Boaters in the southern Georgian Bay area looking to increase their knowledge and skills can do so by taking one of the many courses being offered this fall and winter by the Blue Mountain Squadron of the Canadian Power and Sale Squadron. (CPS).

  I have been boating on Lake Huron and Georgian Bay for decades, primarily from my cottage of Manitoulin Island.  This summer I spent time on portions of the North Channel I had not previously been visiting the Benjamin Islands and westward as far as the town of Spanish.  I also covered a portion of the  top of Georgian Bay visiting five smaller islands between Manitoulin and Tobermory including Fitzwilliam, Club, Lonely, Rabbit and Wall Islands.  

  Georgian Bay is nothing short of an inland sea.  The day I visited the five above mentioned islands the water surface on Georgian Bay and Lake Huron was little more than a two foot chop.  The following day there were six foot swells with white caps clearly indicating how quickly conditions on such large bodies of water can change. Rapidly changing weather conditions combined with an abundance of rocks and shoals make these other wise beautiful boating waters no place for the inexperienced, under-skilled boater.

  Over the past two winters I have both taken and taught some of the Power Squadron's courses here in Collingwood.  Besides improving your boating skills, membership in the Canadian Power and Sail Squadron can provide you with discounts on your boat insurance and other services such as hotel accommodations with Delta Hotels and car rentals with National Car Rental.  

  For a complete list of courses available this fall and winter visit Blue Mountain Squadron and click on "course information" in the navigation menu.  Registration can be done in person on Tuesday September 10th, 2013 at Collingwood Collegiate Room 213 or contact Cam Thomson, Training Officer at 705-446-1305 or csthomson@rogers.com.  As as an alternative please feel free to contact myself as well.