Tingley wins Bronze in 2.4-metre Worlds

Halifax sailor Paul Tingley, will return to Canada with a bronze from the 2.4-metre world championships, which ended Friday in Florida. Tingley who won gold at the 2008 Paralympics in China, sails out of the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron.

Canada proposes better Marine Safety

Last Thursday, tThe federal government announced proposals to improve marine safety and security, with new international shipping requirements for tracking systems aboard vessels such as passenger vessels with 12+ passengers and cargo vessels of 300 gross tonnes taking international voyages. These long-range identification and tracking systems transmit identity and position to other countries. Canada would also be able to receive identification from foreign vessels navigating within 1,000 nautical miles of its shores. The International Maritime Organization has adopted long-range identification and tracking of vessels in order to protect marine environments and aid shipping security.

The Long-Range Identification and Tracking of Vessels Regulations were pre-published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on September 19, 2009. A 30-day public comment period follows, after which the regulations will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II.

All Boaters require an Operator Card by September 15

Starting September 15, boaters in Canada without a Pleasure Craft Operator Card could be fined $250. The new regulation applies to all Canadian boaters - there is no grandfather clause. Even someone driving a fishing boat with a small trolling motor must carry a card. To obtain an Operator Card, one must learn some boating safety basics and pass an exam – available online from BoaterExam.com - you can get a temporary card instantly if you pass. For more information see Transport Canada: Office of Boating Safety. The "card" is good for life. (Non-residents are exempt unless they boat in Canada for more than 45 days, or are using a boat registered in Canada.) {boating.ncf.ca/pcoc.html}

Jade Scognamillo now Youngest to Swim across Lake Ontario

On August 1, 15-year-old Jade Scognamillo became the youngest person to swim across Lake Ontario, swimming 52 km. from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Toronto. A new Canadian citizen, Jade raised $35,000 for the Hospital For Sick Children. Last summer, she set the record as the youngest and fastest person to ever cross Lake Erie. lfpress.ca

Ontario: Dispose of your Expired Marine Flares August 1-8, 2009

From August 1 to 8, 2009, anyone with expired recreational marine flares who wishes to dispose of them, can drop them off at any of the 165 OPP detachments across Ontario. At the end of the week, the OPP will turn the expired flares in to Transport Canada's Office of Boating Safety for safe transport to a certified disposal site. micro.newswire.ca

Great Lakes water levels rebound

Great Lakes water levels are rebounding after a decade-long drop. During the mid-1980s, levels were high. A sudden drop began in the late 1990s. It forced cargo ships to lighten their loads to avoid grounding. If the estimates prove accurate, global warming will cause the lakes to recede up to 3 feet this century. www.freep.com

Canadian Rowers win 3 in 2009 Rowing World Cup

All three Canadian crews entered in the finals at the 2009 Rowing World Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland came away with medals — two silvers and a bronze. The men’s eight was second behind Germany. Doug Vandor of Dewittville, Que., and Cam Sylvester of Caledon, Ont., won their second silver medal of the season in the lightweight men’s double event behind New Zealand. Lindsay Jennerich of Victoria, and Sheryl Preston of North Delta, B.C., clinched bronze in the lightweight women’s double. www.vancouversun.com

Men 25 to 34 have Highest Risk of Drowning

Recent reports by the Canadian Red Cross says adult males 25 to 34 are most at-risk of drowning while boating with 39% of drownings occurring as a result of a boating mishap. Alcohol was present or suspected in half of those drownings. The reports concluded that nearly 2,000 boating deaths over the past decade might have been prevented had basic boating safety measures been taken, such as wearing a life jacket. timestranscript.canadaeast.com

Canadian Boats Visiting the U.S. will require a $49 Licence

After Sept. 19, 2009, Canadian boaters will have to have a $49 licence to operate a powered boating the U.S. In contrast, Americans boating in Canadian waters only have to apply for an operator licence if they stay more than 45 consecutive days. www2.canada.com

Three gold medals for Canada at Pan Am canoe and kayak championships

Congratulations to Canadian paddlers Mallorie Nicholson of Oakville, Ont., and the canoe pairs team of Jenna Marks and Maria Halavrezos, both of Dartmouth, N.S., collected their third gold medals in the 200-metre finals at the Pan American canoe and kayak championships in Rio De Janeiro July 5. Canada finished with 23 medals: 11 gold, 10 silver and 2 bronze. www.canoekayak.ca | www.cbc.ca

Publish Post

Smuggling across Canada-USA Water Borders

U.S. law enforcement is putting more resources into stopping smuggling across the waterways between Michigan and Ontario -- primarily narcotics and illegal immigrants coming into Michigan and alcohol and cigarettes going into Canada. U.S. Border Patrol made 761 arrests last year in Michigan, mostly along the St. Clair and Detroit rivers. Detroit Free Press | Boating in Canada News: U.S. and Canadian Border Security

