Magazine of the United States Power Squadrons ® EEEnnnsssiiigggnnn the ® Fall 2015 BOATING EDUCATION, FUN AND SAFETY theensign.org Living the Dream PLUS Winterizing your trailer NSBW roundup Motion sickness remedies 01C1_COVER_Ensign_FALL2015_0826.indd 1 9/10/2015 9:46:39 AM Ship’s Store Upgrade your look for fall. Luxury and Dress to impress comfort This ladies’ long-sleeved Oxford blends the fl awless appearance of 100-percent With a luxurious non-iron cotton with the polish of pinpoint look and feel, this fabric. It features an open collar, front and men’s blue pullover back darts, and slim plackets. pairs eff ortlessly with (S–XXXL) $75–$79 casual and business attire alike. Its rich texture, fl at back rib stitching and impeccable details make it perfect to wear anywhere. (S–XXXL) $63–$67 Attract attention This 5¾-inch diameter automobile magnet features the USPS ship’s wheel logo. You should remove it weekly for surface cleaning. $5 Stay afl oat Good for storing your cash or boating license, this yellow, waterproof fl oating key chain can be taken with you on the water—or anywhere. $2.75 Carry on Best-case performance. With a zippered inside pocket, metal-reinforced handle and shoulder strap, this expandable, canvas- bottom attaché case fi ts most notebook computers and legal-size portfolios. $36 T Too oorrddeerr,, ccaallll 888888--336677--88777777 eexxtt.. 00 oorr vviissiitt wwwwww..sshhooppuussppss..oorrgg for more great deals. 02_ShipsStore_Ensign_FALL2015_0824.indd 2 9/3/2015 11:06:57 AM contents EEnnssiiggnn tthhee Vol. 103 No. 4 Fall 2015 Bridge 4 V/C Bob Brandenstein, SN Soundings 5 Currents 6 Boating Gone Bad 10 Shipshape 11 Trailer care, hull barrier coating & more Destinations 21 Bay of Fundy Stargazer 22 Ship’s Library 25 Provisions 26 Scorecard 27 14 A versatile bilge pump NSBW 2015 28 National Meetings 36 Becoming Sustainable 14 Last Horizon 38 The conclusion to a two-part story that details one New York squadron’s efforts Classifieds 40 toward organizational stability. In this second part, squadron members explain Bitter End 41 their experiment in turning a Junior Sailing Esopus Meadows Lighthouse, Transom tales & more program into an apprenticeship for young boaters. Stem to Stern 43 A Dream Come True 18 18 On a 7-day trip, one couple sets out to fulfill a longstanding g oal: bareboating in the Cover photo: Shutterstock British Virgin Islands. THE ENSIGN (ISSN 0744-3129) (ISSN 1949- 2294 online) is published four times per year by United States Power Squadrons, a nonprofit corporation located at 1504 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC 27607-3906. Periodicals postage paid at Raleigh, N.C., and additional mail- The Ensign magazine is printed using soy-based inks on ing offices. Subscriptions are $15 annually. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE paper certified by the Rainforest Alliance to comply with ENSIGN, P.O. Box 31664, Raleigh, NC 27622- Forest Stewardship Council® standards. 1664. Copyright © 2015 United States Power Squadrons Fall 2015 The Ensign 3 03_TOC_Ensign_Fall2015.indd 3 9/10/2015 9:53:17 AM EEnnssiiggnn I Bridge I tthhee Change never stops Publications Director Yvonne Hill Managing Editor USPS is a different organization today than Amy Townsend it was a year ago, and it will be a different Assistant Editor organization a year from now. The wants Tina Tibbitts and needs of recreational boaters change constantly, Design and so must we. Weather radar on smartphones Studio630.net and GoToMeeting video conferencing are just two examples of commonplace aids we didn’t have a few Creative Director Simone Tieber years ago. During the past three-plus years, we have expanded Regular Contributors our participation in the Brunswick Dealer Advantage C. Henry Depew, Bridget Doerner, program to teach America’s Boating Course and George Doerner, Don Dunlap, seminars to more students. In its fifth year, the Charlie Feldschau, Craig Grosby, V/C Bob Brandenstein, SN program has more than 130 participating squadrons Tom Hudson, Ed Jones, Larry National Educational successfully working with local dealers. MacDonald, Arnold Medalen, Officer Today we advertise USPS educational products Dave Osmolski, Larry Stout, in print publications such as Boating