanks. Please fire any questions you may have back to me. Unless you’re sure I’ve got your full name and lots of phone numbers, please send them to me.