Orion - USPScan happen if you do not heed Publilius Syrus’ advice you don’t need to look any...
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O O O O O O rion rion rion rion rion rion rion rion Cdr Steve Mullen, JN Good advice if you think about it. And if you think about it, that is what much of the Power Squadron’s training is all about from America’s Boating Course, through Piloting, to offshore Navigation. A boater typically strives to interact with the land only at a time and place of her or his own choosing. This is true whether you are bringing the boat back to the ramp at the end of a long day of fishing, beaching your canoe for a lunch break, dodging sand bars at the mouth of a river, or tying up at a dock. A savvy skipper has planned ahead and knows where the hazards and obstacles are and how to avoid them. For a very high profile example of what can happen if you do not heed Publilius Syrus’ advice you don’t need to look any farther than the wreck of the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia this past January. A friend sent me a link to a video of the ship’s final maneuvers. The video runs something over 14 minutes and it is well worth going through the entire thing. The video was made from the ship’s broadcast AIS information. (See sidebar on page 3 if you are not familiar with AIS). http:// gcaptain.com/gcaptains-john-konrad- narrates-the-final-maneuvers-of-the- costa-concordia-video/?37941. I must emphasize that Investigators are a long way from determining just what hap- pened that day. And certainly, as with all disasters at sea, we will find that more than one person made mistakes during that “fly-by”. I’ll never pilot the likes of a ship the size of the Costa Concordia. But as I sat and watched the video, I couldn’t help but think back to some of my more “interesting” boating experiences and how a cascade of events can result in getting to know your neighbors at the dock, or the dock itself, just a bit too well. I also think back to an experience with a rented inboard/outboard power- boat (I am a sailor). In this case, some of my Power Squadron training helped me understand just what was happen- ing with the boat as I was trying to pull along side a dock and allowed me to avoid any problems. A point was made in some of the commentary about the Concordia that typically on a ship that size, the Captain gives the order and it is up to the Mate on duty to actually issue the commands that will carry out the Captain’s desires. How many of us may invite friends or family to go out with us and ask them to “drive the boat” while we take care of other business? I know I have. As Captains of our vessels, no matter what the size, it is up to us to ensure that not only ourselves, but also all of our crewmembers have the skills and experience to “keep clear of the land”. Worcester County Sail Worcester County Sail Worcester County Sail Worcester County Sail And Power Squadron And Power Squadron And Power Squadron And Power Squadron April 2012 Volume 59, Issue 1 A unit of the United States Power Squadrons ® District 12 Sail and Power Boating ♦The Executive Committee meets on the second Wednesday each month at 1900. ♦If you wish to participate, and we hope that you do, contact Cdr Steve Mullen, JN for the location of the next meeting. Inside This Issue: Inside This Issue: Inside This Issue: Inside This Issue: America’s Boating Club ® “When At Sea, Keep Clear Of The Land!” “When At Sea, Keep Clear Of The Land!” “When At Sea, Keep Clear Of The Land!” “When At Sea, Keep Clear Of The Land!” Publilius Syrus, Roman author, 1 st century. B.C. Squadron Officers 2 Squadron Calendar 2 Meet the Commander 3 RV & Boat Show 3 Mystic Seaport Rendezvous 4 Change Of Watch 6 Spring Blooms 7 Friends of WCSPS 7
Transcript of Orion - USPScan happen if you do not heed Publilius Syrus’ advice you don’t need to look any...
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Cdr Steve Mullen, JN
Good advice if you think about it. And if you think about it, that is what much of the Power Squadron’s training is all about from America’s Boating Course, through Piloting, to offshore Navigation. A boater typically strives to interact with the land only at a time and place of her or his own choosing. This is true whether you are bringing the boat back to the ramp at the end of a long day of fishing, beaching your canoe for a lunch break, dodging sand bars at the mouth of a river, or tying up at a dock. A savvy skipper has planned ahead and knows where the hazards and obstacles are and how to avoid them.
For a very high profile example of what can happen if you do not heed Publilius Syrus’ advice you don’t need to look any farther than the wreck of the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia this past January. A friend sent me a link to a video of the ship’s final maneuvers. The video runs something over 14 minutes and it is well worth going through the entire thing. The video was made from the ship’s broadcast AIS information. (See sidebar on page 3 if you are not familiar with AIS). http://gcaptain.com/gcaptains-john-konrad-narrates-the-final-maneuvers-of-the-costa-concordia-video/?37941. I must emphasize that Investigators are a long way from determining just what hap-
pened that day. And certainly, as with all disasters at sea, we will find that more than one person made mistakes during that “fly-by”.
