Commanders Report – April 2003
In the rush to gather material for the last issue of “The Bell”, I neglected
to include the name of another important new member. She is
Elizabeth Frohrip of Milford.
Welcome Aboard Elizabeth. I’m certain you’ll enjoy the various programs
and social functions we have to offer you and to all our new members.
I believe the most important event to start off the summer season is the Vessel Safety Check program we are offering at Spencers Boatyard on the 17th of May. This will get us started on the right
course of safety for the upcoming season. Dick Boardman and his team of inspectors
will be inspecting boats at the gas dock at Spencers starting at 10:00 AM. If your boat is properly equipped and
ready to go why not stop by and get your VSC sticker. It may help to avoid some embarrassing stops by the DEP inspectors
during the summer and will also assure you that you are safe for that cruise this summer. No reservations are necessary
and the inspections are open to the public. Any further questions call Dick Boardman on 874-4905 or Bob Post on
878-0107.
We are not intending to present any more educational courses for the summer but will start in September
with the Seamanship and Piloting course as well as Weather. If you have any interest in taking a course you may
call me to get any information regarding schedules or course content.
VESSEL SAFETY CHECK (VSC)
VESSEL SAFETY CHECK (VSC) May
17, 2003, from 9:00 A. M. to 1:00 P.M.
"One of the first steps a mariner can take is to request a Vessel Safety Check. What is a Vessel Safety Check?
A Vessel Safety Check is a courtesy (vessel) to verify the presence and condition of certain safety equipment required
by State and Federal regulations. The vessel examiner a member of either the United States Power Squadrons or the
US Coast Guard Auxiliary, is a trained specialist. They will provide recommendations and discuss safety issues
that make mariners safer boaters. This is not a boarding or a law enforcement intervention. No citations will be
given as a result of this encounter. The vessel examiner will supply mariners with a copy of their evaluations
so that they may follow some of the suggestions given. Vessels that pass will be able to display a distinctive
VSC decal that will provide evidence of compliance when approached in the future by Coast Guard vessels, from April
2003 issue Wind Check by Captain Joseph J. Coccia, U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Long Island Sound.
The Milford Power Squadron performed 79 vessel safety checks during the course of last years Connecticut's boating
seas three qualified examiners plus two new students who will kick off Safe Boating Week (May 17-23, 2003) on Saturday,
May 17, 9:00 AM. until 1:00 PM doing Vessel Safety Checks at Spencer's Marina in Milford. Spencer's has agreed
to let us do transient Wepawaug River boaters at empty slips that will have signs indicating availability for the
examination. PLEASE NOTE SPENCER'S HAS REQUESTED YOU DO NOT USE THE GAS DOCK.
See you on the water May 17.
Dick Boardman Safety & Chairman VSC
An Introduction to Chart Smart
To be a competent boater, know where you are
at all times. On clear days, in sight of land, regularly look around at familiar landmarks and mentally note your
position. Keep in mind that the whole picture can change in minutes if fog sets in or heavy rain falls, reducing
your visibility to as little as a few yards.
This course is an introduction to piloting,
which is the use of basic navigational techniques for planning a cruise, plotting a course, determining your position,
estimating how long it will take to get someplace, or determining when you expect to arrive at your destination.
There are six topical sections in this course:
1.
The Mariners Compass
2.
Charts (With emphasis on Charts)
3.
Aids to Navigation
4.
Plotting a Course
5.
Distance, Speed and Time
6.
Determining a Position
An Item About SEASICKNESS Worth Noting
Few maladies are a pervasive a seasickness. Treatments still span the spectrum
from witchcraft and acupressure to transdermal drug delivery systems and electric nerve stimulation. Nothing seems
to work consistently on a majority of patients or even on a single patient at different times. The only effective
treatment is what works for you today.
You’re probably familiar with the usual medications: ginger, scopolamine patches, meclizine and benedryl. There is also the combination of promethazine and ephedrine,
known as the NASA cocktail. Outside of the United States you can buy Stugeron which is another antihistamine used for nausea.
The latest promising treatment is a transdermal electric nerve stimulator marketed under the
name ReliefBand.
It applies a low-level pulse of current to the nerves passing thru the wrist. It is the only Food and Drug Administration-approved
device for the prevention and treatment of nausea, and it seems to work. Several of our Offshore Emergency Medicine
seminar graduates report excellent results using them. It is available over the counter or by prescription. The
principal difference between the two is that your medical insurance is more likely to reimburse you for the prescribed
device. For more information, see www.woodsidebiomedical.com.
The other new development is the re-release of Transderm Scop following a change in the formulation
of the delivery system. This is the ubiquitous patch worn behind the ear from which the skin gradually absorbs
the drug scopolamine. Transdermal delivery of drugs is becoming quite common. If you’re also trying to quit smoking,
prevent pregnancy and control you angina, you can go to sea looking like an old inflatable dinghy. A funny thought,
but it’s a reminder that these patches all contain real drugs, and you should check for drug interactions before
combining them.
If you already have the cure for seasickness that works, good for you! If not, or if you’re
periodically signing on new crew, it’s best to have several different treatment options available. Consider the
ReliefBand, Transderm Scop patches, an over-the counter motion-sickness medication. like meclizine (Bonine), and
ginger capsules. One of these is likely to help.
Re-print from March/April 2003 “Ocean Navigator”
Education Report-April 2003
We just want to report on a few loose ends to bring you up to date on the
education course status.
6 Lesson Boating Course
The course at Foran High School was completed and the exams taken. Eight students passed. Thanks
to Bob Post for his great instruction.
The follow on 6 Lesson Boating Course is still scheduled for the Milford Yacht Club on April
17th with Tony Barbieri as instructor.
Boat Smart
This course was completed on March 15th.
It was presented at the Milford Public Library by Bill Carotenuto. A total of 9 students passed the exams.
Seamanship
This course was completed on Tuesday April 1st with 5 exams being given. Hank Chmielewski gave a great class. These students will now go on to Piloting
which will be presented next Fall.
Advanced Piloting
This class is ongoing with 5 students. Bob Reeves is giving the course at the Egan center which
will continue for several more weeks.
We are preparing to offer more elective courses this coming Fall. We are making plans to present
Weather, Engine Maintenance, and Marine
Electronics. I will give you the status on the progress we are making on these
courses in later issues.
Please keep in mind that National
Safe Boating Week is 17 to 23 of May. Why not plan to have your boat inspected
and receive your certificate of acceptance for your vessel. It may halp you out on the water this coming boating
season. Our teams of inspectors will be at Spencers Marina on the 17th of May and ready for any inspections. Drive up and get a check!
We have a new course to offer the public—it’s Chart Smart. All you wanted to know about charts: how to
buy them, how to read them, how to plot on them etc. Course is 4 hours and we are considering adding it on to the
Boat Smart course for
those interested.
Hope to see you all at the Change of Watch Dinner. Why not come on down and say hello to your
new (old) Bridge of Officers. Marleys, 6:30PM
on 23rd of April
Happy Sailing
Bob Reeves, SEO
