Prince George Power & Sail Squadron Icebreaker

Transcription

1 November 2011 Prince George Power & Sail Squadron Icebreaker Website: Calendar of Events Jan 9 - Boating Course begins at Civic Centre Feb 8 to 12 - Vancouver Boat Show, BC Place Feb 25 - Pot Luck Dinner & Social at Moose Hall March 26, 29, April 2 - Maritime Radio Course (VHF/DSC) April 25 - AGM April 25 - Flare & Fire Extinguisher Demonstrations May 5 - Spring Gala June 9 & 10 - Fishing Derby MEMBERS: If you have family and/or friends who would like to take our CPS Boating Course, please have them contact our Training Officer, Bruce Porteous, at bruce_porteous@telus.net or call him at as soon as possible. Registration for the course is also available online by going to our website at: go to Courses and follow the prompts. If you need assistance, call Barry at COMMANDER S CORNER The Squadron received news in November that our application for a dues increase had been accepted. This means that beginning in May annual dues will increase by $6.00, thus bringing us in line with the other Squadrons in our District. Although our finances were in relatively good shape, this increase will give us more flexibility in the future. To all members who might be interested in becoming more involved in the Prince George Power and Sail Squadron, presently there is an opening on the Bridge. If you are interested, please contact me at the link below. Although most of us have lived in northern BC for a long time, winter has arrived - colder, snowier, and a lot earlier than it should have. Planning is well underway for the upcoming Boating Course. Registration, although not unusual, has been slow with only about 5 students signed up so far. I would like to encourage any of our Associate Members who would like to increase their safe boating knowledge to consider signing up for this Course. I would also like to encourage past graduates of the Boating Course to consider volunteering as a Proctor. Many proctors will tell you that helping students in the classroom taught them as much as the initial course did. The grapevine reports that some of our members are planning a sailing holiday in/or around Croatia. This sounds extremely interesting and hopefully, if the trip happens, we will be able to see and hear about the adventure at a future social event. Also, the Squadron congratulates Past Commander and long time member, Lou Jewitt, on his recent marriage. We all wish Lou and Rita the best of everything. In closing, please encourage any potential boater to check out our Boating Course. Boating course posters are available. mcfarlin@netbistro.com Respectfully Submitted,

2 Page 2 Bridge Members 2011/2012 Commander - Bill McFarlin Executive Officer - Vic Goodman Training Officer - Bruce Porteous Ass t Training Officer - Barry Smith Secretary - Judi Shannon Treasurer - Paulette Valois Ass t Treasurer - Sandy Cherry Public Relations - Gary Shannon Membership - Robert Kroeker Communications - Judy Smith Supplies - Don Clapper Publications - Judy Smith Socials - Heather McLeish Fishing Derby - Trent Allen Proctors - Gayle Hebb Advanced/Electives - George Brookes Boating Basics - John Hebb Historian - Position vacant Administration - Maggie Stoner MAREP - Gary Shannon 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 LIFE MEMBERS: (Members with 20+ years of Merit Marks) Gordon Springate George Brookes Gary Shannon Phoning Committee - Maggie Stoner Webmaster - Barry Smith Port Captain - Jim McNeal Environment - Jim McNeal Past Commander - Doug Cherry PMD Northern Liaison - Lou Jewitt

3 Page 3 ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS Starting November 26, the Squadron invites and encourages all members to meet for coffee and camaraderie at 10 a.m., on the last Saturday of each month, at the White Spot on Victoria Street. We would love to see as many members as possible and hopefully make this a monthly occasion to get together and perhaps it will even be a meet-and-greet for some. Let s see some of our recent former students too and their guests; it will be the start of something special for all our members. Please join us!! It will be fun!! Did you know.. The word stewardesses is the longest word typed with only the left hand. And lollipop is the longest word typed with your right hand. Today, your heart will beat about 100,000 times and pump your body s blood supply through 19,000 kilometers of vessels. Now that s a workout! Two wharves = one paradox!! SQUADRON REGALIA Looking for a good Christmas present? How about choosing one of our regalia items as shown below. If you would like to view and/or purchase, please contact Don Clapper at or at housedon@shaw.ca Black Vest $75.00 Fishing vest $88.00 Blue Hoodie $42.00 Polo Shirt $44.00 Various colors.

