Skip to main content

Articles are of general interest to the entire CCA membership, and are not particular to any specific station. Categories include Feature Articles, Safety Moments, White Papers and For Ocean Racers.

  • Battery Bank
    Lithium Batteries, A few notes
    In general, of all of the lithium-ion cells that were tested, LiFePO4 would be considered the safest cathode material because of the relatively low temperature rise and the resulting low likelihood for thermal runaway to propagate. LiCoO2 and LiMnNi would be considered the most hazardous because of the relatively large temperature rise and high probability for propagation of thermal runaway to adjacent battery cells. Read more
  • jacket
    What Determines the Effectiveness of a Life Jacket? Life Jackets #3
    The underlying reason to wear a life jacket is to provide buoyancy to keep the wearer’s mouth above the water to prevent drowning while awaiting rescue. With that relatively simple goal, why are there so many life jacket designs, and why are some more effective than others? Read more
  • Probing the Sea: Presentation at CCA

    “We know the topography of Mars 100 times better than the bathymetry of our oceans.” Dr. David L. Porter made this statement during his presentation, Probing the Sea, at the Environment of the Sea Committee meeting at the 2024 Fall meeting. Dr. Porter is one of the many scientists and researchers who continue to measure and analyze the oceans that are so precious to the CCA. Dr.

    Read more
  • Disappearing Targets: Radar Blind Spots

    Disappearing Targets

    “Safety Moments, presented at CCA Stations and Posts”

    Read more
  • underway
    Advice to a First Time Offshore Sailor
    For years, Nick Thornton and I sailed together. We went through the junior sailing program at Royal Victoria Yacht Club in British Columbia, we raced against and cruised with each other in dinghies and keelboats, and as adults we sailed many miles offshore together. During the spring of 2007, he called me about his son. “Sam’s finishing high school and plans to take a year off,” said Nick. “What do you think about taking him on a delivery with you this fall?” Read more
  • The bow hatch
    Undone by Unappreciated Risk in Routine Maneuver

    Undone by Unappreciated Risk in Routine Maneuver

    Read more
  • Safety tools
    What’s Shakin’? Tighten and “Loc-tite” your bolts.
    There’s often a prolonged period of motoring to cross the largely windless Pacific High and to make headway in some adverse winds. Motoring, at least with my vintage Pathfinder engine, introduces vibration into the boat. Many, many cycles. Read more
  • Satellites
    Big Brother is NOT Watching You: When Comms go Bad

    Michael Moradzadeh, San Francisco Station

     

    The Global Software Glitch of the Summer of 2024 serves as a warning and reminder to, among others, ocean voyagers.

    An innocent error in coding took out thousands of computers, with paralyzing consequences for global communications including systems used by offshore sailors for email and weather. One can only imagine the consequences of an intentional, malicious, attack.

    Read more
  • A surprising course
    Navigare Necesse Est: a disaster dodged

    Navigare Necesse Est

    “From the CCA School of Hard Rocks

    Read more
  • Orbiting satellites
    Jamming and Spoofing: Challenges to GPS
    It may be too soon to store your sextant, sight reduction tables, chronometer, and that funny starfinder... Read more