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

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)

Passports to enter the U.S.A. by Boat this Summer

In June 2009, everyone will need a passport* to enter the U.S. by land or boat. If you are getting one for the first time, apply well before June. (Currently, Canadians flying into the U.S. must have a passport, but you may enter by car or boat with a birth certificate plus a government-issued photo ID.)
The new United States Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is calling for a review of the U.S.-Canada border situation, pressured by some members of U.S. Congress and Homeland Security experts who are requesting greater security at the border. (Canada has not changed any requirements to enter Canada from the States.) U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP)
*Also accepted in addition to a passport: NEXUS card, FAST Free and Secure Trade card, or enhanced drivers licence (in provinces where available).

Derek Hatfield retires from "The Vendee Globe"

Yesterday, Derek Hatfield had a knock down aboard "Algimouss Spirit of Canada" in the The Vendee Globe race. Derek writes: "... the boat went over and I ended up on the ceiling with all kinds of articles whizzing past me. The boat came upright immediately and the carnage inside was immediate. I rushed on deck and my heart sank to see two of the spreaders dangling limp on the shrouds. The shock hits you quickly that this is not fixable and the end of the race is here already."
At 1527 GMT today Derek Hatfield formally retired from the sixth Vendee Globe, the world's most challenging yacht race. Derek is currently south of Australia, trying to reach Hobart, Tasmania (estimated 8 days). Canada is proud of you, Derek. We send our prayers to you, your team, and family.
vendeeglobe.org :: spiritofcanada.net
Nov.13/08: Derek Hatfield returns for repairs in Round the World Race
Apr.19/08: Derek Hatfield qualifies for Round the World Race

Canadian Solar Boat moves to the U.S.A.

Electric boat designer and builder Monty Gisborne, who was planning to build his solar pontoon boat Loon in Ontario, is moving south to Buffalo, N.Y., lured by a $500,000 grant. When Gisborne cruised the Loon on the Rideau Canal in 2006, he barely attracted any attention. But, in 2007, he took the Loon through the Erie Canal in New York State and was swamped with media coverage - and an offer of funding. He plans to hire 60 people to build 50 Loons per year. Before he leaves Canada, he will build the biggest solar boat in North America, the Osprey, for the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.
In 1997, a report created with the participation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, estimated that pleasure craft expel unburned fuel into waterways every year that is the equivalent of 15 Exxon Valdez super tanker spills.

Dec-08: "Orillia Packet" | Mar-07: Solar "Loon" goes Cruising | TamarackElectricboats.com

Halifax Sailor to Row around the World

Professional sailor and navigator Sergei Morozov, is planning an ambitious adventure to circumnavigate the world solo in a rowing boat so he can raise funds to aid children affected by war. Once he secures sponsorship, he hopes to launch from Halifax late next summer, rowing the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. Originally from Russia, Morozovm, 44, sailed from England to Halifax five years ago with his daughter Aleksandra and currently runs a shipping crew agency. Contact Morozov at rowingaroundtheworld@hotmail.com. [www.nowpublic.com]

Derek Hatfield returns for repairs in Round the World Race

Derek Hatfield, 56, in "Algimouss Spirit of Canada" began The Vendee Globe race November 9 with 30 other boats. He reported electrical problems after a gale and returned to Les Sables d'Olonne, France for repairs. Race rules allow 10 days to restart. Algimouss came on board as sponsor but Hatfield is still short of funds. Hatfield is the first and only Canadian to attempt this single-handed yacht race, non-stop eastward around the world via the southern oceans (23,680 n.mi.), starting in France. Only 126 sailors have ever circumnavigated alone.
Nov. 15: Derek has restarted 6 days late, currently doing 10 kts with the lead boats 1,000 n.mi. ahead.
Nov. 25: Second last out of 26 boats still in the race, approaching the equator by Africa, 1,487 n.mi. behind leader.
[vendeeglobe.org News | spiritofcanada.net]

Court says Fish Licences are Private Property

On Friday, Canada’s top court ruled that fish licences are, in effect, private property. The Supreme Court of Canada unanimously sided with the Royal Bank. "A fishing licence is unquestionably a major commercial asset," it said in a case involving a bankrupt fisherman trying to prevent the seizure of his licences.

