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“Come for the Boating Education...Stay for the Friends.” ℠
Greenwich, Connecticut, L 41° 00’ N, Lo 73°37’ W March—April 2016
LIGHT HARBOR
THE
Greenwich Sail & Power Squadron — District 2 http//www.greenwichsps.org
United States Power Squadrons
A s I write this
during the last
week in
February, it’s hard to
believe but the
temperature is in the
50’s. Spring must be
just around the corner.
By the time you all
receive this newsletter,
we will have had the
Change of Watch for the
Greenwich Sail and
Power Squadron and I
will have taken a back seat as Past Commander.
I have had a wonderful time this past year as
Commander and am proud to say that we have
had a great year encompassing the offering of
educational courses to boaters, hosting many
interesting seminars on boating related activities ,
getting members and friends together to social
activities and offering many afternoon and evening
activities on the water. At this point I want to thank
the many members whose efforts went towards
these events, without whom the GSPS could
never have accomplished these feats.
Looking forward to next year, we have a new
bridge who I know are excited about the coming
year’s activities and will put the necessary effort
into making it a wonderful year. Wishing you a
safe boating season
Cdr. Leslie Napoleon
A merica’s Cup racing will return to New York for the first time since 1920 with Louis Vuitton America’s Cup
World Series racing on May 7-8, 2016.
This event will take place from May 6-8, 2016, with official practice racing on the Friday and point-
scoring races on Saturday and Sunday.
The Event Village will be in the Brookfield Place Waterfront Plaza, while the racing will be on the lower Hudson River off the Battery Park City Esplanade (between the Pier 25 basin to the north and The Battery to the south).
The technical areas for teams, race management and America’s Cup TV production will be based at Liberty State Park and Liberty Landing Marina, across the Hudson River in New Jersey.To learn more about the schedule click on this link
Ready, Set, CRUISE!!!
Having winter blues? Start dreaming about your next on water adventures!
Check this online resource center about Long Island Sound destinations Captain Islands, CT ~ City Island, NY ~ Cold Spring Harbor, NY ~ Hempstead Harbor, NY: Glen Cove and Sea Cliff ~ Rye/Mamaroneck, NY ~ Huntington Bay, NY ~ Northport, NY ~ Oyster Bay, NY ~ Sheffield Island, CT ~ Ziegler's Cove, CT ~ Port Jefferson, NY ~ Manhassett Bay, NY ~ Thimble Islands, CT ~ Mystic Seaport, CT ~ Connecticut River ~ Essex ~ Hamburg Cove ~ Selden Creek ~ East Haddam ~ Old Saybrook
The HarborLight ® Official Newsletter of the
Greenwich Sail & Power Squadron A Unit of the
United States Power Squadrons™
Commander Cdr. William Vernon, Jr. P, 878-6346 Executive Officer TBD Educational Officer Lt/C Andrew M. Cummings, JN, 661-0704 Administrative Officers Lt/C Cécile Delannes, P, (240) 678 6355 Lt/C Vicki Malara, (914) 469-8593 Secretary Lt/C Gordon Updegraff, P, (914) 469-8593 Treasurer P/C Robert A. Henry, SN, 637-3153 Executive Committee All above officers and P/C George C. Dey, JN, 869-1385 P/D/C Susan P. Ryan, JN, 698-0441 P/C William Strong, JN, 968-8533 P/C David Cassuto, AP, (914) 481-8120 Lt George Friend, P, 531-9175 P/C Rich Malloy, SN, 869-3626 P/C Leslie Napoleon, S, 869-8059 Lt David Leisten, 860-480-8222 Merit Mark Chairman Lt. WilliamVernon, P, 878-6346 Assistant Educational Officer P/D/C Susan P. Ryan, JN, 698-0441 Boating Course Chairman Lt Ralph Kravitz, JN, 637-8591 Advanced Grades Chairman P/C Robert Henry, SN, 637-3153 Law Officer Lt George Toper, AP, 531-1078 Liaison Officer Lt Harold L. Frost, AP, 637-5520 Public Relations Officer P/D/C Susan P. Ryan, JN, 698-0441 Safety Officer Lt/C Andrew M. Cummings, JN, 661-0704 Boating Activities Chairman Lt/C Gordon Updegraff, P, (914) 469-8593 Membership Chairman P/D/C Susan P. Ryan, JN, 698-0441 Operations Training P/C George C. Dey, JN, 869-1385 Harbor Light Editors Lt Jeanine D. Giddings, AP, 869-9474 Lt/C Cécile Delannes, P, (240) 678 6355 Historian TBD Computer Systems & Web Captain P/C Rich Malloy, SN, 869-3626 Property Officer Lt George Friend, P, 531-9175
The Harbor Light Page 2
Education Update
