soon to be dropped in the water.
Here are a couple of photos of sailboats getting dunked this week at the Parry Sound harbour. Time to get tacking.
Boats Floating in the Air ….
Author: Jo Bossart/ParrySounds.com
Christmas in July – Want to Help Light It Up?
Once again the Parry Sound Power and Sail Squadron is organizing a ‘Christmas in July’ ‘boat-by’ as part of the Canada Day celebrations in the Parry Sound Harbour.
This involves one or two dozen boats following each other into the harbour as a procession, fully rigged with lights. A bit like floating Christmas lights.
If you are interested contact John Mason, Squadron Executive Officer at:
705.342.1315, masonj@vianet.ca. Power Squadron membership is not required to participate.
Here are a couple photos from last year’s Canada Day celebrations. (Click for larger images.)
VHF Course (Restricted Operator Certificate Maritime, ROC-M)
This two evening course is scheduled for May 22nd and 29th.
This course includes instruction and the course materials (complete package with CD), and covers Digital Selective Calling (DSC). This course will prepare you for the Restricted Operator Certificate (Maritime) exam. The exam is administered on the last second day. Successful completion provides you with a Restricted Operator Certificate (Maritime), including DSC.
To operate a maritime radio, you need the certificate. It is the law! The Maritime Radio course teaches emergency radio procedures, as well as everyday operating techniques.
Register with John Mason at least a week in advance so course materials can be ordered.
705.342.1315 OR masonj@vianet.ca
Cost: $75.00
An American Perspective on Low Water Levels
We in Georgian Bay are not the only ones wringing our hands with the prospect of low water levels this summer. Water levels are just that, level. Despite scientists telling us that Georgian Bay is likely to face even lower water levels over the centuries and millennia to come as the land continues to experience post-glacial isostatic rebound, the reality now is that low water levels in Georgian Bay mean lower levels in Lake Michigan and the west coast of Lake Huron. So if there is a ‘conspiracy’ to steal Great Lakes water the impact will be felt by both nations. With that out of the way, here’s a link to a report (USA Today – Low Great Lakes water levels plague shipping, recreation) that suggests the water levels will rebound this summer, but not as much as we would like.
That means paying more attention to the charts. What was known to be close to the surface, and a hazard, will now be visible and easily avoided. But what wasn’t a problem last year or the year before will now be lurking just below the surface, ready to ding a prop, or take off the whole lower unit. So to take a line from the television show Hill Street Blues, “Be careful out there”.
Low Water? Better Than No Water for These Guys. (March 2013)
Leeward Ho!
A short report from the Squadron’s Executive Officer – John Mason.
There’s snow on the ground. It’s cold outside. Time for some winter boating! John and Pauline Mason, and grandson Xavier, took a March charter out of Sint Maarten. Well we, and 158 others, ‘chartered’ a cabin on one of Star Clippers 370 foot boats. Have you seen the ad in the Canadian Yachting that comes with a membership to CPS? Take a peek a page 95, April; that’s the four mast clipper we were on. (Editors note – it’s Star Clippers through Europa Travel and Tours, here’s a link to their website.)
Pauline and I have been on three river cruises in Europe; this was different but just as good. Our state room had a queen size bed, a bunk for Xavier, and a bathroom with shower. Quite big enough for the trip.
St. Maarten, Nevis, Dominica, Les Saints, Guadeloupe, St. Barts. Each day we stopped on one of six leeward islands. As well as possible tours ashore there were options for rafting down a river, zip lining through tropical forests, snorkeling through reefs, that kind of thing; or you could stay with the boat for wine tasting, water sports, including a ride to a nearby beach to swim and snorkel. The days could be full.
The week on the boat can best be summed up by Xavier who said day after day, “This is the best day of my life!” His best days included tubing down the rapids, climbing the mast, learning to scuba, (he reported he could live underwater) and, even I have to admit, some of the very best meals. There was a choice of three chef prepared dinners each day. If chicken, Chateaubriand or lobster were not to your taste, there was a steak or veggie dish. Five or six meals or snacks through the day – just what a growing boy needs.
Pauline and I agree it was an excellent trip AND the Green Flash exists. As I climbed down from the mast I stopped to see the sunset. After years of watching for it, it happened. A small flash of green in the center of an orange Sun. I saw it.
I am ready to do it again.
To get out of the way of hurricanes and catch the lucrative Mediterranean market, the boats are repositioned twice a year. I have always looked forward to sailing across the Atlantic and I now think this would be a way to go. Want to come with me?
Up, up and Away
Squadron AGM – April 27, 2013
The Parry Sound Power and Sail Squadron will hold their annual general meeting on April 27, 2013, from 14:00 to 17:00 at the Museum on Tower Hill in Parry Sound.
Please mark this date in your calendars. Additional details will be forthcoming.
Sail Parry Sound Film Event
All of you sailors will want to check out the film, “Racing Around the World Alone”, being shown by Sail Parry Sound at the Stockey Centre on April 6, 2013. Some additional details can be found in the clipping below, and at the Sail Parry Sound website through this link.
Great Lakes Data Resource
I was provided information by Gerry Shipman of Sound Boat Works and a squadron member concerning ice coverage maps for the Great Lakes a month ago, and promptly forgot about it.
With a little bit of digging I’ve managed to find the site the map was sourced from at the NOAA (US – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency). This site has lots of other information that will be of interest to squadron members including winds, waves, surface currents and much more.
There is also specific information on Lake Huron including Georgian Bay. I’ve pasted a screen clipping from one of the composite Lake Huron pages. If you go to the page you will be able to click on the individual maps for a larger image and more detail. It’s worth a look. I’ve placed a link directly from the image below to the corresponding web page in case you want to take a closer look.
Low Water Meeting Reports
Provided below is a list of the many documents that were prepared before and after the low water meeting that was held February 6th in Parry Sound. This meeting involved the Mayors, Chiefs and Reeves of Parry Sound and the surrounding communities. I was unable to attend because the meeting was closed to all but participants and the ‘official media’. But the North Star did a nice summary of the meeting, here’s a link to their article if you haven’t seen it already.
The Town of Parry Sound has, since the meeting, posted up the meeting report, the agreed meeting resolution, and the various presentations. You can access the town’s webpage through this link. Or you can open the individual documents through the links below. The Parry Sound Power and Sail Squadron has ‘inventoried’ these documents on this site to ensure continued access to them. Also note that the Town of Parry Sound webpage has a very useful link to the Township of the Archipelago’s website where there are associated documents on the low water issue.
Here are the links to the individual documents hosted on this site related to the low water discussions. They are also available on the Town of Parry Sound’s website through this link.
Mayors, Reeves, Chiefs, Meeting Notes
Mayors, Reeves, Chiefs, Meeting Resolution
Archipelago Presentation
Georgian Bay Association Presentation
Owen Sound Meeting Notes
Midland Meeting Notes
Oh Boy, New Records
Here’s a link to the Yankee opinion on the record low water levels that we are experiencing. They are as concerned as we are. And no they aren’t secretly piping the water down the Mississippi, they’re having the same problems we are but are well into the blasting stage to ensure navigation.
Worse Than a Receding Hairline
Parry Sound Boating 