Gabriola Island Power and Sail Squadron

01/27/2024

We're offering a self-study Basic Navigation & Boat Handling course. Online study (at your own pace!) with weekly Tuesday evening check-ins with a Gabriola CPS instructor via video-conferencing. Sign up at: https://www.cps-ecp.ca/ecommerce/course-calendar/?cps_show_course_details_id=303&cps_show_class_id=7362

IN-Person workshops to complement this course, on Gabriola, starting in March.

All operators of motorized pleasure craft are required to show proof of operator competency. All you need to know for th... Read moree Transport Canada test is presented in an easy to read format that is both informative and entertaining. You can be confident that this study guide meets all the stan...

10/03/2023

MARINE/nautical stuff swap meet this Saturday, October 7th, at Gabriola Community Hall (basement) 11:00 to 15:00. If you want to bring articles to sell or donate, please drop in at 10:00.
Sample wares: Charts, books, course manuals, new Fortress anchor, 250' of rope rode in bag, chafe guards for lines, Scotty equipment, chartplotter, PFD's, rain gear, 25' mooring buoy chain, etc.etc.
Sponsored by Gabriola Power & Sail Squadron in support of our Boating Education programs and Youth Boating Camp. Info: [email protected]

05/05/2023

Only a week to go!....
REMINDER

BOATING CAMP for GABRIOLA YOUTH
May 11 & 12 at Gabriola Community Hall
(8:30 am to 2:30 pm)
Ages: 9-13
No Previous Boating Experience required – No books!
Two days to learn all the skills needed to become a knowledgeable, safe Boater. Whether you go out kayaking, fishing, sailing or cruising with your family on a sail or power boat, you need these skills to guarantee a fun time, while staying safe on the water.
Participants will be separated into small groups and will learn practical skills in rotating 3/4 hour workshops (activity stations). Plans are in the works for:
• Ropework (knots and hitches)
• Rules of the “seaway”
• Navigational buoys and their meanings
• Safety Gear scavenger hunt
• Navigating with Charts and technology
• Understanding Tides & Currents
• Sailing basics
• Docking basics
• Weather watching - interpreting Clouds and Winds
AND we will have onsite, a boating SIMULATOR, to practice operation of a powerboat in coastal waters!
All skills taught by qualified, experienced Gabriola Power & Sail Squadron volunteers, many of whom have teaching and Camp leadership backgrounds.
Boating Camp is free for youth. If you can, donations of $5 per day per child are appreciated to help pay for the Hall rental.
Lunch will be supplied by the Gabriola Squadron. Some activities will be held outside, some inside, so appropriate clothing should be worn based on the day’s weather.
Parents/grandparents are invited to attend with their children – only if they learn alongside!

SOME SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE!!

Please REGISTER by contacting our Education Officer, Agathe
Gaulin: [email protected] or for more information: (250) 247 9714.

03/09/2023

A great time was had by all at our Knots & Hitches workshop last night at the Gabriola Recreation Society office/classroom.

06/11/2022

Gabriola Squadron volunteers are taking a break from instructing for the Summer. We'll be offering another set of courses and workshops in the Fall. You can always sign up to study online for the PCOC and Maritime radio - Roc-M certificates on the cps-ecp.org website. Have a great summer!

03/16/2022

We're pleased to announce a return to "in person" courses and workshops! Starting Wednesday April 6th and for nine weeks, Boating workshops for all. 7-9 pm in the Basement space of the Gabriola Community Hall.
First review sessions: VHF radio April 6th and 13th.
If you wish to write the Roc-M Exam, you must pre-register with our EDUCATION OFFICER at: [email protected]
Anyone using a VHF radio on a boat needs their Restricted Operator's Certificate - Maritime (Roc-M)
You can't rely on your cell phone to call for help from the Coast Guard and other Boaters around you! And cell coverage is notoriously sketchy in our bays, coves and inlets.
Donations to help pay the Hall rental are appreciated.

12/06/2021

GABRIOLA POWER and SAIL SQUADRON PRESENTS
A FREE SEMINAR covering basic BOATING COLLISION
REGULATIONS and the BUOYAGE system

This 2-hour interactive session will cover collision avoidance and a review of the Lateral and Cardinal Systems of Buoyage. Using instructional models, participants will learn to ascertain risk of collision, practise being the ‘stand-on’ and ‘give way’ vessels, and identify the various navigational aids (buoys, day beacons, ranges, etc.) to safely navigate through channels. Be prepared to work in small groups and bring your own scenarios to this workshop for review of proper manoeuvring techniques.

WHERE: Gabriola Community Hall, basement
WHEN: Wednesday December 15, 2021, from 10:00 am to 12 noon
WHO CAN ATTEND: Open to all (12 years old+)
Individuals who feel unwell should not attend. Anyone who has been in close contact with a person who tested Positive for Covid-19 within the last 14 days is also prohibited entry to the Community Hall.
BC Vaccine Card plus a supporting piece of government issued ID must be shown prior to entering the building.

