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Commanders Report

Once again summer has come and gone in a heart beat! They say time flies when you're having fun and I hope you all had a great time on your boats this summer. We managed to salvage a couple of great weekends away also.

Now is the time to keep up your navigating skills by proctoring the Fall and Spring Boating classes. We have a small but enthusiastic group this fall and always welcome more help in the classroom. The classes are being held at Maple Ridge Senior Secondary School for anyone interested.

Now is also the time to think about volunteering some of your time to the squadron by offering your name to the nominating committee for next year's bridge. It's never too late or too early to plan for these things so let either myself or Thomas Bauman know if you're interested. There are all kinds of positions available with varying amounts of time needed to complete them.

Hope to see you all out at the next social event on Oct.22/04, we will have a speaker and it should be fun.

Respectfully submitted

Lorena Brady, Cdr

Social Committee Report

The first meeting of the social committee of this year was held recently and lots of good things are planned on your behalf. Our Salmon Barbecue that was held at Christian Cove on September 19^th was a roaring success. The turnout was beyond our greatest hopes and it was great to have some of our long standing members as well as our new class members come out to join us. I’m sorry to tell you members that didn’t make it, you missed a heck of a good time. I would like to thank Bill Westerink and Lloyd Gregson for being good enough to taxi us there and back in great style. Quite the ride guys !!! And now on to the rest of the year.

The next GENERAL MEETING is to be held FRIDAY October 22^nd, 2004 in the Exercise Room at ECRA at 19:30 hrs. We have a representative from the Zorbie absorbent company coming to explain his product to us. We then will have lots of time for catching up on your summer events over refreshments.

Our CHRISTMAS GATHERING is to be held THURSDAY December 2, 2004 in Hall A of the ECRA Centre. Happy hour will be at 1830 hrs. and dinner will be served at 1930 hrs. This event, as always, is our traditional pot luck dinner (for which we are renown!!!) with special efforts from your social committee. It has always been our policy to bring donations for the food bank so please remember to share what you can.

The social committee has always done a superb job for you and these events will be no exception. We do ask that you come out and support our Squadron and enjoy the evening with us.

PLEASE NOTE THESE DATES ON YOUR CALENDAR SO THAT WE WILL BE SURE TO SEE YOU THERE !!!!!!!

Anne Dixon

Lt. Social Committee

Calendar of Events 2004/ 2005

October 22, 1930 hrs First social of the season ECRA in the Exercise Room

December 2, 1830 hrs Christmas Pot Luck Dinner, ECRA in Hall A

January 12 2005 Spring boating class begins Maple Ridge Senior Secondary School

January 28, 1930 hrs Wine & Cheese Social and Fall Graduation Class ceremony, ECRA in the Exercise Room

February 25,1930 hrs Social ECRA in the Exercise Room

April 28,1830 hrs AGM & Change of Watch Dinner ECRA Hall A

Editors Desk

A wonderful salmon barbecue was held at Christian Cove. September 19^th. The sky cleared and the sun shone down on us all day. Check out the center fold of the Hailer for pictures. There were 8 boats and about 30 people attending. Some of us made a weekend of it and some came up on Sunday. The food was delicious and the company fantastic. Hey Anne it was a great start as the new Socials Director. WELL DONE!

The 2005 tide book, Ports and Passes is available for $15.00 each. If you would like to buy one please contact Lorena Brady at 604-463-9258

On November 1, the Canadian Hydrographic service is offering a course on updating your paper charts. The course will be held in Sydney. Contact Lorena for details.

I would also love to hear from you, stories of your boating holiday 2004 and any pictures. It is good for all of us to share experiences and places. Please be aware that the pictures may show up on the Alouette web site or in the Hailer.

Ann Wright

A Note From Steve and Sandy Mayes

We warmly thank those members of the Squadron who kindly shared their time to join in on the launching of Wind Ketcher, our 36’ wooden sailing vessel, at Trites Marina in Steveston, on October 7^th. Under a cloudy sky, she kissed the water at high tide.

A happy hobby for twenty-eight years, helped along by many wonderful family members and friends wishing to be a part of a dream, now moves into another era. Who knows what is next?!

When the masts are stepped and the rigging complete, she will be moored at Reed Point Marina.

Training Report

Mike Dixon forwarded the following teaching schedule. If you would like to proctor one or all of these classes please contact Mike or Wilf, their phone numbers are in the list above. Or you may want to come out and brush up on some sections that you are not to sure of. We all get a little rusty when we don’t use the skills learned.

2004 Fall Teaching Schedule

The following is the schedule for instructions. The classes are held at Maple Ridge Senior Secondary School.

Sept 28, Mike; The magnetic compass

Lorne; Navigation-TVMDC

Oct 5, Lorena; Canadian aids to navigation

Oct 12, Graham; Introduction to plotting

Mike; Ropes,lines and knots

Oct 19, Wilf/Mike; Mandatory equipment and optional equipment

Graham; Cruise no.1

Oct 26, Mike; Power boat handling

Lorena; Plotting and Labelling, using the CPS plotter

Nov 2, Graham; Weather and Environment

Al and Gail; Mid Term Quiz

Nov 9, Wilf; Preparing to launch

Mike; Skipper's responsibilities

Al; Anchors and anchoring

Nov 16, Graham; Sailboat handling

Mike/Vee/Lorena/Lorne; Cruise no.3 and CPS Island to cowans point

Need lots of proctors for this class,all hands on deck

Nov 23, Mike; Emergencies

Al and Gail; Aids to navigation quiz

Nov 30, Mike; Licensing,collision

Everyone; Canadian coast guard exam

Dec 7, Everyone; Closed book Canadian Power Squadron exam

Environmental Report

Not available at press time.

