Lunenburg, Nova Scotia's Class Afloat has established the Class Afloat ‘Young Sailor Scholarship’ to assist two students - endorsed by their sailing school, sail training program or yacht club - to participate in an extraordinary educational experience — attending high school while ocean sailing aboard a majestic square-rigged tall ship.
Class Afloat offers young people a unique journey of education and personal discovery. For nine months, students live, study and sail aboard The Sørlandet, a fully restored 210 foot 1927 Class ‘A’ square-rigged tall ship.
The 2013 Mobility Cup is set to be held in Nova Scotia at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron. Canada’s national regatta for sailors with disabilities takes place from August 27th to the 30th, with arrival and practice taking place from August 24th to the 26th. Vancouver’s Sam Sullivan founded the Mobility Cup in 1991 by inviting key individuals from other cities to take part in a sailing regatta, whether they had ever sailed before or not, in an effort to promote and grow the sport of disabled sailing.
The Canadian Yachting Association’s annual general meeting concluded October 27 with a vote to change the association's name. Delegates voted overwhelmingly in support of changing the name of the 74-year-old organization to SAIL Canada, enabling the national organization to align its positioning with many other national governing bodies in the sport of sailing. The move is part of a renewed effort to coordinate its training, coaching, judging and high-performance disciplines to allow it to better brand, build and grow awareness of the sport throughout Canada.
The following is from a commentary on the release of the Cohen Report issued by the Georgia Straight Alliance: “The recommendations of the Cohen Inquiry into the Decline of Fraser River Sockeye released in Vancouver on Oct 31, 2012, make clear that though there was no ‘smoking gun’, there are multiple threats that need to be addressed to ensure the long-term health of the Fraser River sockeye. In 75 broad-ranging and specific recommendations, Commissioner Cohen gave the federal government an action blueprint, ranging from the long-overdue implementation of the Wild Salmon policy to actions to ensure that the risk from open net-cage salmon farms are minimized.
Marine Organizations continue their opposition to the planned closures of Canadian Coast Guard establishments. The following was released from the Council of BC Yacht Clubs: The CBCYC has added its voice to the growing chorus of those raising strong objections to the closure of the Kitsilano Canadian Coast Guard base. The council represents over 50 yacht clubs in British Columbia, with over 10,000 members – powerboaters, sailors, canoeists and kayakers, and represents the largest user segment of the recreational boating community in BC.
We’ve written previously suggesting that NOW is the good time to do all those maintenance items that we all usually leave to spring-time. The more boaters can get done before the good weather, the easier and less frustrating pre-season commissioning will be. Our friends at the GPS Store sent along this terrific reminder about doing a complete check on electronics: “People should also pay attention to their boat’s marine electronics and electrical systems, because failures here are just as likely to ruin that first fishing trip or coastal cruise,” said Scott Heffernan, Sales Manager of The GPS Store, Inc. “A few basic steps and system checks can ensure smooth sailing not only on your first trip, but all season long.“
Read more: Time To Prepare For Next Season, Starting With...
There are probably more myths and half-truths about fuel kept aboard during the long winter-time lay-up. The introduction of ethyl alcohols into gasoline has compounded the confusion – arguments abound whether this is a good thing or not and how boaters should react. Here is what has been discussed so far: Nearly full tank or nearly empty tank? That is the big question facing boaters now in the midst of preparing their boats for the long winter hibernation. The concern is that alcohol is used as an octane enhancing gasoline additive that has some unfortunate, harmful side effects on some marine engines.
With the increasing popularity of smart phones and tablets, there are more and more applications being offered. Many are free, and the ones that cost are usually very reasonably priced. Long-time PC users are even now finding the joys of working with Apple Computer products. So many more boaters are using iPads as chartplotters, for example, that RailBlaza reports that their iPad mount is the most popular item sold within their very extensive line of rail-based mounts and accessories.
The devastating tsunami that hit Japan in March 2011 has created an enormous debris field floating in the Pacific, much of IT heading to west coast shorelines. Some US states have already made provision for a clean-up but Canadian authorities have so far not followed suit. The Maritime Museum of BC has stepped up with the creation of a reporting website on which they are inviting reports and, more importantly, photos of incoming debris. The museum is conducting a curated study of the arriving debris, almost in real time. Cooperating with local schools, the museum plans to teach about tsunamis, their damage and the ocean currents that transport disaster-related debris to our shores.
