We can all cite innumerable examples of radio abuse by people keying their mic without first learning VHFbasics. Plus the potential life-saving capabilities of VHF Digital Selective Calling (DSC), not to mention its convenience, seem to remain a mystery to many. Today's issue of Sail Magazine's electronic publication addresses both of those subjects. The article is short and well worth a read by both captain and crew.
GLCC News
Coincident with Earth Day BoatUS made its Clean Boating course available free. For more information and links to register click HERE.
We are saddened to report the loss of Port Captain (Ret) David A. Jeffries. David was a long term member of the GLCC serving as Port Captain of Rocky River from 2005-2012. He was an avid single-handed trailer sailor, taking his Catalina 22, WYNDANCER to many GLCC events. He was found frequently in the North Channel during the summer. He was the proud recipient of the Commodore's Award at the 2014 Leamington Rendezvous. As he said, he sailed up I75 at 70 MPH bringing his boat from Florida for the distinct purpose of attending the Rendezvous. Later he attended the Wilderness Rally at Turnbull Island and the Georgian Bay Rally at Keyhole. He died on April 9 in Florida spending his last hours comfortably with his son. There are no immediate services planned but a memorial service is expected to be held this summer on Lake Erie.
The Lake Michigan Carferry, SS Badger, will install a new conveyor system this spring to transport ash from the boiler to retension units on the cardeck of the ferry. This will put the Badger in compliance with the EPA mandate to stop discharging coal ash into the lake before sailing season this year. The Badger is the last coal-fired steamship operating in the U.S. See article here.
The famous freighter Arthur M. Anderson finally made it into port for winter lay-up on March 4. It's month-long futile slog from Indiana to Ohio to pick up cargo ended with it returning to Sturgeon Bay, WS with empty holds. It looks like this winter's ice build up on the Great Lakes will be a repeat of last year's deep freeze when the shipping slowdown cost 4000 jobs and $705 million in economic losses. See full article here.
A link has been added to the Weather, Navigation & Marine section of Links to view maps of the ice buildup on the Great Lakes.
NOAA and the British Geological Survey recently completed the most current update of their World Magnetic Model (WMM). For information on this model and what it means to you, click HERE.
Philip and Ann May's boat ZEPHYR, a Tartan 37, is featured as the boat review in the November issue of Soundings Magazine. Click here to read the article. Philip is editor of the GLCC quarterly magazine Lifeline and chairman of the club's publicity committee.
This not-to-be missed 40-minute video imagines what could be learned about each Great Lake and the overall Great Lakes system if the lakes could be drained to reveal the secrets of their bottoms in detail. The result is amazing and incredibly insightful. Click here for more information and to view.
Help get the word out about GLCC and GLCCSchool with a new mini-webinar recording created to serve as a "ready-made" program for presentation at local Yacht Club, Power Squadron or similar meetings. For more information about how you can provide this program to your local boating organization, click HERE.
The club's new Facebook presence is now up and running! To take a look click here or go to Facebook and search for Great Lakes Cruising Club. While the glcclub.com web site will remain the club's primary source for member services such as harbor reports, member benefit info, event registration and more, our new Facebook page offers a complimentary environment for existing and potential club members to share and interact around common cruising interests. Don't delay! Check it out today, add your "LIKE", invite your boating friends, and join in the community conversation!