Prince George Power & Sail Squadron Icebreaker

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1 June 2015 Prince George Power & Sail Squadron Icebreaker Website: Schedule of Events: A get-together dinner for Squadron members at a local restaurant. Date and venue to be announced later. WANTED: Skipper of a salt-chuck-capable boat needing a knowledgeable deck hand/companion. I am a former PG Power and Sail Squadron member, experienced in both power and sail boats. I am willing to share my equipment (truck) and pay my share of costs. I am retired with plenty of flexible time. For more info, call Pete a t o r e m a i l pete@wilsonsnet.ca. COMMANDER S CORNER Thank you to Monty Morrow & Doug and Sandy Cherry for the great job they did at the recent Squadron Fishing Derby. I like the idea they have of a Friday Golf Tournament next year. As we head off for the summer boating, please remember to promote the Power and Sail Squadron to your friends. If you are planning something you think other Squadron members might like to participate in, please let everyone know. The more events our members can participate it, the more fun we all have. I wish everyone a safe and happy summer. Roy Bernhardt

2 Page 2 Bridge Members 2015/2016 Commander - Roy Bernhardt Executive Officer - Lori Bernhardt Training Officer - Barry Whitfield Ass t Training - Barry Smith Training - Advanced - George Brookes Secretary - Judy Smith Treasurer - Paulette Valois Public Relations - Bill McFarlin Membership - John Hebb Communications - Judy Smith Supplies - Paulette Valois Publications - Judy Smith Administration - Maggie Stoner Socials-Dinners & Spring Gala - To be determined Socials-Fishing Derby - George Brookes Proctors - Gayle Hebb Historian - Bill McFarlin Webmaster - Barry Smith Phoning Committee - Maggie Stoner Port Captain - Pr Geo - Roy Bernhardt Port Captain - Yukon - Peter Bagan Past Commander - Bruce Porteous PAST COMMANDERS Gordon Springate John Turner Doug Mears 1987 Bob McChesney John Sahlstrand Bob Clayton George Brookes Grant Olsen Gary Shannon Neil Symons Jim McNeal Lou Jewitt Barry Smith Willi Wagner Jim Dorval Trudy Langthorne Doug Cherry Bill McFarlin Bruce Porteous ACTIVE LIFE MEMBERS George Brookes Gary Shannon Judi Shannon

3 Page 3 SQUADRON SPRING GALA Thirty-six Squadron members and guests attended our Spring Gala on Saturday, May 9th, at the Bon Voyage Banquet Hall. Our special guests were Dave and Janette Magnusson, representing Pacific Mainland District (PMD). Dave is our incoming Commander for PMD and we appreciated his and Janette s attendance at our Spring Gala again this year. A meet and greet was held at the beginning of the evening where everyone took the opportunity to catch up on the news and activities of our members during the winter months. This was followed by a dinner buffet catered by the Westgate Grill at Bon Voyage. After dinner, we were entertained by the Zahirah Dance Troupe (a special surprise from our Bridge members as this was not advertised). Thanks to Lori Bernhardt, our Socials Officer, who arranged for the dancers. It was very interesting! Commander Bruce Porteous presented Merit Marks to the following members, in appreciation of volunteering over 20 hours each to the Squadron during the past year: Roy & Lori Bernhardt, George Brookes, John and Gayle Hebb, Bill McFarlin, Bruce Porteous, Gary & Judi Shannon, Barry & Judy Smith, Maggie Stoner, Paulette Valois and Barry Whitfield. Commander Bruce also presented Commander s Citations to the following members, in appreciated of volunteering up to 20 hours each during the past year: Kay Brookes, Doug & Sandy Cherry, Vic Goodman, Jim McNeal and Pamela Reimer. Barry Smith then presented our Squadron special award, the Golden Prop Award, to Dave Crampton. Dave was able to save himself during a harrowing boating experience in the cold October lake water and related (with a little encouragement) his story for the benefit of other boaters. See Page 4 of the March Icebreaker for his story. Thanks Dave for sharing your experience. Hang the Golden Prop award with pride! The Change of Watch was officiated by PMD Rep Dave Magnusson. Our incoming Commander, Roy Bernhardt, recited the CPS Pledge, followed by the pledge from his Bridge Officers for 2015/2016. Dave then presented the exchange of the CPS special flags to Incoming Commander Roy and Outgoing Commander Bruce. Dave was presented with a gift from the Squadron as a thank you for attending our Gala. Thanks Dave. A Silent Auction of CPS and Squadron regalia was available with all items sold. Door prizes were won by Deb Kayln, Sandy Cherry and John Rogers. The 50/50 draw of $60 was won by Kay Brookes. Thanks to everyone who participated. The evening continued with a presentation by Gary and Judi Shannon regarding their flotilla of boats in Desolation Sound last September. It looked like everyone had a great time with good friends and wonderful weather too. Thanks to everyone for attending our Spring Gala. It was a great evening!...and a big thank you to all members who keep our Squadron successful! (Pictures of the Spring Gala are on the next page.)

