From the Wheelhouse Cdr Dan Fortman, P

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1 August/September L 40 45' N Lo 82 30' W 2015 From the Wheelhouse Cdr Dan Fortman, P Greetings Everyone: As you are reading this, the summer and prime boating season has nearly passed us by. Granted, there has been good weather and bad, but all in all, we have had our chances to enjoy the passion that we all have for boating. So, now that school is back into session and the Autumn season is near, is our plan to clean and store our boats and relax? NOT!! In truth, we have much to do this Fall and we need everyone possible to be onboard with these activities. Before we discuss this though, let s review some of the things that we did this summer. This USPS license plate program is now in full gear. The petitions have been signed, the process approved and the plates are now available to purchase. Many members, including Terry Sapyta and Charles Tarbert, worked on this project for nearly ten years. They now have it in place so let s not let the momentum fade. When you choose this new license plate, a percentage of the purchase cost comes back to each of the squadrons. This is an easy way to support and advertise the US Power Squadron, but we need everyone that is willing to buy the new plates. You can do this at time of renewal or immediately if you choose. So what are you waiting for? Weather issues have caused a major problem with our squadron s rendezvous early this summer. As time passed, weather improved greatly. The District 7 Rendezvous at Middle Bass Island was well attended with nearly 70 boats and over 160 people. The theme was Gilligan s Island and there was a costume contest. Lynn and I won the best couple competition as we dressed as Thurston Howell III and Mrs. (Lovey) Howell. There are pictures of us and many others from the rendezvous on our website and on the district site. The Vermilion rendezvous will take place soon and we are planning to perform some co-op charting and have a group dinner on Saturday night. We will recognize Rudy Weiss Jr. and Dave Eichorn for their 50 years of dedication to the Power Squadron and to safe boating. Thank you to everyone that helped us update our squadron s roster. It s amazing how much we change over time, addresses, boats, marinas, etc. All of this is presently being compiled and new, updated rosters should be completed soon. Of the 120 or so members contracted, there were 78 changes that were made. We will place a contact piece in the Yachtsman in the future for all of the members to inform those necessary to keep the roster up to date. The two huge events that are coming up in October that you should all be aware of are the Clambake Fundraiser and the District 7 Conference hosted by Mansfield at the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky. You will receive more information on both of these activities throughout the Yachtsman and from mailings that you will receive. Both of these activities are very important to our squadron. The clambake is the main source of revenue for us each year and there is always work to be done in making this a success. It is Mansfield s turn to host the District 7 Conference and we once again chose Kalahari in Sandusky as our facility. We expect a big turn out for this and will need much help leading up to the conference and for the three days of the conference. If you are willing to assist us in any way, big or small, please let me know. The need to ramp up our intensity will increase daily as we approach the October 23 rd start date. Our theme is Rendezvous on the Nile which mirrors the décor and theme of the Kalahari resort itself. As an icebreaker group activity, we are trying something new. We are going to promote a lip synching competition. This is where you imitate the singing, but only move your lips. No actual singing is allowed. We need as many members as we can get to participate in the opening act which will be a rendition of Be our Guest from the movie Beauty and the Beast. The words to this song are located somewhere in this newsletter. We are not professional entertainers, nor do we try to be, but this should be fun as no real talent is required. So, come on and show your support by joining us. Thanks again for letting us serve you, the members of the Mansfield Power Squadron. Yours in safe boating, Commander Dan Fortman

2 From the Executive Office Lt/C Lynn Fortman, P What a summer we ve had this year! But plans are coming together for both the Clambake Fundraiser at the Cabin Restaurant and the District Seven Conference at Kalahari Resort. Our first major event in October is the annual fundraiser. We will again be at The Cabin Restaurant for our CLAMBAKE on Sunday the 11th of October from 2:00-5:00 in the afternoon. Tickets will be available in September. We hope that each of you will be able to attend and bring many family and friends to help us raise funds to support the educational opportunities that MPS provides for the community. Plan to come and enjoy an afternoon of music, clams, and friendship with other MPS members. Look for more details next month with your postcard. Your help in selling tickets and/or working at the event will be greatly appreciated. District Seven Fall Conference will be hosted by Mansfield on October at the Kalahari Resort and Conference Center in Sandusky. Event registration has been going well. Enjoy the learning opportunities that D/7 holds for us as well as a good time with fellow members. We currently have 23 people that registered early for the $50.00 gas card drawing. You all