Bluewater Cruising Hosts the Mid-Island Sail Training (MIST)

MIST Training

March 21, 2016

The Bluewater Cruising Association’s Vancouver Island Chapter is proud to host the third annual Mid-Island Sail Training (MIST) event in Nanaimo, May 14-15, 2016.  MIST is dedicated to the development of traditional sailing skills by practice in the “great water laboratory” at our doorstep, rather than by theory in a classroom setting. This is an excellent hands-on training experience on its own or in addition to V.I.C.E.

Mark Bay (Newcastle Island) and Georgia Strait
14 May 2016  to 15 May 2016 0900-1700
Members $10 / Non-Members N/A

Photo courtesy: Rob Dodge

Assuming most boats will arrive on Friday, attendees are invited to an informal happy hour at 1700h at the home of Grace and Rob Dodge on Protection Island.

MIST officially kicks off on Saturday, with Ken Gillstrom, this year’s guest presenter and BCA member, who will talk about Emergencies On Board:

    Expecting the Unexpected
    Reducing the Anxiety in Boating
    Preventing Emergencies
    When Things go Wrong
    Managing Emergency Situations
    Abandoning Ship

Lunch is on your own, but there will be ample time to socialize that evening with the usual BURP (BCA Unofficial Rendezvous Potluck), again on Protection Island.  If you are new to potlucks, bring one dish with enough food to feed at least everyone in your crew.

On Sunday the fleet will set sail out into the Strait;  the exact agenda depends on the weather, but possible activities include:

    Checking SSB and VHF transmissions
    MOB exercise while under sail
    Reefing
    Hoving-to
    Using non-electronic navigation
    Getting an accurate MerPass (Meridian Passage sighting)

If you cannot make it to Nanaimo on Saturday, you are welcome to participate on Sunday only. This is your chance to check out all those theories you read about over the winter, and the new equipment you just got at the Boat Show!

Registration Information:
MIST is limited to 21 people.
Advance registration is required – please email Rob.

Registration Fee:
Cost per participant is $10, payable upon arrival.

Suggested Moorage:
Newcastle Island dock or mooring buoys, or anchor in Mark Bay.

Mentors:
Skippers are encouraged to bring a mentor along with them. Request one when registering or search under RESOURCES/MENTORS on the BCA website.

Don’t have a boat?
Boat-less sailors who wish to participate as crew can also register by contacting Rob Dodge; effort will be made to find a host boat and accommodation. Boat-less sailors are also encouraged to ask at Club Nights and/or use the website to try and line up their own ride.

Video Gallery

Neptunus 650F Review

Neptunus 650F 400

By Andy Adams

Over the years Canadian Yachting has had the pleasure of doing several boat review articles on new Neptunus models and we are familiar with the qualities that Neptunus is famous for. They have all been exceptional yachts, but this is the one I would most want to own myself. It’s a personal choice and a matter of taste as to whether you would prefer to have a sedan express model or a flybridge but in my opinion, the flybridge layout offers some wonderful attributes.

We met with Neptunus Managing Director Jan Willem De Jong this past fall to take the new Neptunus 650F out in Lake Ontario. 

Read More

Destinations

The Other Virgin Islands

Sunset off St John

By Mark Stevens

I was first seduced by the United States Virgin Islands during a ferry ride from St. Thomas to Tortola to begin one of our earliest British Virgin Islands charters nearly twenty years ago.

A perfect sunset off St. John with St. Thomas views for backdrop.

Clearing Pillsbury Sound, surrounded by voluptuous emerald mountains as the ferry sliced through royal blue waters, I was struck by the unspoiled ambiance of St. John, the island gliding past our starboard beam and the irresistible charm of a village called Cruz Bay visible from our quarter stern.

Read More

Lifestyle