Parry Sound

Parry Sound Power and Sail Squadron AGM – April 23, 2016

Events and Presentations, General/Travel, Information/Reports, ,

PARRY SOUND SQUADRON AGM

At our last meeting the bridge agreed to continue with the same members.

The following slate of officers will be presented at the AGM on April 23, 2016:

John Mason – Commander, Educational Officer

David Hardie – Treasurer, Past Commander

Horst Mattern – Administrative and Environment Officer

Lois Ritchie – Membership Officer

Josef Bossart –  Secretary, Communications Officer

Joseph Grasso – Supply Officer

Roger Alexander – MAREP Officer

Gerald Shipman – Port Captain

The Parry Sound and Voyageur District AGM is scheduled as follows:

  1. A Wine & Cheese reception at the Museum on Tower Hill, April 22, 5:00 to 7:00 PM.
  2. Voyageur District AGM, Saturday, April 23, 9:45 to 12:00, at the Stockey Center: 9:00 coffee and morning snacks.
  3. Lunch 12:00 to 1:00.
  4. Parry Sound Squadron AGM 1:00 to 2:00.

As a member of the Parry Sound Squadron you are welcome to attend. Please let John Mason, 705.342.1315 — masonj@vianet.ca, know that you will be attending the AGM to permit for appropriate arrangements.

John Mason

Return of the Risley – March 2016

General/Travel, Parry Sound Area, , ,

Sitting out on the North Shore Rugged Trail last week enjoying the arrival of dawn I was surprised to see three beacons looking west. I recognized two of them, the beacon at Three Mile point (3 km away), and in the distance Killbear (10 km away), but there was a third between the two of them. Within minutes I was able to confirm that it was the Samuel Risley returning to port at the Parry Sound Coast Guard base for the first time this year. I guess boating season has officially started in the Parry Sound area. That’s the beacon on Killbear Point in the distance.

The Samuel Risley Rounding Three Mile Point – March 19, 2016

Return-Risley-2016-03-19y

West Parry Sound Area, 2016 VHF Course Dates Announced

Activities, Courses/Training, Parry Sound Area, , , ,

A two evening VHF instruction course with examination will be offered May 3rd and 10th, 2016, at Lakeland Long Term Care facility (beside the West Parry Sound District Hospital in Parry Sound).

The complete package with CD covers VHF marine radio  and Digital Selective Calling (DSC). The course will prepare you for the Restricted Operator Certificate (Maritime) and DSC Endorsement exams that will be administered on the second night with temporary licenses issued that evening for people successfully completing the exams.

To legally operate a maritime radio as an individual or business you need this certificate. The Maritime Radio course teaches emergency radio procedures as well as everyday operating techniques.

Register with John Mason in advance so course materials can be ordered.
705.342.1315, or masonj@vianet.ca.

Cost: Active Canadian Power and Sail Squadron members $80. Non-members $90.

Note: Students must come ready to show that they have memorized the Phonetic Alphabet: Alpha, Bravo, Charley… It is available online. Here is a link to get you started.

State of the Sound – March 3, 2016. Not Quite Ready for Boating.

Redwood1890-20160303-_DS74262

Upcoming First Aid Courses

Courses/Training, Parry Sound Area, ,

A number of first aid courses are being sponsored by White Squall. Now is a good time to get that critical first aid training and certification, or to brush up on your skills. Once the ice is out it will be hard to find the time for all important safety instruction.

Wilderness Advanced First Aid – April 23-26, 2016
Bridge to WFR – April 27-May 1, 2016
Wilderness First Responder April 23 – May 1 (April 27th off)
Wilderness First Aid – May 7-8
Contact the White Squall Paddling Centre at 705/342-5324.

The Big Sound – Mostly Frozen Over

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

It’s one month past the Winter Solstice and we seem to have finally developed a skim of ice over the Big Sound. (That’s ice, not water.) There still seems to be open water further out when seen from Belvedere Hill. Things will continue to be cold, but it will be many days before people can get their ice huts and sleds out on the Big Sound. The Walleye season ends March 1st, so there may be little incentive to get the huts out, once the ice gets thick enough to be safe. There may be an early start to the boating season.Redwood1890-20160121-_DS72924

New Year, New Look

Information/Reports, Parry Sound Area, ,

The last couple months have been a little bit strange around this part of Georgian Bay. We received the expected late November dump of snow, and then it disappeared. Well, that was pretty normal. But then temperatures were supposed to drop, delivering lake effect snow and cooling the Big Sound. So far it has been pretty much warm and overcast. There is some promise of lower temperatures in the coming days, and some snow as well. The big question though is when the Big Sound will freeze over. I don’t doubt it will, but will it freeze enough to allow for ice fishing and snowmobiling? If you can’t boat on it, at least you should be able to walk, ski or sled over it. The Big Sound and the South Channel are major highways in the winter.

If Mother Nature can change her look I figured we could do so as well. The Parry Sound Power and Sail Squadron webpage has been updated with a new template. All of the same information is here, and the posts are a little more attractive in my opinion. You just need to scroll to the bottom of the page if you are looking for the archives, upcoming events, or want to search the site.

Christmas Day, Looking Towards Parry Sound

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JB – Communications Officer

Boating Essentials Starting January 2015

Activities, Courses/Training, Parry Sound Area, , ,

Boating Essentials is the Canadian Power and Sail Squadron course that builds on the basic knowledge required for the Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) and takes you to the next level in your boating education. Topics in this course include navigation, conning, plotting, course and local charting, GPS, anchoring, lines and ropes. The course is taught by qualified local instructors who have considerable knowledge and experience boating in and around Georgian Bay.

You receive a complimentary one-year Regular Membership in Power Squadron upon completion of the Boating Essentials course. Note: Boaters who do not currently have their PCOC may make arrangements with the instructor.

The course will be held one evening a week at the Parry Sound campus of Canadore College.

Course cost: $250.00 Students should register at Canadore Parry Sound for $165.00, seniors $144.70 The course materials costs, paid on the first night will bring the cost up to $250.00

Register by calling 705.746.9222, or through online at this link at Canadore College.

Parry Sound Santa Claus Parade

Activities, Events and Presentations, Parry Sound Area,

The Parry Sound Power and Sail Squadron will be participating in this weekend’s  Optimist Club sponsored Parry Sound Santa Claus parade. The action starts at 4:30 on Saturday November 28th, and the Parry Sound Power and Sail Squadron will be there with a float. Interested in participating, or just walking along with the float (it’s a boat)? Give Commander John Mason a call at 705.342.1315.

Seamanship Course Starting September 29th

Courses/Training, Parry Sound Area, , ,

The Parry Sound Power & Sail Squadron will be presenting the Seamanship course this fall starting September 29th.

Seamanship expands upon the CPS Boating Essentials course to provide the student with a more in-depth knowledge of tides, currents, wind, waves and weather.  Traditional navigation, aids to navigation, Collision Regulations, GPS fixes, running fixes, DR plot, way points, the introduction of Deviation and chart labeling in both True and Magnetic are among the many topics covered.

Circumstances such as crew-overboard, medical emergencies, and potentially life-threatening situations are discussed. You will also “learn the ropes”, by gaining proficiency related to knots, hitches, bends, and splices as you develop your Marlinspike skills.

Details about pricing, time and location are available by contacting Parry Sound Power & Sail Squadron Commander and Education Officer, John Mason (705.342.1315, or masonj@vianet.ca.).