received a letter in July regarding this conference and I hope that you have begun to also think about your song for the Lip Sync Competition! The first three groups in each squadron to register will be recognized so send your request to me as soon as possible. We have only 100 rooms held for the entire district so if you are planning to attend, make your room reservations before September 22 as the rooms are on a first come, first served listing. Remember, a FREE water park ticket is included for each person staying in the room. This is the same date as the registration for your part in the Lip Sync Competition that will be held during the Icebreaker on Friday evening. Remember, NO SINGING- just a good time pretending to have a fantastic voice. To glean more information regarding this conference, reread the copies of the forms that were distributed in July and that are also included in this Yachtsman. Or you may also find them on our website. Our next meeting on September 8 will include a planning meeting for both of these activities. Lastly, the September Fall Equinox outing has been scheduled for Wednesday, September 23. It will be held at Seltzer Park in Shelby beginning at 6:00. Your postcard, arriving soon, will have the final details. Looking forward to seeing you at our future events! Yachtsman Now published every other month TheMPSYachtsman@aol.com BRIDGE OFFICERS Commander Cdr Dan Fortman, P dfortman@eaglecrusher.com Secretary P/D/C Thomas Etzwiler, SN etzwilertom@yahoo.com Executive Officer Lt/C Lynn Fortman fortmanlynn@gmail.com Treasurer Lt/C Robert Pompei, P RGPompei33@aol.com Membership/Executive meetings are held the second Tuesday of the month at the Red Cross Building on the square in Mansfield beginning at 7:30pm. All members are welcome to attend! (Sept. 8, Oct. 13, Nov. 10, Dec. 8) Our new website is up and running! Check it out for current information.

3 From the Education Office Lt/C Shirley Fort, SN UNFAMILIAR WATERS One hundred ninety one square miles of fresh water that never freezes. Surface elevation 6225 feet. Depth 1645 feet. Underwater visibility at least 75 feet. Lake Tahoe s statistics are impressive; its beauty? indescribable! After a day driving the scenic highway looping around Lake Tahoe, there was no way this family could go home without direct water contact. Rentals for paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, jet skis, were everywhere, but not what we were looking for. Finally we located a 20 ft. Catalina at one of the marinas. Eager to board, the crew waited impatiently while the dock master explained to Captain John the intricacies of the outboard engine, the rigging, and where the PFD s were located. He also pointed out the boat was fitted with a 1/3 jib and it would be impossible to over-power her. Asked about charts (there were none) and compass (again, none) he pointed to a house high atop the mountain that would serve as our beacon home. He also advised that if we stayed off-shore at least 600 feet we didn t have to worry about water depth. Unwilling to lose the rental fee (dead calm at that moment) he pointed in the general direction of where he thought we would stand the best chance of fair winds. He explained how the wind funnels down the mountains and through the pass. He cautioned that sometimes the wind was a little squirrely. If all else failed, he said, the gas tank was full and, although he didn t know the tank capacity or how much fuel the engine used, nobody had ever run out in an afternoon. So much for our at-dock orientation. We let go the lines and immediately learned many things. A) a 20 ft. boat is much less stable than a 30. Move one crew member and the dynamics change radically. B) Sails on rental craft are not necessarily kept in the best condition. Ours included a torn leech and several holes. C) Squirrely does not begin to describe the winds; from dead calm to near knock-down in the blink of an eye. In fact our audible inclinometer warning (mom screeching) went off several times during the afternoon and we would be hard pressed to count the number of in-irons situations or backwinded jibs due to sudden wind shifts as we attempted to come about to a new tack. We probably looked like a comedy fire drill rather than anything remotely resembling an experienced crew. However, we came back dry and the boat unscathed. John docked the boat right smartly and the crew executed proper cleat hitches (which is more than I can say of the dock hands) so maybe no one noticed our less than professional antics on the water. Supper on a waterfront patio and a beautiful sunset brought the day to a close, along with the reminder that any day spent on the water is better than a day spent ashore. Happy boating, wherever, whenever, however you can. Class Schedule ABC Boating for the public: September 15, Madison High School. The first four chapters of this updated manual meets the educational requirements for the State of Ohio. The fifth chapter introduces digital charts and GPS navigation. Contact Garry Schroeder for questions: arch300@aol.com or Register with Adult Ed Department at Madison: Piloting: September 17, MPS classroom, downtown Mansfield Piloting focusing on techniques for piloting a boat in coastal and inland conditions. It emphasizes planning and checking along with the use of GPS for determining position, and introduces digital charting along with traditional charting, compass and dead reckoning skills. Contact Shirley Fort for questions or to register: johnfort@core.com or All other squadron courses may be scheduled as requested. Just ASK.

