Midland Power and Sail Squadron, Founded in 1952 Spring 2018 Volume 11, Issue 1 c/o 33 Byrnes Crescent, Penetanguishene, ON L9M 1V9 Newsletter Editor: Sandy Campbell Noel Campbell Commander Jim McLarty Commander March 6, 2018 As I write this report, I am thinking SPRING!!! I am thinking about our 126 members involved with the Midland Power and Sail Squadron, those members thinking of renewing their membership, and others contemplating joining our ranks. This truly is a great volunteer organization, with officers and members working countless hours to ensure that we deliver the best possible information to keep our boating public safe. We are blessed with having some of the best cruising waters in the entire WORLD, right here at our doorstep. Georgian Bay offers magnificent boating opportunities. However, that being said, it is BIG water, and boaters must always be aware of its dangers. Both the local Midland and Penetanguishene Squadrons are doing their best to help ensure your safety. This being the CPS-ECP 80 th Anniversary, we have a wonderful spring line-up of activities for you. We hope that you, our members, potential new members, and past members will take every opportunity to join us. 1. First, we have the Midland Home and Garden Show happening at the Midland Recreation Centre, April 20 and 21. Stop around to our booth and try your hand at tying some knots. 2. Next, we have our Annual General Meeting at the St. Marie Among the Hurons Restaurant, on May 12. Tickets are only $35.00 / person for a great meal. For entertainment, you can witness the swearing in of our new Bridge, which is always good fun. 3. This spring, the Midland Power and Sail Squadron (MPSS) is planning a spring initiative. This happens mostly in June when the several marinas in the area offer their family day celebrations. Visit the Midland Power and Sail Squadron s booth and check out what we have to offer: Free RVCC (recreational vessel courtesy checks) 1-hour seminars throughout the day, all about Chart Reading for Beginners and a chance to test your VHF skills with our new VHF simulator. As we get more information on our spring initiative, we will certainly pass it along with hopes you will join one of our events. For all you boaters that may be thinking about cruising away from your local waters, there s another cruisers night in the planning stage. This happens sometime in early November and will be filled with loads of information regards cruising on Georgian Bay, as well as how to plan to take your boat south to Florida and the Bahamas. This spring, in April, there s a course in Electronic Navigation, as well you won t want to miss our annual VHF marine radio lifetime accreditation program. Each course teaches you what you need to know to navigate safely with your GPS or chart plotter, as well as helps you become proficient and able to legally use your VHF Marine Radio which could potentially save your life out on the water. So, you can see, we have a lot happening at the Midland Power and Sail Squadron. I do have to thank all the marinas in the region for supporting us, like you do. Your support is greatly appreciated. To the members, past members and potential new members, please come out and join us. Best wishes for safe boating, Jim McLarty, Commander Commander s Commentary... 1 Part I - Let s Go Cruising... 3 Upcoming Courses... 4 Squadron Bridge Contact List... 5 Part I - Let s Go Cruising - continued... 7 Part I - Let s Go Cruising - continued... 8 Squadron Notice of Annual General Meeting... 9 Squadron Nominating Committee Report... 10 Midland Squadron website: http://midlandpowerandsail.ca Page 1 of 10
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By BluenoserJim A.K.A. Jim McLarty Hello folks!!! It s Bluenoserjim here from days gone by and cruising waters behind. As part of the True Course newsletter, quarterly issues, I thought I would write a 4-part series on: Let s Go Cruising. So many of us have desires of cruising the pristine waters of Georgian Bay, or taking the trip down south to cruise the warm southern waters during the winter. The areas we talk about in this 4 -part series are Georgian Bay, the route down to Florida, cruising in Florida, and the Bahamas. PART 1 SPRING TRUE COURSE In this article we talk about the logistics of cruising, the size and type of vessel, and how it is equipped. PART 2 SUMMER TRUE COURSE In this issue, we cover routes and timing, tides and weather, crab pots and fishing derbies. We also look at navigation, navigation equipment and communications. PART 3 FALL TRUE COURSE In the third issue, we cover destinations, extended cruising, crossing the Gulf Stream, and customs permits and procedures. PART 4 WINTER TRUE COURSE In the last issue, we look at the coming home. We talk about timing and weather, as well as the mental preparation required to return to a normal life after a big adventure. Ok folks, let s get started. When I use the word cruising, I am talking about living on board your vessel for at least a few months. And this takes courage. It takes courage to leave your nice home, in many cases, in the hands of others. It takes courage to break a comfortable routine and head out into the unknown. You have mail collection and bills to pay, the list is endless. I will say, with online banking, much of your land-based obligations can be taken care of from the comfort of your vessel, no matter where you are. Thus the need for a good cell phone plan, with good coverage. What size and type of vessel do we need? Well, some of us like to sail and get great joy when the sails are full, and the wind is sitting just in the right direction and at the right speed. Others, like myself, prefer the sound of a little diesel, purring away, as we cruise along at 7 knots. These vessels (continues on pages 7 and 8) Midland Squadron website: http://midlandpowerandsail.ca Page 3 of 10
