Volume 40 Number 1
District 30
January 2015
Commander’s Message
Help BVSPS Adapt
Boulder Valley Sail and Power Squadron (BVSPS) is all about boating. Boating in Colorado and across the nation is constantly changing, so BVSPS needs to adapt to the updated needs of folks who
enjoy being on the water.
We members need to talk about what we see and what we, as an
organization, need to do to adapt. Looking at our membership, I see
a significant group of new members just starting out in boating. I see
more members than there used to be with boats on the coasts but
who live in our area. There is an increase in members chartering,
and an enthusiastic and growing bunch of paddlers. Trailer-sailors
seem to be in decline. What do you see?
The first lighthouse on Lake Michigan was built
in St. Joseph in 1832. In 1907, this outer pier
range light was completed with a Fifth Order
Fresnel lens. This pier light and an inner
range light both remain in operation today.
They rest on a steel structure that stands 30
feet tall.
BVSPS needs to adapt to the changing needs of our present and
potential members. You can help by using the Squadron as a focus
to organize participation in your preferred boating activities as appropriate. Invite (via the Beacon and announcements at meetings) members to participate in boating activities with you. (Cont. page 2)
Annual Membership Meeting
Thursday, 22Jan2015
1900 (7:00 pm)
Mountain View United Methodist
The January Membership Meeting will be held in the Frasier Parlor of Mountain View United Methodist Church,
our usual location. The address is 355 Ponca Place,
Boulder, Colorado 80303. Navigate to this location using
your GPS street map. Waypoints are not required. Enter
the West door, go half a flight down-stairs, and turn right
down the long hallway to the SW end of the lower level.
Your compass might help. Membership Meetings are free
to members; guests are always welcome. See map and
details on page 7.
TongaTonga!
Dave and Jo Davies will give a talk on their recent bareboat sail charter in the Tongan Archipelago. A light hearted
and hopefully humorous account of taking a 44 foot
Jeaneau around the islands of Vava'u Tonga. Including a
dramatic encounter with humpback whales, some exciting
sailing, the wonderful Tongans they met and a brief account of how to get there ( and back) --not a trivial exercise.
The Boulder Beacon is the official publication of the
Boulder Valley Sail and Power Squadron
A Unit of United States Power Squadron
January 2015
Boulder Beacon
Page 1
Commander’s Message (cont.)
New members need classes and local boating events. We're providing classes and need to keep that focus. Hearty
thanks to our current teachers, but we need more for replacement and relief. Volunteer to our EdOs, John Venema and
Dave Hughes, to join the instructor ranks. Charterers need ideas and examples. Jo and Dave Davies will present tales of
Tonga at our next meeting, and we have more chartering programs scheduled. We need someone to organize and promote a group charter event or events. It's time to plan our summer on-water activities. Again, organizers and promoters
are needed. Paddlers have done well with float trips. That's an area that can expand in number of trips and participants.
It looks like Lake McConaughy levels are back up. I was thinking of giving that a try, but perhaps there are too few trailer
boats among us to make that viable. Has anyone been there recently to see how crowded the campgrounds and ramps
are?
Let's hear from you!
Cdr Ron Schwiesow, JN
Bob Swartz
Bob Swartz has recently been recognized by C/C Robert A. Baldridge, SN, Chief
Commander of the United States Power Squadrons, as being a member of
USPS for 50 years. This is a significant achievement and honor. In addition, Bob
has Life Member status with 38 Merit Marks for significant efforts toward the
goals of our Squadron over a period of many years.
He has been an inspirational sailor to all of us in the squadron, showing by his
example that we can take our trailerable sailboats to places as far as the Bahamas, the Baja peninsula, to the northern tip of Vancouver Island, and many places in between. When asked for advice on a challenging trip, Bob's standard response is, “You can do it!” He then explains how and why we can do it safely
and enjoyably. After a white-knuckle sail in rough weather on Big Mac, Bob
made me feel I was learning something by saying, “You know, Ron, I've never
been so scared as I've been on McConaughy.” I remember that, often.
Bob is also an effective teacher. Of the many things I remember, one is him
standing on a Danforth being pulled across the floor of the Seamanship classroom to show how effective weight is in
helping an anchor hold. Another hands-on lesson involved climbing aboard his boat, Planet, at his home to see how his
Diesel auxiliary was installed, how the compression release worked, and how to adjust valves as part of Engine Maintenance class. He's also a super knot guy, as you'd expect from a mountaineer.
The best advice that I've personally received is when I confided to him that Nancy wanted a larger boat but I was unsure
if I could afford it or handle it comfortably. In true Bob fashion, he advised, “Give her a big smacking kiss and then go
buy the boat.” We are still cruising in Romsø.
