Midland Squadron website: Page 1 of 10

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1 Midland Power and Sail Squadron, Founded in 1952 December 2016 Volume 9, Issue 4 c/o 33 Byrnes Crescent, Penetanguishene, ON L9M 1V9 Newsletter Editor: Sandy Campbell Noel Campbell Commander It s not too long now to wait for Gritty Whiskers to come for his 2016 Festive Season visit. It seems like it wasn t so long ago that we put our boats on the hard for the winter season. Now I sit and wait impatiently for Spring and another boating season. At this time of year I reflect on our squadron s accomplishments and thank our members for their contributions to keep our squadron active and promoting safe boating in our area. Their behind the scenes activities definitely kept our ship on course. This season they began with organizing our shakedown cruise and rendezvous at Henry s north in Sans Souci. It was well attended and a success. They organized a special VHF course for summer employees of the Town of Midland Dock staff. The RVCC, team offered FREE vessel inspections at various Marinas in the area. We participated at the Parkbridge in-water boat show with safe boating information and RVCC inspections from our display booth. In November, we arranged for and presented a 2-hour Cruiser s night at the Midland Legion. Over 60 attendees were entertained with information, and photos based on the first-hand experiences of Wendy and Jim McLarty who travelled the Great Loop and Bahamas in 2014 and Finally, the training team arranged for and are busy implementing the classroom training courses for Fall, Winter and Spring Thank You members! Talking about support, our partners helped us greatly again in Their advertising support has made it possible for us to continue our website and the printing and distribution of our True Course members newsletter. Thank you, advertising partners! Finally, please have a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year, and from Sandy and me, we wish you all only the Best for Noel Campbell, Commander Winter Boating Classes start in January. Next bridge meeting Tuesday, January 3, start time at Calvary Baptist Church, King Street members are always welcome to attend Toronto Boat Show January 20-29, 2017 Commander s Commentary... 1 Education Officer s Report... 2 VHF Radio and MMSI... 4 Georgian Bay Lake Levels, November Squadron Executive... 5 Where to take a Boating Course... 7 Toronto Boat Show... 7 Continuation of a 2014 Cruise aboard Tempus Fugit... 8 CPS Membership and its Benefits... 9 Midland Squadron website: Page 1 of 10

2 Classes for 2017 Your Training Team has put together a full slate of popular classroom courses for winter and spring You can get important details about the courses at Winter Boating Courses start Wednesday, January 25, 2017 and run consecutive Wednesday evenings for 10 weeks: Boating 2, Beyond PCOC (5 nights) and Boating 3, Intro to Navigation (5 nights) Taking both of these courses is equivalent to the Boating Essentials course we offered in the past. Spring Boating Courses start in April, 2017: Maritime Radio Course April 19, 21, and 24 Electronic Navigation begins May 3, 2017 (4 weeks) Maritime Radio Course Self Study take this course any time at your leisure. Please Note: A two-part, supervised exam is required to complete the course to Industry Canada standards and to qualify you to receive your life-time Marine Operator License. Part 1 of the exam is multiple choice; Part 2 is an Oral component to help you demonstrate to the examiner, your competency with the phonetic alphabet and the various safety calls. For more details, including a convenient on-line sign-up process and your pricing options, please visit Your Midland Squadron volunteer instructors are boaters too, offering you the additional benefits of their years of navigation experience. Noel Campbell (705) Midland Squadron website: Page 2 of 10

3 Click this image to check out Transport Canada s Facebook Page for more helpful information like this. Midland Squadron website: Page 3 of 10

4 Lake levels are the least of our worries over the nonboating season. We boat on possibly the most hazardous archipelago anywhere. The terrain was carved up by glaciers until 10,000 yeas ago. Consequently, the shape of the lake bottom is nowhere near regular. It's hard to imagine the work and dedication of the hydrographers who obtained all Milne Dick Administrative Officer the detail our charts contain. Certainly more than enough to keep us off the rocks most of the time. Although electronic charts are useful, the standard paper version often contains more detail. Water levels remain above chart datum of 176.0m IGLD. Your VHF/DSC radio - a powerhouse P/C/C Tony Gardiner, SN Norvan (N.Vancouver) Squadron Your VHF/DSC (Very High Frequency/Digital Selective Calling) radio ranks perhaps only second to your and your passengers life jackets. Here s how to use it safely, expediently and knowledgeably. First Steps: 1. If you are purchasing a second-hand vessel with a VHF/ DSC radio, take the radio to a recognized marine electronics store to ensure that the old MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity) is replaced with your new MMSI. 2. Before heading out on the water, take time to input the MMSIs into your radio directory of those with whom you re likely to have contact. 3. If you are a member of a yacht club, Power Squadron or any other group, chances are that they will have what is known as a Group MMSI. Group MMSIs enable you to alert all other members of the same group. This is very useful for cruises and other on-the-water functions. 4. Be sure to encourage those in your Squadron or District to include their MMSIs in their online CPS profiles to ensure they are accessible via the online CPS membership rosters. Read more here... Photo source: uploads/2013/05/richard-closing-010.jpg The international datum gives the potential energy of the water above mean sea level at Father's Point in Quebec. It is set at a level so that usually the water is deeper than that recorded on the chart. Levels are now about 0.6 m above datum. Where they will be in the Spring depends on the weather which is basically nonpredictable. Enjoy the winter and plan a few trips. Mirabile Dictu Midland Squadron website: Page 4 of 10