Magazine and Burrage Warner, Bob Zimmerman Yachting Magazine, in cruising guides such as Quimby’s, in online sites such as Email [email protected] Soundings, and through links on the Discover Boating website. Phone 888-367-8777 We have developed an award-winning recreational boating simulator. The USPS Boating Skills Virtual Trainer gives students a realistic experience in docking, Advertising Sales undocking and maneuvering a boat. We have 13 virtual trainers deployed across Yvonne Hill the country with more on the way. Virtual trainers command boaters’ attention 888-367-8777 x226 at boat shows and similar events. Adding the trainer to Seamanship, Piloting, [email protected] Advanced Piloting and Practical On-the-Water Training classes will make the classes more attractive. Our relationship with the National Marine Manufacturers Association’s Discover Boating arm gives USPS greater visibility at national boat shows. Our booths at Tall Ships America ports from Seattle and Los Angeles to Maine and the Great Lakes introduce hundreds of thousands of attendees to USPS and its mission. USPS now has five interactive online seminars available on the BoatUS USPS HEADQUARTERS Foundation course platform with five more scheduled for release during the next year. Seventy to eighty percent of these online students are non-members. Having 888-367-8777 demonstrated interest by buying our products, these seminar students are good Dial “0” for customer service. prospects for membership. USPS automatically sends their contact information to [email protected] up to four squadrons near the student. Fax 888-304-0813 USPS is on the verge of offering e-books as an alternative to printed texts. Many M–F 0800–1630 ET issues and details have to be worked out, but we expect to offer two titles in both e-book and print format by year’s end. United States Power Squadrons Virtually all the work of implementing these changes has been performed by P.O. Box 30423 Raleigh, NC 27622 volunteer members like you. We owe a huge thank-you to members who have volunteered their time and personal resources to make these changes happen. Submissions may be sent to The Ensign, Organizational challenges could alter the look and feel of our organization, and P.O. Box 31664, Raleigh, NC 27622-1664 or [email protected]. The editor reserves we will face other changes we cannot yet imagine. Indeed, we will never arrive; we the right to edit and modify materials in a will continue to change. style that best serves the needs of The En- Thank you for granting me the privilege of serving as your national educational sign. Articles, opinions and advertisements do not reflect USPS policy or endorsement officer. B unless so designated. Projects described in The Ensign may be based on copyrighted or patented plans or descriptions that require permission for use or reproduction. 4 The Ensign Fall 2015 04_Bridge_Ensign_FALL2015.indd 4 9/3/2015 11:10:01 AM I Soundings I PAYING IT FORWARD I’ve been thinking about the concept of paying it forward, where you do something good for someone else in response to a good deed done for you by another person. I spent a weekend going over the various safety aspects of a sailing trip with my crew, followed by navi- gation training before taking a rath- er exciting run around the bay in 25- to 27-knot winds. I ensured that they could steer by compass, handle a crew overboard situation, and safely N reef the boat should the winds prove E L L a little on the strong side. A Y So how does paying it forward M M come into this? I was the only one JI on the boat who knew how to navi- USPS LEADERSHIP gate. What if a lightning bolt struck following the seminar and a box the boat, incapacitated me and fried CONFERENCE SET lunch during the meeting, which will the electronics? Everyone needed to FOR RALEIGH be held at the Ramada Inn. know how to take a last position and As in past Leadership Development plot a course to the nearest safe har- USPS will hold a two-day Leader- programs held in Raleigh, attendees bor without using navigational aids. ship Conference during its Board of arriving on Thursday are invited to I owe my thanks to the many in- Directors meeting in Raleigh, North join a group for dinner that evening at structors over the