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Volume XXXIX      Number 1       January 2021
        
Commander’s Log

Happy New Year everyone!

I hope that everyone had a safe and happy holiday season. 2020 turned out to be quite a challenging year, but there were bright spots. The CPS IT system was finally launched, many of us learned new ways of communicating in the digital age and we continued to successfully run our boating courses and educate a portion of the many new boaters. The beginning of 2021 will certainly have its challenges, but there does seem to be a light on the horizon and hopefully we might be able to meet in person again by the latter part of the year.

Our Spring combined Boating 2/3 online course is full and will be starting January 19, 2021. Thank you to Peter Girling for keeping this ongoing. Our Fall Course was highly successful with many 100% marks. Many other Squadrons are offering online courses this year, so check the website if you or someone you know is needing to take a course.  Maritime Radio is also being offered so check that out too. Many thanks to Peter Bennet, who is also on the National Committee for this important course.

The CPS website is slowly getting more and more functional, but still has its glitches. Though we are still unable to enter merit marks, this should be fixed soon. Many of you contribute many hours to this organization, so please send me your hours so that I have everything I need to enter them into the system when that is enabled so that you can be recognized for your efforts.

As I am sure that you are all aware, the 2021 Vancouver Boat show is cancelled but our Programs Coordinator, Brian has lined up a number of great speakers for our virtual Squadron nights. Pour yourself a glass of your favorite beverage, seat yourself in your favourite chair and join us for the first presentation of the year on January 18.  Read on further in this issue for the details.  

We are also planning to hold our Flare Return day in 2021. This program was cancelled in 2020 because of the pandemic, but it is hoped that with adequate safety procedures in place, that this popular and valuable day will return. Watch the Masthead and mark your calendars for the projected date of April 17, 2021. Let me know if you are interested in participating. 

We are all used to seeing the many container ships anchored in English Bay but probably don’t think about what happens at sea to some of them. You may find this video interesting about this ship which lost over 1800 containers at sea in a storm.  

Just a final note to let you know that the National Office is closed because of the lockdown in Toronto.  People are working remotely and are monitoring email. At this point in time, do not call or mail anything to them but contact one of the Bridge members who can help get your request to the right place or answer your questions.

During this rainy weather is a good time to start thinking about all the boat chores that need to be done before the boating season. If you have some good tips, how about contributing a paragraph or two to the Masthead to help out your fellow boaters?

I look forward to ‘seeing’ everyone at our next Squadron meeting on January 18.


Elizabeth

Elizabeth Zygmunt
Commander, Vancouver Power & Sail Squadron
January Virtual Squadron Nightt
 
Join us for an amazing adventure story on January 18th, 2021 at 7:30 PM - "A Family of Five on a Seven-Year Loop Around the Pacific". Please click here on January 18th to join the free presentation.

We welcome Max Shaw and his family to tell us about their multi-year, multi-thousand-mile voyage all around the Pacific. Starting out as a family of four, and then growing to five, the Shaw’s embarked on a seven-year adventure around the Pacific where they faced dirty diapers at sea, maintenance in exotic locations and uncharted reefs. They sold their house, purged their possessions and set off an adventure of a lifetime that covered over 36,000 nautical miles. 

Max and Elizabeth spent most of their adult lives in the Canadian Forces but after 23 years decided they needed a new adventure, and one they could share with their children, so they sold up and went sailing with their two young children. They have spent the last seven years travelling in the Pacific with what is now their family of five. Both Max and Elizabeth started their sailing with the RYA while in the UK. Max is a Sail Canada Advanced Cruising Instructor and Yachtmaster Offshore Instructor and holds a RYA Yachtmaster Ocean/200 GT Master of Yachts certificate.

Please click here on January 18th to join the free presentation.
Upcoming Boating Courses
Maritime Radio Online

The one-day virtual Maritime Radio course teaches emergency radio procedures and everyday operating techniques. This complete package will prepare you for the Restricted Operator Certificate (Maritime) with DSC Endorsement exam which is included as part of this courses. To operate a maritime radio, you need the certificate. It's the law! 

Upcoming dates:  February 06, 2021 or  March 06, 2021

To register, please click her and scroll down to Vancouver.


Boating 2/3 Combined Online - SOLD OUT!

Please check here for all upcoming classes and dates.
Upcoming Squadron Nights

February 15: An Epic Journey - Sailing single-handed around the World with Bert teHart 

For our February meeting we are very pleased to welcome Bert teHart. Many of you will have read about Bert in the January issue of Pacific Yachting so you know you can expect an incredible story. Bert is an active member of the Gabriola Island Power and Sail Squadron and until recently, the Educational Officer. He is also a member of the Silva Bay Yacht Club, Gabriola Island, the Ocean Cruising Club. His background includes a masters degree in oceanography, martial arts, and developing search engine software. He has recently set sail to fulfill a life-long dream, to circumnavigate the globe, single handed, west to east, via the five capes, using no electronic navigation, only celestial navigation, while preforming several scientific environmental research projects. He has skippered his boat several times to the Bering Sea. Salty, the seal, is is forever help aboard, contributing greatly to the skipper's sanity. He was recently honoured as a co-recipient of an OCC Challenge Grant to help facilitate meritorious voyages of adventure of environmental concern. It is the first time a person from North America has attempted such a challenge. Bert completed his epic sail last summer. Come and join us for a virtual presentation about one of 2020’s good stories.


