June 2004

Edition of the Milford Power Squadron

Charles Island Bell Newsletter

Commanders Report

Education Report

Commanders Report - June 2004


Well it's about time to close the books for the summer and concentrate on boating and good times. We can look forward the cruises in the Sound where we can put all the boating education we've learned to the test. I'm certain you all will have a bundle of questions come next Fall. Just remember above all, to practice the Boating Safety principals which our instructors have emphasized time and time again. Reading the newspapers you can see that boating accidents have already started by those who were speeding, driving under the influence, not maintaining a proper lookout, or just plain not paying attention. The result of unnecessary accidents are fatalities and pain and distress for the families who are just out boating "to relax".

Our VSC inspectors are currently carrying out their inspections at local marinas and boatyards. They should be completed by mid-June. Our last Boat Smart course until September will be completed by 12 June.

I suggest every member pickup a copy of the 2004 Boaters Guide put out by DEP as it has some rule changes that we have talked about and should be reviewed by all skippers to promote safety on the water.

The next Bell will be distributed in September and until then you can contact the web at www.usps.org/localusps/milford for any last minute changes to our courses or our social schedule.

Glad to have you aboard and wish you a very pleasant boating season

Bob Reeves,Cdr.

Education Report - June 2004

The National Headquarters is doing a commendable job in composing material that is current with technical aspect of boating, primarily Navigation. As a result we will have next Fall new texts on Piloting and Advanced Piloting. The objective of the new courses is to educate you further in the art of GPS and it's use in plotting, planning and tracking your course.

To understand the changes being fed into our courses-it is intended that Seamanship, Piloting and Advanced Piloting material will be sufficient for a USPS member to sit for and pass the exams for a U.S. Coast Guard Captains License.

The new Piloting Course will include a student guide with tips, exercises and color graphics-the book "The Weekend Navigator" contains a Maptech digital Training chart CD with extensive sample charts and the chart navigator software.

Advanced Piloting is following similar changes as Piloting but is just a little behind in completion.

I suggest you take these courses in the progress of your boating Education and I also suggest that those members that have taken the "old" course look into repeating these new courses since that material has changed to a great extent as has our current methods of navigation.

Please check our calendar for the tentative schedule of courses starting in September.

Happy Sailing,

Bob Reeves

Education Calendar - June 2004

June 5th and12th - Start Boat Smart Course at Milford Yacht Club. Two Saturdays from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Taking registration

Calendar Starting Next September 2004 (Tentative)
9 September Thursday Engine Maint - Fowler Bldg., 2nd module - 6 classes George Buffinton
13 September Monday Seamanship - Egan Center, Room 115, 6 classes Hank Chmielewski
15 September Wednesday Boat Smart - Foran High School, 3 classes, 7-9 PM Bob Post
6 October Wednesday Chart Smart - Foran High School, 3 classes 7-9 PM Bob Post
12 October Tuesday Boat Smart - Sound School, 3 classes-7-9 PM Bill Carotenuto
23 and 30 October Saturday Boat Smart - Milford Public Library, 2 classes, 10:30AM to 2:30PM Tony Barbieri
9 November Tuesday Chart Smart - Sound School, 3 classes, 7-9 PM Bill Carotenuto
30 November Tuesday

Piloting - Egan Center, 10 classes, 7-9 PM

George Sender
Jan '05

Advanced Piloting - Egan Center, 10 classes, 7-9 PM

Bob Reeves

If you care to sign up for any of these courses please call Bob Reeves, 876-8261 or E-Mail to Bobr876@aol.com

Events Calendar

6 May - Bridge Meeting, Parsons Complex, Conf. Room B, 1900

4 June - Council Meeting, Northeast Utilities, Newington, CT, 1900

10 June - Bridge Meeting, Parsons Complex, Conf. Room A 1900

25-27 June - Essex Island Rendezvous and Rain Gutter Regatta

3 July - Raft-Up, Fireworks Display, 1900

23-25 July - District 1 Mystery Mini-Cruise-Location TBA

12 Aug - Milford Power Sq. Bridge Meeting, Parsons Center, 1900

13-15 Aug - District 1 Mini-Cruise to Mystic Seaport

24 Sept - Council Meeting, Northeast Utilities

25 Sept - 2nd Annual Poker Run and Raft-Up, Hamburg Cove

TBA Sail Race and Predicted Log Contest

5 Nov - USPS 90th Anniversary Celebration, US Coast Guard Acad., New London

6 Nov - D/1 Fall Conference