W e have added Practical On the Water (POTW) training to our list of events for the 2016 boating season. This will be an all day event on Saturday June 18, 2016. POTW is a great opportunity to increase your
confidence on the water or to introduce a spouse or teenager to important practical skills such as docking, anchoring, and boat handling. Our current schedule is as follows:
Weather—starts March 15th
One Day ABC Courses on May 7 and on June 11
POTW –June 18
Advanced Piloting—starts September 13 Click here for the full Power Squadron Courses – 2016
Remember, the District 2 Consortium Schedule provides a list of all upcoming courses offered in our area. You can find the Consortium Schedule under the Education section of the Greenwich Sail & Power Squadron Website. Andy Cummings, JN Squadron Educational Officer
Must see exhibit “Ships, Clocks & Stars: The Quest for Longitude”
Mystic Seaport presents a captivating exhibition, which is on tour from the National Maritime Museum in London.
It tells the extraordinary story of the race to determine longitude at sea. Spurred on by the promise of rich rewards, astronomers, philosophers, and artisans–including John Harrison and his innovative timekeepers–finally solved one of the greatest technical challenges of the 18th century.
The award-winning exhibition draws on the latest research to shed new light on the history of longitude – one of the great achievements of the Georgian age – and how it changed our understanding of the world.
Now open in the renovated R.J. Schaefer Building through March 28, 2016. To learn more click on the link below or the picture.
LONGITUDE
The Harbor Light Page 3
WHAT’S NEW ?
The first and ONLY LED Visual Distress Signal Device that meets U.S. Coast Guard requirements to completely replace traditional pyrotechnic flares.
It’s always been a bit of a Catch-22: the best way to signal for help after dark is by igniting a very hot flame—thereby immediately increasing the danger in an already fraught situation.
A powerful LED with an omnidirectional lens creates a light signal that is visible for 10 or so miles and capable of lasting up to 6 hours. Unlike traditional flares, this electric flare never expires which solves the challenge of flare disposal. Waterproof and submersible, $99.95
www.siriussignal.com
Lifejacket bladder illumination light
Going overboard at night can be a death sentence if the crew onboard can’t see you.
Comprised of a pair of water-activated LEDs, each equipped with an adhesive backside, the Lume-On simply attaches to the underside of the bladder in any inflatable lifejacket.
In the event you go overboard, it then activates automatically, shining through the bladder, in essence employing it as a kind of a lens.
It would be hard to think of an easier or cheaper way to increase your chances of survival in an MOB situation.
($20)
To see how it works click the following link:
https://www.spinlock.co.uk/en/categories/lume-on/product_groups/lume-on
LET’S TALK ABOUT FIRE PREVENTION
A t the time of this writing, winter is hitting us late, but is hitting us hard. Nevertheless, commissioning season will be upon us soon. As you commission your boat, remember that a few relatively simple inspections can go a long way in preventing onboard fires.
According to Boat/US statistics, most fires begin in the engine room or around the engine. The two most common causes are a faulty electrical connection and a leaky fuel line. Electrical connections and fuel lines should be inspected at each commissioning. With electrical connections, look for signs of rust, corrosion, or excessive heat. Crimping, preferably with marine grade waterproof connectors, is the proper way to make electrical connections. Never use wire nuts, as they have been known to corrode in a marine environment. With fuel lines, look for cracks or leaks and for rusted or corroded hose clamps. Fuel lines can become porous and leak without any noticeable cracks. You can inspect fuel lines by wiping the line with a clean cloth and inspecting the cloth for moisture or vapors.
These inspections should be performed at the beginning of each season. A boat is constantly under attack by salt water and weather, so do not assume that because all was fine at the end of last season, it remains so.