Covid-19 protocols will be followed:
1. Physical distancing of 2 m will be maintained during the event.
2. Masks to be worn inside the Hall.
3. Participants will be required to wash or sanitize their hands prior to entering the Hall and to sign in using the contact information sheet.
4. A record of attendance and contact information will be kept by the Squadron for 30 days.

IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND, PLEASE ADVISE THE GABRIOLA POWER and SAIL SQUADRON ASAP

By e-mail (preferable) of Agathe Gaulin, the Squadron’s Educational Officer: at
[email protected]
By telephone: John Van Praet, the Squadron’s Commander: tel: 250-325-3064

10/28/2020

A thank you to our local corporate sponsors and supporters.

09/07/2020

New Course Added
Boating 2+3 - (“Beyond Boating Basics” + “Introduction to Marine Navigation”) Online Course

Course date: Starting date October 20, 2020
Course registration: Opening of registration will be announced soon.
If you are interested in this course, please contact Nigel Wells now! [email protected] or 250-325-0052
By making early contact, we can contact you as soon as registration opens, to ensure that there will be a spot for you.
Course fee: CPS Members: $261; Non-members: $290

For full course description visit www.powersquadron.gabriola.org

09/04/2020

Boating 4-Near Shore Marine Navigation Level 1- (previously named “Seamanship”)-Online Course
Course date: Starting date October 14, 2020
Course Registration is now Open

Course fee:$235 for non- members and $211.50 for members.

This will be an approximately 12 week on-line course, on Wednesday evenings. About half of the course will take place prior to the Christmas period, the second half will take place after Christmas. The course will be a blended format, which is a combination of self-study through the Moodle platform available 24/7 to the student and weekly question and answer sessions with the instructor. Students are asked to pre-read and pre-view all materials for their weekly class, and then attend the Wednesday evening sessions for Q and A. Classes start at 7 pm and will be between 60 and 90 minutes in length. For these weekly sessions we will be using a web conferencing app, GoToMeeting. Student study kits will be mailed out through Canadian Post shortly after each student registers.

Why You Should Take this Course: Do you know what to do if a boat on fire calls you for help? Can you deal with emergencies on your own boat? Build confidence on the water and make your boating a safe and fun experience by taking this CPS-ECP course. You will learn how to cope with these situations as well as many other aspects of boating, such as relative bearings, knots and splicing, medical emergencies, coping with adverse weather and much more. This course was formerly called Seamanship. This course discusses the three aspects of seamanship: 1. knowledge of charts, chart work and plotting; 2. awareness of conditions, and the seamanship skills needed to deal with them; 3.handling of both the boat and the crew.

How to register for Boating 4 - Near Shore Marine Navigation Level 1:
To go to the Boating 4 Online Courses registration page,click here.
Scroll down to Gabriola.
Read the description, note the details; for any questions contact the Gabriola Squadron person responsible for the course: Nigel Wells 250-325-0052

The contact details are shown.
To register click on the bullet in front of “Boating 4”, and then follow the instructions that will appear.

www.powersquadron.gabriola.org

08/03/2020

Upcoming
Free CPS Webinars Presented Online in 2020

Tropical Weather for the Winter Boater - November 11
Tides and Currents - December 9
For more information and registration go to the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons Webinar page https://www.cps-ecp.ca/course-catalog/webinar-series/ and follow the links. Book well in advance, as space might be limited.

07/22/2020

Due to Covid 19 concerns and possible congestion at the Silva Bay marinas, there will be no organized flotilla to es**rt Bert in when he returns to Gabriola. Sorry for any confusion that my earlier post may have caused. Hopefully you will see Bert and Seaburban on the water soon in the Salish Sea.

07/21/2020

Bert TerHart is coming home to Gabriola after his solo circumnavigation around the 5 Capes. Stay tuned for his arrival on Gabriola and a welcoming flotilla if you would like to join in..

07/16/2020

Free CPS Webinars Presented Online in 2020
Protecting Our Waterways’ Environment - May 13
Paddling and Board Smart - June 10
Weather for Boaters - July 8
Weather for Boaters - July 29 - due to hight demand, a 2nd offering!
Chart Reading for Beginners - August 12
Automatic Identification System for Recreational Boaters - September 9
Celestial Navigation in a Nutshell - October 14
Tropical Weather for the Winter Boater - November 11
Tides and Currents - December 9
For more information and registration go to theCanadian Power and Sail Squadrons Webinar pageand follow the links. Book well in advance, as space might be limited.