Canadian Yachting West received this sad announcement early on November 6th from Brock Elliott at Campion Boats.
"It is with heartfelt sadness that we announce the passing on November 4th, 2012, of our Chairman, Gordon Elliott, F.C.A., at the age of 82". Brock Elliott, President and son said, "It is difficult to find the words for such an announcement. Our Dad was such a great leader, his life filled to the brim, very diverse and rewarding. He made lasting impressions with so many people; from his professional accounting career, to his strong interest in agriculture, farming and ranching, to the power boat industry.”
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Boat Reviews
CY Virtual Video Boat Tours
We all love boats and nothing can break us up! So, what better way to spend our time than looking at interesting boats and going aboard in a virtual ride or tour. We have asked our friends at various dealers and manufacturers to help us assemble a one-stop online resource to experience some of the most interesting boats on the market today. Where the CY Team has done a review, we connect you to that expert viewpoint. If you can’t go boating, you can almost experience the thrill via your screen. Not quite the same, but we hope you enjoy our fine tour collection.
Read more about the CY Virtual Boat Tours....................
Hanse 418
By Katherine Stone
Optimized sailing performance and comfortable living – a sweet ride
The expression that came to mind immediately was “Sweet Ride” – and I wasn’t referring to the latest ride at the CNE, a chairlift, or a new Mercedes – it was the new Hanse 418, as it cleanly cut through the water in a gusty 15-20 knot breeze averaging 6-8 knots on Lake Ontario. She was easy to steer and manoeuver even in the big gusts. The extra length over the 388 has made a big difference, with German architects Judel/Vrolijk focusing on updates to the deck layout, cockpit and stern.
Destinations
Chemainus—the Little Town That Did
By Marianne Scott
The approach to the Chemainus Municipal Dock from Stuart Channel is straightforward and is protected from all but strong northerly winds. The only obstacle may be some large log booms often anchored in the harbour. The Dock is immediately south of the B.C. ferry terminal; the ferry runs to Thetis- and Penelakut Islands.
Harbourmaster Harmen Bootsma, who has been the cheerful, welcoming presence here for a couple of decades, is ready to catch your lines.
Lifestyle
Plominski tries again
Skipper John “Drew” Plominski is hoping that lightning doesn’t strike twice. Plominski, whose boat was destroyed by lightening two years ago, was first in line to register for the 39th biennial Marblehead-to-Halifax Ocean race to take place this summer.‘We’re thrilled to see Drew back for another try,” said Richard Hinterhoeller, RNSYS co-race director Plominski’s 30-foot vessel, named Perseverance, was just about ready.
Along with his wife and three friends, he planned to compete in the 363-mile biennial race to Nova Scotia.The South Boston resident left his boat moored at the Columbia Yacht Club the night before the big race and was at his house...
The Association provides a forum for exchanging information, tips and access an advocate on behalf of the membership. Their Directors work with members to find solutions to issues in British Columbia. Members receive quarterly newsletter, with contributions by other members all along the BC coast.
The Association and its members continually update the list of marinas that allow little board moorings. This is a list of known and reported marinas that allow marine residents in British Columbia. We need your help to build and keep this list up-to-date. Please contact us with any additions or edits.
DIY & How to
Winterization Isn't Like Your Dad Did It: Modern Methods For Modern Boats
By Andrew McDonald, Lakeside Marine Services
“They don’t make ‘em like they used to”, is a phrase that many of us are familiar with. Most of the time it is in reference to a bygone era of better, and it’s used to lament the sorry state of what we have today. It is a phrase that can be applied to many areas of our lives: architecture, art, furniture, tools. Boats? I would argue that they don’t make them like they used to. But, is that lamentable, or is it progress?
Progress, I think. With this concept in mind, as we enter another season of putting boats to bed for the winter, why do we winterize as we always have?
Marine Products
Bold Sea Stories – Prizewinning Nonfiction
By Katherine Stone
There are places and things that we read, hear and dream about, that are on our “bucket list” to cruise. Lake Superior was not one of those places for me and I’m not sure it ever will be, as I remember all too well chipping ice out of the bottom of a Lightning there in early August before we went sailing in a championship regatta.
However, I feel that I have truly been there when I read of the many stories that Marlin Bree artfully describes in his book Bold Sea Stories. Hitting the bookshelves for the first time during the Covid-19 outbreak getting Bold Sea Stories might not be a bad idea, as you can easily acquire it on-line now from Indigo or Amazon for under $20.