4 From the Safety Office Cdr Dan Fortman, P CHECK YOUR NAVIGATION LIGHTS Will you be seen in time? It was a beautiful night. There were few clouds in the sky, the wind was light and pleasant, the temperature was near perfect and the Cedar Point Annual fireworks display had been absolutely spectacular. As Lynn and I, along with six others, sat in our friend s sailboat, we marveled at the scene around us. We were several hundred yards from the entrance to the Cedar Point marina and at one point we counted up to a dozen fireworks displays occurring at the same time all around us. All was good as we felt proud to be Americans and to live in a country where these freedoms were allowed. And then it happened As soon as the fireworks display ended, it seemed that there was a mad rush to get all the boats off of the water. It was dark, very dark. Yet, boats started whizzing around us from all directions. Many of them could not be seen because of the lack of navigation lighting. Many were speeding. Some were on full plane. It was truly frightening and with our own safety in mind, one of our brave passengers positioned himself on the bow of the sailboat and as he held onto the mast, called out other boat positions as we inched our way back to safety in the marina. We made it back without incident, but this event was a real eye opener to me. It made me realize that there are many boaters on the water at night that have no clue as to what safe boating and proper navigation lights at night really means. So I thought that this would be a good time to review the proper use and arrangement of night time navigation lights on a boat. As we know, operating at night (or in reduced visibility) can present some special challenges. Not only is your depth perception lessened, bright lights on the shore can cast misleading reflections on the water and if you wear glasses, or worse bifocals, you simply don t see as well at night as you do during the day. It s not only important that you be able to see other vessels operating in your proximity, it is equally important that other vessels see you. Most recreational vessels are less than 30 feet in length and, according to the Rules of the Road, shall be equipped with navigation lights. These lights not only have a certain arc through which they can be seen but must be seen from a minimum distance. The following requirements are for recreational vessels less than 12 meters in length (approximately 39.4 feet). Masthead light Starboard (right) sidelight Port (left) sidelight Stern light 225 degree arc white light degree arc green light degree arc red light 135 degree arc white color The arc of the lights and color allows you to determine the direction the vessel is moving. How good are your lights? You should test them to see how visible you might be at night. Whether on a trailer or at the marina, switch on your lights and see how well they can be seen. Walk away from the boat or row away. If you are at anchor or at a mooring, and see how visible the lights are as you move further away. How easy are they to see against the background of the shore? Does your stern light shine dead astern over the required 135 degree arc or does it shine to one side or up or down. Can it be seen from the required 2 miles and why is that Important? As an example, let s say that your stern light for some reason can only be seen for ½ mile. You are underway at 8 knots and a large ship is approaching at 15 knots. The ship is only 4 minutes away from collision with you. By the time the ship might see you, identify the light and decide on the reaction that should be taken, it is too late. A ship traveling at 15 knots may take miles to stop. Check your sidelights from dead ahead. You should see both red and green. However, by moving toward one side just 1 to 3 degrees, you should then see only one light. If you still see two lights, and approaching vessel won t be able to tell which direction you are going. It s very important to be seen for a distance but also for an approaching vessel to be able to determine your direction of travel. When boating at night remember the following: When two lights you see ahead, turn your helm and show your red. The Yachtsman is our main means of communication with all of our members. Please consider becoming a booster for ten or twenty dollars. Send your contribution to: P/D/C Thomas Etzwiler, SN, 2581 Millsboro Rd. E, Mansfield, OH Frank, P and Janet Ardis Cecil Bazley, S Tom, S and Jan, S Beck Rafael and Linda Belliard Milo, S and Kim, S Breitenger Julio, AP and Karen, S Bueno Margaret Cole, SN James and Patricia Crawfis Charles, SN and Peggy, SN Davenport Thomas, SN and Ruth, S Etzwiler Ted, SN and Phyllis Fort Dan, P and Lynn, P Fortman Wayne, SN and Mavis, AP Hammond Cloyd, SN and Mary Ann McNaul Carl Pfeifer Bob Pompei, P James Rank, S Richard, SN and Iris, SN Reddy Chris Reining, N Garry, SN and Susan Schroeder Richard, P and Barbara Sedlak Michael Siwek, SN Chan, AP and Elizabeth Steven Marcus Wolf, S Rudy Weiss, P

