SPORT _ of a | a w Caf a CI Ci ae in + we eat " Waves and Ww the Weather Pre-Departure Checklist for Cruising V Check focal weather and sea conditions, # Obtain the latest weather forecast for } syour area, | © If warnings are given, decide if your ; vessel can be navigate: wind speed and sea conditions broad- safely in the Ten Tips for Refueling Safely Tie up the boat securely. Stop engines and unload passengers. Do not smoke, extinguish all open flame, close all openings: port holes, hatches, etc. Fill portable tanks out of the boat. Do not operate electrical switches. Keep the nozzle in contact with the fill pipe, and avoid overfilling. Put cap back on. Operate blower for at least five minutes. Wipe up spilled fuel. Check for fuel smell. Start up engines and reload passengers. YOUR BOAT CAN ONLY CARRY SO MUCH. Safety Gear — What You Need On Board! ifejackets, paddles, bailer, fire extinguisher, flares, anchor, whistle, lights, the list seems to go on forever, and where are you going to keep all this stuff? in fact you may only need some of the equip- ment that has been listed, or perhaps more, depending on the type and size of boat you own. So where do you find out exactly what you need? The Canadian Safe Boating Council sug- gests that you call 1 (800) 267-6687 for a free copy of the Safe Boating Guide. The Safe Boating Guide is a one stop for essential boating safety infor- mation. Not only is it filled with help- ful suggestions but it begins by listing the minimum safety equipment legal- ly required for all boats. These requirements are split into categories based on length, ranging from boats less than 5.5 metres long, to boats over 20 metres in length. Exemptions for some special boats, such as sail- boards and personal watercraft are also included. All boats are required to have an appropriate lifejacket or Personal Flotation Device (PFD) for everyone on board. These must be the right size as well, an adult couldn’t claim to wear a child’s jacket. Lifejackets are the most important part of any baat’s gear as most boating fatalities occur when a small boat tips over or some- one falls overboard without a lifejack- eton. As well, every vessel is required to have some means of emptying its bilges of excess water, and all vessels require either oars, paddles or an anchor, As boats become larger, the equipment they are required to carry increases. Rescue flares, navigation lights, and “man overboard” rescue devices are added as size increases. Fire extinguishers and pumps are also added to the list. The goal of these safety require- ments is to equip each boater with the minimum emergency gear they will need. All boaters should use the Safe Boating Guide as the place to start when planning their safety equipment, though in many cases it is advisable to augment these legal requirements with additional equip- ment depending on the type of boat- ing you plan on doing. Be Boat Smart, and carry all the safety equipment you need, before you need it! FLOATING: AN ESSENTIAL PART OF BOATING oating is an essential part of life for millions of Canadians. Each year over half the popu- lation goes out in a small boat at feast once, be it for fishing, water skiing, or just a quiet afternoon cruise. And every year some of these boaters end up in the water. Unfortunately some of these peo- ple end up drowning. Even more unfortunate is the fact that most of these people own a life . jacket, but they weren’t wearing it, the majority of fatal accidents in Canada result from faiting overboard or a sud- den capsize. There was no time to put ona lifejacket or PFD! By law, every boat must carry a Department of Transport approved lifejacket or PFD for every person on board. But if your life jacket is under you picnic iunch or carefully stowed away it’s essentially useless. There are three basic types of.flota- tion aids for boaters who inadvertently find themselves in the water. The most convenient and wearable is the Personal Flotation Device or PFD. These provide enough flotation to help a conscious person swim easily. The next type is the Small Vessel Lifejacket which most people would recognize as a “keyhole” lifejacket. The Small Vessel Jacket provides more worn at all times like the PFD. The lifejacket with the most flotation and .the one which will turn an uncon- scious victim face up is the Standard Lifejacket. These are quite bulky but provide unparalleled support in the water, They are the best jacket if you are forced to leave a sinking boat. The Canadian. Safe Boating Council urges all boaters to wear their PFD's or lifejackets in small boats. PFD’‘s or lifejackets help keep boaters afloat while they atiend to the urgent task of climbing back on board. If you can’t get back on your beat, your PFD or lifejacket will help delay hypother- mia by allowing you to keep stili to flotation _but_is not designed to be conserve heat until help arrives. Take a Sail or Powerboat Course with Canada’s Largest Sailing School _ BASIC CRUZING (CYA Certification) For new sailors, this program teaches the skills to handie a 20 - 30' sailboat for a daysail. 10 ses- sion program taught over 4 weeks. Start dates: June 23, July 5, 28, August 16, September 1, 12, 29 BASIC CRUISE ‘N LEARN (CYA Certification) : Cruise the beauiiful Gulf Islands for § days while learning the Basic Cruising Course in a live- aboard format. Enquire about Fall courses in Mexico! Weekly start dates. INTERMEDIATE CRUISING (CYA Certification) , For confident Basic Sailors, this 3 day program teaches the skills required tor a liveaboard cruise and is the (CYA) certification required to charter. Start Dates: September 8, 15, 29 ADVANCED CRUISING (CYA Certification) This intense 7 day passage sails between Vancouver and the West Coast of Vancouver Island and includes night sailing, drills and navigation. Start Dates: July 9, August 20, Sep 17. OFFSHORE CRUISING (CYA Certification) Complete a challenging offshore passage in the Pacific Ocean under the guidance of a CYA Instructer. Includes use of celestial navigation. Start Date: August 27. NEW! BASIC CRUISING POWER (CYA Certification) For new boaters, this program teaches the skills to handle and navigate a twin engine power- boat, including 2 days of hands-on boat handling. Call for dates. 359 Shoulder $692 Peak $749 $389 $879 $1499 from $499 1620 Buranteau St. Granville Island Vancouver, B.C. Fax: 687-3267