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Page 1 NANOOSE RUDDER
Volume 24 Issue 9
December 2012
PAST COMMANDERS 1992-94 George Malton 1999-00 David Agar 2005-06 Maurice Hedges 1994-95 Rick Whiteley 2000-01 Ron Ens 2006-07 Ron Ens 1995-96 David Johnson 2001-02 George Vooro 2007-08 Victor Large 1996-97 Bruce Berry 2002-03 Ted Hall 2008-09 Diane Hutton 1997-98 Stan Hegstrom 2003-04 Rick Sheppard 2009-12 Mike Paterson 1998-99 Lorne Hussey 2004-05 Trish Sheppard 2009-13 Jim Dutton
Our Website: www.nanoosecps.ca e-mail for General Information: [email protected]
Page 2 Bridge officers
3 October social night
5 Peter Milne’ cruise
7 Practical cruise
NA
NO
OSE
RU
DD
ER
Ahoy, did you know that Alexander Graham Bell suggested that Ahoy be used as
the greeting when answering the telephone.
Well, the fall courses, Boating, Weather and Radio have all finished, the rain
seems to be increasing in intensity and duration and the temperature is getting
colder, this can only mean that it’s almost Christmas!
A huge thank you to all of the course instructors, coordinators, proctors and help-
ers who made the fall courses possible and a special thanks to Brian Steane and
Garry Emery for loaning their boats for the Practical Cruise. The after cruise
lunch was enjoyed by all of the participants, a special thanks goes to Chris and
Brian Steane for hosting the lunch at their house and thanks to Chris, Sandra and
Lorraine for preparing the food and drinks (the Birthday Cake for Bonnie was a
nice touch).
The social program (more details later in this newsletter) is proving to very popu-
lar again and a big thanks goes to all members of the social committee for your
stellar performance.
The Squadron has made a donation to assist with the purchase of land on Quadra
Island, this is land between the Octopus Islands Marine Park and Small Inlet Ma-
rine Park and includes the freshwater Newton Lake. If the purchase is successful
the entire area will become a larger Marine Park, you can view more information
on this project at www.quadraparks.com .
My very best wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you.
Cheers, Jim.
Commander’s Corner
Page 2 NANOOSE RUDDER
Volume 24 Issue 9
December 2012
Nanoose Squadron Bridge
officers for year 2011-2012
Commander Mike Paterson [email protected] 468-5696
Administration Officer Vacant
Environment Officer Murry Banting [email protected] 250-468-5443
Events coordinator Sandra Dutton [email protected] 250-821-3685
ACE Al Chomica [email protected] 250-821-4278
ACE Bonnie Chomica [email protected] 250-821-4278
Executive Officer Vacant
Marep Officer Vacant
Membership Officer Gordon Reid [email protected] 250-248-2982
Publications Officer Glenn Emery [email protected] 250-468-5779
Asst. Publications Officer Patrick Wallace
Public Relations Officer Vacant
Secretary Grant Natland [email protected] 250-468-5351
Supply Officer Annette Doan [email protected] 250-468-5542
Training Officer Simon Huddy [email protected] 250-244-1715
ATO Garry Emery [email protected] 250 -594-3774
ATO Jim Dutton [email protected] 250-821-3685 -250-714-5732
ATO Gary Hackney [email protected] 250-468-9265
ATO Wendy Hayes [email protected] 250-821-8569 -250-937-8569
ATO Peter Milne [email protected] 250-468-0285
ATO Bill Nadeau [email protected] 250-714-4614
ATO Richard Wilson [email protected]
Treasurer Esther Reed [email protected] 250-468-2311
Webmaster Chris Lee [email protected] 250-752-6461
Port Captain &SCYC Liaison Bruce Berry [email protected] 250-468-5249
Past Commander Mike Paterson [email protected] 250-468-5696
Page 3 NANOOSE RUDDER
Volume 24 Issue 9
December 2012
October social night guest speaker Barry
Gough gave us an historical presentation
on the first European explores to visit
and discover the area that is now Van-
couver Island. The British and the Span-
ish both charted and laid claim to lands
here. Giving us both British and Spanish
names to islands, straits and water-
ways. Barry is a renowned researcher
and author of many books on similar
topics. A very enjoyable and in formable
talk.