I’ll never pilot the likes of a ship the size of the Costa Concordia. But as I sat and watched the video, I couldn’t help but think back to some of my more “interesting” boating experiences and how a cascade of events can result in getting to know your neighbors at the dock, or the dock itself, just a bit too well. I also think back to an experience with a rented inboard/outboard power-boat (I am a sailor). In this case, some of my Power Squadron training helped me understand just what was happen-ing with the boat as I was trying to pull along side a dock and allowed me to avoid any problems.
A point was made in some of the commentary about the Concordia that typically on a ship that size, the Captain gives the order and it is up to the Mate on duty to actually issue the commands that will carry out the Captain’s desires. How many of us may invite friends or family to go out with us and ask them to “drive the boat” while we take care of other business? I know I have. As Captains of our vessels, no matter what the size, it is up to us to ensure that not only ourselves, but also all of our crewmembers have the skills and experience to “keep clear of the land”.
Worces te r Coun ty Sa i l Worces te r Coun ty Sa i l Worces te r Coun ty Sa i l Worces te r Coun ty Sa i l And Power SquadronAnd Power SquadronAnd Power SquadronAnd Power Squadron
April 2012
Volume 59, Issue 1
A unit of the United States Power Squadrons® District 12 Sail and Power Boating
♦The Executive Committee meets on the second Wednesday each month at 1900.
♦If you wish to participate, and we hope that you do, contact Cdr Steve Mullen, JN for the location of the next meeting.
Inside This Issue:Inside This Issue:Inside This Issue:Inside This Issue:
America’s Boating Club®
“When At Sea, Keep Clear Of The Land!”“When At Sea, Keep Clear Of The Land!”“When At Sea, Keep Clear Of The Land!”“When At Sea, Keep Clear Of The Land!” Publilius Syrus, Roman author, 1st century. B.C.
Squadron Officers 2
Squadron Calendar 2
Meet the Commander 3
RV & Boat Show 3
Mystic Seaport Rendezvous
4
Change Of Watch 6
Spring Blooms 7
Friends of WCSPS 7
11 Apr WCSPS Executive Committee Meeting
28 Apr Rendezvous At Mystic Seaport “Treasures From The Museum”
9 May WCSPS Executive Committee Meeting
19-25 May Safe Boating Week
? Jun Manchaug Pond Vessel Safety Check Day
30 Jun— 5 Jul
OpSail Boston Celebration
2-9 Sep USPS Governing Board Detroit MI
OrioOrioOrioOrionnnn is published 7 times a year by
the members of:
Worcester County Sail And Power Squadron
Editors: P/D/Lt/C Dick Winski, AP
& Lt/C Jill Winski, AP 46 Torrey Road
Sutton, MA 01590 508-476-2991
Commander Cdr Stephen Mullen, JN 62 New Boston Road Sturbridge, MA 01566 508-269-3848 [email protected]
Executive Officer
Educational Officer P/D/C Warren Hawkins, JN 87 Oakwood Lane Worcester, MA 01604 508-793-9663 [email protected]
Administrative Officer
Secretary Lt/C Jill Winski, AP 46 Torrey Road Sutton, MA 01590 508-476-2991 [email protected]
Treasurer
Lt/C Richard Kozlowski, JN 29 Merrick Street Worcester, MA 01609 508-795-1743 [email protected]
Page 2 Orion
Bridge Officers
Worcester County Sail & Power SquadronWorcester County Sail & Power SquadronWorcester County Sail & Power SquadronWorcester County Sail & Power Squadron
® United States Power Squadrons, USPS, America’s Boating Club, the USPS Ensign, and the Trident Design are Registered Trademarks of United States Power Squadrons.
Calendar of Events
Deadline for the next issue of OrioOrioOrioOrionnnn is
1 May 2012
Please send your articles, stories, and photos so they might be included in your newsletter.
