July / August 2003

IN THIS ISSUE YOU WILL FIND:

SOME TRUISMS TO CONSIDER

Anyone who thinks old age is golden must not have had a very exiting youth.

Business conventions are important because the demonstrate how many people an organization can function without.

Scratch a dog and you will find a permanent job.

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Volume 33 Number 4      July / August 2003

The Official Newsletter of the Saanich Peninsula Squadron

A Unit of Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons

*All email addresses are @saanichpeninsulasquadron.org

Meetings of the Squadron Executive Committee (the Bridge) are normally held on the third THURSDAY of each month at 1930 in the Sidney North Saanich Yacht Club, except in July and December. All members of the Squadron are welcome to attend.

The Beacon is our official newsletter. Members with articles or information should send material to the Editor before the 15th of each month.

We also maintain a website www.saanichpeninsulasquadron.org . We suggest you check the site regularly for notices of upcoming events, classified ads, etc. 

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Each of us, both young and old can learn so much from others who travel on the water to locations foreign to us as well as locally. Having shared tales of good and bad with other members has been an education in itself. We have had the pleasure of meeting world cruisers as well as fastidious boat mechanics and skillful shipwrights.

This is my first year as Commander. I have agreed to do this as a two-year commitment. I am told that the first year is the learning curve and the second is a breeze. Well, we shall see about that! I have a new bridge learning along with me, with only a half dozen seasoned members. We will learn together.

Since being pledged in, I have attended the District AGM and met with other new Commanders. They were impressed with our list of summer cruises as well as other activities. I got the impression from talking to them that their only reason for being was to give the ”Boating Course”. I believe that there is a lot more to CPS than that. We learn by sharing with others and there is no better way than belonging to an organization that plays as well as works together.

This year our training department is planning to offer Sea Sail as well as Piloting and we are also thinking of any other elective courses, if students are available. We are looking for some volunteers to share teaching (maybe Marine Maintenance or Weather or Sea Power) as well as new proctors who would like to reinforce their knowledge by proctoring classes. Please let us know. We need your help!

We will be sponsoring a student from Parklands High School again this year and, assuming that the necessary repairs will be complete, we hope to be back there in January. Fall classes are being held at the North Saanich School. Last year’s sponsorship of a student went over well and we hope to continue this for the next two years at least.

We have also decided to increase the number of issues of the Beacon to seven. The editor, as always, is looking for articles for the Beacon and would ask that you send them along in “Word” format. Pictures will be gratefully accepted in “jpeg” format. Our webmaster is looking for boat pictures of members’ vessels. If you don’t have a digital camera, our Training Officer, Ian King will come out and take a picture for you.

Our Commander’s Sailpast was a great success, with 12 boats attending and 47 members and their guests attending the dinner at SNSYC. See page 9 for a list of all the names of the boats and their occupants.

I hope that all of our members have a wonderful summer of boating. I am looking forward to a challenging and rewarding year ahead. With the help and dedication of the members of the Bridge and their committees we will have another successful year under our belt. Oh, and by the way, I am now the owner of that 54-ft. fishing boat! See you on the water.

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Calendar of Events

July 18-20	Ganges Marina - Call 250-537-5242 before July 8th for reservations and advise Ray Scott at 656-4828 or e-mail [email protected] for registration.
Aug  8- 10	Otter Bay - Vancouver Island South District Gathering
Aug  21	Bridge meeting, 1930 at SNSYC - everyone welcome
Aug  22-24	Telegraph Harbour Marina - 250-246-9511.  Potluck in the gazebo Friday night
Sept  5-  7	Montague Harbour Marine Park - anchor out - rafting

 

Most of the marinas require prior registration by boat owners and may request a credit card number. The exception is Otter Bay, where the Squadron must register all boats - call the Cruisemaster. When making marina reservations for the above cruises, please also call the Cruisemaster to advise him of your plans.

 

We are looking for suggestions. Anybody interested in weekday excursions?

 

Ray Scott - Social Cruisemaster

250-656-4828

[email protected]

 

 

Social Cruisemaster’s Report

Our trip to Maple Bay, May 23-25 was very pleasant although attendance was disappointing. The following boats and owners participated:

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Meet the Bridge Len Burton, MAREP Officer - Port Captain    I was born in Victoria B.C. Growing up on the Island, I eventually followed in my dad’s footsteps. My dad was an Engineer in the Royal Canadian Navy. My previous job was in the Logging Industry. In a round about way, that started my sea going career in the Canadian Coast Guard (SAR) as I could run log loaders and heavy-duty equipment, which, in a way, was an “in” for me. We were shut down because of too much snow in the woods when I accidentally walked into a position as an oiler on the Coast Guard cutter Ready while taking a temporary position in the Department Of Transport maintenance yard. I had always wanted to go to sea, but I never thought I’d end up being a Marine Engineer.

 

Our boat is a 1975, 24 ft. Sabercraft Express Cruiser, called Dawna 2. She was built in Tacoma, Washington and is only one of two brought over to the island and registered in Canada. Powered by a re-built 350 Chevrolet engine, rated at 300 horsepower. The Volvo Penta 280 Sterndrive is also completely re-built.

 

Last year in the spring when we hauled out, a person, who had done a lot of the custom work on our boat, including the teak deck approached me. We finished the cockpit and forward cabin last year in time to go cruising. Dawna and I do everything together - we always have. She has helped me put engines together and gives 100% to any project we attempt. We were involved in Pro Street Machines before I again returned to boats. The sea really does get into your blood once you've had enough exposure.