Ron Schwiesow, JN
BVSPS Meeting Calendar
Annual Membership Meeting
Thursday 22Jan15 1900 (7:00 pm)
Elections, Sailing in Tonga
Frasier Parlor of Mountain View United
Methodist Church, 355 Ponca Place, Boulder, Colorado 80303. See page 7.
January 2015
Bridge Meeting
5Feb15 1900 (7:00 pm via Skype)
February Membership Meeting
Thursday 26Feb15 1900 (7:00 pm)
Change of Watch, John Decker & Norma Kay—
Sailing the Bahamas
Boulder Beacon
Page 2
BVSPS Holiday Party
A great time was had by all at the BVSPS Holiday Party, hosted by John and Pam Chatting at their home. Once
again, we are indebted to the Chattings for their generosity. Thank you from the club. (Photos by Jo Davies)
2nd Annual Colorado Indoor
Messabout
Electronic Distribution of D30
Newsletter
D30 is saving costs by sending its newsletter electronically. They have asked squadron commanders to
share the newsletter with their members. Rather than
fill your email in-box, you may download your own PDF
copy of the Midwestern Pilot.
http://d30usps.org
We have received notice of the 2nd Annual Colorado Indoor
Messabout. It features the Sage boat-building facility, homebuilt boats, potluck snacks, and a lot of boat talk.
Saturday, 31Jan15, 1300-1800 (1-6 pm)
Sage Marine (behind the Spyderco facility), Golden CO. No
Cost
For more information and/or to RSVP contact: Paul Breeding
([email protected]); or Dave Scobie
([email protected]) or see http://www.sagemarine.us/
forum/showthread.php?572.
January 2015
Boulder Beacon
Page 3
Safety at Sea
A Reminder about PFDs
Volvo Ocean Race Disaster
This fall we were moored in a calm tropical bay, waiting for
the Sunsail repair crew, as is often the case on the second
day of a charter. To pass the time two of our crew decided
to take the kayak and explore. Just as the second crew
member was about to jump in, she said she'd like a life
jacket. I picked up my suspender style PFD and passed it
to her.
Within a few minutes the Sunsail repair crew pulled alongside in a sizable dinghy. They were still trying to fix the
bathroom hoses when the kayak returned.
Rather than wait for us to move the two dinghies,
the kayakers tried to squeeze the double kayak in between
the two dinks. In a perfectly choreographed moment, both
reached for the swim platform at the same time, and of
course the kayak flipped. Instantly the swim platform was
full of folks moving the dinks, dropping the swim ladder,
and giving a helping hand to the closest kayaker.
By now the second kayaker had been in the water for
about 10 min and was getting cold, not to mention bored.
Plus she had been holding the kayak against the current.
She was in no danger but just for fun (and so we wouldn't
forget that she was waiting for a "rescue") she pulled the
lanyard on her vest and inflated her PFD. Well that got our
attention! The harness was so tight, that when she inflated
the vest, she could barely move. She couldn't release any
of the clips; nor could she move her head. Although she
wasn't in danger, she was very uncomfortable and having
some difficulty breathing. It took two of us, pinching inches
of body, to release the clips.
Tip #1 If you borrow someone else's harness, make sure
you adjust it before you need to inflate it.
Tip #2 If you feel the need for a little extra buoyancy, use
the "inflate by breathing into the tube" option unless you're
in an emergency situation. This manual/oral option gives
you much more control.
For information on choosing and using a PFD, see http://
www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/pfdtips.htm
Jo Davies
New PFD Designations Coming
For the last several years, the U.S. Coast Guard has
been working to redesign the labeling for personal flotation devices to more effectively convey safety information.
The current proposal removes type codes, aka Type I, II,
III, IV and V, in regulations on the carriage and labeling of
Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices.
PFD type codes are unique to Coast Guard approval and
are not well understood by the public. Removing these
(cont. on page 6)
January 2015
Photo by Brian Carlin, Team Vestas Wind
The Volvo Ocean Race in 2014 and 2015 is probably the
best documented, filmed and reported upon sailboat
race ever. Seven vessels, all of which are Volvo Ocean
65s, left from Spain on 24Oct14 for the around the world
race arriving in Cape Town on 12Nov. From there the
competitors headed out for Abu Dhabi. All was going
well in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa when one
of the vessels, Team Vestas Wind, hit a charted reef
near the desolate island Íle du Sudat at night. The eight
person crew boarded life rafts, took any equipment and
gear that they could, braved shark infested waters, but
were all safe on the reef. At this time, Team Vestas
Wind is being transported to a location in Indonesia.
These are some of the facts, but they raise many unanswered questions. How could a state-of-the-art racing
sailboat with an experienced professional crew allow this
grounding to occur? They were constantly tracking their
position, and much of the sailing world was also monitoring their position. They knew that the reef was there.
How did they not miss it?
