Month: May 2012

Vic Carpenter – An Invitation, June 9th, 2012 1:00 pm

Events and Presentations, Sail Parry Sound

Celebration of Life, June 9th, 1:00 at Sail Parry Sound. RSVP to rsvp@sailparrysound.on.ca

Vic Carpenter, Master Boat Builder

Vic and his wife Hazel were the proprietors of Superior Sailboats for almost 50 years, in Michigan, then from 1964 in Port McNicoll and then 1993-2001 at Bayfield Inlet.

Vic designed and built exquisitely beautiful wooden boats, power and sail, up to 65 feet long. The boats had extraordinary inlay work of mahogany and ebony in stunning designs. Hazel did all the varnishing, sometimes more than twenty coats.

They trained others to work in this fine tradition, which lives on among their protégés around the Great Lakes.

Their boats are owned by the ‘who’s who’ of Great Lakes and Muskoka boaters, and some have now become world travellers. Golden Goose, built originally for Gordon Lightfoot, is now in Germany and has sailed to the Antarctic. Passing Wind, their own 65-footer, was sold a few years ago to a New England owner, and has won Atlantic races. The 56-foot My Toy has made annual visits to Parry Sound, where it draws crowds of admirers.

Vic Carpenter’s creations are known and admired by lovers of wooden boats worldwide.

Boat Launching Thursday, May 17th, Parry Sound Town Dock

Events and Presentations

John Mason and Larry Woolner will be launching their 26 and 30 foot sailboats at the Parry Sound town dock this Thursday. Tentative time is 1:00 to 3:00. Location will be in the area behind the Island Queen. Equipment will involve a crane for some high wire excitement.

Fun, thrills and excitement are not guaranteed. But it’s always fun to watch two sailors pour a little more money into the bay. And of course it’s free for the spectators. The schedule is fluid, so check back for changes.

Wear Your Lifejacket to Work Day (May 18)

Events and Presentations,

(from the Canadian Power and Sail Squadron website – thanks to MKW for the suggestion)

May 11, 2012
In support of Wear Your Lifejacket to Work Day (May 18) Canadian Power & Sail Squadrons (CPS) members and staff are encouraged to wear their lifejackets to work.

As the first long weekend of the summer approaches CPS would like to remind boaters to be safe on our waterways. Wearing your lifejacket is one of the easiest ways to ensure your safety on the water.

Across Canada, 89% of recreational boaters who drown each and every year were not wearing a lifejacket. Most of these drownings occur in small open power boats, accounting for 60% of these preventable deaths. A majority of these victims were males between the ages of 19 and 35, out for a day of fishing. An average of 140 unnecessary drownings occur every year.

Many boaters who drown believe they are good swimmers, so they feel that having a lifejacket on board and within easy reach is good enough. But what good is a lifejacket that is stored under a seat or under the bow going to be when the unexpected happens? Most drownings happen unexpectedly when small boats capsize or someone falls overboard. The lifejacket that you leave behind is not much use, especially in cold water.

When choosing a lifejacket follow these simple guidelines: Choose one that is suitable for the activity you are involved in and check the label to make sure that it is Canadian approved and is of the correct size. Finally, make sure it fits snugly.

If you don’t wear your lifejacket, it won’t work.

-Stats courtesy of the Canadian Safe Boating Council