Ahoy all boaters in the Carolinas!

Boating Safety Course to be Taught at 9-1-1 Driving School in Fort Mill, SC

2011-05-05T05:56:00.006-04:00

Catawba Sail & Power Squadron is proud to announce its recent collaboration with the 9-1-1 Driving School in Fort Mill, SC. Recognizing the importance of safe driving for boaters as well as motorists, 9-1-1 Driving School has teamed with our USPS Squadron to provide a meeting space for our public ABC boating safety classes. Thanks, 9-1-1! You're helping to save lives on the water!

Next class: America's Boating Course (ABC) by the Catawba Sail & Power Squadron

Class Details:
Time: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Class Day: Sat May 28, 2011
Location: 9-1-1 Driving School
2000 Highway 160 West, Suite 106
Fort Mill, SC 29708

America’s Boating Course (ABC): This class includes Safe Boating Techniques, Knots, What is Required, "Rules of the Road", Aids to Navigation, Tailoring, and much more. This is a one day class that will include an exam that will earn you a certificate, which will enable you to get a discount from most boat insurance companies, meet North Carolina’s new requirement for Boater Education for individuals under 26 to operate a boat and qualify under 16's to operate a PWC or Jet Ski. We ask that you obtain the very comprehensive Manual ahead of time to review selected chapters. This will make the class easier & you will learn more. To sign up for the class, contact Gene Stutz (803) 831-8252 or genestutz@bellsouth.net or Jim Van Blarcom (803) 548-5362 or jimvan11@comporium.net and to arrange for a Manual.

Cost for the day of training is $30 for the manual (which may be shared with family members) plus an additional $5 for lunch that will be provided for participants. The class itself is free. Boating is fun, we'll show you how!!

Invitation to Eighth Annual Aids to Navigation Cruise

2011-05-03T20:40:00.003-04:00

FORT MACON SAIL & POWER SQUADRON, INC.
http://www.fmsps.org/

CORDIALLY INVITES YOU TO ATTEND OUR
EIGHTH ANNUAL AIDS TO NAVIGATION CRUISE

On May 28, 2011 at Morehead City, North Carolina

Overview: This fun and informative event consists of a review presented by experienced instructors of aids to navigation found in local inland waters, a catered meal, and a two hour narrated cruise in daylight and darkness. We will emphasize identifying navigational aids and their light characteristics at night. Space on board will be limited; reservations will be accepted in the order in which they are received.

Cost: $55 per person, $25 for minors under the age of 15. Optional flashlight w/batteries with red filter will be available at the registration table for $12, prepaid. Reservations and checks must be received by noon on Wednesday before the primary (or weather) date. Non-USPS members are welcome.

Schedule and Activities: The event begins at 1530 with a review of aids to navigation found in local waters. We will provide each participant with an extract of chart 11545 and an official USCG aids to navigation pamphlet. Immediately following the review we will have a buffet meal. You will then walk to the boat (Carolina Princess is just a few blocks away) to board the boat. The first hour of the narrated cruise will be during daylight to observe a variety of aids to navigation. The second hour will be during darkness, when we will explain how to identify specific aids to navigation based on light characteristics, and conduct practical exercises in timing lights. Instructors will be available aboard to answer your questions. The boat will return to the dock at approximately 2030.

Location: The location of the class and the meal is at Captain Bill’s 701 Evans Street, Morehead City, NC 28557 Captains Bill’s is on the waterfront downtown Morehead City.

RESERVATIONS AND ADVANCE PAYMENT ARE REQUIRED
Date: Saturday, May 28. Since this is a partially outdoor event, the weather delay date will be Saturday, June11th

Note: Alcoholic beverages will not be served or allowed at Captain Bill’s or on the boat.
Registration: Registration will start at 1430 (2:30). The registration area will be located at the entrance of the meeting room at the back of the restaurant. There will be a RELEASE FROM LIABILITY form at the registration table that must be signed. The parent or guardian must sign the form for minors. You will receive meal tickets and boarding passes at the registration table.

Weather Decision: The weather decision will be made at 1200 on the Friday before the cruise (and on the Friday before any weather day, if needed). An e-mail will be sent as soon as the weather decision has been made or call 252-463-0208 after 1200.

Cancellations: We will hold your check until after the event. If you are unable to attend, you must cancel ahead of time to receive a refund. We will return your check if we receive your cancellation by noon on Thursday before the primary (or weather) date. Cancellations will be accepted by phone at 252-463-0208 or by
e-mail to rmckeon@ec.rr.com .

