Excerpts from the previous Scuttlebutt issue.

I would like to thank everyone who participated in the January roundtable. Your input was a big help in making the new weather format a success. In order to give boaters more relevant weather information, Dave, N4NVI, has stretched our weather readers' computer skills to take advantage of the wealth of information available on today's internet. I would like to emphasize the new weather format remains a "work in progress." Dave & I welcome your comments.

Also, big thanks to the new weather reporters who have "volunteered." Trust me, those bruises from Dave's arm twisting will heal.

Speaking of volunteering, I asked for a volunteer at the roundtable for a new position I want to create called 'Safety Officer' or better put 'Safety Coordinator.' To date no one has stepped forward. Let me describe the position and ask again for a volunteer. The Safety person will download the Coast Guard's Local Notice to Mariners each week and check for new changes of interest to boaters along the US East coast. I'm not talking every extinguished light or buoy off station; I would like for us to report on a regular basis things like bridges with scheduled maintenance or major dredging operations. For example, the Safety person could follow up and try to get correct information to report when a member says a certain bridge has 'unscheduled' opening problems, or keep track of reports of shoaling and get as much detail as possible. He or she would be the coordinator of 'Safety' information and perhaps even in a weekly "After the Net - Net" on Monday, give a brief summary of safety items of interest. Input would be encouraged that would be useful to many listeners. This information could also be forwarded to Bill, N4UMS, for posting on our website.

The WRCC bylaws remind us the purpose of the net is to "encourage amateur radio communications to and from boats with emphasis on safety and weather information." Don't make me come out there and find someone to 'volunteer,' hi hi.

Have a fun Spring - c u on the Net.

73 & 88
Tom Rader, K4WJC
Commodore, Net Manager

The WRCC weather report was never designed to be a "stand-alone" weather summary, and it certainly is not today. There is no shortage of weather information aboard most cruising vessels, particularly if you have access to the internet. With HF email capabilities you have access to weather products offered by NOAA via HF reception of USCG transmissions, WLO Radio weather transmissions, email via Winlink, or through the internet to NOAA utilizing the FTPMAIL service. Even though we�eve made some pretty aggressive changes in our weather format; it should not be your only source of weather. Our recent changes were made with the goal of offering highly relevant weather information to the largest possible number of our fellow amateurs in the areas where they are typically cruising. This required varying the weather format as the seasons changed. We shortened some of the daily forecasts, but gave the individual weather reporter some latitude whereby he/she could add more days if the weather on subsequent days indicated a change for the worse.

The overall weather format is very similar to what we have done in years past. We have added two areas of coverage, the Mid-Atlantic Waters and the Florida Keys. These two areas will alternate. In spring and summer we will provide the Mid-Atlantic synopsis and in winter (December 1 - February 28/29) we will offer the Keys Coastal synopsis and forecast.

Tim Rulon WA2KQD of NOAA, left, at the Miami Boat Show. Tim helped guide us in the new weather format.

No weather planning would be complete without some current data. In each of our reporting areas we will provide buoy or shore station weather which in many cases is less than an hour old. This real-time weather will allow the cruiser to verify the accuracy of forecasts, and to some degree allow the more experienced cruiser to do some personal forecasting.

In the event a vessel requires weather information not contained in our daily report, our reporters are prepared to go off net frequency, locate the requested information and pass it to the vessel. It is our intent to become a genuine "on demand". weather service. If the information is available on the NOAA web site, we are prepared to read it. As in the past, we are not weather forecasters and consequently not authorized to offer our opinion on the weather. We can only read text.

We already have numerous contacts at NOAA, both at the Headquarters in Silver Spring, MD and at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami. No longer is it just a huge government facility to us; we know who to call. They are delighted to hear from us and to know that we are using their weather products. This is exactly the relationship we should have with the Weather Service.