years who coached Carolina, on 20–21 Nov. 2015. The The Pit (thepit-raleigh.com). Attend- me up through Junior Navigation. conference consists of the Leader- ees may also optionally join a group at Because of this training, I could ship Development 101 seminar on The Angus Barn (angusbarn.com) af- pass on the knowledge of how to get Friday and an all-day meeting with ter the conference Saturday evening. a fix, read a position, draw a course the national Board of Directors on Both restaurants have been extreme- on a chart, and figure out TVMDC leadership and other USPS topics ly well-received by former attendees that would allow my crew to use an on Saturday. of these seminars and offer unique old-fashioned onboard compass and A block of rooms has been reserved dining experiences. knot log to navigate safely. for the conference at the Ramada Get more information or regis- By passing on this knowledge to Inn adjacent to USPS headquarters ter at usps.org/national/ot. This is a the next sailing generation, I hope I at 1520 Blue Ridge Road. The room wonderful opportunity for you to join have paid it forward. The knowledge rate is $74.30 per night, and the res- fellow members in Leadership Devel- may save not only their lives but oth- ervation code is GCUSPS. Make your opment and meet with the Board of er lives as well—including mine. It reservation by calling 919-832-4100. Directors at the same time. may have also inspired them to take Cost for the two-day conference Email Anita Walker at anita5040@ the full range of USPS courses and is $90. This includes the cost of the bellsouth.net or me, Harold O’Briant become capable offshore skippers in LD-101 seminar as well as lunch Jr., at [email protected] with any their own right. –Jim Tyson during the seminar, a buffet dinner questions. –Harold O’Briant The Ensign could not exist without contributions from USPS members. Please send us your articles and photos for publication by using the form on our Facebook page at facebook.com/uspsensign or our website, theensign.org/submit, where you’ll also find additional information on submissions. If you have questions, email [email protected]. Fall 2015 The Ensign 5 05_Soundings_Ensign_FALL2015.indd 5 9/3/2015 4:11:11 PM I CCuurrrreennttss I News and information from around the boating world USPS Picton Castle with schooners supports Alert and Fritha in Portland, Maine Tall Ships 2015 Challenge 20–24 Oct CPS AGM Niagara Falls, Atlantic Ontario, Canada 18–22 Nov Coast USPS Board of Directors & Leadership Academy Raleigh, N.C. This summer tall ships sailed 2016 up the East Coast for the Tall Ships Challenge 2015, making 14–21 Feb stops in Cape Charles, Virginia; Annual Meeting Philadelphia, Pennsylvania/ Rosen Centre Hotel Camden, New Jersey; Greenport, Orlando, Fla. New York; and Portland, Maine. 6–9 Mar As part of the United States IBWSS Power Squadrons–Tall Ships San Diego, Calif. America partnership, USPS received booth space at each of 21–27 May these spectacular events, some National Safe of which attracted as many as Boating Week 100,000 visitors. 2017 Our display featured the Boat- ing Skills Virtual Trainer simula- 19–26 Feb tor, which attracted crowds and Annual Meeting long lines. Many thanks to those Rosen Centre Hotel in Districts 3, 5 and 19 for the help Oliver Hazard Orlando, Fla. Perry in Portland, in coordinating our display. Maine, on its 2018 Through this collective effort, maiden voyage we introduced thousands of at- 18–25 Feb tendees to USPS’ many programs Annual Meeting and activities. Rosen Centre Hotel Next year the Tall Ships Orlando, Fla. Challenge will return to the Great Lakes. Tentative ports include Cleveland, Ohio; Bay City, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois; Green Bay, Wisconsin; Duluth, Minnesota; Toledo, Ohio; and Erie, Pennsylvania. –Don Stark 6 The Ensign Fall 2015 06-09_Currents_Ensign_Fall2015_0827.indd 6 9/3/2015 11:11:23 AM I Currents I I Currents I Partnership Vero Beach instructor reaps receives state rewards recognition Acouple of years ago Pitts- At the Vero Beach Power burgh Power Squadron/7 Squadron/8 Change of began looking for additional Watch ceremony in January places to teach America’s 2015, Past Commander Daniel Boating Course. About that Thomas received