As an amateur sailor, I am reminded that there are always risks at sea, and we must always be mindful of the
hazards. Perhaps Team Vestas Wind was trying to cut
the reef closely to gain some advantage. In the end they
lost big time. Had the grounding happened to you or
me, I suspect that we would not have been so lucky as
to have a nearby aid vessel or the resources of Vestas
Wind. Always stay alert, my sailing friends!
Follow the Volvo Ocean Race online at
www.volvooceanrace.com. This is an amazing web site
that shows the position of the vessels in real time. Daily
video clips are posted.
Bill Buffum, Editor
Boulder Beacon
Page 4
NEW MEMBERS
A boater's welcome to our newest members! Mo, Neta, Shelby, and Mary will all be at our membership meeting
Shelby Hood just joined BVSPS and is doing the home study course for the ABC
boating class. His wife Mary plans to join soon and take the class as well. Shelby
grew up in Florida in the St Petersburg area and Mary is from Virginia Beach, although they have lived in Colorado for 30 years. Shelby and Mary plan to do the Great
Loop and possibly sail down to the Caribbean.
Camillo (Mo) DiLizia joined BVSPS a few weeks ago via the ABC boating course/new membership program. Mo and
his wife Neta have sailed Colorado lakes in the past in a Catalina 22. Recently they purchased a Marie Holme 20 and
plan to sail her next summer on Carter Lake. Mo's goal is to gain the boating education and experience necessary for
coastal sailing.
Choosing a Captain: Ideas from the Education Officer
What should you know before joining a captain on his or her boat? By John Venema
One advantage of being a member of a squadron is
that you know your captain and crew. But what if you
sign up to crew with a relative stranger? I don’t recommend that you arrive with a list of questions and ‘grill’
the captain; however, by way of conversation and
some “open ended” question, you should be able to get
some information. Here are some suggestions:
1. Who is this person? The captain should have some
sort of base. Open questions: Are you married? Children? Where do you live? Who is your emergency
contact? *(see footnotes)
2. What are the captain’s ‘vital statistics’? Is he lucid,
fit, and able to handle the mental and physical challenges needed to captain this boat? **
3. Is the captain experienced and well trained? Open
questions: How did you learn to sail? Tell me about
where you have sailed. How long have you owned this
boat? ***
4. How does this captain like to sail---compared with
how YOU like to sail. Sail full speed ahead? Take risks and
enjoy the thrill? Or very conservative, safe and comfortable?
****
5. Get information on the boat. Open question: Do you have
radar, chart plotter, EPIRB, flares, VHF radio, fire extinguishers, plenty of pfd’s, etc.? +
6. What does she expect of me? Primarily cooking and
cleaning or primarily navigating, helming and adjusting sails?
What about the duties of the rest of the crew? ++
7. Do a personality profile: Will this captain be easy going, a
screamer, or somewhere between? Is the captain a leader?
How about his or her social skills. Are you compatible? +++
*Worst case scenario (WCS): You are in the middle of the
ocean with an escaped convict.
**WCS: You end sailing single handed while nursing a seriously incapacitated captain.
***WCS: You are crewing on a 60’ yacht. The captain has a
lot of money but no sailing skills. Still, he is the captain so
he makes all the decisions.
****WCS You could end up with weeks of terror or boredom.
+Get an idea on whether this boat is well maintained and
safe.
++You are taking on a job. Who are your co-workers? What
is your job description?
+++How long will you be on the boat together? A bad date is
over in one evening. A bad marriage takes longer to resolve.
John Venema is Assistant Education Officer for BVSPS
January 2015
Boulder Beacon
Page 5
(Cont. from page 4)
PFDs
type codes from the regulations would facilitate future incorporation by reference of new industry consensus standards
for PFD labeling that will more effectively convey safety information and is a step toward harmonization of our regulations
with PFD requirements in Canada and in other countries.
As of 22Sept14, a final rule was issued to remove PFD Type
codes in federal regulations. Under these amendments, the
number and kind of PFDs required to be carried on a vessel
will not change, but the terminology used to refer to approved
PFDs will. This final rule was effective 22Oct14.
Removing type coding is simply the first step in a multi-year
process, which includes designing new labels and developing
new, ‘harmonized’ standards. Once that is accomplished,
manufacturers will then be able to get jackets approved under the new standards. It’s at that point that we’ll see life jackets without the current type coding on their labels.
In Memoriam:
Sally Gulick
Sally Gulick, long-time member of BVSPS,
died 10 December 2014 after a long battle
with arthritis and complications. We will miss
her energy and smile at our meetings and
outings. Sally, with her husband, Rick, was a
boater for many years on a variety of boats,
both sail and power, monohull and cats. Sally
and Rick's waters extended from Chatfield
Reservoir to the Caribbean and many places
in between and beyond, such as Squadron
rendezvous on Dillon. Sally served on our
Executive Committee as treasurer for a number of years. She was particularly known for
her prowess backing boat trailers down
ramps.