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Jim McLarty, Commander Commander Jim McLarty (705) 549-1334 mclartys@rogers.com Immediate Past Commander Vacant Executive Officer Vacant Secretary Christine Robinson (705) 322-7003 c.m.robinson@sympatico.ca Training Officer Ken Lockhart (705) 527-7768 lockey527@gmail.com Treasurer Mike Hamilton (705) 528-1397 mrmwhamilton@sympatico.ca Public Relations Officer Vacant MAREP Officer Vacant Membership Murray Lockhart (705) 527-1340 lockhartmurray@gmail.com Assistant Training Officer Bob LaVictoire (705) 526-9585 boblav@csolve.net Newsletter Editor/ Webmaster Sandy Campbell (705) 549-5383 sandy.campbell@live.com Administrative Officer Wendy McLarty (705) 549-1334 mclartys@rogers.com Safe Boating Specialist (RVCC) Bob LaVictoire (705) 526-9585 boblav@csolve.net Assistant Safe Boating Specialist Ken Robinson (705) 322-7003 kcrobi@sympatico.ca Training Aids Vacant In the Photo (left to right): Mike Hamilton, Treasurer; Ken Lockhart, Education Officer; Noel Campbell, Education Officer; Sandy Campbell, Newsletter Editor/Web; Milne Dick, Administration Officer; Christine Robinson, Secretary; Bob LaVictoire, Assistant Education Officer and Safe Boating Specialist (RVCC); Special AGM Guest: Elaine Mundle, Georgian-Trent District Commander Missing from photo: Murray Lockhart, Membership Officer Note to the membership: Sadly, we lost Milne Dick in November. Also, sadly, Noel Campbell passed away February 2nd following a heart attack at RVH. Noel and Milne contributed significantly to the squadron for many, many years. Midland Squadron website: http://midlandpowerandsail.ca Page 5 of 10
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are probably in the trawler category and have a displacement or semi-displacement hull. They are very seaworthy, like a sailboat and usually very fuel efficient. However, there those cruisers among us that like to go fast. Their vessel would have a planing hull, plenty of horsepower and can cruise at 15 to 24 knots. The fuel burn and thus the cost to operate is usually quite high, to correspond with the additional speed. Does the size of a vessel matter? Well, I would say yes and no. Yes, it has to be large enough to be comfortable to live in and to handle the sea conditions you expect to encounter. No, it does not have to be so large that marina charges are exorbitant and fuel burn is over the top. There is a size for everyone. It is the same as with housing. Some of us like to live in a larger home, and some of us enjoy the comforts of a smaller home. My vessel was 31 feet long, a trawler, and I was comfortable. I did, however, think about moving up to a 36-39-foot vessel, for just a little more room and comfort. Your vessel should have one good-sized master berth for sleeping. One needs to get a good night s sleep when extended cruising and you should have at least one decent-sized head. There is nothing worse than getting up in the middle of the night for a pit stop, and having to cram into a little head. When you are finished, you are usually fully awake. It doesn t matter if the toilet has electric flush, or if you have to pump the handle, as long as you get the job done. Fresh water supply. In the waters I am talking about cruising, 60 gallons (200 litres) is lots. There is usually a place to refill the fresh-water tank at least every 3 days. Waste water, on the other hand, is more of a problem. Most marinas have pump-out stations. However, there is nothing worse than having your waste water tank full, and no pump-out in sight. I am suggesting that you have at least a 40-gallon (130-litre) waste-water tank. This size allows you to stay out on anchorages for several days. I am one cruiser that likes to anchor out. Staying in a marina each night can be costly, and I prefer the evening sunsets and the sounds of birds, etc. Marina charges can vary widely, but generally in the neighbourhood of $1.50 to $3.00 per foot of vessel length. I usually use a marina every third night, to shower, re-supply, take on water and pump out if necessary. Make sure you have a properly sized anchor, good rode/with chain, and of the right type for the bottoms you are trying to grab. In my opinion, a plough-type anchor usually works for most applications. The addition of a windless (an electric winch to raise and lower the anchor), is a huge asset and saves a bundle of work. Select a nice location, well sheltered, good scenery and with enough depth to compensate for water levels rising and falling with the tidal changes. Don t forget to set the anchor alarm on your chart plotter. It will make for a peaceful night s sleep. I changed my anchor light to LED and found it to be so much easier on my batteries. Let s talk about batteries. Extended cruising is all about managing your battery energy. In my vessel I