07/03/2020

CPS-ECP is hosting a series of monthly webinars for members. Here is notice about the next one, with the link to join. It concerns something we all talk about every day - weather!

The Next Webinar

Weather for Boaters is the next webinar coming up on July 8 in the CPS monthly series. The great news is that they’re now FREE! The event lasts about an hour and a half and starts online at 5:00 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time.

Here’s the description of Weather for Boaters

“There’s nothing can quickly ruin a pleasant cruise on a sunny afternoon than getting caught in a sudden, unexpected storm. This show of Mother Nature’s powers can be frightening at the very least, and fatal in its worst form. Weather For Boaters presents many of the basic meteorological principles that create our weather, and is an excellent primer for the more advanced Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons course, Introduction to Weather For Recreational Boaters.”

To register go to https://www.cps-ecp.ca/course-catalog/webinar-series and follow the links. Book well in advance, as space might be limited.

06/22/2020

PCOC

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

· This is a SELF-STUDY course. No instruction is provided. On-line tutoring for Gabriola students only, by Gabriola Squadron Educational Officer (SEO), available on request by student.

· COURSE MATERIAL :

o If you prefer a PRINTED TEXT contact SEO Agathe Gaulin at [email protected] PRIOR to registering.

o If you are OK with the on-line e-book, please register accordingly.

· START OF STUDY :

o Disregard “start date” shown. Self-Study starts by students after registration.

· EXAM

o Disregard “start-time” shown.

o Disregard “room number” shown.

o Exam will be via ZOOM or similar virtual meeting which will be set-up by the Gabriola Squadron Educational Officer (SEO). Alternative ways can be arranged, with social distancing measures, for Gabriola Students only, with the SEO.

o Date and Time of exam to be arranged by each student with SEO.

·ADDRESS

· Study address : self –study ( with printed text or with on-line e-book)

· Exam address: - via Zoom or similar virtual meeting app.

-For Gabriola Students only: alternate location, with social distancing, can be arranged with SEO.

CONTACT

· Agathe Gaulin, SEO

250-247-9714

agathe@freespiritsailing .ca

Notes :

· Pricing will remain as before.

· START DATE: a date will be filled in. The IT system does not allow to leave it blank. We will see what the best is that we can do.

· START TIME: a start time will be filled in. The IT system does not allow to leave it blank. We will see what the best is that we can fill in.

06/22/2020

(ROC)M

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

· This is a SELF-STUDY course. No instruction is provided. On-line tutoring for Gabriola students only, by Gabriola Squadron Educational Officer (SEO), available on request by student.

· COURSE MATERIAL :

o If you prefer a PRINTED TEXT contact SEO Agathe Gaulin at [email protected] PRIOR to registering.

o If you are OK with the on-line programme (text), this will be available on-line for a period of 60 days after your on-line registering.

· PHONETIC ALPHABET

o It will be essential for students to learn the phonetic alphabet prior to the exam.

· START OF STUDY :

o Disregard “start date” shown. Self-Study starts by students after registration.

· EXAM

o Disregard “start-time” shown.

o Disregard “room number” shown.

o Exam will be via ZOOM or similar virtual meeting which will be set-up by the Gabriola Squadron Educational Officer (SEO). Alternative ways can be arranged, with social distancing measures, for Gabriola Students only, with the SEO.

o Date and Time of exam to be arranged by each student with SEO.

·ADDRESS

· Study address : self –study ( on-line or with printed text)

· Exam address: - via Zoom or similar virtual meeting app.

-For Gabriola Students only: alternate location, with social distancing, can be arranged with SEO.

CONTACT

· Agathe Gaulin, SEO

250-247-9714

agathe@freespiritsailing .ca

Notes :

· Pricing will remain as before.

START DATE: a date will be filled in. The IT system does not allow to leave it blank. We will see what the best is that we can do.

06/22/2020

Gabriola Squadron Boating Courses, 2020:

Boating 1 - Boating Basics (PCOC) Online Course

Course dates: registration opened on June 10. Register today!Course fee: $67.50 to $85.00 depending on the options you choose
All operators of motorized pleasure craft are required to show proof of operator competency. All 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 this study guide meets all the standards established by Transport Canada’s Office of Boating Safety.
As an extra benefit, if you pass the test offered by Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons, your Card is recognized by both Transport Canada and The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (USA).

How to Register for Boating 1:

Online registration is at the CPS national web. It is a bit slow. Here's how to register. Click on this link www.cps-ecp.ca and then navigate the CPS Course Catalog in the following way: Select city: select Gabriola - the list is in alphabetical order; click Update My Results. The Boating 1 Course description and registration information and form will come up. Select one or more options if presented with them. Click on Login and Add Course to Cart. To purchase, you need to then log in to your account or create one first if you don't have one.

For more information, contact Nigel Wells at 250-325-0052 or [email protected]