PS: My camera date was slow by one month.

Sunday, March 14 - 13:00 to 16:00.
11725 - 156 St.  (The old Cedar Village Building on the east side of 156 street.).

There is parking in front of the building.  If the lot is full, start double parking but try not to block another car.  Above all, don't park in such a weird angle that it prevents you from driving out.  I leave it up to your good discretion.

Peter van Muyden and Alberta Sailing Association are offering the two day CYA Club Race Officer clinics in Red Deer April 10^th and April 24^th. Must attend both days. Each day is about 6 hours of classroom work. Successful candidates are capable of running club and provincial grade regattas. This is a great opportunity for your club to upgrade the quality of race management.

If you are interested or have questions please contact Peter MacDougal at info@albertasailing.com If you are interested but cannot make the proposed dates, please let me know what dates you prefer and we will see what we can accommodate.

An Assistant Race Officer clinic is being considered pending sufficient interest.

2010-01-07  CYA SAILING INSTRUCTOR CLINICS - We will be scheduling dates and locations for CYA Fundamental Coaching Theory and Technical Clinics in the next few weeks. Technical clinics include White Sail, Bronze Sail and Learn to Race. (Instructor Evaluations will be addressed in a later email.) If you are interested, please send by email to info@albertasailing.com the following information;

·         Name:

·         Mailing address:

·         Phone number:

·         Birth Date: (Must be at least 16 years old. We will consider exceptions of those close to 16.)

·         Fundamental preferred location: Edmonton, Calgary, Other?

·         Fundamental preferred dates: (What is most convenient for you? Must be at least 21 days before the Technical clinic.)

·         Technical Context you are interested in: (White Sail, Bronze Sail, Learn to Race)

·         Technical Preferred Dates: (May, June, July, need it before?)

·         Technical Preferred location: (Glenmore, WSC, CYC, Other?)

Some more information

·         Process of becoming a certified instructor;

o   Instructor Fundamental clinic covers coaching theory, safety, ethics and planning. It is two and a half days indoors. (Mid winter is good)

o   Instructor Technical clinic is at least 21 days after the Fundamental clinic and also takes two and a half days. Candidates will be practice teaching real students for two full days. You will be required to demonstrate appropriate sailing skills and knowledge at or before the clinic. Practice and training clinics may be available prior to the clinics depending demand and available resources. Additional fees may apply. Successful candidates can then pay the CYA instructor dues and work as an instructor for two years. Within the two year, candidates need to be Evaluated to become Fully Certified.

o   Instructor Evaluation is at least 21 days after the Technical clinics. You are teaching real students for about half a day with an Instructor Evaluator.

·         Course time and cost:  Fundamental and  Technical  clinics are 2.5 day and cost $175 each. Evaluation is half a day and costs $75. Sailing skills testing and training clinic charges to be determined.

·         Prerequisites to work as an instructor are

o   Strong sailing skills and knowledge in the context you wish to be certified in. (White Sail, Bronze Sail, Learn to Race). Testing may be at the Technical clinic or prior to the clinic depending on location.

o   Pleasure Craft Operators Card is required prior to attending the Technical clinic. It may be challenged at the Fundamental clinic or a variety of other locations.

o   Emergency First Aid or equivalent. (Many schools will require standard)

o   Current LSS Bronze Medallion, Boat Rescue or equivalent,

·         Evaluations are at least 21 days after attending a technical clinic. Usually one instructor teaching real students for half a day under the supervision of an Evaluator. By appointment made through ASA or individual Evaluators.

For more information, send me an email; info@albertasailing.com or phone 403-617-9092

Sunday, Dec 13 - 13:00 to 15:00.
11725 - 156 St.  (The old Cedar Village Building on the east side of the street.

There was an exodus of sailboats motoring the length of the lake yesterday.  Jim and I were amongst the first to arrive on Rhumbo with a lunch that Jaye packed for us.  Why is it that a lunch made by somebody else always tastes way better? 

The Autohelm had a bit of a tough time operating at -3C.  It creaked for a while till it warmed up.  Sort of the way I felt when I woke that morning.  A steady stream of boats arrived afterwards to fill the vacant slips.  However, some of the arriving boats decided a long look at the town dock was in order!  So one after the other they nudged their keel in the mud at the edge of the channel to ensure they wouldn't move!  No harm done as each was pulled off by a subsequent boater.  In all fairness, the lake level is 30 cm below weir level and 15 cm below launch time in Spring.  Many haven't negotiated this channel since Spring. 

Top 10 reasons why you take your boat out AFTER the first snow fall.

1. It feels good to flex the sheets along their length to break internal ice crystals.
2. You wonder how long it takes to soak a dock line knot in lake water before you can release it.
3. You like to carry your stuff to the boat wearing a life jacket because the docks are too slippery with frost for the wheel barrow!
4. You like to talk to your neighbour on the adjacent dock via the VHF.  The real reason is that you can't open your mouth fully in the cold.
5. Your favourite gunk hole at the East end of the lake is called "restaurant" and you wonder what type of soup is being served today.