Lt/C Andy Cummings, JN.SO
Holiday Party at GB&YC on Dec. 4th
The Harbor Light Page 4
Cécile invites you to view the video from the Holiday Party . Click on the link below.
(click on HD quality on the setting bottom right of the video screen)
Facing are Harrison Valante from District 2, Susan Ryan.
Facing from L, Nancy & Sam York, Harold Frost, Li Rettie.
Facing are Reinhold Vogel and Eileen McDonald.
L, Cdr. Leslie Napoleon, Joe Hliva and Roger Klein
Standing from L, Vicki Malara, Julie and Andy Cummings.
The Harbor Light Page 5
Holiday Party at GB&YC on Dec. 4th
From L, Vicki Malara, Julie Cummings.
From L, Harrison Valante, from District 2, Theresa Henry, Robin & William Strong, Andy Cummings.
From L, Marie Genteale and two guests
From L, Kim Zeh, Mike Ryan and Andy Papademetriou.
From L, Mico Loschiavo, Vivian Werner, Paul & Karen Varbaro, Neil & Ruth Thomas. L, Maureen Johnson, George Friend,
Roger Klein, Joe Hliva
The Harbor Light Page 6
A clarification after Dr. Anne Peskin presentation “Pirate Myths - The Real Truth” at the Greenwich boat & Yacht Club on February 17.
During the presentation somebody asked Anne, “What’s a buccaneer?” and to my surprise she answered “The same as a pirate.” I thought, “Not at all!”
I read many books about the history of the Caribbean and the numerous battles between Dutch, Spanish, English, and French to conquer those strategic islands and capture the treasures in transit to Europe.
Doing so, I learned a lot about pirates, corsaires (privateers), flibustiers (sea bandits) and I knew that boucaniers not only were not pirates but were not even living on boats. So how did boucaniers became buccaneers?
After researching, I found the explanation in two old books in the French Imperial library and the French Marine Archives (Les Boucaniers – Revue de Paris
published in 1843 and Les Boucaniers by Paul Duplessis in 1855). So here is the answer:
In 1626 Spaniards took over San Cristobal (Saint Christophe), and French Colonists hid on the western part of Hispaniola island where there were numerous wild boars and cows. They quickly learned from the natives how to preserve meat by drying it with smoke on a sort of grill made of wood and clay called barbicoa by the Arawak Indians.
Over the years they developed an important trade selling leather and food supplies to the boats passing along the coast whether they were Dutch, French or pirates: all enemies of the Spanish!
Upset, the Spanish governor of Santo Domingo hunted them down around 1660. Some Boucaniers moved to Tortuga Island where they kept growing their trade and extended it to farmed products. But other boucaniers became flibustiers, first attacking the Spanish and over the years every boat they could.
This is how French boucaniers became associated with pirates and called buccaneers.
Cécile C. Delannes
The hunter
The tanner
The customer
Butcher
The smoker
The boucan
FROM FRENCH BOUCANIERS TO BUCCANEERS
French Boucanier
The Harbor Light Page 7
Editors Jeanine Giddings and Cécile Delannes
Fri March 4 : 7 pm Change of Watch,at Greenwich Water Club,
Officiated by D/C Gino Bottino AP
Tue March 15: WEATHER course begins, GBYC
Fri/Sat April 1-2: District 2 Spring Conference
Sun April 17: Art Exhibit and Fund Raising for the Young Mariners (TBC)
Sat May 7: One-day CT Boating Certificate class, Police HQ
Fri May 20: Wear your PFD to work Day!
KICK Off the season Cocktail Party
May 21-27: National Safe Boating Week
Sun June 5: ECFF Safe Boating Day at Greenwich Point
Sat June 11: One-day CT Boating Certificate class, Police HQ
Fri/Sat June 24-26: Operation Dry Water (Boating Under Influence)
Sun July 10: Lobster Party at Greenwich Point
Tue Sept 13: Advanced Piloting begins, Police HQ
and beyond
Do not miss
the clock &
Longitude exhibit
in Mystic !!!
Share your love of the water
You have a boat for our Sunset sails? Contact Gordon Updegraff at
(914) 469-8593 / [email protected]
