Canadian Power & Sail Squadron - Pender Island Squadron
30TH ANNIVERSARY! Check out their booth at the fall and their parade float entry.
The Squadron now has its own web site.
Check it for course information and announcements:
www.cps-ecp.ca/penderisland/
PENDER ISLAND COURSES MAY INCLUDE
BOATING (leads to PCOC)
MARINE MAINTENANCE
FUNDAMENTALS OF WEATHER
RADAR
ELECTRONIC CHARTING
PILOTING
ADVANCED PILOTING
NAVIGATING WITH GPS
GLOBAL WEATHER
MARITIME RADIO
Pleasure Craft Operators Card (PCOC)
The card is awarded following the successful completion of a Canadian Coast Guard accredited test. Also note that those under age 12 must be accompanied by an adult at least 16 years old to operate a vessel with a motor greater than 10hp. For a 40hp motor, those aged 12-16 must also be accompanied by an adult. The minimum age to operate a PWC is 16 years.
The Canadian Power and Sail Squadron (CPS) Boating Course, offered by the Pender Island Squadron, convenes weekly September through December. It is an excellent way to learn the basics of navigation and safety, and to obtain the PCOC. You can meet fellow mariners and take the course in a structured way. Instructors are typically very thorough and enthusiastic, and some have won national teaching awards. The Pender Island Squadron is part of the Vancouver Island South District, www.visd.org, which contains a link to the Pender Island Squadron's newsletter. The National CPS number is 1.888.CPS.BOAT and web site is www.cps-ecp.ca.
The Pender Island Squadron also teaches Pender Island Grade 8 students the Boat Pro boating safety course, an abbreviated version of the more thorough Boating Course. Students who pass the exam receive the PCOC. Other CPS courses taught on Pender Island during the winter include Fundamentals of Weather and Global Weather, VHF Radio operator's certification and the advanced courses Piloting, Advanced Piloting and Marine Maintenance.
Pender Island Yacht Club (PIYC)
The PIYC was originally formed in the 1970's, and emerged in the 1990's as a large club with sixty boats, three-quarters of which are sailboats. The PIYC has no marina or clubhouse facilities, which makes membership fees inexpensive. The purpose of the club is to promote cruising and racing, good seamanship and sponsorship of junior sailing. PIYC organizes races from October through April on Friday mornings. Cruising excursions take place in the summer, which may last one day, several days, or extended periods to local destinations or even Desolation Sound. Meetings are held the third Monday of every month, October through April. See the Pender Post for the PIYC's latest adventures and contact information. A member of the Council of BC Yacht Clubs, www.cbcyachtclubs.ca.