The Norwalk Sail & Power Squadron has had a long and distinguished history since1935, of teaching boaters a wide range of courses to make them safe and confident on thewater. Along with the training, the members enjoy the camaraderie of joining each other at out-ings, raft-ups and conferences within District 2 and beyond. Our slogan, “Come for the BoatingEducation…Stay for the Friends,” says it all.

This year we will continue our traditions by offering some great classes, includingPiloting and Advanced Piloting, Marine Communication Systems, Weather, Engine Maintenance,Cruising and Cruise Planning,

As in the past, we are in the process of planning a guest speaker event, a raft-up,another festive Sprite Island picnic, and our holiday party next January. We’ll let you know thedates of these and other events as they are firmed up. Meanwhile, while our boats are in hybernation for the winter, we look forward to 2015 boating season and the joy of warmer weather and the fun and adventure of Long Island Sound.

The Commander’s Message – C ommander Dean Fino , S

Volume 81, No 1 NEWSLETTER Winter 2014-15

Norwalk Sail & Power Squadron

We concluded the 2014 Norwalk Boat show on Sunday, September 21. The show ran for a total of 32hours starting on Thursday, September 18. In addition there were 12 man hours needed for set up and teardown. The set up and tear down function has historically been performed by members of the Norwalk Sailand Power Squadron along with George Hallenbeck of the Stamford Squadron. Members from othersquadrons were tasked to help man the booth during the four show days.

This year, for the first time, we had a “virtual trainer” boating sim-ulator that the public could use to evaluate their interest and skill atpower boating as well as the traditional fire extinguishing simulatorwe have previously used.

We were successful in working the crowd and getting the mes-sage out on the value and educational opportunities that comes withmembership in USPS, plus promoting the advantages of both lowcost and quality in education that comes with taking theUSPS ABC course for a certificate. We gave out 75copies of our Winter/Spring course offering to visi-tors who asked for specific details on coursesbeyond ABC.

Fred Zinsser introduced three families to SeaScouts when the parents said one or more of theirchildren loved sailing but they didn’t have the time orresources for a boat. We also collected three pagesof names and email addresses of people who wantedmore information on the Squadron and its educationalprograms.

The Trainer was surprisingly more effective in attracting visi-tors than we had anticipated. George used his “Super HeroPowers” to man the trainer for the full 32 hours. He was anexcellent choice for the assignment. As a member of the Trainerdesign team he had infinite knowledge of its menu options andoperation. He kept the lines moving while collecting the survey

2014 Boat Show-P/C Fred Zinsser, AP & Jim Dobbs, AP

Continued on page 2

Schedule your Vessel Safety Check with one of NSPS's three CertifiedVessel Examiners now. Email Jack Cohen (cohen.jack@gmail.com) and setup a date to have the safety equipment on your boat checked. We willmake sure you pass so that you can display a 2015 decal on your boat. Although we cannot guarantee you'll not be stopped by the Coast Guard,we can assure you that if you are boarded, you will pass their safetyrequirements and you will not get a citation for lacking a required piece ofsafety equipment. What safety equipment is required:• Current registration or documentation papers with

appropriate numbers and decals affixed to vessels• State-issued Safe Boating Certificate• USCG-approved PFDs (life jackets) appropriately sized for each person on board• Minimum of three unexpired day/night flares• Fire extinguishers for gas- or diesel-powered vessels (number depending on size of boat)• Blower & ducts and flame arrester for all gas-powered inboard/IO vessels)• Horn• Navigation lights (red/green sidelights; white light, combo or all-around visible 360º, anchor light visible 360º)• 26' and over must have Pollution Placard and a Marpol Trash Placard (39.4' and over must also display a written TrashManagement Plan) — We have copies to give you• Installed heads must be USCG-approved with discharge outlets capable of being sealed • Navigation Rules (official copy of book) for all vessels 39.4' and over• Decks free of hazards and good over-all condition of vessel as applies to safety

For a virtual checklist, go to http://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=vdept&category =virtual-safety-check.If you are interested in becoming a Vessel Examiner, contact Jack:

cohen.jack@gmail.com. Performing safety checks is a great way tospend time at the docks helping boaters to be safe this season.