Success of this new weather format is due to the extraordinary members of our Weather Reporters Group. If you've been listening you will have noticed several new calls among the ones you have been accustomed to hearing. New format, new reporters, we've had our hands full, but as we move ahead into the spring you will notice that our presentation will get smoother as we get our flow down. Here's the team (north to south):

•   Bill WA6CCA
  Arlington, VA Thursday
•   Buddy K4BD
  Smithfield, VA Thurs/Fri/Sat
•   Harry AB4T
  Raleigh, NC Mon/Tues/Wed
•   Tom K4WJC
  N. Charleston, SC Wednesday
•   Rick W4GE
  Mt. Pleasant, SC Fri/Sat
•   Dave N4NVI
  Senoia, GA (Atlanta) Saturday
•   Earl WD0ETL
  Bahama, NC (Durham) Friday
•   Lona KN4RB
  Cocoa Beach, FL Monday
•   Jean KC4BG
  Satellite Beach, FL Tuesday
•   Terry K1LCH
  Valrico, FL (Tampa) Sunday
•   Carolyn C6AGG
  Nassau Bahamas Weather

Our weather format in detail:

There is no change in our presentation of Tropical Weather. We will report all active systems in the North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. From June 1 through November 30, if there are no active systems per the Tropical Weather Outlook page at NOAA, we will read the Tropical Weather Statement provided.

Beginning March 1, we will provide the Offshore Waters Forecast for the Mid-Atlantic States. We will read the synopsis only for the Mid-Atlantic Waters. This includes four areas: Hudson Canyon to Baltimore Canyon, Baltimore Canyon to Hatteras, Hatteras to Cape Fear, and Cape Fear to 31N. This report will be included in our weather presentation through November 30.

The Coastal Waters Forecast for the Florida Keys. We will read the synopsis for the Atlantic Coastal Waters from Ocean Reef to 20nm west of the Dry Tortugas out 60nm, then the daily forecast for this area, but limit the report to three forecast periods. This report will be made December 1 through February.

The following weather products will be presented every day regardless of the time of year:
The Offshore Waters Forecast for the Southwest North Atlantic including the Bahamas will continue to include the synopsis and three full days of forecast. This includes the area south of 31N and west of 65W.

The Offshore Waters Forecast for the Gulf of Mexico will include only the synopsis. This includes the Northwest Gulf, Southwest Gulf, the Middle Gulf and the Eastern Gulf.

The Atlantic Coastal Waters Forecast for South Florida will include the synopsis for Jupiter Inlet to Ocean Reef out to 60NM. We will provide three forecast periods (i.e., today, tonight, tomorrow) from Deerfield Beach to Ocean Reef (Key Largo area). This area is frequently described as "out to the Bahama Bank" or "to the territorial waters of the Bahamas."

Each of the above forecast areas will contain current weather from select Weather Buoys or Shore Stations as time permits. At the end of the weather report, the station giving the weather will call for any fills or any requests for additional weather before returning the mic to Net Control. If you have need for additional weather either that day or in subsequent days, this is the time to make your request. Here are some new members who are serving as weather reporters:

Bill WA6CCA	Harry AB4T	Earl WD0ETL

I was going to write about skin care or such boater things, but I had an experience yesterday which I think you should hear. The idea is to help you secure a better outcome with your own medical care experiences.

I have a friend, and an erstwhile patient, a widow in her late 70s, who fell and severely damaged her wrist. Her only existing illness was a mild hypertension, and a stable heart from a minor heart attack 10 years ago. She works several days a week as a volunteer at a local hospital. In other words, in stable health.

Fire/rescue took her to a local hospital and she was matched with an excellent hand surgeon. He proposed to repair her wrist and called the anesthesiologist. The anesthesiologist declined to give the woman anesthetics (neither general nor an arm block) until her heart was "cleared for surgery." See comments below.

Arrangements were made for her to be transferred to a nearby heart hospital for a cardiac catheterization. That took place, and by no surprise, her heart was found to be OK for anesthesia and surgery. BUT . . .