Items to Bring: This is an outdoor activity. We suggest you bring: binoculars, flashlight with red filter and batteries (needed for nighttime chart work), digital, sweep-second-hand or stop watch, pencil, paper and clipboard to take notes, sun glasses, hat, foul weather jacket, sun screen, insect repellent, bottled water (for the cruise), and a canvas bag to carry these items aboard. Restrooms will be available on board. NOTE: Flashlights with red filters are usually available at military surplus stores, and will be available ($12 prepaid) at the registration table. This is not a piloting cruise, so plotting instruments are not required.

Life jackets will be available. You may bring your own if you choose.

Come join your friends and make new ones!!

For additional information, contact

Lt/C Richard L. McKeon, SN
252-463-0208 or rmckeon@ec.rr.com
Or Lt/C Joe Murphy, SN
252-240-1085 cell or seagray@embarqmail.com
Reservation forms may be downloaded from our web site: http://www.fmsps.org/

COME + GET IT! Pancake Breakfast for Charity

2011-04-14T20:42:00.006-04:00

Catawba Sail and Power Squadron

and

York County Cancer Association

Are Co-Sponsoring a

Charity Pancake Fundraiser Breakfast

Where: Fatz Cafe

10920 Wind Crossing Drive, Hwy. 49

Lake Wylie/Charlotte, NC

When: Saturday, April 23, 2011; 8-11:30 a.m.

Ticket prices: are: Adults = $7.00 & Children under 12 = $4.00

Call 803 327-5247 for tickets!!

Get Ready to Visit Historic New Bern, NC for the Fall Council & Conference

2009-08-21T20:52:00.005-04:00

The days are passing quickly and soon September the 4th will be here. That’s the registration deadline date for the Fall Council & Conference to be held in New Bern, NC.

P/Stf/C Bud Van Slyke, AP, Cape Lookout Commander invites you to come visit New Bern, "the city soon to be 300 years old. The Trolley ride will offer an opportunity to see the many significant historic sites that hosted many of our past events in the life of the city. Friday evening will provide many options to dine around town at one of our outstanding restaurants following a Friday evening reception."

Please mark your calendar accordingly, and go to the main page of our Catawba Sail and Power Squadron web site to download the Council Agenda and your copy of the Registration Form. Please note that checks should be made payable to the hosting Squadron: Cape Lookout Sail & Power Squadron, and mailed with your registration form.

Hope to see you there!

NC General Assembly Requires Mandatory Boating Safety Course

2009-08-21T20:17:00.005-04:00

RALEIGH, NC - The North Carolina General Assembly recently passed Session Law 2009-282 (Senate Bill 43), which was signed into law by Governor Purdue on July 10th. The act becomes effective on May 1, 2010, at which time the state of North Carolina will require that persons under 26 complete a boater safety education course prior to operating a boat in state waters. Only a few states have enacted mandatory boating education laws, including our neighbor to the north, Virginia. According to the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators as of January 21 “. . . 47 states/territories have some type of mandatory education. However, only eight states/territories have full mandatory boating education for all of their boating citizens.”

The NC law states, “No person shall operate a vessel with a motor of 10 horsepower or greater on the public waters of this [NC] State unless the operator has met the requirements for boating safety education.”

The law specifies that the operator is in compliance if he “. . . passes the boating safety course instituted by the Wildlife Resources Commission under G.S. 75A 16.1 or another boating safety course that is approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and accepted by the [NC] Wildlife Resources Commission;” and “Passes a proctored equivalency examination that tests the knowledge of information included in the curriculum of an approved course;”

You will be currently excluded if you can provide proof that you are at least 26 years of age. However, previous versions of the House Bill had a sliding age group and time-scale that required all age groups to comply with the basic provisions of this law by 2016. So standby and be prepared. There are several other ways that an operator could be considered in compliance with the current law. Among the criteria are requirements that one:

“Possesses a valid or expired license to operate a vessel issued to maritime personnel by the United States Coast Guard; Operates the vessel under onboard direct supervision of a person who is at least 18 years of age and who meets the requirements of this section; Demonstrates that he or she is not a resident, is temporarily using the waters of this State for a period not to exceed 90 days, and meets any applicable boating safety education requirements of the state or nation of residency; and Possesses a State approved nonrenewable temporary operator’s certificate to operate a vessel for 90 days that was issued with the certificate of number for the vessel, if the boat was new or was sold with a transfer of ownership.”

The act also includes the rules for operating a Personal Watercraft. The law states, “…no person under 16 years of age shall operate a personal watercraft on the waters of this State, and it is unlawful for the owner of a personal watercraft or a person who has temporary or permanent responsibility for a person under the age of 16 to knowingly allow that person to operate a personal watercraft.” There are only two exceptions to this part of the law. Persons at least 14 years of age accompanied on the water craft by one who is 18 and otherwise in compliance with the law, or the person possesses on his or her person while operating the watercraft, identification showing proof of age and a boating safety certification card.