March 15:  To the Broughtons – and beyond! with Ross & Elizabeth Bligh

Our March presentation will take us on a trip from here to the mid coast. We'll deal with getting through the three main passes heading north, transiting Johnstone Strait, how to get beyond Cape Caution, and all of the great places you can anchor or tie up in along the way. There will be lots of pictures and a few videos as well. The presentation will be of particular interest to anyone who has yet to make it to the Broughtons or has yet to get beyond Cape Caution -or who just likes taking a virtual trip up the coast!
Ross Bligh is a recently retired elementary school principal. He started sailing when his dad bought a Columbia 26 in 1974 - and he has not stopped since. Elizabeth Bligh recently retired having been the Principal Harpist of the Vancouver Symphony for 35 years. The first thing she did when we bought our boat was to take the Power Squadron course. Ross knew she was an excellent first mate when, cooking breakfast on the go on the second morning on the boat, she shouted from the galley, "There should be a buoy on your starboard side any moment now!" And, yes, there is a small harp on board!
Ross and Elizabeth sail 'Elision' (rhymes with 'collision' lol) a Beneteau 36.7 which they moor at the Spruce Harbour Floating Home Co-op in False Creek. They are members of the Deep Cove Yacht Club.
Port of Vancouver Notice of Amendment

The Port of Vancouver has issued a notice of amendment to inform members of the public, industry and
other stakeholders of proposed updates to the Port Information Guide. Check out the amendments plus
have your chance to give input.
Feedback Needed 

Transport Canada (TC) Office of Boating Safety (OBS) wants to hear from stakeholders, especially those with a particular interest in pleasure craft, on the changes under consideration to the Pleasure Craft Licensing Program and the Pleasure Craft Operator Competency Program.

How can you participate?

TC is inviting members of the boating community to provide feedback on the proposed changes to the Pleasure Craft Licensing and the Pleasure Craft Operator Competency Programs on the Let’s Talk Transportation consultation webpage. The forum will remain open until January 15, 2021.
Canadian Hydrographic Service Update 

CHS has announced that Chart Atlas publications 3311, 3312 and 3313 will no longer be produced as of the end of 2020. They cite the fact that they duplicate information provided on electronic charts (ENC’s) which are gaining in popularity with recreational boaters. CHS will be accepting feedback on this matter until October 30, 2020. Comments should be directed to the following: chsinfo@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or 1-866-546-3613.

CHS has also advised that hard copy publication of the Tide Tables and Chart No. 1 will be discontinued. All relevant data will still be available online.
Membership Renewal

Don’t forget to renew your membership! If you are having difficulties or would like an invoice for your dues, please contact Membership Officer, Maureen Forrestal, for help.

Life members!! Yes, you need to renew too, even though you will not be charged anything. You should be able to click on the renewal part of your membership profile to renew at $0.00. If, for some reason, it comes up with a dollar amount, again, contact our Membership Officers, who will be able to directly or indirectly, correct the issues.
Sign In To Your New Squadron Membership Profile

If you have not logged into your new online Squadron profile yet, this video will walk you trough the process.

If you need help or have any questions regarding your online membership profile, please contact, please contact Harvey Roll at 604-929-6076 or harvey_roll@telus.net.
Boat Blue

Boat Blue is the Canadian Power and Sail Squadron (CPS-ECP) National Environment Committee's campaign to bring the protection of our waterways to the forefront of what it means to be a responsible boater.

To learn more about the campaign, please click here.
Marine Weather

Attention Boaters! For marine weather warnings, watches or advisories, please check
https://weather.gc.ca/marine/region_e.html?mapID=02, call a marine forecaster (anytime & free) at 1-844-505-2525, access recorded marine weather at 604-664-9010 or subscribe to updates on Twitter @ECCCWeatherBC
Squadron Bridge (2020-2021)

Commander Elizabeth Zygmunt  
Executive Officer Craig Douglas

Educational Officer (Boating, PCOC) John Steede    
Assistant Educational Officer
Peter Girling    
Assistant Educational Officer (Radio)
Peter Bennett    
Secretary
Charles Tai    
Financial Officer
Don Mathew    
Assistant Financial Officer
Les Hausch   
Membership Officer
Moe Forrestal 
Assistant Membership Officer
Twyla Graeme    
Programs Officer
Brian Kennedy    
Environmental Officer
Bill Blancard    
Communications Officer

Newsletter Editor Sabine Just 
Supply Officer (Regalia) Don Zarowny    
Webmaster/IT Officer
Peter Bennett    
Historian
Dennis Steeves    
Past Commander
Bill Botham 
Officer-at-Large Dave Atchison     
Officer-at-Large Roger Middleton
Officer-at-Large Jennifer Dom     

 

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