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5 Page 5 More pictures from Spring Gala Zahirah Dancers Commander s Flag Squadron Bridge Officers for 2015/2016 Golden Prop Award Presentation New Commander Roy Past Commander s Flag

6 Page 6 BOAT FOR SALE 30 ft Commander This boat is fully outfitted with marine equipment - too many to list here. A boat house at MK Marina in Kitimat is negotiable with sale of the boat. For detailed information, please contact John Cox at or him at ebbycox@gmail.com. Canadian Coast Guard Update: The long standing situation of the obscured sector light at Cape Mudge is about to be resolved. CCG will be establishing shore based sector light to work in conjunction with main sector light in order to provide the required coverage. Design work and property negotiations are largely complete and the new light has undergone testing in Victoria. It is anticipated that the new sector light combination will be operational soon, perhaps just in time for the 2015 Alaska cruise season. CCG is in the process of modernizing and consolidating its Marine Communications & Traffic Services (MCTS) Centres. Tofino MCTS will close; service will be provided remotely by Prince Rupert MCTS. Comox and Vancouver MCTS will close; service will be provided remotely by Victoria MCTS. It is expected that these West Coast changeovers would be in place by mid- May, CCG Western Region has just taken delivery of two new Mid Shore Patrol Vessels. The new vessels, the CCGS Martin Charles and CCGS Captain Goddard, are 43 metre Hero Class ships. Martin Charles, a Hereditary Chief of the Nitinat Band (Bamfield), was very active in west coast search and rescue and died in a crash of a rescue helicopter. Captain Nichola Goddard was the first female Canadian soldier killed in action in Afghanistan in 2006.

7 Page 7 The following boating story is from our Squadron member, Peter Stoner: It was a beautiful day, temperature in the low 30 s. A light offshore wind was blowing, dolphins and humpbacks were in Banderas Bay (Puerto Vallarta, Mexico). These are the same whales we see when we travel up the BC coast in our boat during the summer months. I signed out a kayak, put on a life jacket and paddled out. I realized fairly quickly, what others have known for ages, that this craft is inherently tippy as a sightseeing boat crossed my bow. The kayak suddenly rolled to port; the surprise made me open my mouth as the craft rolled over. The life jacket popped me to the surface with a stomach full of salt water and a burning nose. My body decided that what went down, must come up! At this point I realized that without a life jacket, weak from vomiting, and a kayak that was drifting away, I would have been in trouble. As it was, I was able to swim to the kayak, right it, and continue on. Maggie and I always wear personal flotation devices when on our boat and have never doubted their value but it was nice to have that philosophy reinforced. The thought of this experience happening in our home waters with stronger tides, colder water, bigger waves and no life jacket would be frightening to say the least! (Thanks Peter for sharing your personal story and emphasizing the importance for everyone to wear their life jacket in any vessel on the water.) Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) Update: CHS is in the final stages of issuing new editions of the following local charts: Chart 3534 Plans Howe Sound (Shoal Channel depth caution) Chart 3540 Approaches to Campbell River CHS will be working within Vancouver Harbour and the Fraser River to enhance a network of tide gauges to better define the movement of water in these areas. The end goal is the delivery of real time tidal data and near term predictions over AIS. As many of you already know, the 2015 edition of the Tide & Current Tables shows tidal heights in metres and tenths only. This was apparently not a cost saving measure but was considered in the best interest of yachtsmen and commercial operators. This measure is being reconsidered in light of considerable opposition from the recreational boaters and because there are still about 6 Imperial Unit charts on the West Coast and 50 such charts on the East Coast.

8 Page 8 Our Squadron is pleased to recognize the following businesses that support us. We ask that you please p remember to support them! If you would like to advertise your business in our Squadron newsletter, please call Judy at or at bjsmith@telus.net We encourage our members to share their experiences on the water. Send your story for the Icebreaker - whether you were rescued or were the one who rescued others, or even rescued yourself! The stories are a gentle reminder for all our members that boating is a continuous learning experience. Please send your stories to Judy at bjsmith@telus.net. Your story would be greatly appreciated and will no doubt be further boating knowledge for our members. Prince George Power & Sail Squadron has 296 members. The Icebreaker newsletter is produced and The Icebreaker is produced and distributed by Judy distributed by Judy Smith, Publications Officer. If you Smith. If you have any questions or would like to see have any questions or would like to see specific items specific items of interest in the Icebreaker, please of interest in the Icebreaker, please contact Judy at contact Judy at or her at or her at bjsmith@telus.net. bjsmith@telus.net. Your stories are appreciated. Your boating stories are also appreciated - share your experiences!