The Parry Sound Power and Sail Squadron Annual General Meeting will be held at the Museum on Tower Hill in Parry Sound on April 22, 2017 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. There will be more information as the meeting date approaches. We can be reached at info@parrysoundboating.ca.
Early April sunset on the Big Sound. Pretty, but not yet boating season.
Every year, Parry Sound Power and Sail Squadron, invites boaters to Celebrate the First of July by joining a Christmas in July sail past. Just decorate your power boat like a lighted Christmas present, or your sailboat like a Christmas tree, and join us. You don’t have to be a member of CPS, just have a boat.
There are two possibilities:
The parade of lights will leave at 9:35 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 there. We try to get 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. We try to get back and anchored for the fireworks.
If the Island Queen has returned and is holding position in the channel, there is often room to pass between the ship and breakwater. Skippers choice. Once past the breakwater you can move to starboard and take the green buoys to port. There is lots of depth there for our wee boats.
Of course, a skipper is responsible for his/her own boat. When and where and why you break off from the procession is up to you. Grandchildren can insist that fireworks are more important than a cruise past Belvedere.
One year in twenty, I remember a thunder storm that caused a change in plans. Once again, skipper’s choice.
After the sail past there is usually safe anchorage just inside or just outside Parry Sound harbor east or west of Big Sound Marina where you can watch fireworks.
After the fireworks there tends to be total confusion in the harbour. 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.
Hope to see you at Rosetta this July 1.
John Mason Commander/Educational Officer CPS-ECP
Christmas in July – 2013
Commander Mason’s boat “Canadian Mist” being launched May 4th. I suppose he orders his whisky neat, not “on the rocks”. With our extended winter I suppose an earlier launch might have been resulted in ‘Canadian Mist on ice’.
Apologies for the puns, but they were toooo obvious to be ignored.
JB – Communication Officer
The Parry Sound Power and Sail Squadron was pleased to recognize five new graduates of the Boating Essentials course. Three graduates who were able to attend received their diplomas and Squadron pennants from Parry Sound Power and Sail Squadron Commander John Mason and District Commander Elizabeth Appleton.
The graduates are:
Warren Bean
Jeffrey Clarke
Shendah Davy
Joseph Grasso
Jeffrey Windich
Elizabeth Applelton, Warren Bean, Shendah Davy, Joe Grasso, John Mason
Also recognized at the Annual General Meeting were Commander John Mason and Administration Officer Horst Mattern who are both celebrating their Twenty Year anniversaries serving on the bridge.
John Mason, Elizabeth Appleton, Horst Mattern
The Annual General Meeting also saw the election of a new Bridge, with a newcomer, Joseph Grasso, serving as Supply Officer. The full list of the Bridge can be found through this link.
JB – Communications Officer
If you are a local boater, or Power and Sail Squadron member, you will be able to figure out where this photo was taken from on March 26th. That’s officially Spring folks. (Sigh! Followed by an even bigger sigh!)
It’s that time of the year when we are able to walk on water. I’m able to confirm that the Big Sound is frozen over. In some places the ice is a bit ‘mushy’, while in others it’s ‘rock solid’ which is why it’s a good idea to head out on snowshoes So if you decide to wander out, take care. With the deep freeze forecast for the next few days the mushy spots should be solid by this time next week.
The Squadron’s Boating Essentials course being held at Canadore College in Parry Sound is now in session with a total of nine students. Coming this Spring will be the VHF course. Advanced courses are also by arrangement. If you are interested connect with John Mason at training@parrysoundsquadron.ca.
Here’s a sunset shot from yesterday of Parry Island taken ‘off shore’, with Zhiishiib Rock to the right. ‘Clic on the pic’ to see the bigger picture. (JB – Communications Officer)
This photo, taken on January 14th from the top of a snowbank on Belvedere Hill, should tell you all you need to know. We were told last night at Nature Club that the Sound had frozen over by January 3rd. This is a bit earlier than has been the case in recent years. It should mean an end to the ‘lake effect’ snow we were buried by in December. (JB – Communications Officer)
This is a look past Zhiishiib Rock towards Three Mile Point on Parry Island (click for a larger view). Taken on December 30th the Sound had a skim of ice on it’s surface about as far out as Zhiishiib Rock. It has been quite cold since then and the surface ice has been expanding its range. Updates to come.
Looking out from the Smelter Wharf you can see Parry Island and Three Mile Point in the distance. taken December 23rd, the Big Sound is still wide open, while the Parry Sound inner harbour is iced over. I don’t expect that this will last for long. The nights have been clear and cold, and the Sound is rapidly losing its heat.
If you look closely you can see a sun dog a little left of centre.
Click on the photo for a larger image with more detail.
JB – Communications Officer
Following last week’s post I though it might be interesting to see a slightly more ‘romantic’ photo of a ‘saltie’ in the Parry sound Harbour. In this case it’s the Algorail delivering salt to the Smelter Wharf in the outer Parry Sound harbour.
At this point she’s fully unloaded with the draft marks showing her sitting at about 12 feet. The draft marks go up to 30 feet.
There’s more water at the Smelter Wharf than in the inner harbour. Right beside the wharf the charts show a little more than 20 feet, but this quickly drops off to 45 feet and then 75 feet. Not quite the same challenge as docking at the inner harbour of Parry Sound. I suspect that there might be a little bit of grinding when the ‘saltie’ first pulls into position at the dock given how close it is tied to the wharf, the 20 foot depth at that spot, and the somewhat lower water levels this time of year.
JB – Communications Officer
Parry Sound Boating 