4 Page 4 ADVANCED AND ELECTIVE COURSES FOR 2012 Winter is advancing and boating for the season is finished. How about improving your boating skills by taking an Advanced or Elective course from the following list: Seamanship Advanced Piloting Maritime Radio (VHF & DSC) Navigating with GPS Electronic Charting Radar for Pleasure Craft Depth Sounder Fundamentals of Weather Sailing Extended Cruising Boat & Engine Maintenance Distress Signalling (Manual & DVD) As you can see, there is now quite a selection of courses available. All the above can be taken by home study at your leisure. Last year, a number of members expressed an interest in doing Seamanship, a continuation of the Boating Course. So far this year, I have only heard from one person who wanted to take this course. If we can get a group together, we may be able to arrange an instructed course. Please let me know of your interest as soon as possible by calling me at or at geokay@shaw.ca. Remember.. the more boating skills you have, the safer boater you become! George Brookes, Training Officer for Advanced and Elective Courses MEMBERSHIP Our Squadron has 371 members, which includes 279 Regular members and 92 Associates members. We are one of 21 Squadrons within Pacific Mainland District (PMD). There are a total of 5183 members in PMD. Our Prince George Squadron is the third largest Squadron in PMD. A note to our members - Please ensure you update your CPS Profile in our database if you change your address, phone number, street address, boat name, etc. To do this, go to the CPS main website at: then to Login at the top, (use your address and personal password to log in), then to My Profile. MORE MEMBER BENEFITS RONA - A special CPS account has been set up with Rona. This account provides a 10% discount on a large variety of products in select categories at Rona stores. Currently this account is valid at any corporate store in Western Canada with plans to work toward offering the discount across Canada.

5 Page 5 What can you say about Seasickness? Not much when you re seasick! The sport of yachting must have been invented by a Dutchman. According to a Forbes Magazine story on the America s Cup competition, the word yacht comes from the Dutch verb jacht. The translation means to throw up violently! Seasickness is caused when the minute inner ear organs that enable a human to balance are disturbed by the motion of the boat swaying and pitching. This movement sets off alarm signals to the brain causing nausea, headache, dizziness and sometimes vomiting. This condition can be intensified by the lack of fresh air and inactivity. It can also be a person s worst nightmare at sea. Seasickness affects many people to varying degrees - even sailors with years of experience. Looking on the bright side, the body adapts after time. Fortunately, several remedies can be taken before setting sail. Pills can be obtained over the counter which help most people by sedating the balancing organs. The pills can cause drowsiness and should be taken with care. Some people find special wrist bands effective. There are also stick-on patches that can be worn on the skin behind the ear. You can often avoid seasickness by staying busy and keeping your mind occupied (like reeling in the big fish!), taking over the helm, or any other activity that will keep you above deck. Look at the distant horizon rather than the water close at hand. Take deep breaths and drink plenty of water. The worst thing that a person can do is go below deck with no land or horizon to look at. Reading or staring at an object will assuredly bring on the affects of seasickness. There is some evidence that ginger is good to prevent seasickness. It doesn t matter in what form you take it, although ginger-ale is the most used one. If you are seasick and can t bear it anymore, lie down on your back with your eyes closed. This will greatly reduce the affects. NAUTICAL KNOWLEDGE Baggywrinkle is a soft covering for cables (or any other obstructions) to reduce sail chafe. There are many points in the rig of a large sailing ship where the sails come into contact with the standing rigging; unprotected sails would soon develop holes at the points of contact. Baggywrinkle provides a softer wearing surface for the sail. Baggywrinkle is made from short pieces of yarn cut from old lines that have been taken out of service. Two parallel lengths of marline are stretched between fixed points, and the lengths of yarn are attached using a hitch - similar to a cow hitch - called a "railroad sennit". This creates a long, shaggy fringe which, when the marline is wound around a cable, becomes a large hairy cylinder. References: Hervey Garrett Smith (October 1990). The Arts of the Sailor: Knotting, Splicing and Ropework. Dover Publications. Twain Braden (May 2003). The Handbook of Sailing Techniques: Professional Tips, Expert Advice, Essential Skills. The Lyons Press. WATER WISDOM While your body is about 65% water, your brain is about 75% water. Unfortunately, bones are 22% water and contribute to a negative buoyancy in the absence of a PFD. Seawater is about 3.5% salt. Your kidneys can handle a concentration of about 2.2%. If you drink seawater, you will dehydrate your body trying to flush it out.

6 Page 6 PMD SWEATSHIRTS Some Squadrons within our Pacific Mainland District are ordering the PMD Sweatshirts, which have the CPS logo on one side of the shirt and all the Squadron burgess on the other side. This too would make a great Christmas gift. Colors available this time are black, charcoal grey and classic navy; sizes range up to XXXL; fabric is 80/20 cotton and polyester mix; price is $57.00 (taxes included) plus shipping and handling to us here in the north! Delivery will take approximately 10 days. If you are interested in this item, please contact Judy at bjsmith@telus.net by Friday, December 2. The following pictures show the PMD sweatshirts. They are warm and cozy!

7 Page 7 Our Squadron is pleased to recognize the businesses that support us, as shown on the pages of this Icebreaker newsletter. Please remember to support them! Chinook Scaffold Systems Ltd. Dodd Hareuther, General Manager 9189 National Place, Prince George, BC Telephone: Fax: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all Squadron members of our Prince George Power & Sail Squadron and also to our advertisers in the Icebreaker newsletters. Your support to our Squadron throughout the year is greatly appreciated. Have a safe and happy holiday and all the best to everyone in 2012! If you would like to advertise your business in our Squadron newsletter, please call Judy at or at bjsmith@telus.net 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!