"Element Quest" plans circumnavigation

Ken Kell and Ashley Acheson of Ontario purchased a 15 metre (48') pilot-house cutter, renamed "Element Quest", with plans to take the sailboat on a 35,000-mile circumnavigation. Kell is a longtime extreme sports athlete known for snowboarding, skydiving and climbing is a trained chef. They are signing on crew online for various legs of the voyage from ocean to coastal cruising.
[News: fosters.com | adrenalinsports.ca/thequest]

'Perfect Storm' fisherman convicted in Canada

Maine fisherman and author Linda Greenlaw, who survived the Atlantic storm that was the basis for the book and movie "The Perfect Storm" has been convicted on charges of illegally fishing inside Canadian waters. Greenlaw was the last person in contact with the Andrea Gail before it sank in the 1991 storm.
Google News National Post

Passports required to enter the U.S. by Boat

Starting Monday, June 1, 2009, everyone will need a passport to enter the U.S. by land or boat. Also accepted: NEXUS card, FAST Free and Secure Trade card, or enhanced drivers licence (in provinces where available). (Canada has not changed any requirements to enter Canada from the States.) [Homeland Security | U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP)]

Ontario Wind Turbines Start up near Kingston

125-metre wind towers on Wolfe Island in eastern Lake Ontario are starting operation to generate approximately 594 GWh annually. The $475 million project is the second largest wind farm in Canada. It has 86 wind turbines, each 2.3 MW, in western Wolfe Island, south of Kingston. kingstonthisweek.com/...

Andy Lepiarczyk completes Solo Around-the-world Voyage

Andy Lepiarczyk, in his nine-metre (30') Figaro Beneteau sailboat the "Mighty Chicken", is back in West Vancouver after sailing around the world in 13 months.
vancouversun.com...

U.S. and Canadian Border Security

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano met with Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan in Canada in May 2009. She has said recently: "To the extent that terrorists have come into our country, or suspected or known terrorists have entered our country across a border, it's been across the Canadian border." (She was rebuked by Canadian Ambassador Michael Wilson for this ignorant statement.) This is now known as the "Canadian Myth", continually repeated by top U.S. officials and politicians, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who wants to tighten security along the Canada-U.S. border because "it was simply 'too porous' following the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks."

It is expected that Project Shiprider will be made permanent. It's a little-known, and controversial, project allowing the RCMP and the U.S. Coast Guard to conduct joint armed patrols of shared waterways such as the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Strait of Georgia, B.C. While on Canadian boats in Canadian waters, USCG officers act under RCMP authority but have arrest powers.
[May/2009 http://www.nationalpost.com...]

Project Shiprider began in Detroit/Windsor in 2005. On three separate occasions, the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) and the USCG (U.S. Coast Guard) have collaborated on this special marine security project in border waters. [Sep/2005 http://www.piersystem.com...]

Fact: According to the U.S. Secretary, Department of Homeland Security, most people who illegally enter the U.S. come from Mexico and 1% enter from Canada (2007).

Fact: None of the terrorists involved in the 9/11 attacks entered the U.S. from Canada. They came from other countries with valid U.S. visas.

Facts from RCMP: [Aug/2008 http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca...]

One Frequency for Emergency Beacons

Canadian Coast Guard Search and Rescue (COSPASSARSAT) now monitors EPIRBs (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon) only on frequency 406 MHz as of February 2009. Old EPIRBs transmitting on 121.5 MHz and 243 MHz can still be used for direction finding by the Coast Guard, but should be replaced with new ones. [Emergency Beacons (Canada)]

HST will add costs for Ontario Boaters

If Ontario institutes a 13% HST 'harmonized tax' by combining the 8% PST (provincial sales tax) and the 5% GST (good and services tax), it will cover a range of services previously exempt from PST. Ontario boaters will start to pay an extra 8% on these costs: dockage, winter storage, mast stepping, haulout, holding tank pump out, fuels, surveys, legal and brokerage fees. Add up your bills and multiply by .08 - a cruiser using marina services will pay hundreds of dollars of additional tax. (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland already have HST. Alberta has no sales tax.)

Fishing in Ontario

Starting in 2009, Americans who fish in Canadian waters will require the Canadian Outdoors Card (about $9, valid for three years), the same as for Canadian residents. The new regulations are is the first part of a new licensing automation system that will begin in 2010.
The card can be ordered by phoning 1-800-667-1940 using a credit card. A 2009 Ontario fishing licence can be ordered at the same time - a regular licence, a conservation licence, 8-day licence. A one-day licence does not require getting the Outdoors Card. The cards take up to six weeks to arrive by postal mail. Americans may take a state-registered boat into Canada for up to 45 consecutive days without requiring a Pleasure Craft Operator Card. (Details: mnr.gov.on.ca)