Safety Corner – Bette C onner, A PThe 2014 Bridge

CommanderDean Fino, S

Note: Executive Officer TBA at a future date

Admin OfficerBarry Bosworth, P

SecretaryJim Dobbs, AP

TreasurerLes White, AP

Members-at-Large P/C Mike Brown, SN;P/C Kai Horan, AP; P/C Tony Mobilia, AP;

P/C Fred Zinsser, AP

SEOKarl Wagner, AP

Assistant SEOJon Ricci, JN

It was usually the younger visitors who would get captured by the display and want to try it. While George wastraining the operator there was an opportunity for the other squadron volunteers to discuss boating with the parents.The parents were happy to exchange their boating plans or experience for the ten or fifteen minutes while their sonor daughter was operating the trainer. This isn’t to say it was just for kids. Adults enjoyed it also with husbands,wives, boyfriends and girlfriends challenging each other on their docking skills.

In the four days, George ran 104 visitors through the Virtual Trainer. We had by far the most popular and activebooth under the tent with both the Bullox Fire Extinguisher and the Virtual Trainer. At one point on Saturday therewere eight people in the trainer booth watching an operator.

We used a notebook computer to access the Boat Show wifi and tap into the USPS website. When a visitorasked a question about USPS that we didn’t know the answer, we could go on line and get the answer. The computer was particularly helpful when a guest asked for contact information on their local squadron. We suggestedthey type their zip code into the space provided and hit enter. Their nearest squadron would appear, including contact information. The guest could then input their email address and a message would go out to the squadroncontact.

The Squadron recommended to the District 2 representatives that for next year we continue with both theBoating and Fire Extinguisher trainers.

Our thanks to all who contributed time and materials. This was by far our most successful show.

Boat Showcontinued

Ship 6 has had another extremely busy sailing season: over 800 nautical miles sailed during 45 activity days; several races with good results includingthe Vineyard distance race and the Gearbuster. In addi-tion, in 2014 the Scouts started learning and practicingwith the spinnaker with an eye to doing some spinnaker division racing in 2015. The winter indoor session is now inprogress and fundraising efforts are a priority.

Ship 6 Update– P/C Kai Horan, A P, Skiper

Maintaining Stewardshipof Our Water Resources

For over 86 years, the Milford Laboratory in Milford, CThas become renowned for pioneering research in sustain-able aquaculture and for developing ways to investigate the

marine environment. On Sunday, November 9, 2014, the

Squadron held a general meeting at theSaugatuck River Yacht Club SRYC. Ourguest speaker, Mr. Barry Smith, gave a talkon how humans have used aquaculture to produce food for thousands of years. Modern methodscan produce a variety of food species, in an environmentally sustainable way, to feed a growinghuman population.

Barry, son of deceased P/C Gayle Smith of Norwalk Sail & Power Squardron, is a research scientist and diving supervisor with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NationalMarine Fisheries Service, at the MilfordLaboratory. He joined the Milford Lab after

receiving a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology fromSouthampton College on Long Island. During a 30-yearresearch career (and counting), he earned a Master’sDegree in Marine Biology in the 1990’s and is an author ofover 50 scientific publications.

NSPS members and members of several localsquadrons as well as the SHYC members were invited.Twenty-five people attended. Following the talk, we had abuffet dinner from Tutti’s restaurant.

We’d like to thank Mike Brown for arranging the location,Barry Bosworth for organizing the dinner, Jim Dobbs andmany others helped set up.

Change of Watch March 22

Safe Boating Week May 16 - 21

Annual Picnic July 19

Raft-up August TBA

UPCOMING EVENTS

For more details on our boating classes, go to:http://www.NorwalkSailAndPowerSquadron.org

....

Wintery temperatures could not stop Norwalk Sail & Power Squadronmembers from coming together earlier this year to confirm that bettertimes were on the way.

The Squadron's annual Holiday Party, held Sunday, January 11, at theRed Barn in Westport featured a great champagne brunch as a backdropto conversation and plans for the coming boating season. Long-standingand new members mingled to share stories of the long winter and anticipation of the warmer days to come on Long Island Sound.

2015 Holiday Party

On a bright warm and breezySunday morning, twenty membersand spouses gathered on SpriteIsland, complete with coolers andpicnic baskets.

Amongst others sharing theirprepared dishes of great variety, Dean &Mireli Fino’s special concoction of Tequilaand other liquid ingredients got the partygoing.

Several hours later the grills werehot, and the rising smoke from thesausages and marinated meat, specially prepared by Karl and family,was making us the gastronomic envyof several other organizations thatwere enjoying the day on the island.

There is something very soothingabout being on an island, even asmall one. A sense of detachmentfrom all the land-based issues welive with daily…a soothing way ofenjoying the day with friends. If youmissed this year, we will have anotherpicnic next August…check our web sitefor “save the date.”

2014 Sprite Island Picnic