Dick & JillDick & JillDick & JillDick & Jill
Page 3 Volume 59, Issue 1
Meet The CommanderMeet The CommanderMeet The CommanderMeet The Commander Cdr Stephen Mullen, JN
As your new Commander, I feel a couple of words of introduction are probably in order. I have been a member of the Worcester County Sail and Power Squadron since 2006. As I noted previously, I am a sailor, even though my family has had powerboats ever since I can remember (my Dad loves deep sea fishing). I learned to sail dinghies in Southern California and had a great time with a beach catamaran
summers as I was growing up. Then I left SoCal and took a 30-year break from boating. Well, al-most. I did take canoe lessons in the bayous of Louisiana in the early 1980’s and have been out a couple of times then, and even after I moved to New England. But I finally got back into boating in a serious way in 2003 when I bought an eld-erly Catalina 27 as a project boat. I have been rehabilitating it ever since. I remembered my Dad taking
a Power Squadron course when he first got his boat. I did the same when I got the Catalina. The Admi-ral (my wife, who has also taken the basic courses) and I do mostly day sailing on the Narragansett. I have met some of you at various meetings, classes, and activities over the past five years or so, and I look forward to meeting and getting to know better those of you I now know only as an entry on our roster.
AIS, or Automatic Identification System, is an automatic tracking system used primarily on commer-cial ships. It is very much like the aircraft tracking system that the Air Traffic Control system uses to keep track of each airplane that is in the air. AIS broadcasts a vessel’s unique identification, position,
course, and speed. It is currently required for all international voyag-ing ships of 300 tons or more, and all passenger ships. It has been de-scribed as a poor-man’s radar be-cause any vessel or land station equipped with the right receiving and display equipment can track and monitor other ships in the area,
as long as they are AIS equipped. It is used in navigation primarily for collision avoidance and is a supple-ment to, not a replacement for, ra-dar. In busy shipping areas, Vessel Traffic Services, VTS, uses it for identifying and locating vessels and to manage ship traffic.
Worcester RV, Boat & Camping ShowWorcester RV, Boat & Camping ShowWorcester RV, Boat & Camping ShowWorcester RV, Boat & Camping Show
(Sidebar From Page 1) AIS(Sidebar From Page 1) AIS(Sidebar From Page 1) AIS(Sidebar From Page 1) AIS
Cdr Stephen Mullen, JN
Our most heartfelt thanks go out to the following people for taking time out of their busy schedules to make our time at the Worcester RV, Boat and Camping show the success it was. In no particular or-der:
Rich Kozlowski Bruce Arey
Warren Hawkins John Storms
A very special thank you goes out to the members of the District Bridge and our sister squadrons who came to help us out.
Wayne Lambert Joe Kelliher
Tom Gonsiorowski Barbara Herrmann
Paul and Shirley Nordquist
Because of your efforts the class-room for the ABC course is abso-lutely full.
I know I had a good time at the show. I hope you all did as well. D/C Wayne Lambert, AP and P/D/C Paul Nordquist, AP
Photo on preceding page by P/D/Lt/C Dick Winski, AP
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Let’s Rendezvous At
Mystic Seaport Museum
There Is A Brand New Exhibit Titled: “Treasures From The Collections”
And We Are Going To Go See It!
Date: Saturday, 28 AprilDate: Saturday, 28 AprilDate: Saturday, 28 AprilDate: Saturday, 28 April
Museum Hours: 0900Museum Hours: 0900Museum Hours: 0900Museum Hours: 0900----1700170017001700 (9:00 A.M.(9:00 A.M.(9:00 A.M.(9:00 A.M.----5:00 P.M.)5:00 P.M.)5:00 P.M.)5:00 P.M.)
Page 5 Volume 59, Issue 1
Take an in-depth look at some of the finest artifacts drawn from the collections of Mystic Sea-port. For more than 80 years, the Museum has developed col-lections vast in depth and scope and known worldwide for their
documentary and research value. Less widely recognized but no less significant are the ar-tistic treasures among the Mu-seum's extensive holdings. These objects of creative ex-pression - inspired by the power,
mystery, dangers, beauty, soli-tude, and resources of the sea - merge impressive artistic skill with maritime content to reveal the broad influence of the sea on American life.
Battle PlanBattle PlanBattle PlanBattle Plan Come by boat, by car, or by carpool. Come as early as you can to enjoy the museum for as long as you wish.
Then, at 1045 (yes
that is 10:45 A.M.) we will gather out-side the R.J. Schae-fer Exhibit Hall, Map Location: 50, and then storm the exhibit at 1100.