had two large 8D house batteries. I also had an engine-starting battery that I could isolate from the house batteries, once I became anchored. During the day, when your engine is running, your batteries are being charged. Similarly, when in a marina, and plugged into shore power, your batteries are being charged. However, when you find that pristine anchorage, and you just want to stay a few days, the problem arises when you start to deplete your battery energy storage. Your refrigerator will draw about.5 amps/hour, night lighting, some cooking, anchor light, all work away at depleting your batteries. Don t forget that you need enough energy stored in your starting battery, at all times, to start your engine when you are ready to carry on. Most vessels carry an auxiliary generator of 4 to 8 KW. These are built into the vessel s hull and run off the ship s fuel system. I my case, I had a little Honda 2000-watt generator that sat out on the swim platform, in a water-tight case and was a tremendous asset when at anchorages for extended periods. My routine was to start the Honda generator for one hour, each morning, to make coffee, run a toaster oven, and charge my batteries. Then I would start the generator again, during the dinner time and let it run for two hours. This would allow us to do any cooking, and would also charge the house batteries enough to last through the night with reserve. This procedure Midland Squadron website: http://midlandpowerandsail.ca Page 7 of 10
worked well, for extended periods at anchor, and this little generator was very fuel efficient and quite quiet. One can also look at wind generators and solar panels, however, your fuel-driven generator gives you power, when you need it. I think bringing a dinghy with you is very important. It allows you to explore an area while at an anchorage, as well as provides a way to get you ashore for supplies, if you are using a mooring ball. Mooring balls are available at most marinas, towns and cities, at a fraction of the cost of tying up to a dock. Bicycles, on the other hand, I am not so sure about. For my two trips, The Great Loop, and to the Bahamas, I brought folding bikes. For most of the occasions that I used the bikes, I found myself in dangerous traffic situations and not sure where I was going. Something to think about. I remember in one case in Kentucky, while on the Great Loop, I needed to buy some bread and milk. The directions I got for the food store were to go 3 miles down a particular road. That seemed like no problem at all. Well it was!!! The road I was biking on also served a large paper mill, and huge logging trucks were passing within a few inches of my left elbow. Very scary!!! I highly advise you to get take-out tow insurance if you are going south. The cost is about $175.00/year from either Towboat U.S. or Sea Tow, and gives you that peace of mind, should you run aground, break down or run out of fuel. It works the same as CAA. Most marinas offer discounts on fuel and dockage for these towpackage memberships, and you can get your money back, over time. The vessel you choose to cruise with, should have a comfortable galley. It is here that you will do most of your food preparation, similar to your kitchen at your land-based home. It should be spacious to move around in, with enough counter space to make those lovely dishes. Each of us will develop our own routines. During a cruising day, I would try to be started about 9:00 am and be finished by 4:00 pm. That usually allowed me to travel about 50 nautical miles. During the cruise, I would not try to cook anything. I would wait until I was safely at anchor or tied up in a marina, before preparing any food. Having fruit and cheese and crackers on board for quick snacks, is essential. Sometimes, while on the move, it is just too rough to think about eating. Costco can be your best friend. Stock up on all the dry goods you can carry. You will be surprised how much food you can carry in all the little nooks and crannies. That way, you only need to carry about 3 to 5 fresh meal plans, in your little refrigerator at any one time. I use a BBQ a lot, and you would be surprised how much food can be prepared on the grill with tinfoil and a little Olive Oil. My choice of stove would be propane, unless you have a sizable generator to run an electric stove. Once you are plugged into shore power, an electric stove works great. Treat propane with respect and it works great. A 20-lb propane tank mounted in a good ventilated spot lasts forever. Next, I consider a salon an essential space on the vessel you choose to cruise with. This is similar to the living room or den in your home. It is a place to sit and relax, to read a book, enjoy a happy hour or to relax in during a rainy day. Almost all marinas have WiFi, and your salon is a great place to sit and catch up on news or send a few emails. Staying in touch with friends and relatives is so important, while you are away. Ok folks, I will stop here. I could go on and on, but we will save this ramble for the next issue. In the meantime, highways are crowded, cities are busy. So why not go cruising? You will meet friends with similar interests friendships that will last a lifetime. BluenoserJim Midland Squadron website: http://midlandpowerandsail.ca Page 8 of 10
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