I spoke to the hand surgeon. He said he would gladly operate on the woman's wrist but the anesthesiologist was a "Nervous Nelly." I had a dialog with the cardiologist who did the cardiac catheterization. He literally asked me if I knew why the woman was to have a cardiac cath!!! I, a simple friend of the patient, knew the story, but this doctor had not been told of the background, only that she had a "bad heart."

Meanwhile, after the early morning transfer to the heart hospital, the cath. lab staff learned the woman was allergic to iodine. Three hours of medication were required to protect her from an allergic reaction to the angiography. Why ? I'll tell you. The nurses at the first hospital had neglected to send on the information about the iodine allergy.

After the heart had been studied that morning I spoke again to the cardiologist, and was pleased that, from his catheterization, he had cleared her heart. I asked him to call the hand surgeon and give him the good news. The cardiologist said, "I don't know who that is!" Whereupon I gave him not only the name but the phone number of the surgeon. The cardiologist was most grateful. Within twenty-four hours the surgery was accomplished.

My point is, in this rather complex management case, that the doctors, and the nurse managers were not protecting the patient. They were not communicating with each other. That means, in too many cases like this, the patient and/or the patient's family must bear the burden of information exchange among the doctors (and the nurses). Otherwise dangerous misconceptions may occur, or at minimum, uncomfortable delays may complicate the care.

In medical care, especially in urgent or emergency care, stay alert, or have your family stay alert, learn and record the names of each doctor, and each nurse who deals with the sick or injured one. Follow along with the progress of studies and care of the patient. It's hard is you are a widow or other solitary person, but each of us can establish a circle of close friends who can possibly help us link our medical treatment team together when the need arises.

Every New Year's Eve ARRL puts on an event called Straight Key Night. It's a CW contest, but not quite like any other. The awards are for "Best Fist" and "Most Interesting QSO." As the ARRL web site puts it: "The object of this friendly event is to enjoy some good old-fashioned QSO fun, using straight keys. The emphasis is on rag-chewing rather than fast contest-style exchanges."

Some of us on the Waterway CW net use a straight key (i.e., not an electronic keyer with paddles) at least from time to time. This year three of us got in on the SKN fun: Rich WB2WGX, Joe K8MP, and me AE4MZ.

In the few hours we operated, Joe K8MP made the largest number of contacts. In his words: "I sure had a ball. I used a J-38 and split radio time between my Ten Tec Omni VI Plus and my Oldie-but-Goodie Kenwood TS-830S. The 830 drifts a little, so it made things seem even more like the good ol' days. I only made 16 QSO's, but they were quality ones, with several lasting up to an hour. And wasn't it nice to actually have to search for a clear spot to call CQ? It sure reminded me of the golden days of Ham radio. I operated 40, 80, and 160, and heard some great fists keying some great sounding boat anchors. Finally, a big Hats-off to the SKCC [Straight Key Century Club, http://skccgroup.com) for revitalizing my interest in using the ol' hand-pump again. (Call me crazy, but I feel younger already.) The coolest key I�heard was a guy using a railroad telegrapher's key from the 1860's. He said he found it (along with an 1875 key) in an old railroad depot."

Rich WB2WGX, had a taste of the "good old days" firing up some vintage equipment. "The SKN was fun. I made 8 contacts and three of them were long ragchews with old friends. One was a guy I went to college with in 1968. I seem to find him every year on SKN. I used my A. W. Bowman spark key (1911 or so) for a few contacts, then switched to the Lennart Pettersson Swedish Key when my arm was getting tired. I also fired up the Big Johnson Valiant and 75A4 that I don't use often enough. I almost forgot how to zero beat !!!"

For me, SKN is always a lot of fun because it is different from the WWCW net that accounts for 99% of my operating. I wind up doing a lot of listening and not so much sending. But this year, I increased my QSO count by 100% over last year (to 4). However, these were all relatively long, conversational QSO's. Because of a recent move to an apartment, I had to operate using the mobile rig in my mini-van in the parking lot (too cold to operate long) with an IC-706 and "hamstick" 40m antenna. I used an old WW2 era J-38 key given to me a couple years ago by Chuck ND7K.