Bonnie Chomica is the big winner in the
50/50 draw. Congratulations Bonnie
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Volume 24 Issue 9
December 2012
Radio Course
Spring Radio course is set to start on January 17
Sign up early to insure getting a place.
Blue Herron in the mist
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Volume 24 Issue 9
December 2012
October 2012
A Visit to SGang Gwaii
This summer’s cruise took Anne and I and the Blue Heron to the Queen Charlotte Islands to explore
Gwaii Haanas National Park. One of the many highlights of the trip was a visit to SGang Gwaii, a
small island in the Pacific off the southern western shores of Moresby Island, (approximately 100 km
SE of the epicenter of the recent earthquake).
SGang Gwaii (sometimes known as Anthony Island or Ninstints) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is one of those rare monuments to past cultures not unlike Ankor Wat in the Cambodian jungle or
the Mayan cities on the Yucatan Peninsula. The people of SGang Gwaii, known as Kunghit Haida,
inhabited the island for 10,000 years or more, until the mid-1800’s when they were one of the first
communities to be decimated by smallpox. The few survivors retreated to Skidegate and Masset to the
north leaving this monument standing silent in the forest.
SGang Gwaii was the home of Ninstints the village chief, who became the Donald Trump of the Haida
people in the early 1800s, amassing tremendous wealth trading sea otter pelts with the British, Ameri-
cans, Russians and Spaniards. Ninstints also hosted large potlatches, making SGang Gwaii an im-
portant centre to the Haida people. But, its time of prominence was short lived. By the 1840s, disease
had begun to take its toll.
The first challenge was to find our way to SGang Gwaii. The night before, we anchored in Rose Har-
bour in Houston Stewart Passage, 10 miles to the east. Setting out in the morning we encountered
heavy fog, rain, large swells and a miserable 20 kt southeaster. The only anchorage on SGang Gwaii
in these conditions is a narrow, rocky inlet at the north end of the island, off Adam Rocks where the
Pacific swells explode around you. With our hearts in our mouths, we inched into the inlet and tied
up to the single mooring buoy, called ahead to the Watchmen for permission to land and headed to
shore in the dingy.
We were guided through the thick forest by Elsie, our Haida Watchman, to an opening along a pro-
tected beach accessible only by canoe. Here stood the moss covered remains of the village where 20
long houses once stood and 300 Haida lived. The village was divided between the Raven families at
the south end and the Eagle families at the north end to regulate marriage and succession rights. The
mist and drizzle that enveloped the village site haunted by raven calls, left us with an indelible
memory of how it once might have been. These were a proud people with a sophisticated culture.
Today, only a dozen or so poles and a few corner posts still stand. With the exception of one memorial
pole, all the remaining totem poles are mortuary poles. The house poles, which once stood front and
centre of the long houses and the memorial poles have all been carried off by museums and treasure
hunters
Article submitted by Peter Milne
Page 6 NANOOSE RUDDER
Volume 24 Issue 9
December 2012
November social night guest speaker was Barb
Hoffstrom, Commander of Nanaimo Power and
Sail Squadron. She gave us a very interesting
talk & slide show that she and her husband took
while into the U.S. waterway. The area known
as the Tennessee & Tenn-Tom Waterway .Barb
is a very gifted and entertaining speaker, with
stories of strange liquor laws, impromptu bar-
bq’s and alligators. A very enjoyable evening
was had by all attending.
Ron Pattullo with the winning ticket in the 50/50 draw.
Commander Jim with Commander
Barb Hoffstrom
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Volume 24 Issue 9
December 2012
Practical Cruise Saturday Nov 24 came with clear skies and little wind. Just right for a training cruise. Brian Steane and
Garry Emery offered their boats, Dave Russell and Peter Milne came as proctors. The students all did
very well performing the various tasks of navigation bringing the boats back home with no mishaps.
The crew on Garry’s boat left to right
Dave—Ron— Wendy—Bonnie—Garry
& Bernd.
The crew on Brian’s boat left to right
Gen—Margaret—Peter—Collette & Bree
Editor Glenn came as an observer
Margaret and Bree preforming
: Man overboard recovery:
Page 8 NANOOSE RUDDER
Volume 24 Issue 9
December 2012