5 Commander Immediate Past Commander Executive Officer Secretary Training Officer Treasurer Public Relations Officer MAREP Officer Membership Assistant Training Officers Newsletter Editor/ Webmaster Administrative Officer Safe Boating Specialist (RVCC) Training Aids Noel Campbell Bob LaVictoire Jim McLarty Christine Robinson Noel Campbell Mike Hamilton Jim McLarty Vacant Murray Lockhart Bob LaVictoire Ken Lockhart (705) (705) (705) (705) (705) (705) (705) (705) (705) Sandy Campbell (705) T. Milne Dick Bob LaVictoire (705) (705) Vacant Front row: Christine Robinson, Noel Campbell, Sandy Campbell Back row: Milne Dick, Jim McLarty, Mike Hamilton, Bob LaVictoire, Ken Lockhart, Murray Lockhart (Photo by Cindy Lockhart) Midland Squadron website: Page 5 of 10

6 Midland Squadron website: Page 6 of 10

7 Preview Day Friday, January 20: 2pm - 8pm Public Dates January Saturdays: 10am - 7pm Sundays: 10am - 6pm Monday - Friday: 11am - 8pm Location: Enercare Centre, Exhibition Place 100 Princes Blvd, Toronto, ON M6K 3C3 Yes, it s that time again the Toronto International Boat Show is North America s largest indoor boat show the preeminent selling venue for Canada s recreational boating industry, and the premiere showcase for new 2017 product! The best place to see boats and the best place to buy them where you can even pick up a boatshopping guide to use at the show, plus lots of free information, including magazines and DVDs to take home with you. Drop by the Discover Boating Centre and find out why life is better with a boat! There again this year is the CPS-ECP Boating Skills Virtual Trainer experience risk-free, hands-on boating. Drop by the CPS-ECP Booth S7 in the New Boater Welcome Centre where you can navigate your way through a variety of boating challenges! All boaters are welcome to gain hands -on experience, and learn new manoeuvres, without the on-water risks. Scenarios you can choose to experience include: Departing the Dock Working with Spring Lines Fairways Pivot Turns Moorings Docking Slalom Crossing / Meeting /Overtaking Emergency Stops Variable Winds Strong Currents Day and Night Ed. Midland Squadron website: Page 7 of 10

8 Part 3 (destination: Ottawa Valley) Friday, July 11 Hired a cab to take us shopping for provisions and to fill the propane tank (which I had apparently brought EMPTY from home). Upon inspection prior to filling, it was deemed to be outdated. More great planning. Had to purchase a new tank plus the cab cost me $85 for about 4 hours. Saturday, July 12 Shopped for goodies and cheese at the Ile. Perrot Farmers Market (Photo source: en/evenement/marchepublic/) and at 1000 prepared to enter the St. Anne de Bellevue Lock. A sail boat with its mast up had somehow got under the northerly bridge, but was too high to proceed under the south bridge. After a great deal of shouting in both French and English, someone finally tossed a line secured to the top of the mast to a group of large gents on shore, who were able to heel the boat enough to clear the bridge and allow us to enter the Lock, which we were able to finally exit at We cruised upriver through le Lac de Deux Montagnes (Lake of Two Mountains), actually more like a widening in the River, with lots of boat traffic. (Image Source: Lake_of_Two_Mountains ) 1515 Arrived at Carillon Lock and exited at We proceeded on to Hawkesbury where we docked at the Golden Anchor Marina at This marina is not geared to transient boaters but mostly locals who boated a little and partied more. We had supper on board and turned in early. Sunday, July 13 Morning brought a heavy drizzle; had breakfast on board and departed late at 1140 from Hawkesbury. At 1500, we arrived the at village of Montebello on the Quebec side of the River. This is the site of the Fairmont Chateau Montebello, touted as the largest log chateau in Canada, built in They have a Marina full of large, expensive boats and a golf course. We could only afford a pumpout at this Marina. We found the Municipal Marina and a quaint little hotel named l auberge Montebello (click on photo), which allowed us to sleep off the boat for a couple of nights. It is a pleasant little village to walk around and we found a lovely fromagerie and a Bistro for supper. Tuesday, July 15 Departed Montebello at 915 and arrive at the bottom of the Ottawa Flight of Eight locks at We waited half an hour for the lock crew to lower the locks to start our upward journey, which took 1 and ½ hours for the 8 locks. We provided the entertainment for crowds of tourists. Fortunately, I did not do anything to embarrass the Squadron. At 1815, we docked at Dow s Lake Marina (photo source: filled the fresh water tank and did laundry. Pizza for supper. Hour meter reads 1,662.3 hrs. Wednesday, July Depart Dow s Lake entered Hartswells Lock # entered Long Island Lock # 14, transited Locks #15 and #16, and at 1815 docked at Hurst Marina in Manotick. Thursday, July Departed Hurst Marina after a leisurely breakfast on board. Arrived at Burritt s Rapids Lock #17 at Proceeded to (continued next page) Midland Squadron website: Page 8 of 10

