Month: June 2014

Blessing of the Fleet

Activities, Events and Presentations, Parry Sound Area, ,

Adapting a maritime tradition to our local waters the Parry Sound Power and Sail Squadron Executive Officer, and Past Commander, the Reverend Doctor David Hardie will be offering a ‘blessing of the fleet’ on July 1st as part of the Squadron’s Christmas in July event.

Dr. Hardie will be offering the blessing for vessels attending the Christmas in July procession (all are invited to participate – please see an earlier post for information on when and where), at about 9:15 PM after boats have assembled behind Rosetta Island in the Parry Sound harbour.

 

First Geocache Placed – Huckleberry Island

GeoBayCaching,

Parry Sound Power and Sail Squadron’s first GeoBayCache has been placed and confirmed on Huckleberry Island. It’s officially Cache #5, but managed to get placed first.

The cache coordinates are:
45.40139º
-80.11776º

This is the same as:
45º 24.08340′
-080º 07.06560′

Depending on where you are using decimal degrees or degrees and minutes.

Good news – with a government dock so there won’t be wet feet. The cache itself is a bit tucked away from the elements, but not really hidden. The idea of the program is to provide boaters with an opportunity to explore new spots in the Georgian Bay Biosphere.

Check out information at the Parry Sound Power and Sail Squadron GeoBayCaching page for information on the Squadron’s geocaching program. Additional information about Cache #5 can be found at the page on the website.

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Christmas in July

Activities, Events and Presentations, General/Travel, Parry Sound Area, ,

Where? – Parry Sound Harbour
When? – July 1st, 9:15 PM

Every year the Parry Sound Power and Sail Squadron sponsors Christmas In July. You don’t have to be a member to express your holiday spirit. Just decorate your boat like a lighted Christmas tree or present and join us.

How? – Decorate your boat and join us behind Rosetta Island at 9:15 on July 1 – Canada Day. Or, if the day is Parry Sound perfect, anchor south of Rosetta (there is shallow water near Parry Island) – have a Bar-B-Q, swim, decorate your boat and join us south of Rosetta Island at 9:15

The parade of lights will leave at 9:40 led by the OPP boat or Cambrian. We travel in line toward Parry Sound Marine then loop to travel along the east side of the concrete wharf (many cheers and halloos, here.) We then try to head out past Bobs Point before the Island Queen returns from her evening cruise. We then tour toward the Old Town beach and Parry Sound Sailing School so the residents of Belvedere can see us. Hopefully we can get back and anchored for the fireworks.

Of course a skipper is responsible for his/her own boat. When and where you break off from the procession is up to you. One year in twenty, I remember a thunder storm that caused a change in plans. Grandchildren can insist that fireworks are more important than a long cruise. But I have never regretted being a part of this Canada Day celebration.

After the fireworks there tends to be total confusion in the harbor. I usually leave my boat anchored and fire up ALL my lights until things quiet down. On other nights I have followed boats out toward the Sound – boats with no lights, boats with their red and green lights backwards. I find it best to wait. On the other hand, even with the crowded harbor we have never had a collision.

Hope to see you at Rosetta this July 1. Contact me if you have questions: John Mason, commander@parrysoundsquadron.ca.

Last Year’s Christmas in July Procession

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Parry Sound Boat Launches – Mill Lake

Boating News, General/Travel, Parry Sound Area, , ,

This is the final installment in the series on boat launches in Parry Sound. Previous posts provided an overview of all sites with individual posts on the Champaigne Street, Waubuno Beach and Smelter Wharf launches. While these launches all provide access to Georgian Bay the Mill Lake launch provides access to, surprise, Mill Lake.

This launch is in a corner of Parry Sound just on the north east side of the Highway 400 bridges that cross the Seguin River and many people assume is part of the neighbouring municipality of McDougall. Mill Lake itself is a smaller lake that does not provide access to either Georgian Bay or other lakes in the area. It is largely surrounded by cottages and homes. Here is an aerial look at the boat launch.

Mill-Lake_Launch_WPSGN

The launch itself is shallow with a gravel base, suitable for the boats that might be used on this smaller lake. Parking is available and once again I suggest people contact the Town of Parry Sound if they want to leave their vehicle and trailer there for any extended period of time.  Here’s a photo looking at the launch area. It’s a pretty relaxed facility with few users and lots of space.

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The dock is about 40-feet in length. A sign at the launch states that dockage is limited to four hours.

That’s it for the review of boat launches in Parry Sound. With a little bit of help we may be able to provide information on boat launches in the surrounding communities.

JB – Communications Officer

Parry Sound Boat Launches – Smelter Wharf

Boating News, General/Travel, Parry Sound Area, , ,

This is the fourth post looking at boat launches in Parry Sound. Previous posts looked at the launches as a group, with separate posts on the Champaigne and Waubuno Street launches.

Also known as the Salt Dock (it’s a major facility for the offloading of road salt for the district) the Smelter Wharf is ‘in transition’ in my opinion. The launch was repaired last year to the tune of about $50,000, and as you will see from photos below it seems to need additional work. At present the launch is restricted in terms of the launch width, but it should not present an issue for any vessel that can be trailered on the road. The aerial photo below (click for a closer view) shows the launch site last Spring while it was still closed off and awaiting repair, with the docks not yet installed.

Smelter-Wharf_Launch_WPSGN

The two following photos show the condition of the launch as of June 2, 2014. The width of the launch is limited and a small section of the launch requires some resurfacing (construction cone). Otherwise the launch is quite functional with a 40-foot dock. There is a rapid drop off, so it isn’t necessary to back up too far before a boat will float.

Looking at the Smelter Wharf Launch

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There is lots of parking available, assuming that there are no events/ongoing in the wharf area. Despite this I rarely, if ever, see vehicles with trailers parked in this area. The Champaigne Street launch seems to be where people leave vehicles and trailers. I suggest you contact the Town for information if you you are interested in longer term parking at this site. I expect there is no issue for same day, or single day overnight parking.

Looking Back at the Launch

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Extended docking is not appropriate beyond the time required to launch.

JB – Communications Officer