We passed the equinox once again and can look forward to haul out and the long, darkening, sometimes sunny stretch to the winter solstice. It can be a good time to plan your next adventures and armchair cruise into spring and boating!
Who Wants To Navigate!
Diamond Waters Sailing intends to run Basic and Intermediate Coastal Navigation courses starting with a Saturday in class, then three zoom lessons on Tuesdays and finish in class on Saturday again with a review and exam. The zoom lessons will be from 7-9 pm and allow an extra hour for tutoring and end at 22:00.
The classes will run with 5 students minimum and currently 10 maximum. Reply to let us know if you want a reservation. DWS will begin advertising on November 18 so reserve your spot before then.
If you have taken the course and just need to write the exam, or if you want to challenge either of the navigation courses, please let us know by reply. You will be welcome to zoom with us for review and join us on the final day.
This schedule below is tentative, until the classroom is reserved.
Basic Coastal Navigation – 16-20 hours, $350 includes e-notes, practice chart (Georgian Bay), plotting instruments. See the standard:
29 Jan, 09:00-16:00, course start in class. Intro, hand out course material and instruments.
1 Feb, 19:00-21:00, zoom lessons
8 Feb, 19:00-21:00, zoom lessons
15 Feb, 19:00-21:00, zoom lessons
19 Feb, 09:00-16:00, course finish with review, exam and registration. Dinner together to celebrate (Covid dependent)
Intermediate Coastal Navigation – 18-20 hours, $300 includes e-notes
19 Mar, 09:00-16:00, course start in class. Intro, hand out course material. Note. if March 19 conflicts with March break, we can delay one week.
22 Mar, 19:00-21:00, zoom lesson
29 Mar, 19:00-21:00, zoom lesson
5 Apr, 19:00-21:00, zoom lesson
9 Apr, 09:00-16:00, course finish with review, exam and registration. Dinner together to celebrate and talk about launch (Covid dependent)
And if you are dreaming of cruising, so are we. DWS plans to be back into sail training all season starting early in June and ending before Thanksgiving. Send us a note to reserve dates for your Basic or Intermediate Cruising Standards or any of the introductory courses. We will build our schedule around you until we are reaching capacity. See our sailing packages on-line:
A simple thing to help maintain or increase the value of your boat is to document your haul out, winterising and launch procedures. Even if you are not a do-it-your-selfer, you still have seasonal requirements and maybe even some specific start up and operating procedures that should be recorded – at least as a checklist. Better yet are written procedures that someone else can follow. Next time try to write down the steps of the common tasks unique to your boat; pre-departure checks, start up, running, shut down, snug down. Include this with a binder of the components on board with any surveys and electrical schematics – they are gold. Potential buyers will appreciate the pride and care you have taken and it just might help your boat sell better than others, whenever that difficult day comes. Ask to see the document set we have for Blue Pearl.
The Toronto International Boat Show is planning to run the in-person show this year January 21-30. Start your shopping list to get the best deals. Even if you cannot make the show, most exhibitors have their goods on sale during that time often with free delivery and a simple phone call or on-line order can get you fitted out. Sue and I always attend, do a little shopping and catch up with other cruising schools.
Larry