Commanders Report – January 2004
Happy New Year Everyone- guess all the celebrating is over but just wanted to wish you the best for the coming
year. Boatwise, I hope Santa granted all your wishes. I'm certain by this time you all are anxious to get out on
the water to try out those new toys but first, make sure you have ample education.
Try to make the next social at the Olive Garden on Feb 19th at 6:30. Our dinner meetings are a success and you
can meet and talk to quite a few interesting boaters at this time. If you have any particular interesting sea story
you would like to present to us all, this is the time to be heard. Give Hank Chmielewski a call and he will arrange
for you to address us or, if you prefer, talk casually around the table.
I'd like to welcome some important new members to our squadron. By name these are:
James F. Delaney E 208424
Patrick D.Thibadeau E 207998
Gregory Passik, FO 49388
Cary S. Passil, E 208689
Vincent A. Calarco, E 208786
Linda F. Calarco, E 208787
Welcome to you all-If you join us at the next social at the Olive Garden Restaurant on Feb.19th we will present
you with your membership certificates, your membership pin and a free dinner. As new members we would like to get
to know you and have you participate in all our activities and educational courses. Congratulation on your new
membership and good luck in your education endeavours.
Right now I'll take leave and try to keep warm. As I write its 10 deg. F outside in the afternoon. Guess a good
Antarctic story will go just right and it won't feel so bad outside. Happy sailing.
Bob Reeves,Cdr.
Administration Officer's
Report - January 2004
If the amount and quality of food provided by Jacob Marley's were success-indicators, then our annual holiday get-together
was a resounding success. Everyone who attended raved over the buffet-style dinner of Chicken Trafolatti and Prime
Rib along with red roasted potatoes and assorted vegetable and pasta salads.
The staff also always extends a very hospitable hand to our organization.
The attendance was on the light side but we realize how difficult it is for people to commit to the many social
activities that are offered this time of year. However, for those members who have not yet attended any of our
squadron functions, I suggest that you give yourself an opportunity to see what we can offer. After all, I think
that your USPS membership should mean more than a discount on you boat insurance.
Keep an eye out for our next planned get-togethers. We plan to have another "dinner-meeting" on February
19, 2004 at the Olive Garden and our Change-of-Watch dinner is planned for April 15, 2004 at Jacob Marley's. I
hope to see more of you at one or both of these events. The food is always excellent and the prices are reasonable.
Keep in mind that our bridge meetings, usually scheduled for the first Thursday of the month, are also open to
all squadron members. Since the fire in the Margaret Egan Center, we've been meeting at the Parson's Complex (the
old Milford HS). The meeting rooms always change so, if you plan to attend, I would suggest that you give one of
the bridge members a call to verify the time and place.
I continue to hope to see you all at one of our meetings or get-togethers.
Hank Chmielewski, AP
Merit Marks Awarded For the Year
2003
The "Merit Mark" is the way that both USPS and Milford Power Squadron offer a thank you to those members
who have contributed to the squadron on a yearly basis. On recommendation from the squadron Commander, the squadron
awards a merit mark certificate to those members who make a substantial contribution in furthering the interests
of the squadron. Their names are submitted to the Commander on a yearly basis and are reported formally to the
National Commander.
Life Membership is awarded with honor and gratitude to any member who earns 25 merit marks after contributing 25
years of service to the USPS. All life members are exempt from paying all dues.
Gennaro Barbieri, JN, 23 merit marks
Richard Boardman.S, 3 merit marks
George Buffinton, P. 1 merit mark
William Carotenuto, AP, 29 merit marks-Senior Member
Henry Chmielewski, AP, 13 merit marks
Gabe Cordova, S
Ryan Glad,P
Donald Jacobsen, AP, 2 merit marks
Roger Johns,S, 3 merit marks
Al Mongillo, AP, 12 merit marks
Robert Post,P, 2 merit marks
George Sender, AP, 8 merit marks
To the above members, I wish to thank you for all the support you have given the Milford Power and Sail Squadron
in the past year. Without your help we wouldn't have accomplished those goals of Boating Safety that we did. We
received awards for our efforts from the District and have accomplished much for a squadron our size. Keep up the
good work. You are very important to the squadron. Thank You.
Bob Reeves, Cdr.
Selection:
Based on the size and type of your boat and the condition of the bottom.
Three Families of Anchors:
The Lunch Hook- a light anchor used for short daytime stops
The Working Anchor-Used for standard overnight anchoring
The Storm Anchor- Used for heavy weather-usually a heavy anchor
Types of Anchors:
Kedge and Fisherman-Used for hooking onto rock or thick grass/weeds and must rehook if the boat swings
CQR/Danforth/Fortress/Bruce and Delta- These dig deep into soft bottoms and are designed to hold if the boat changes
position The Danforth and the Fortress are considered "Lightweight" anchors but they all are considered
"Burying" anchors.
Bottom Condition:
Sand-Fine sand is easy for anchors to penetrate and gives high holding power. The best anchors to use in sand are
the Danforth and the fortress.
Mud-Requires and anchor with a broad shank-fluke angle and greater fluke area. This will allow the anchor to penetrate
deeply to where the anchor has greater sheer strength. The Fortress is recommended for mud since it has superior
holding power since they can be converted to a broad fluke angle.
Rock and Coral- Try to change the anchoring area if you can't the Bruce, CQR, Delta and the Yachtsman will work
the best.