A study of worldwide fisheries published last month in the journal Science found that individual transferrable quotas (ITQs) greatly reduce the collapse of commercial fisheries. ITQ fisheries harvesting stocks in an orderly fashion, when demand is strong, can even reverse stock declines. [thechronicleherald.ca...]

Canadian sets Pedal Boat World Record

Greg Kolodziejzyk from Calgary, Alberta, set a new world record by pedalling his human-powered boat "Critical Power 2" 241.8 km (151.3 miles) in 24 hours. He started Monday, September 8 and finishing the next day. Official observers from the International Human Powered Vehicle Association were stationed along the course to verify that Kolodziejzyk stayed to the outside of the markers and travelled the full distance measured. The record must be ratified by the IHPVA and Guinness World Records.

Canadians excel in 2008 Paralympics

Canada's athletes have won 50 medals at the Paralympic Games in Beijing, China - with 19 gold, 10 silver, and 21 bronze. Canada rated 7th in gold and tenth overall out of 148 countries.

The Sailing team won 3 medals. Paul Tingley (Halifax NS) won gold in 1P keelboat (2.4mR), the first sailing gold in a Paralympic games. John Scott McRoberts (Victoria, BC) and Stacie Louttit (Victoria, BC) won bronze in 2P keelboat.

The Swimming team won 21 medals. In Women's 200m individual medley, Chelsey Gotell (Antigonish, NS) won gold with a new world record with 5 medals overall. Kirby Cote (Winnipeg, MB) and Valerie Grand'Maison (Montreal, QC), with 5 medals, were second and third. The three won again in the women's 100m butterfly, but in a different order. Stephanie Dixon (Victoria, BC) with 4 medals, won gold in the women's 100-metre backstroke and broke her own world record. Benoit Huo won 3 medals, and Anne Polinario won a gold. [2008 Paralympics | Canada - 2008 Paralympics ]

Quebec think-tank advocates Selling Canada's Water

The Montreal Economic Institute, has released a report (Aug 27) that says Quebec could make up to $65 billion a year by selling “just 10%” of its blue gold to the United States to the south. They suggest that redefining water as a trade item would actually protect Canada’s water resources by requiring the creation of “a legal and regulatory framework.”

The report conflicts with Canadian public opinion. Since the 1960’s, Canadians have rejected ideas by private companies and the U.S. government to divert bulk quantities of Canada’s fresh water or to turn water into a tradeable commodity like oil or wood. Although the World Resources Institute lists Canada #3 in renewable water (replenished by precipitation), the Polaris Institute noted 60% of Canada’s rivers flow away from populated areas into the Arctic and cannot be used by even Canada.

Montreal Economic Institute report: http://www.iedm.org/main/show_publications_en.php?publications_id=226
Polaris Institute: http://www.polarisinstitute.org/turning_on_canada_s_tap_0
| http://www.polarisinstitute.org/critics_dump_on_water_study

Canadian Sailor enters SolOceans Race

Phil Paxton has officially announced he will enter the first ever SolOceans® solo around-the-world sailing competition. The race will begin on October 25, 2009 and feature competitors from around the world. What makes the SolOceans race unique is that all competitors race using Veolia Oceans® one-design Bostik 16-metre sailboats with identical sails and equipment. Paxton is currently seeking sponsors, including a title sponsor to name the boat.

Phil Paxton has made several solo oceanic voyages starting in 1979. He's crossed every ocean at least once, and spent two years cruising the South Pacific with his family. This will be the first time Paxton has attempted to sail solo around the world – a venture requiring skill and endurance. Paxton just sailed from France to New York aboard the first boat built for the race, identical to the vessel he will be sailing.
[www.soloceans.com | www.globalsails.ca]