|
Salt Spring Island |
 |
|
Salt Spring Island |
|
Home | Courses | Events | Boating News | Bridge | The Sounder | Links
THE SOUNDER
Summer 2009
Volume 25, Issue 2
From the Bridge
I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide....
On April 25th, the Salt Spring Island Squadron welcomed CPS Members, Guests and Boating Course Graduate Students at the Sailing Club, to join in the recognition of our ongoing service to the local boating community.
At this event, the Salt Spring Squadron was proud to:
Following the opening comments of our special invited guest, District Commander Bev Gerry of Vancouver Island South District, the 30 attendees enjoyed a wonderful pasta dinner and good conversation.
As a key part of the Annual General Meeting, the election process for the Officers of the Squadron Bridge for 2009 - 2010 was confirmed; and the Change of Watch pledges administered.
The New Bridge of 2009 - 2010 for the Salt Spring Island Squadron is represented by the following Members:
Commander |
Cdr Derek Castle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Past Commander |
P/Cdr Bob Reynolds | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Executive Officer |
Bob Charlet
Training Officer
Lynn Clark
Secretary
Kathleen McCurdy
Treasurer
Klaus Mortensen
Public Relations Officer
TBA
Membership Officer
Laura Dafoe
Privacy Officer
P/Cdr Gordon Ford
Marep (Hydrographic) Officer
Anders Nielsen
Elect. Communications Officer
Susanna Kong
Entertainment Officer
Gaye Gardiner
Entertainment Officer
Gail Thompson
Supply Officer
Lynn Clark
Asst Training Officer
Peter Howell
Asst Training Officer
Brian Keir
Editor Sounder
Susanna Kong
Environment Officer
TBA
Port Captain (Ganges)
P/Cdr Gordon Ford
Port Captain (Fulford)
P/Cdr Lee Middleton
Chief Proctor
Kathleen McCurdy
Cruise Master
Anders Nielsen
Historian
Gaye Gardiner
Historian
Gail Thompson
Internal Audit Review Committee
Michael Clark |
Then, the attention for the evening was directed to the Boating Class of '09...a most impressive group.
For the Winter Boating Course, the Salt Spring Island Squadron was pleased to add a broader diversity of Instructors, to complement those returning from past years.
We are most grateful to this exceptionally talented & experienced team of Volunteers, who provided an enriched learning experience for our Students...including many real-life stories of dramatic moments at sea!
All 19 registered Students plus two Challengers wrote the exam, with 20 earning a passing grade...including both Challengers.
Special congratulations were extended to Suzan Chamney, who scored the top mark of 98%.....and was presented with the Bingham Award in recognition of this outstanding achievement.
Interestingly, Ron Chamney (Suzan's husband) received the next highest mark at 97%, in a tie with Taylor Devlin.
Speaking of boating safety and marine navigation education, it's most encouraging to note that this cornerstone CPS Boating Course has been completed successfully by more than 500,000 boaters in Canada since the inception of Canadian Power & Sail Squadrons in 1938!
Everyone was treated to an enthusiastic presentation by the Boating Class of '09 Valedictorian, Louise Devlin.
Following some spirited banter, Louise read a poem entitled Four Months Ago which she had written to capture the essence of her experience over the duration of the Boating Course. It was quite a marvelous performance!
|
Four Months Ago
Four months ago I came to learn
I know now what to do with cleats
I'd never heard of variation
I thought I'd find it hard to cope
With aids abeam, and winds astern,
With halyards, fenders, anchor rode
But thanks to tutors and to proctors
And now, before I give it thought,
Now just a little note aloud By Louise Devlin |
An anonymous student contributed the training aid illustrated at right, as an alternative to more conventional references for achieving proficiency with knots!
We were honoured to introduce Michelle Mech as our Guest Speaker, who concluded the evening's activities with an exciting presentation about Offshore Sailing.
Michelle shared her experiences about the joys and challenges of sailing to distant shores over a period of several years. These adventures have ranged from explorations to Australia, Mexico and South America; as well as the closer waters of the B.C. Coast. Michelle's delightful and encouraging stories had the audience dreaming of their own sailing adventures ... both past and future.
Reflecting upon the events of the evening and the enthusiastic camaraderie of all participants, it's certainly indicative of the observation that nationwide, CPS currently has over 36,000 active members...and in a typical year hosts 12,000 students for various marine courses.
Salt Spring Island Squadron now looks forward to resuming our busy training and social schedule over the coming months, and invites its members to join at least some of these activities, as outlined in the Events section of our website at saltspringsquadron.ca
The Marine (VHF) Radio Course is arranged for May 25th through June 1st (three evenings) at the Sailing Club. As a reminder, it is a legal requirement (via Industry Canada) that any VHF Radio Operator transmitting on marine band frequencies must possess a Restricted Operator's Certificate (Maritime).
In September, an Instructor Development Course will be conducted, as we strive to continue with the ongoing expansion of our group of talented and experienced teachers.
Then, we will offer the popular Fundamentals of Weather Course in September/October.
For any questions or comments pertaining to Training Course opportunities, please don't hesitate to contact Lynn Clark, Training Officer at 250 537 5377.
Our upcoming Social Agenda includes two overnight Squadron Cruises and a Vancouver Island South District Rendezvous.
The first Cruise will be to Winter Cove, Saturna Island on July 18th - July19th, while the season finale Cruise will navigate us to Cowichan Bay on the Big Island over October 17th - October 18th.
Anders Nielsen, the Salt Spring Island Squadron Cruise Master promises all participants a most pleasurable experience, packed with fun marine and land activities, but also accommodating plenty of time for relaxation with fellow boaters ... in beautiful surroundings.
For any questions or comments about our planned Cruises, please don't hesitate to contact Anders at 250 537 0831.
The CPS Vancouver Island South District (which encompasses the eight Squadrons from the Victoria & Southern Gulf Islands region) will host its annual Rendezvous at the Otter Bay Marina on Pender Island from August 7th through August 9th.
This year's theme is Flights of Fancy ... which will guide the various fun and challenging activities. Of course, ample opportunity will be available to relax and enjoy the company of members from all local Squadrons, as well as visiting guests from other CPS Districts and the USA Power & Sail Squadrons (USPS).
For further information about the Rendezvous, please view the CPS-VISD website at visd.org or contact Gaye Gardiner, Entertainment Officer at 250 537 0831.
Information regarding further/later Training Courses and Social Events will be communicated during the early fall season.
In closing, as you contemplate the endless summer days of boating, I note our CPS Mission Statement:
To increase awareness and knowledge of safe boating by educating and training members and the general public, by fostering fellowship among members, and by establishing partnerships and alliances with organizations and agencies interested in boating.
Commander Derek Castle
SAFE BOATING WEEK: May 16th - May 22nd
Previous issues of The Sounder:
Winter 2009
Summer 2009
Spring 2009
Winter 2008
Spring 2008
Salt Spring Island Squadron
of Canadian Power & Sail Squadrons
PO Box 573, Ganges PO
Ganges, Salt Spring Island, BC, V8K 2W2
Contact: editor
This page last updated June 3, 2009