the Florida time, the squadron received Boating Educator Award for a call from Diane Schafer at 2014. Capt. Thomas Shipp of Fox Chapel Marine’s Diane Schafer and Cdr Jane Fox Chapel Marine as a result Brandenstein, SN, of Pittsburgh Power Squadron/7 Florida Fish and Wildlife Con- of Brunswick’s Dealer Advan- with Fox Chapel’s Brunswick Master Dealer Award servation Commission Division tage Program. Diane asked if and the squadron’s Brunswick Platinum Award of Law Enforcement presented our squadron wanted to teach the award at the Vero Beach classes at the dealership. We did, and our partnership began. Yacht Club. After teaching our first classes, we met with Diane and provided a list of USPS cours- Part of the NASBLA certifica- es and seminars for her to review. The Boating on Rivers, Lakes and Locks seminar tion and award program, the immediately caught her eye. Fox Chapel Marine is on the Allegheny River at Lock 2, award recognizes outstanding one pool above Pittsburgh. Boaters must navigate this lock to visit the city by boat. We boating safety instruction on the suggested teaching the seminar and then putting students on boats to cruise through water and in the classroom. the lock and back. Diane loved the idea, which proved to be a huge success. Thomas has extensive class- In 2014 we sat down with Diane to discuss the plan for the summer, which included room teaching experience for teaching America’s Boating Course, the locking and anchoring seminars, and a four- Vero Beach Power Squadron as hour Kids Boating Safety Class. For the kids’ class, the marina provided lunch and well as many hours of volunteer use of extra life jackets. Diane also invited us to set up a booth during Marina Days to experience as education direc- inform local boaters of the squadron’s activities. A squadron vessel examiner docks at tor and instructor for the Youth Fox Chapel Marine to perform vessel safety checks as needed. Diane also advertises Sailing Foundation of Indian our classes in the marina newsletter. This year, we completed the application for the River County. The squadron Brunswick Boater Education competition and won first place and a check for $1,000! supports the foundation by Just as Brunswick CEO Dusty McCoy outlined at an annual meeting several years teaching youth and adults sail- ago, this partnership has proved to be a win-win for us: The dealership provides the ing techniques in conjunction space and brings in the students, and we teach the classes. –Jane Brandenstein with the foundation’s education program. –Nigel Hargreaves USPS course leads to naval career Vincent LaRocca took a boating course from Watc- hung Sail & Power Squadron/4 when he was 12 years old and scored one of the highest grades in the class. He joined USPS as a family member and received his safety certificate when he turned 13. He became involved with the squadron and taught members of his Florida Fish and Wildlife eighth grade class about safety during National Safe Conservation Commission Boating Week. Capt. Thomas Shipp; FWC This year, Vincent graduated from the U.S. Naval Boating Safety Outreach Academy in the top 10 percent of his class. At a private Coordinator Brian Rehlwinkel; Vincent LaRocca and P/C Daniel Thomas, SN; and graduation party hosted by his parents, Adm. Dennis Cdr Ted Wallace, AP, of National Secretary V/C Peter W. Morel presented Vincent with his officer’s sword. He New Jersey’s Watchung Mitchelson, SN, after the Florida Sail & Power Squadron/4 will be stationed in Jacksonville, Florida, where he will Outstanding Boating Educator serve aboard the USS New York. —Ted Wallace Award presentation Fall 2015 The Ensign 7 06-09_Currents_Ensign_Fall2015_0827.indd 7 9/3/2015 11:11:29 AM I Currents I Meet the staff: Kathy Kesterson As Manager of Administrative Services, Kathy Kester- son writes programs and queries, and manages the interface between the headquarters IBM iSeries main- frame and the cloud-based NetSuite software. She has worked at United States Power Squadrons for the past 16 years and continues to enjoy her job. “It has been a great place to be,” she said. “I enjoy seeing my co-workers every day and still find my job interesting and, at times, challenging.” Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Kathy moved to Raleigh when she went to work for IBM at the start of her career. Kathy and her husband, David, have been married 46 years and have two children and four grandchildren who keep them busy and laughing. In her spare time, she knits, sews, gardens, and does pen and ink sketches of houses. Kathy enjoys spending as much time as possible creating memorable times with family and friends, which she says is her secret for a happy life. Kathy’s family gets together often and spends a week each summer relaxing on the North Carolina coast. At Christmas, the N O family gets together and enjoys Kathy’s rouladen, a German S R E beef dish she has perfected. ST E K For the past 30 years, Kathy has volunteered to teach the T AT 4- and 5-year-old Sunday school classes at her church. M Someday Kathy would like to see more of the United Kathy and David Kesterson with their grandchildren: States, including the western states, Alaska, and Hawaii. Martha, Helen, Delia and Levi Boating News operated their craft through a series of beginner-level maneuvers. Eight Standards project underway paddle/rowing subject matter ex- In May the New Orleans Yacht Club perts observed the crafts’ operation hosted the USCG National On-Water to determine whether the standards Standards Validation Project for being developed reflect beginner-level human-propelled recreational craft human-propelled craft operation. with support from the Louisiana Support team members included Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Commander Greg Deis and Pete Lang Law Enforcement Division, USPS, and Jr. of the New Orleans Power Squad- the New Orleans Fire Department. ron/15, among others. A team of experts participated in a The Coast Guard is developing na- two-and-a-half-day program to con- tional on-water standards and rubrics New Orleans Power Squadron/15 firm paddling and rowing skills that for sail, power and human-propelled members Cdr Greg Deis, SN, and educators can build into on-the-water recreational vessels with help from a P/Lt/C Pete Lang Jr., SN, support the USCG National On-Water boating programs across the country. core team of 44 subject matter experts Standards Validation Project at the Throughout the weekend, 12 com- from the recreational boating com- New Orleans Yacht Club. munity volunteers participated in munity. For more information, visit two-hour test sessions, where they onwaterstandards.org. 8 The Ensign Fall 2015 06-09_Currents_Ensign_Fall2015_0827.indd 8 9/4/2015 10:18:15 AM I Currents I 2014 boating deaths second inattention, improper lookout, opera- lowest on record tor inexperience, excessive speed and The U.S. Coast Guard’s 2014 Recre- alcohol use rank as the top fi ve prima- ational Boating Statistics revealed the ry contributing factors in accidents. second-lowest number of yearly boat- Where the cause of death was ing fatalities on record at 610. known, 78 percent of fatal boating The lowest number of yearly boat- accident victims drowned; of those ing fatalities was 560 in 2013. The drowning victims, 84 percent were not greatest number of boating deaths was wearing a life jacket. Where boating recorded in 1973, when there were instruction was known, 77 percent Forever stamp honors USCG’s 1,754 fatalities. of deaths occurred on vessels where 225th anniversary Injuries from 2013 to 2014 in- the operator had not received boating The U.S. Postal Service commemo- creased from 2,620 to 2,678, and the safety instructions. rated the U.S. Coast Guard’s 225 total number of accidents increased The most common types of vessels years of service by creating a Forever from 4,062 to 4,064. Even with these involved in reported accidents were stamp. The stamp shows two icons of increases, 2012 to 2014 collectively set open motorboats, personal watercraft the Coast Guard: the cutter Eagle, a record lows for accidents, deaths and and cabin motorboats. The vessel three-masted sailing ship known as injuries. types with the highest number of fa- “America’s Tall Ship,” and an MH-65 The report lists alcohol use as the talities were open motorboats, canoes Dolphin helicopter, one of the Coast leading contributing factor in fatal and kayaks. Guard’s rescue aircraft. The postal boating accidents, accounting for To read