Flotilla Commander

Kent McCoin, FC
[email protected]

Last month, as we were trying to get off on a �life time� trip to England and Scotland, I kept having to re submit the Operation Patriot forms - until they saw my reports they wouldn�t believe they never gave me the correct forms to complete, etc. By the time they were all emailed correctly there was no time to contribute to the On Course - sorry! This month we are off for a short dive/cruise trip we planned before remembering the May meeting would be advanced due to Memorial Day. Consequently we will miss this meeting and my remarks here will be brief so we don�t �miss the boat!�

I did want to take the time here to say thanks for all the time so many of you have contributed on VSC, MDV, patrol, radio, training, flotilla and division staff work - all of it - and for such good attendance at our flotilla meetings! Special thanks are in order for the cleanup efforts of Jim Flemming for hauling off old flotation and lumber from around the shed and for his thorough organization of the VSC program and to George Crouch for the excellent job coordinating operations and especially the operations workshop last meeting. If you are operations and missed the workshop, you not only missed a great presentation and discussion, but you are no longer qualified to participate in operations after May 31st until you complete the makeup.

Boaters are active on the lake and so are our programs so your support is still greatly needed. Please follow the VSC schedule so you can help Jim as much as possible and keep up your qualification. On-the-water patrols are always needed, but we can�t overlook the importance VSC�s, radio watch and the other important parts of our total program too and sometimes those �in charge� have a hard time getting all the support they need beyond the �same consistent helpers� we always owe our thanks to. Overall you continue to do a great job and we will meet the needs.

On the subject of needs it is our turn for maintenance of the island in May. With the work Jim has already done, I think this means mostly grass cutting where it needs it. A time for this should be established at the next flotilla meeting along with setting up a time for the operations workshop makeup and planning for the Operations Exercise and cookout - June 15. This is always a fun time with good training.

It is also my hope that we can get more internal training going soon. In the mean time those interested should follow Jim Smith�s lead. He recently completed several courses under self-study and you can do the same by taking charge of your own program. That is what the mentor program is about, and you can choose and contact the mentor first if it is not happening the other way. A critical part of training this year is the high number of requalifications, which come due before the end of the year. Don Davis has notified each of these members so you can plan ahead and not get caught short at the end of the year. We will also see about scheduling another TCT class later in the year, as well as the sexual harassment prevention orientation.

That�s it for now. Look to see you at one of the next activities in just after a week.

Vice Commander

George S. Crouch III, VFC
[email protected]

I want to thank everyone for coming out and helping with the Lake Murray Triathalon on Sunday, May 19th. Thanks to your help, all went well. Please make a note that the Night Exercise is being moved to Saturday, June 15th. I'll look forward to seeing you at the flotilla Meeting, Monday May 20th.

Information Services

Donald H. Davis, FSO-IS
[email protected]

LIST OF MEMBERS THAT HAVE TO RE-QUAL THIS YEAR

Name	Cox/Crew	NavRules
Alexander	X	X
Brown, Carl	X	X
Deaton	X
McCallister	X
Mendenhall, G.	X
O'Farrell	X	X
Owen	X
Schneider	X
Smith	X

Click on the underlined link to view the report. Click "Back" button to return to newsletter.

Activity Mission Report 2002

Flotilla 12-3 Facilities, 2002

Materials

James Smith, FSO-MA
[email protected]

I still haven't gotten the total rate change for the new postage hike going in effect on June 30th except the following: first class will rise to 37cents & postcards will rise to 23 cents. The other rates increases will be mostly for Priority Mail, two & three day delivery

In case someone would like the "item-of-the-quarter" that was written up in the Spring issue of the CG Aux" Association newsletter besides member John O'Farrell, I have ordered six at a cost of $12.00 each. According to the article, this gadget will give you Deviation/Variation/Compass Course/True Course/instant bearings & just almost steer you boat, and it's non-electric...requires no batteries etc. Just dial in your info' and "presto" you have your results.

I'll have some items for members from different sources at the meeting, and also my "stores" just in case others may need some supplies.

Member Training

Gerald J. Ruschkofski, FSO-MT
[email protected]

Congratulations to Jim Smith for passing AUXPAT and Bob Alexander for passing the online NAVRULES requalification. I encourage the rest of you who need NAVRULES requal to take it online as soon as possible. Please advise me when you have passed it.

A number of new members have asked me about getting started in the Boat Crew program. There are several things that must be done before the Boat Crew training can be started. The first thing is that you must have a member number for identification. The second thing is you must have acquired a Basic Knowledge of Boating Skills. This is outlined in Task BCM-08-01-AUX of the Qualification Guide. Most members meet this requirement thru successful completion of the Boating Skills and Seamanship class. You can either attend the Fall class which is offered the public or study the text on your own and pass the closed book examination. Successful completion of the US Power Squadron's basic boating class or the new Boating Safely (BSC) course will also be counted. Proof of successful completion of a closed book examination is required for all options.