To take an approved safe boating course in the York County, SC or south Mecklenburg County, NC areas, please visit http://www.catawbasailandpowersquadron.org for more information, contact names and phone numbes, and course dates and times.

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

What are Power Squadron public boating courses like?
http://www.usps.org/e_stuff/public_ed.htm

Where are NC and SC Power Squadrons?
District 27 has 20 Squadrons in NC and northern SC. At this link, select "Squadrons" on the left panel to locate a Squadron near you: http://www.usps.org/localusps/d27

Organizations that offer public safe boating courses that are NASBLA approved, administer a proctored examination, and who issue certificates of completion include units of the United States Power Squadrons, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the Wildlife Resources Commission. To find a power squadron in your area that teaches an approved course, see http://www.usps.org/cgi-bin-nat/eddept/cfind.cgi

May 12th . . . an evening on the lake

2009-05-27T10:27:00.007-04:00

The date was Tuesday, May 12th, 2009 . . . the place was the Commodore Yacht Club . . . and the great food was a Squadron favorite . . . boiled shrimp, Kielbasa sausage, potatoes, peppers and onions, corn on the cob, and all topped off with homemade chocolate chip cookies and a beautiful carrot cake! The only thing better was the company!

The Commodore Yacht Club is a little oasis, located on Lake Wylie not far from Tega Cay, Fort Mill or Rock Hill, SC. It’s a special place because of its beautiful water views, and its comfortable, homey feel. We’re fortunate to have some of our members living aboard their boats at this private club, which gives us the opportunity to enjoy it at least a couple of times a year. Here some of our members are arriving by boat . . . check out that beautiful view!

Catawba Sails Into Keeping a Captain's (B)Log!

2009-03-20T11:36:00.007-04:00

Well, it's been a bit slow getting our Captain's

(B)Log underway -- some of our salty sea captains are a little more at home on the water than by the computer -- but with a little help from our webmaster, some of us are going forward and seeing how much fun it can be to share our boating experiences and event information with everyone online.

Catawba SPS Commander Diane Woods, and Executive Officer Russell Crompton have just finished their first training session on blog posting and calendar updating, and were thrilled to see how easy it was!

We're hoping to hold more training sessions and get more members of our Bridge involved. Congratulations to Diane and Russell -- model pupils!

Squadron News Staff

How about Charleston for a rendezvous?

2009-03-19T18:58:00.001-04:00

Ahoy CSPS,

CSPS can enjoy the beauty of the Charleston Bridge - all it takes is for us to decide when we would like to go and for how long. We can see it by the light of day or in the evening by the light of the bridge.

Imagine enjoying the beauty of Charleston, the socialization, fun and relaxation.

What do you think? Let me know.

Diane

Chicken BBQ

2009-03-19T18:58:00.000-04:00

18 April 5.00 pm

Chicken BBQ at invitation of Charlotte Power Squadron

Merit Mark Point

Cost $8.00 per person

We would like as many members as possible to come by boat.

Let me know so we can advise CPS how many to cater for.

Regards

Russell Crompton

XO CSPS

Come Cruise With Us!

2009-02-02T16:27:00.000-05:00

Crossing Paths
At the 2009 Combined D27 / D5 Summer Rendezvous

D27 Cruise to the Rendezvous’
Cape Charles, Virginia
Bay Creek Marina 757-331-8640
Plenty of Slips Available for both D5 & D27 Cruisers

July 20th to 28th 2009

Power Boaters and Sail Boaters
The fun before the meetings
The stories made, told and not told.

Proposed Powerboat Cruise Schedule (subject to change):
· Monday July 20th – Beaufort NC
· Tuesday July 21st – Belhaven NC – Dowry Creek Marina (80nm)
· Wednesday July 22nd Coinjock (84nm)
· Thursday July 23rd Norfolk VA – Tidewater Marina (49 nm)
· Friday July 24th to 26th Cape Charles VA (44nm) – Bay Creek Marina
· Sunday July 26th – Return to Home Port (on your own)

JOIN ANY LOCATION ANY TIME!
Food, Drink and fun at each location!
I am looking for Squadron Cruise Leaders to join the D/27 cruising committee.

For details please see web: www.usps.org/localusps/d27/

Please Call P/C Ralph Daniels @ (919) 795-9374 or Email at ralph.rsps@earthlink.net

The Captain's Log

2009-02-02T15:47:00.001-05:00

This is our first day of blog ownership . . . we aren't sure that all our members will share our enthusiasm for keeping this "log" . . . but we hope they will . . . they have such great stories to tell of their adventures on the water; and lots of resources to offer area boaters, too!

Keep watch . . . something may be of interest to YOU!