the full report, go to service will issue 15 million U.S. Coast 21 percent of the deaths. Operator bit.ly/2014CGstats. –USCG Guard Forever stamps. –USCG Peace of Mind Day or Night Member discounts The Boat Operator on cruising guides Certifi cation Program has new United States Power Squadrons members receive 20 percent off titles Managing the Waterway cruising At BoatU.S., we’ve been insuring boats and only boats for over 45 years. Our low-cost, customized policy guides, nautical books and electronic Regional Certifi er is now Regional options and expert claims service make your days on the water, and nights at the dock, the best they can be. charts. To get the discount, you must Director. Advanced Certifi er is order through managingthewa- now either Inland, Coastal, Advanced For a fast, free quote today, call 1-800-283-2883 (Priority Code 4824) terway.com, use the voucher code Coaster or Offshore Certifi er. And for or apply online at BoatUS.com/insurance “177USPS22222591” when prompted each of the levels, Master Certifi er on the order page, and hit “recalcu- becomes Certifi er Trainer. All policies subject to limits and exclusions. In the state of California, the BoatU.S. Marine Insurance Program is provided through Boat Owners Association Insurance Services, CA License #0H87086. late.” –Chris Brown The Ensign_7.5x4.75.indd 1 8/31/15 2:18 PM Fall 2015 The Ensign 9 06-09_Currents_Ensign_Fall2015_0827.indd 9 9/3/2015 3:08:51 PM I Boating Gone Bad I Rescue at the bridge Putting the USPS pledge in action By Mike Moye We had not taken our boat the binoculars and quickly spotted Fortunately, he still had some strength out much last summer, something in the water. Just like the and could help himself up. so we decided to take My books describe, the victim was hard to Already in sight of the Coast Guard Sharona to the Golden Isles Sail & spot and hard to keep in sight, and we station, we called 911. Sharon com- Power Squadron/26 get-together at weren’t even that far away. forted the young man, while I found Brunswick Landing Marina. On the When we got close enough to see out where to dock. It was a short trip return trip to Jekyll Harbor Marina, the man without binoculars, I took the to the Coast Guard dock, where 20 the unthinkable happened. helm while Sharon grabbed the life or so people awaited us. Coast Guard Imagine the splash made by some- preserver and opened up the stern ac- personnel helped secure the boat, thing falling from 185 feet above the cess door. Having taught the personal while four paramedics went to work water. We had never seen anything flotation device section of the ABC on our passenger. like it. From the helm Sharon spotted course, I knew we needed a Type IV We attribute our success to skills a stopped vehicle at the center span throwable device. The challenge was obtained from USPS courses and are of the Sidney Lanier Bridge. Realizing getting it close enough for him to grab. glad we remembered those lessons that someone had fallen or jumped off We positioned the boat beside him well enough to be able to render as- the bridge, we went into rescue mode. so we would move together with the sistance when needed. B We’re not trained first responders or current, and I maneuvered close Coast Guard rescue swimmers, but enough for Sharon to throw the life Mike Moye, JN, of Golden Isles Sail & we had decades of boating experience preserver. At this point the tide began Power Squadron/26 is a retired techni- as well as many United States Power to drop, causing a swift current under cal college president and a licensed Squadrons courses on boat handling the bridge. We needed to get close but captain. He and his wife, Sharon, live and safety at sea at our disposal. not so close that the boat and props in Moultrie, Georgia, and cruise the K C O The first thing you’re taught to could cause harm. I dropped the swim Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway aboard T S R do in a crew overboard situation is ladder and struggled to get the victim their Californian 48, My Sharona, out TE T U keep an eye on the victim. I grabbed to the ladder and onto the platform. of Jekyll Island, Georgia. H S 10 The Ensign Fall 2015 10_BoatingGoneBad_Ensign_FALL2015_0826.indd 10 9/3/2015 11:18:04 AM