R.J.Schaefer Exhibit Hall Location 50
General Admission: Adults: $24 Seniors: $22 Youth: $16 Group of 10 or more $19 in advance Check out the Museum website at: www.mymysticseaport.org Check Public Libraries for discount passes
Contact Stephen Mullen if you plan to attend at: [email protected] Cell 508-269-3848
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Change Of WatchChange Of WatchChange Of WatchChange Of Watch
Left. P/C Ted Robbins, N receives 50 year Membership
Award from Cdr Bruce Arey, JN and D/C Wayne Lambert, AP
Right: Cdr Stephen Mullen, JN
is sworn in
Above: P/D/Lt/C Dick Winski, AP
accepts “Distinctive Communicator Award”
Photo by Lt/C Richard Kozlowski, AP
New Commander, Steve Mullen,
bestows parting gifts to P/C Bruce
Arey, JN.
Gifts included a Past Commander Flag, A plaque of appreciation and USPS Brief Case
Additional photos by P/D/Lt/C Dick Winski, AP
Page 7 Volume 59, Issue 1
Friends Of WCSPSFriends Of WCSPSFriends Of WCSPSFriends Of WCSPS The following is a list of companies and organizations who have supported our squadron
Doyle Sailmakers The sailmakers of choice worldwide
1 Division Street E. Greenwich, RI 02818
401-884-4227 800-238-0107 www.doylesails.com
Eastern Mountain Sports Shoppes At Blackstone Valley
70 Worcester Providence Turnpike (Rt. 146)
Millbury, MA 01527 508-865-6776 www.ems.com
Manchaug Pond Association Promoting the welfare and correct
use of Manchaug Pond www.manchaugpond.org
www.manchaugpondassociation.blogspot.com
New England Yacht Rigging Full-service rigging and
sailing equipment P.O. Box 641 1 Water Street
E. Greenwich, RI 02818 401-884-1112
www.neyachtrigging.com
Regatta Point Community Sailing Sailing for all
10 Lake Avenue North Worcester, MA 01605
508-757-2140 www.regattapoint.org
Up And Running Technology Satisfying Your Technology Needs
3 Sutton Avenue Oxford, MA 01540
508-444-8778 www.uandrt.com
Spring BloomsSpring BloomsSpring BloomsSpring Blooms P/D/C Warren Hawkins, JN
The sun is over the equator, the trees are budding, flowers are sprouting and the sound of sanders is heard near the shore. All signs that Spring is upon us.
Also flowering is our spring boating course, ABC3, being held at the Regatta Point Community Sailing facility on Lake Quinsigamond. Last Spring we had 8 students; this year we have 27 in the class that started March 29th, including 10 students below the age of 18. All this bodes
well for the prospects of encountering safe boat-ers on the water this year.
And, not only is the classroom filled, it is populated by enthusias-tic and active students, who, I predict, will pass the course with flying colors. I also expect that many of them will go on to take the Seamanship course we plan to offer
in the fall.
This year, again, we will be offering a free 6 month trial member-ship to the graduates of the course, and I suspect that many will renew and become full time, active members of he squadron.
It is satisfying to see
boaters, both those new to boating and those with years of experience, coming to our class to gain the knowledge we know is essential for safe and enjoyable boating.
ABC Students at Regatta Point Photos by P/D/Lt/C Dick Winski, AP
Worcester County Sail And Power Squadron 46 Torrey Road Sutton, MA 01590
Phone: 508-476-2991 Email: [email protected] Web: www.usps.org/worcester
Worces ter County Sa i l Worces ter County Sa i l Worces ter County Sa i l Worces ter County Sa i l And Power SquadronAnd Power SquadronAnd Power SquadronAnd Power Squadron
A unit of the United States Power Squadrons® District 12 Sail and Power Boating
Lat: 42° 05.3’ N Lon: 71° 46.0’ W
America’s Boating Club®
Mystic Seaport Museum Mystic Seaport Museum Mystic Seaport Museum Mystic Seaport Museum RendezvousRendezvousRendezvousRendezvous
Saturday, 28 AprilSaturday, 28 AprilSaturday, 28 AprilSaturday, 28 April Come By Boat, Auto, Or Carpool.Come By Boat, Auto, Or Carpool.Come By Boat, Auto, Or Carpool.Come By Boat, Auto, Or Carpool.
New Exhibit Titled:New Exhibit Titled:New Exhibit Titled:New Exhibit Titled: “Treasures F“Treasures F“Treasures F“Treasures From The Collections” rom The Collections” rom The Collections” rom The Collections”
Boating Is Fun… We’ll Show You How!Boating Is Fun… We’ll Show You How!Boating Is Fun… We’ll Show You How!Boating Is Fun… We’ll Show You How!Boating Is Fun… We’ll Show You How!Boating Is Fun… We’ll Show You How!Boating Is Fun… We’ll Show You How!Boating Is Fun… We’ll Show You How!