9 Nicholson s Locks #18 and 19 as well as Clowes Lock #20 at Merrickville. The Boat Basin was full so we moored at the Blue Line wall because the Lock was closed for the day. We moved to the Boat Basin before the Lock opened and strolled into Town. (Photo source: img merrickville.html) Friday, July Departed Merrickville and an hour later entered Kilmarnock Lock #24 and two hours later arrived at Smiths Falls Lock #29. At 1440, we docked at Victoria Park in Smiths Falls. (Photo source: img oldsfcombined.html) Mike Hamilton, Squadron Treasurer [Ed: There s lots more to this cruising adventure so stay tuned to future True Course newsletters.] Membership in Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons means that you are part of a community of passionate boaters who is committed to safety, boating education and having fun on the water! With over 26,000 members from 150 local clubs (Squadrons) across Canada, members have access to a huge network of new friends, educators and enthusiasts, all of whom recognize that CPS-ECP is the established leader and trendsetter for recreational boating in this country. We are a volunteerdriven organization with a reputation for highquality boating education. CPS-ECP also provides safety publications and other resources to its membership. In the Midland area, our membership roster includes 132 members. We are a respected and influential advocate for boaters. CPS-ECP works closely with many other organizations to voice concerns and offer recommendations: Sail Canada Provincial Marine Operators Associations Canadian Marine Manufacturers Association Canadian Safe Boating Council Regional and National Recreational Boating Advisory Council Canadian Marine Advisory Councils We also work with Transport Canada, Industry Canada, Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary. As a member of CPS-ECP, you are supporting the creation and maintenance of a safe, beautiful and enjoyable boating environment for all Canadians! Midland Squadron website: Page 9 of 10

10 Benefits from our corporate sponsors can more than cover the cost of your annual membership; many more benefits negotiated by individual Squadrons are also available to members across the country. Some examples: CPS-ECP GROUP INSURANCE CPS-ECP has partnered with Cowan Insurance Group to provide insurance products to its members. Cowan s comprehensive coverage and discounts are available exclusively to you as a CPS-ECP member. Boat Insurance Save up to 25% on insurance premiums Reduce deductible if claims free Agreed value coverage for your boat 12-month navigation (no layup required) Extended navigation for southern cruises Group Home and Auto Save up to 20% on both your home and auto insurance premium MARINE ASSISTANCE 33% discount with C- Tow Marine Assistance Ltd. 24-hour emergency towing plus additional member benefits. MAGAZINE Members receive a subscription to Canadian Yachting as a benefit of membership Each Midland Squadron member receives a copy of our Quarterly newsletter True Course on-line or in print to keep abreast of Squadron activities such our annual Rendezvous and seminars, pot lucks, etc. REPLACEMENT BOATING CARDS Members receive a discount on Pleasure Craft Operator Card and VHF card replacement. SQUADRON DISCOUNTS Get a free Courtesy Check to ensure you have the required safety equipment on board. Contact your Squadron RVCC Representative for details. BOATING EQUIPMENT Save on boating equipment from premier manufacturers: FUGAWI - Navigation Software Exclusive Instructors-only discount. 67% discount off FM5 software for verified CPS-ECP Instructors. A savings of $ % Off all marine products that Fugawi distributes in the fugawi.com store. ICOM CANADA Save on high-quality radio equipment from ICOM. SALUS Marine Wear Discounts are applied ONLY when you order Salus Marine Products through the CPS-ECP National Office: 50% off CPS-ECP logo PFD Stock items only (until stock lasts) 15% off the suggested retail price on any Salus catalogue item. PLENTY OF GOOD REASONS TO JOIN CPS-ECP AND MAINTAIN YOUR LOCAL SQUADRON MEMBERSHIP. Midland Squadron website: Page 10 of 10