Shale, Clay and Grass-The weight of the anchor is the important factor due to its superior penetration and holding
power. The CQR, Delta and the Yachtsman are considered the best in this condition.
Pro's & Con's of Anchor Types
Danforth Traditional
Pro's: Adequate holding power in sand and mud. Precisely made for roll stability
and dependability.
Con's: More expensive than cheaper, poorly made anchors. Limited or no holding in
thick grass and rocky or clay bottoms.
Danforth High-Tensile
Pro's: Excellent holding power and resistance to damage. Constructed from heat-treated,
high tensile steel. Light weight, buries deeply and has tremendous strength. Precision control of the fluke-shank
angle and symmetrical T-shaped flukes.
Con's: More expensive due to design and materials. Limited holding power in thick
grass and rocky or clay bottoms.
Fortress
Pro's: Excellent holding power in both sand and mud. Constructed from lightweight
aluminum. Can be set for sand bottoms with a 32 degree fluke angle or mud with a 45 deree angle. Can be disassembled
for storage.
Con's: Light weight may make sets difficult in a current and when underway. Limited
or no holding in thick grass and rocky or clay bottoms.
CQR ( Plow Type)
Pro's: Good multi-bottom anchor. Penetrates weeds and grass, hooks coral, and penetrates
sand and mud. Very strong construction. Great reputation among cruising sailors.
Con's: Expensive- Requires larger sizes for a given boat size. Hard to stow except
on a roller. Limited holding power in mud.
Bruce Anchor
Pro's: Quickly and reliably sets in most seabeds. High strength one-piece design.
Veers without breaking out, due to roll stabilized design.
Con's: Difficult to stow unless in rollers or chocks. Limited holding power in mud
and soft sand.
Delta Anchor
Pro's: Strong one piece construction. Narrow cross-section shank for deep penetration.
Self-launching design makes it ideal for windlasses.
Con's: Expensive materials and construction result in moderately high price.
Education Report - January 2004
We have an interesting program set up for the winter-spring courses. Turn
to the Education Calendar and try to get in a course of your choice. I have found that in advertising our courses
we are on the bottom of the newspaper editors list come November and December. Seems that the holiday season takes
priority and our boat course ads d on't quite make the papers. This is what happened for the first course at the
Sound School. The Adult Ed circular was delayed and the newspapers were too busy with holiday ads. So only a token
of ads went out to the public. As a net result- we wound up canceling the course since only 3 people signed up.
However, we'll keep trying since we have more courses scheduled.
Our Engine Maintenance course is being held at the Fowler Memorial Building in Milford Center (next to the Public
Library). We currently have 8 students planning to attend on Jan 15th at 7:00PM. This course has been revised to
be presented in two modules-one basic maintenance and then the 2nd module, advanced maintenamce. An exam is scheduled
after each module. The cost for the total course is $45. The instructor is George Buffinton. Anyone interested
in jumping in call me on 876-8261,
Our next Course will be Chart Smart which is being given at the Sound School on Feb 5th at 7:00PM (See the attached
Flyer) If you want to improve your understanding of the charted waters and reading charts this is the course to
attend. To register call the Sound School at 203-946-6873
Bob Post will be instructing our 6 lesson Boating Course at Foran High School in Milford starting on February 11th.from
7:00PM to 9:00PM. To register call Milford Adult Education on 203-783-3561.
We have also added a Boat Smart Course at the Milford Library on March 6th and 13th. For 4 hours each on Saturday
from 10:30AM to 2:30 PM. This will be instructed by Tony Barbieri.
Please sign up for a course that you require to progress in your Boating Education. I can guarantee you'll use
the information in your summer sailing this year.
For the present, keep warm and keep dry.
Bob Reeves, SEO
Education
Calendar - January thru April 2004
January 8th-- Start Boat Smart & PWC Course at Sound School -4 Thursdays from 7:00PM to 9:00PM. (Jan 8, 15,
22, 29)
January 15th-- Start Engine Maintenance Course at Fowler Building -1st Module 6 weeks, from 7:00PM to 9:00PM
February 5th-- Start Chart Smart Course at Sound School-4 Thursdays from 7:00PM to 9:00PM (Feb 5, 12, 26, Mar 4)
February 11th - Start 6 lesson Boating Course at Jonathan Law High School
7 Wednesdays from 7:00PM to 9:00PM.
March 4th - Start Boat Smart & PWC Course at Sound School -4 Thursdays from 7:00PM to 9:00PM (Mar 4, 11, 18,
25)
March 6th and 13th - Start Boat Smart and PWC Course at Milford Public Library
Two Saturdays from 10:30 to 2:30 PM each Saturday.
April 1st -Start Chart Smart Course at Sound School, 4 Thursdays from 7:00 to 9:00PM (Apr. 1, 8, 15, 22)
CHART SMART COURSE
A short lesson for the Public Boater in Charts, the Compass and in Plotting Courses
Course: Three Lessons, 2 hours each, plus a short exam
Classes Feb 5th ,12th ,26th and March 4th from 7-9 PM
Place: Sound School, 60 So. Water St, New Haven-(City Point)
Course Content:
The Compass-reading and correcting
Reading Charts
Aids to Navigation
How to Plot a Course
Distance, Speed and Time Measurement
Determining Your Position
Cost:
The Course costs $40 for each student. Included in this price is a text, a plotter, and a pair of dividers.
A Certificate of Course Completion from the US Power Squadron will be given to each student who passes a short
exam with a grade of 80% or above.
To Register Please Call the Sound School at (203) 946-6873
