September 2004

Edition of the Milford Power Squadron

Charles Island Bell Newsletter

Commanders Report

Vessel Safety Check Update

Education Report

Education Calendar - September

Events Calendar

Commanders Report - September 2004

Well here it is September. Boy that summer-summer?-went fast. Dr. Mel the weatherman said we didn't have a day over 90 deg. but we sure did have our share of humidity. So now its "going back to school time" -think about haul out time and probably dust off the ski's time. We still have some nice Fall sailing to do, I figure we'll be in the water till the end of October.

Its time however to think about our Education Courses for the Fall-Winter season, Now is the time to plan to schedule the courses you would like to take to further your boating education.

Courses are undergoing significant changes to bring them into the 21st century. The latest changes have been to Piloting and Advanced Piloting. Piloting will be ready for classes in September while Advanced Piloting will be ready in January. Seamanship will be the next course to be changed/updated/improved.

Our instructional emphasis now is placed on GPS or Electronic Navigation as the primary method of navigating and the methods taught in the squadron previously will be the backup. To summarize some of these course changes lets address them one by one.

Piloting will focus on traditional and electronic methods of navigation and what to do if GPS fails. It contains extensive hands-on experience with planning, plotting, and tracking navigational courses. Student materials for both Piloting and Advanced Piloting will include student guides with tips, exercises and color graphics; the book The Week-end Navigator, a Maptech Digital Chart Training CD with many sample charts; and a copy of Maptech Chart Navigator software for use on your own personal computer.

Advanced Piloting will expand on the Piloting material and will cover navigational procedures using depth sounders, digital charts, chart plotters, radar, and other electronics. In addition to these advanced navigational tools, the course will teach how to anticipate the effects of tides, currents, and winds on a projected course.

Seamanship will be a major change from the previous edition. It will no linger be just an extension of the Squadron Boating course, but will become a comprehensive stand-alone course designed to meet the boat handling needs of USPS members. It will be reinforced to thoroughly explain navigation rules, deck operations, and boat handling under various conditions. Subjects will be presented in a practical manner, with excellent graphics and animation. The course will fully reflect experiences and situations encountered by both sailors and power boaters.

The caliber of instruction in the three courses, Seamanship, Piloting, and Advanced Piloting, should exceed the level of instruction necessary to qualify a member to pass the test for a U>S coast Guard Captain's License.

For those of you who have not taken a course yet I strongly urge you to get started with this learning experience. The Seamanship course being offered this September is not the new course but the Piloting course is new and the Advanced Piloting course will be new in January. These changes will then bring the education course material of USPS up to the present state of the art in marine navigation. Hope to see you in class.

Bob Reeves, Cdr and SEO

Vessel Safety Check Update

Interim Report:
Milford Power Squadron has conducted VSC examinations at Port Milford on May 22, Spencer's Boatyard on May 29, Milford Boat Works on June 5 and Brewers in Stratford on June 12.

At the end of July the 4 examiners have turned in 53 exam reports.

This years examiners are:
Bob Post
George Buffinton
Ryan Glad
Dick Boardman

Of the 53 boats examined, 10 failed. The most prevalent reason being- navigation lights not working. One vessel did not have it's registration aboard and one vessel did not have a copy of the Navigation Rules required for all boats 39.4 feet and over.

A final report will be issued shortly after Labor Day.

Signed, Dick Boardman, VSC Chairman

Education Report - September 2004

Education Course Update-September 2004 Courses

Member Courses
MPS is presenting Two advanced courses for members this fall;---Seamanship 101 and 102 and the new Piloting Course. It is also planned to complete the one elective course which started last Fall, Engine Maintenance 102.

Please call if you plan to take a course as I must order texts on time.

Seamanship is required in order for you to progress properly through Piloting and then Advanced Piloting. It is being presented on Mondays starting 20 September at the Egan Center with instructor Hank Chmielewski. However, the Egan Center is still being repaired due to the fire last year so I may have to adjust the start date. If so, I will contact you after you register by phone.

Piloting will be presented starting Tuesdays, 30 November after Seamanship at the Egan Center and will last for 8 lessons. George Sender will be the instructor. This is the New Piloting Course which will introduce you to GPS and present problems using GPS as the prime source of Navigation.

Advanced Piloting will be offered directly after Piloting. We are targeting Jan '05 date the Egan Center. Bob Reeves will be the instructor. We will continue using GPS along with the accepted navigational techniques for determining position.

Please register for the member courses as soon as possible so that I can order the correct number of texts for each course. If you have any questions or conflicts give me a call. I'm certain we can adjust the schedule to suit your available time. Thank You

Public Courses
Our 4 lesson Boat Smart Course is being given at Foran High School starting Wednesday 8 September 2004, instructed by Bob Post. This course will be followed by a 3 Lesson Chart Smart Course on Wednesday 6 Oct. at Foran High School. Both classes from 7-9PM

A 4 lesson Boat Smart Course will be given at the Sound School in New Haven starting Tuesday October 12th instructed by Bill Carotenuto to be followed by Chart Smart on Tuesday Nov 9th. Both classes from 7-9PM.

A Saturday Boat Smart Course will be given at the Milford Public Library on the 23 and 30 of October. Tony Barbieri is the instructor. Classes are from 10:30AM to 2:30PM.

Hope you are having an enjoyable summer!

Bob Reeves, SEO

Education Calendar - September 2004

Boating Course Calendar Starting September 2004

7 Sept. Tuesday Basic Navigation-J Law H/S, 8 classes, 7-9 PM - Bob Reeves

8 Sept. Wednesday Boat Smart- Foran H/S, 3 classes+exam, 7-9 PM - Bob Post

20 Sept. Monday Seamanship-Egan Center, Room 115, 6 classes - Hank Chmielewski

9 Sept. Thursday Engine Maint-Fowler Bldg., 2nd module, 6 classes - George Buffinton

13 Oct. Wednesday Chart Smart-Foran, 3 classes 7-9 PM - Bob Post

12 Oct. Tuesday Boat Smart-Sound School, 3 classes+exam, 7-9 PM - Bill Carotenuto

23,30 Oct. Saturday Boat Smart, Milford Library 2 classes+exam, 10:30AM to 2:30PM - Tony Barbieri

9 Nov. Tuesday Chart Smart-Sound School, 3 classes, 7-9 PM - Bill Carotenuto

30 Nov. Tuesday Piloting-Egan Center, 6 classes, 7-9 PM - George Sender

2005
Jan. Advanced Piloting-Egan Center, 8 classes, 7-9 PM - Bob Reeves

1 Mar. Tuesday Boat Smart, Sound School - Bill Carotenuto

5 Apr. Tuesday Chart Smart, Sound Schoo l- Bill Carotenuto

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