The J-38 key that Joe and I used is a WWII era key, but they still work great. If you get the "bug" to try CW with a straight key, you can still find a J-38 on-line at $30-$50. Modern straight keys come at prices ranging from $10 up to near $400. If you are interested in trying CW with a straight key, the $10-$12 model is an acceptable starter key and can be found in many local radio stores or on-line.

You might get hooked on straight-key CW, and do all your operating with one as I do. The record for fastest sending with a straight key was established in 1942 by Harry Turner (W9YZE SK1992) at the Army signal Corps School (from Morsum Magnificat #12, Summer 1989 as reproduced at www.telegraph-office.com/pages/turner.html). This is a relatively easy speed for a practiced user of electronic paddles, but is an incredible speed for a straight key. Most of us fall far short of that, but find it an interesting challenge to try for 15 wpm or (in our dreams) 20 wpm.

I would be glad to help anyone get started with CW. Just contact me by e-mail at ae4mz@arrl.net.

The following members or their families have received cards or flowers from the Sunshine Fund recently.

FEBRUARY
Rocky Rockwell K4OFD
Silent Key

The Sunshine fund is not funded through your dues, but is supported by donations collected over the year.

If you are aware of a club member in need of some Sunshine, please contact me via phone (correct in the roster), new email address kc4bgq@earthlink.net., or sunshine@waterwayradio.net.

Please provide me with as much information as possible and a point of contact. This especially holds true if someone is in the hospital. When you receive flowers, please let me know, so I can confirm they were received.

I want to thank the members of the WRCC for your support.

Jean Freeman, KC4BGQ
Sunshine Fund Chairman

It's Happening! The First Annual WRCC Chesapeake Rendezvous will begin at 1100 on Thursday, June 19, at Zahniser's Yachting Center in Solomons, on Maryland's western shore. Hamburgers, rolls, condiments, paper plates and utensils will be provided, at a cost of $3.00 per person.. Each person or couple attending is asked to bring a covered dish, salad or dessert.

Schedule of Events

Contact Information: Marina: 410-326-2166 www.zahnisers.com (See the web site for directions by land.) Peter's cell: 410-310-1091

There's plenty of room to anchor out if you prefer, but then the marina will charge dinghy dock and shower fees. We'll be using the marina's facilities and it would be a good thing if many of us use their slips or moorings and restaurant so we'll be welcome back. If you plan to attend, please email Peter at K3PKC@yahoo.com. Put "Chesapeake Rendezvous" in the subject line. If you want a slip, include LOA (with appendages), beam, draft, manufacturer, power needs, and whether Power or Sail. (Need this info in advance for planning purposes.) Then call Zahniser's to make your own reservation as part of the WRCC group and give a $25 deposit. Look forward to seeing you!

~Peter K3PKC

Like the Panama Canal, the OWW gets you from east to west without going around the horn. It runs from Stuart on the East coast to Ft. Myers on the West. In between there are two pretty rivers, five locks, miles of man-made canals through cattle country, lots of birds, a camel (Really!) and a large, shallow lake that you'd better cross when the wind's not kicking. It wasn't, and we had a good time of it. We anchored in the canal one night, bow and stern along the edge. Good thing we left room in the middle, because after dark we saw all these lights approaching, and what appeared at first to be a UFO turned out to be a big tug. Thought those things didn't run at night!

The second night we tied up at the rural village of LaBelle, where the big entertainment is the store with live bees where they sell four varieties of honey. Having nothing else to do, we bought honey for ourselves and almost everyone we expected to see any time soon. That stuff's good; ours is all gone, so we'll have to stop by again on our way home.

There's a marina near LaBelle said to offer the best fuel prices on the OWW, so we stopped. I don't remember the price, and it didn't matter; the entertainment was superb. Seems the guy running the place likes to feed the wildlife; there was a herd of turtles (he called them mossbacks) and a couple of giant catfish around the fuel dock, all begging for handouts like Rover under the dinner table.

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