The last requirement is the swim test while wearing a PFD. This task is outlined in Task BCM-02-15-AUX. You will be required to properly don an approved PFD, enter the water and float for 5 to 10 minutes. You will then be required to travel thru the water for 25 yards using whatever swim stroke you like. This task must be witnessed by a Flotilla mentor and normally is done in a swimming pool.

I am trying to set a date for a seminar for those of you who Boat Crew and Coxswain requalification this year. Maybe the day of our night training exercise.

Publications

Joe M. Richbourg, FSO-PB
[email protected]

The newsletter is a little later than normal this month. My wife and I have been traveling by boat for the past couple of weeks. We moved on board in Charleston on May 6th and went south on the ICW through Georgia and half of Florida. After 11 days and 10 nights on a 22 footer, we returned to Charleston late on May 16th, logging 952 miles. We saw and did more than I can cover here, but believe me, it was a real adventure. I have posted a few photos at the end of the newsletter.

Navigation Question for May

Situation: You are proceeding north on the ICW, on the Indian River about 5 miles north of Titusville, Florida. The ICW runs generally NE for 5 miles across the wide river; however the channel is very narrow, and there is shoal water on both sides right up to the edge of the channel. A NASA security zone adjoins the SE side of the channel. There is a 15 to 20 knot wind from the north. Two-thirds of the way across, you meet a dredge that appears to be blocking the entire channel. You can not see the day markers beyond the dredge, and the sides of the channels are difficult to determine. The dredge operator calls on the VHF and directs that you pass on the �One Whistle� side. What actions should you take?

The first correct response will qualify for a prize at the May meeting, courtesy of Ed Jones.

Vessel Examination

James Fleming, FSO-VE
[email protected]

Scheduled VSCs:
May 25, 0900 to 1300----Lexington Personal Watercraft Rentals. ( White Rock )
June 01, 0900 to 1300---Putnam's Landing.

At our last Division meeting the question of taking non- USCGAUX members on Patrol came up. Bob Matthew's reply was,"The Procedure is a written request submitted to Group Charleston, stating who,why,when,and ss# of guest. Group Charleston MUST respond !!!

Trivia: A Georgia angler recently broke the South Carolina State record for Striped Bass, with a 59 pound, 8 ounce Striper caught on February 03, 2002 in Lake Hartwell.

Upcoming Events

May 18-24, North American Safe Boating Campaign, click for web site

May 19th, Lake Murray Triathalon, Dreher Island State Park

May 20th, Flotilla Meeting (3rd Monday this month due to Memorial Day.)

May 27th, Memorial Day observed

June 15th, Night Exercise and social

July 27th, Division Meeting, Mt. Pleasant

September 10th, Fall BS&S Class begins (6 weeks through October 15th.)

October 26th, Division Meeting, Mt. Pleasant

December 16th, Flotilla 12-3 Change of Watch dinner meeting

January 25th, 2003, Division 12 Change of Watch, hosted by Flotilla 12-3

11 Days, 10 Nights and 952 Miles in a 22 Foot Boat May 6 - 16, 2002 Charleston, SC to Cocoa, FL and Back Click photo for larger image. When viewing a photo, click "back" to return to this page.
1st stop, Palmer Johnson Marina, Thunderbolt, GA	Ready to continue south.	Why am I smiling? I've still got 850 miles to go!
Fernandina Harbor Marina, 1st Florida stop.	Fishing was good!	Waterfront property on ICW, Jacksonville.
South Pontre Vedra Beach	South of Palm Coast, we found this sad sight. (Jim, it had a recent VSC sticker.)	Approaching the Bridge of Lions, St. Augustine
St. Augustine Municipal Marina	The "Manatee Zones" were all down the ICW; speed limit in the channel, idle speed outside.	Sea Ray Plant on the Canaveral Barge Canal
Canaveral Barge Canal Lock	Canaveral Barge Canal Lock one hour later	This guy had tied off to bouy number 13 trying to fish under it outside the Port Canaveral Inlet (It was a lot rougher than the picture shows.)
Coming in through the Port Canaveral Inlet.	We shared a slip with this fellow in Titusville. He loved my fresh water flushing port.	Best food in Titusville. No shirt, no shoes, no problem!
Sunset at the Titusville Municipal Marina.	Floating restaurant at New Smyrna Beach	Ponce Inlet on Sunday afternoon; wall to wall boats.
Ponce Inlet on Monday morning: private beach.	Ponce Lighthouse from offshore	Ponce Light from inside the inlet.
Halifax Harbor Marina, Daytona	Fernandina Beach sunset over the ICW on the way home.	Shelter Cove Marina, Hilton Head, the last stop before returning to Charleston.

2002 Calendar

Members' Web Site