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7 BE OUR GUEST Ma Cherie Mademoiselle, it is with deepest pride And greatest pleasure that we welcome you tonight. And now, we invite you to relax, let us pull up a Chair as the dining room proudly presents--- Your dinner.! Be our guest! Be our guest! Put our service to the test. Tie your napkin round your neck, Cherie and we ll provide the rest. Soup du jour, hot d oeuvres why we only live to serve. Try the grey stuff. Chip: It s delicious. Don t believe me, ask the dishes. They can sing, they can dance After all, Miss, this is France And a dinner here is never 2 nd best Go on, unfold your menu, take a glance and then you ll be our guest Oui, our guest, be our guest! Lumiere and Chorus: Beef ragout, cheese soufflé, pie and pudding en Flambe. We ll prepare and serve with flair a culinary cabaret! You re alone and you re scared But the banquet s all prepared No one s gloomy or complaining while the flatware s entertaining We tell jokes! I do tricks with my fellow candlesticks. Chorus: And it s all in perfect taste that you can bet. Come on and lift your glass, you ve won your own free pass to be our guest. If you re stressed it s fine dining we suggest Chorus: Be our guest! Be our guest! Be our guest! Get your worries off your chest Let us say for your entrée we ve an array, may we suggest. Try the bread, try the soup! When the croutons loop de loop. It s a treat for dinner. Don t believe me? Ask the china. Singing pork, dancing veal. What an entertaining meal! How could anyone be gloomy and sore? We ll make you shout encore and send us out for more. So be our guest. Be our guest! Chorus: Be our guest! Life is so unnerving for a servant who s not serving He s not whole without a soul to wait upon. Ah, those good old days when we were useful. Suddenly those good old days are gone. Ten years we ve been rusting. Needing so much more than dusting. Needing exercise, a chance to use our skills! Most days we just lay around the castle, flabby, fat and lazy. You walked in on me and oops-a-daisy! Mrs. Potts: It s a guest! It s a guest! Sakes alive, we ll be blessed! Wine s been pouring, thank the lord I ve had the napkins freshly pressed; with dessert, she ll want tea And my dear that s fine with me. While the cups do their soft-shoein, I ll be bubbling, I ll be brewing. I ll get warm, piping hot. Heaven s sakes! Is that a spot? Clean it up! We want the company impressed. Chorus: We ve got a lot to do. Mrs. Potts: Is it one lump or two? For you, our guest. Chorus: She s our guest! Mrs. Potts: She s our guest! Chorus: She s our guest! Be our guest! Be our guest! Be our guest! Be our guest! Be our guest! Our command is your request. It s been years since we ve had anybody here and we re obsessed. With your meal, with your ease, Yes indeed, we aim to please. While the candlelight s still glowing, let us help you. We ll keep going Course by course, one by one, till you shout--- ENOUGH! I M DONE! The D/7 Fall Conference will be here before we know it! Help us welcome our guest to Kalahari by learning to lip sync to the song Be Our Guest from Disney s Beauty and the Beast.

8 Mark Your Calendar for Mansfield Power Squadron s 2015 Activities September 8 Executive/Membership Meeting September 22 Deadline to book your room for Kalahari and register for the Lip Syncing Contest September 23 Fall Equinox Pot Luck at Seltzer Park in Shelby at 6:00 Fall Classes begin. Check out SEO Shirley Fort s column for details or call her with class requests October 13 October 11 October November 10 November 10 Executive/Membership Meeting Clambake Fundraiser at The Cabin Restaurant D/7 Fall Conference at Kalahari Resort in Sandusky Executive/Membership Meeting North Channel Travelogue after monthly meeting Presented by P/C/Richard Clark and P/Lt.C/Wayne Hammond December 6 Holiday Party at Shirley Fort s at 5:00 (Save your quarters for food pantry donation) December 8 Executive/Membership Meeting January 2016 February 2016 March 2016 Euchre Tournament Winter Classes begin call SEO Shirley Fort to enroll or to request a specific class be offered during the winter months when we can only dream of getting our boats into the water! Gasparillo Pirate Party.urgh! Annual Meeting MANSFIELD POWER SQUADRON Mansfield YACHTSMAN P/D/C Thomas Etzwiler, SN 2581 Millsboro Rd. E. Mansfield, OH 44903