Cruise Master Report

Summer 2004

Well I guess the Most of the summer excursions are over and we hope that you had as good a summer as we did. 

It started with us taking the Grandchildren to Pender Harbour for a week at the 1st of July. We then headed to Desolation Sound with Wendy and Al Thomas in their vessel the Pairagrins. 

At a later date we met up with Ross and Ann Wright in their vessel BRANDYSNAP. After visiting most of the usual anchorages like Fox Island, Copeland Islands, Squirrel Cove, Rosco Bay, Prideaux Haven, Tenedos, Grace Harbour and of course that must stop at Lund for one of the best ice-cream cones, second only to that of Maple Bays, it was then time to change course. 

With us heading down to tour the Southern Gulf Islands with Al & Wendy while Ross & Ann headed further up north. It was a good decision for us because on the second day we discovered that our water pump was leaking and had to pull into Pender Harbour for repairs. After a short layover we were once again back on our way down South. 

Our first stop was Smugglers cove and then to Nanaimo to meet up with Mike & Jaynie Mezzabarba on their vessel MISTY BLUE. Unfortunately their vessel was high and dry having the motor replaced but that’s another story. This gave us the opportunity to have our vessel hauled out and the bottom pressure washed and painted. 

We then set sail for Dodds Narrows and headed for Pirates Cove but on the way Mike & Jaynie had some problems and had to turn back, but were able to catch up the next day. This is where we saw some of the scariest wildlife I have ever seen, there on another Buccaneer 305, were three naked old men going swimming with at least fifty other boats looking on. I might add that this was Mike & Jaynie’s first voyage and they did extremely well but were quite shocked to see such a sight. 

We then headed down to Maple Bay to meet up with Ken & Cathy Mcallister who are past members, and of course a great meal at the Pub. That same day Al & Wendy caught up with us again. The next day Mike & Jaynie had to head back because of a prior engagement so we said our good bye’s and headed down to Todd Inlet with Al & Wendy. Todd Inlet wraps itself around Butchart Gardens, so on the Saturday night enjoyed a wonderful display of music and fireworks. 

Fulford Harbour was our next stop to meet up with Hugh & Karen Preddy, Hugh is one of Alouettes’ Past Commanders. Little did we know that we would be treated to some of their wonderful home grown produce above and beyond the call one might say and we spent a delightful evening sampling the fruits of their garden. 

From there we headed for Montague Harbour and with a little difficulty due to the wind we were able to tie to a mooring buoy where we stayed for the next two days because of the weather. As the weather was turning we decided to head for home as did Al & Wendy, fortunately the next two days were perfect for traveling and we sailed into Pender Harbour with the good weather behind us. Home at last! We were away for about two months and it was fantastic but home always looks good.

Mike Dixon, S

Cruisemaster

As members of Canadian Power & Sail Squadrons we are fortunate to have access to advanced courses, from Piloting up to, and including, Celestial Navigation. Among our active Alouette members, we include the following members with advanced grades:

1 member (full certificate) (SN) Senior navigator

1 member (JN) Junior Navigator

12 members (AP) Advanced Piloting

26 members (P) Piloting

There are probably many reasons for studying advanced CPS courses, but we would probably all agree that we can never know too much about the ocean environment, in which we choose to spend our leisure time. At present we have six members who would like to upgrade to Piloting and we need at least ten students to make up a class. The Piloting course is an interesting and challenging course and is a prerequisite for the Advanced Piloting Course. Very briefly this is what you will learn:

1. Improved Navigational and Plotting Skills: Determination of course to steering a current, and how too determine distance off. Lots of Plotting in this course.

2. Additional Seamanship skills: understanding the hazards of weather, wind waves and currents, and how to deal with them,

3. Boat Capabilities and Performance: hull speed, stability, propellers and rudders.

Please let me know if you are interested, and if we can make up a class we would probably start early in the new year and be finished in time to practice our new found skills in the spring. It is the happy policy of Alouette Squadron to offer these advanced courses at the cost of the classroom, and materials only, so your financial outlay will be modest.

The Vancouver Squadron is also offering a two day course on Navigating with GPS. It will be held two Wednesdays, March 9 and 16, 2005. The cost is $35.00 to CPS members. Registration for this course can be made online at www.vpsBOAT.com

Alan Slater

Phone 604-790-2550

E-Mail alanslater@telus.net

Thinking of our Members

Congratulations to Sandy and Steve Mayes on the launching of their sail boat Wind Ketcher. It was a great day guys.

A Wonderful Launching

On October 7^, 2004, at 2:00 pm, the Wind Ketcher was launched to much fan fare. This vessel is the result of many years (20 +), of love, fun and hard work, by Steve and Sandy Mayes. 

There were more then 50 guests at the dock, comprised of their relatives, old friends and Alouette Squadron friends. Sandy and Steve had a little trauma as water began to enter the bilge but the pump worked and was pumping out water as it was supposed to. The taking on of water was expected as wood boats have to season and the Wind Ketcher’s wooden haul has been drying for many years. After Sandy Christened the boat with a bottle of champagne the Wind Ketcher was lowered to the applause and cheers of the crowd. Once the vessel was lowered a little Steve and Sandy climbed aboard to be lowered with the Wind Ketcher the final way into the water.  Once the pumps were working to keep up with the incoming water the party began with gifts and toasts to the lucky couple. Eventually the Wind Ketcher's home will be at Reed Point. Congratulations Steve and Sandy.

- Photos of the launch in our Photo Gallery -