 

Previous to owning Dawna 2 we cruised the gulf islands in our16 ft. Double Eagle - 1500 nautical miles in two years! We learned all the routes of the B.C. Ferries and I timed how long it would take them to get from one point to another, thus avoiding being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

 

During the past year, Dawna and I took the boat apart from bow to stern drive – literally - and then rebuilt her to suit our tastes. We added extra storage and utilized a lot of wasted space. She has a stand up head and galley totally refinished. Shortly we will have a new soft top to replace the existing one.

 

By the end of our last cruising season - I guess it never really ends - we had traveled 700 nautical miles. A good shakedown cruise. We both found the CPS Course to be "outstanding". I previously stated that I came from a marine background. I have worked in the CCG (SAR), B.C. Ferries and the Ocean Sciences Hydrographic Department. Charting the Pacific Ocean and the West Coast of Vancouver Island, Cape Flattery, Johnstone Straits and Hecate Straits, as well as the Bering Sea and Arctic Ocean.

 

By the time I was 27 years old I had written all my Engineer’s Certificates. I worked for Riv Tow Straits Towing. I was Chief Engineer on " Seven " Class Eight, Deep-Sea Towboats, then moved onto the B.C. Coast Steamships Princess of Vancouver and the cargo transporter MV Carrier Princess. The pictures and engine specifications on the Carrier Princess on the CP Coasters Website were my contribution to their Website. The MV Carrier Princess still comes into Swartz Bay at 21:00 every day, but is now owned by Sea Span Intermodal.

 

Dawna and I joined the Saanich Peninsula Squadron after passing the fall Boating Course in 2002. Dawna and I have been cruising for some time now. We know the limitations of our boat; we have nothing to prove. I NEVER underestimate the power of the sea and all the elements of weather. The Power Squadron course, for us, was to acquire more knowledge, which we both gained from taking the course. I have years of sea time - more than enough experience in charge of engine rooms with engines in excess of 12,000 horsepower.

A special thanks to Ted Meadley, Doug Mitchell and George McClure as well as all the other proctors who helped along the way.  Dawna and I now have skills that we feel are invaluable and a must to know while on the water and operating a pleasure craft.   Len Burton

 

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The Otter Bay Cruise  - June  2003

 

It was a fun event with 8 boats arriving on Friday night and 2 more joining the party on Saturday. Our “Thank-You” wishes are extended to Ken and Joan Clarke for hosting Friday’s Happy Hour.

 

There were some fun new games intended to make us scratch our brains trying to come up with answers. We also had a blindfold-rowing race, which was quite entertaining with Darlene Davis and her guide, Amy Hultsche, zooming to the finish line in record time! I didn't know an inflatable could move so quickly! Lori & Lorne Pelto placed a very respectable second place. It was good to see new people come cruising with the Squadron.

 

Boats that participated were:

 

Tanquerey (Bob and Ruth Jones), Legasea (Ken and Joan Clarke), The Patriot (Ray Scott), Panache (Ray and Joyce Berry), Y*A*S*N*Y (Darlene Davis), Yankcanuck (Dave and Cindy Hultsche), Kindred Spirit (Lorne and Lori Pelto) , Lorelei (Eric Fisher) , Charlotte Time (Bill and Gay Miller) Smilin’ Seagull (Ralph Hodd and Chris Ferguson). TO BE NOTED!! Darlene Davis brought her boat on her own.

 

The weather was very respectable despite a little early morning rain.

 

We had the pot luck dinner up on the Flag Deck. The view was wonderful, and the food was great, too! The Peltos shared a large plate of shrimp & prawns at Happy Hour – THANK YOU to them for their generosity!

 

There were 2 other squadron members' boats there, and although they were part of another function, they deserve mention as well.

 

Chelsea (Tom and Barbara Kummerfield), Roche Point (Mike and Laurel Barge)   We eagerly look forward to the next cruise.   Gay Miller - Executive Officer

 

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Commander's Sailpast 2003

 

After a successful sail past, 47 people joined us for a most enjoyable dinner. This has been one of our best attended sail pasts ever. Thank you to all those skippers and their crew who made it such an unqualified success.

 

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How silly is this?

A friend of mine is certified to captain ships up to 350 tons and has logged over 20 trips as quartermaster of a large container ship to San Francisco. This is only a small part of his experience. Guess what he has on his list of "To Do's"? Yep, he's having to write the test to get his small boat certificate so he can operate his 12 foot boat. Good thing we have a federal government to keep us safe....

And Finally...

Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too.

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“My arms are so weak I can hardly lift this cup of coffee,” said one.

“Yes, I know, my cataracts are so bad I can’t even see my coffee,” complained another.

“I can’t turn my head because of the arthritis in my neck,” said a third, to which several nodded weakly in agreement.

“My blood pressure pills make me dizzy,” added another.

“I guess that’s the price we pay for getting old,” winced an old man as he worked to control his tremors.

After a moment of silence one woman cheerfully proclaimed, “Well, it’s not that bad! Thank God we can all still drive our boats.”

 

Having just moved into his new office, a pompous new commander was sitting at his desk when a seaman knocked on the door. Conscious of his new position, the commander quickly picked up the phone, told the seaman to enter, then said into the phone, "Yes, Admiral, I'll be seeing him this afternoon and I'll pass along your message. In the meantime, thank you for your good wishes, sir."   Feeling as though he had sufficiently impressed the young enlisted man, he asked, "What do you want?"   "Nothing important, sir," the seaman replied, "Just here to hook up your telephone."