Our friends in the life jacket manufacturing community further
advise that 2017 is likely the earliest they could potentially
see any new life jacket standards on production lines.
Current life jackets that have Type I-V coding on their labels
will be legal to sell and wear for the useful life of the jacket.
What does this mean for the boating community?
Over time, the terminology of Type I, II, III, IV and V will no
longer appear on lifejacket labels and in literature. Once the
new standard wording or icons for lifejackets are finalized,
instructors and clubs will then need to share this updated information with the public.
[Reprinted from the ACA—American Canoeing Association—web pages.]
The Squadron provided flowers at Sally's
memorial service and at her home. A number
of members who know Sally attended the
service and the celebration of her life at an
open house later. Rick responded to members of the Squadron:
Thanks to the Squadron for the flowers, and
thanks so much for stopping by the service
and our open house. Great to see everyone.
Rick
January 2015
Boulder Beacon
Page 6
Notice of Annual Membership Meeting
The Annual Meeting of the Boulder Valley Sail and Power Squadron will be held on Thursday evening, 22Jan15, beginning at 1900 (7:00 pm), in the Frasier Parlor, SW corner, downstairs, at the Mountain View United Methodist Church.
The address of the church is 355 Ponca Place, Boulder, Colorado 80303. See map.
The business of the meeting is to elect officers for the year 2015, who will be installed at the Change of Watch on
26Feb15.
Report of the Nominating
Committee
The nominating committee presents the following
candidates for the offices shown. The election will
be held at the Annual Meeting of BVSPS, 22Jan15,
1900, at the Mountain View United Methodist
Church.
Bridge Officers:
Commander, open
Executive officer, Ron Schwiesow
Administrative officer, Peter Bolhius
Squadron Education Officer, John Venema
Asst. Squadron Education Officer, David Hughes
Secretary, Dave Davies
Treasurer, open
Members at large: (vote for 3)
John Harris, Lucinda Bown, Mike Johnston
Elected Committee Chairs: (vote for 1 each office)
Auditing Committee Chairs, John Harris and Dave
Davies
Nominating Committee Chair, open
Appointed Members: (Thank You All)
Beacon Editor, Bill Buffum
Beacon Co-Editor, Tom McEwen
Web Master, Brian Jones
Membership, Norm Brown
Hospitality Coordinator, Diane Forsberg
Vessel Safety Check Chair, open
Information contact, Rick Gulick
Historian, Jo Davies
… From the Beacon Editor
Starting this month, I have consented to serve as the
Beacon Editor. I am aware of the serious energy and
great talent that Jo Davies has given to the newsletter.
My acceptance was contingent upon her continuing to
support me and the newsletter, which she has graciousWe encourage you to consider being nominated especially for ly consented to do. I also wish to thank Tom McEwen,
the positions marked open. For more details on the activities who has been the guest editor and back up to Jo. Since
he will continue in this role, I will have a great team.
of the Bridge and Executive Committee, see the BVSPS bylaws on the web at http://bvsps.org/; click on roster on the
Please thank these dedicated people.
menu at the left side, sign in by clicking your name in the pulldown list, and enter your membership number. Then, click on Bill Buffum [[email protected]]
“View our Bylaws” and look at article 6 on p. 5. If you’re interested, or have questions, contact: Cdr Ron Schwiesow, JN,
chair, Nominating Committee.
January 2015
Boulder Beacon
Page 7
Current 2014 Officers and Contacts
Squadron website: http://www.bvsps.org
District 30 website: http://usps.org/localusps/d30/
USPS national website: http://www.usps.org
Need more information about Boulder Valley Sail and Power Squadron?
Contact Rick Gulick at 720-366-3600 or email us at [email protected]
Commander Ron Schwiesow, JN
[email protected] 303-447-9880
Executive Officer—Position Open
Education Officer David Hughes, AP
[email protected] 303-772-4812
Assistant Education Officer John Venema
[email protected] 303-238-0107
Administrative Officer Peter Bolhuis, S
[email protected] 303-443-5898
Treasurer AD Chesley, S
[email protected] 303-938-8150
Secretary David Davies, P
[email protected] 303-938-0522
Membership Chair Norm Brown, AP
[email protected] 303-830-0331
January 2015
Nominating Chair—Position open
Auditing Chair—Position Open
Member at Large Mike Johnston, AP
[email protected] 303-530-5301
Member at Large John Harris
[email protected] 303-378-8068
Member at Large Lucinda Bown
[email protected]. 303-408-8194
Beacon Editor Bill Buffum
[email protected] 409-392-0367
Webmaster Brian Jones, AP
[email protected]
Information Technology—Position Open
Hospitality Coordinator Diane Forsberg
[email protected] 303-776-7578
Boulder Beacon
Page 8
January 2015
Boulder Beacon
Page 9