Canadian Yachting December 2015 - (Page 20)

SEAMANSHIP Knowledge is Power By Andy Adams We've all heard this before but it's especially true when it comes to boating- knowledge is power. It is the power to confidently take your boat out with a load of passengers, go on longer trips, into unfamiliar waters, or even to navigate on your own to distant ports - that is the power of knowledge. The Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons, (CPS-ECP) offers a wide range of courses from introductory level to advanced and everything in between. Always focused on boating safety, the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons, (CPS-ECP) have been empowering recreational boaters with knowledge for more than 75 years in Canada. Most of their courses are offered through the off-season when Power Squadron members themselves are unable to be out on their own boats. CPS-ECP members volunteer their own time to teach Power Squadron courses so off-season is best. Many courses begin early in the new year. You are just at the right time of year to sign up for a CPS-ECP course and anyone is welcome. You don't have to be a CPS-ECP member. There are two basic types of courses offered by the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons; Required Certification courses as established by Transport Canada and Industry Canada and then Elective Courses for those wishing to increase their skills and knowledge. REQUIRED CERTIFICATION COURSES Boating 1: Boating Basics (Pleasure Craft Operator Card - PCOC) All operators of motorised pleasure craft are required to show proof of operator competency. Everything you need to know for the Transport Canada test is presented in an easy-to-read format that is both informative and entertaining. You can be confident that the Power Squadrons' study guide meets all the standards 20 C a n a d i a n Ya c h t i n g established by Transport Canada's Office of Boating Safety. As an extra benefit, when you pass the test offered by CPSECP, your PCOC is recognised by both Transport Canada and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators in the United States. Contact CPS-ECP to locate a testing facility in your area. The Boating Basics courses are available in English, French and Cantonese (in select locations) and also online in English and French. PCOC for Youth (The Operator Card Seminar, ages 8 - 12) Anyone in a boat should know how to take the wheel. The approved Boating Basics Handbook and the Student Workbook prepare youth aged 8 to 12 for the Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) exam. The Student Workbook is full of activities to assist children in learning the material found in the Boating Basics Handbook. Maritime Radio (Restricted Operator's Certificate [Maritime]) Radio didn't die with the creation of the cellphone! Maritime radio (VHF) is a great way to connect to information and assistance from your location on the water. 911 doesn't work the same way on the water and who in your contact list would really be able to help you anyway? Should you have an on-the-water emergency, a MAYDAY call on the radio can connect you immediately to local assistance and may even give you a chance to be a hero. If you have a maritime radio on your boat, anyone on board using it must have a Restricted Operator's Certificate [Maritime], (ROC[M]) so this course can be a family affair! In DECEMBER 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Yachting December 2015

Vantage Point: The Wave of New Boaters is Starting!
Waterfront: What’s your Watermark? Seafaring Santa holiday gift ideas.
Club Profile: Stony Lake Yacht Club
CPS: Seamanship Courses
Feature: Binoculars - Everything you could possibly want to know about understanding, using and buying binoculars for marine use. By Rob Macleod
Electronics Feature: Pinging the Unknown - A look at technologies that support modern marine radar. By David Schmidt
Destination: La Marina, Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic - Luxuriate in this profile of the Casa de Campo, a 7,000-acre resort located in La Romana on the southeast coast of the island and boasting a port, a heliport and an airstrip and home of one of the best billfishing spots in the world. By Elizabeth Kerr
Destination: St John River - Offering cruising areas that are as inviting as any protected inland lake or river, the 75 miles between Saint John and Fredericton make for any easy weekend cruise but there are also many side trips which can occupy you for as much time as you have available. By Glen Cairns
Galley Guys: Krates
Power Review: Neptunus 62
Crossing the Line: The 6th Great Lake

Canadian Yachting December 2015