Author Archives: SPS

Give it a try! July 18 with Sail Parry Sound and White Squall

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The Big Sound is without parallel for sailing, with its dependable winds, long fetch, and magnificent natural scenery among the 30,000 Islands.

Come sailing with us; experience the beauty of silent wind power!

Board a cruiser or a dinghy, wearing your PFD, (we have spares!) and sail away with an experienced sailor who will show you the ropes, sitting or sailing–your choice.

Our friends from White Squall, the Paddling Centre of Georgian Bay,  are partnering with us, for you to try other motor-free on- water experiences.  Try paddleboarding, the newest way to enjoy the Bay!

You’ll love the quiet, with the waves lapping, the feel of the cool spray on your face, the warmth of the sun, and the distinctive deep blue of the Big Sound.

On a perfect summer day, every sense is alive to the wonder of being on the water in the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve.

Come to Sail Parry Sound at the west end of Waubuno Road, next to the Rotary and the Algonquin Regiment Fitness Trail,  on Saturday, July 18, from 10 AM to 4 PM.

Getoutonthe water3

“GET OUT ON THE WATER” is a joint initiative between Ontario Sailing  and ROWONTARIO funded by the Ontario Sport and Recreation Communities Fund

 

FedNor invests in Sail Parry Sound

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SPS President Bob Griffiths thanks Minister Clement for FedNor investment.

SPS President Bob Griffiths thanks Minister Clement for FedNor investment.

Parry Sound–—Sail Parry Sound announced May 1, 2015 that it has received a generous investment from FedNor for its latest waterfront development

Following the formal announcement by the Honourable Tony Clement, Member of Parliament Parry Sound-Muskoka, Sail Parry Sound President Bob Griffiths described the $122,236 as critical to the club’s expansion of services to the community and visitors.

“Waterfront infrastructure is key to Parry Sound’s development.  With the three new outdoor attractions to be added to the sailing centre, more access to the water, to the trail system, and much greater public enjoyment of the waterfront will be possible.

“FedNor has supported the vision of a longer season for the shoreline property we lease from the Town.  We greatly appreciate the guidance and support FedNor has provided.”

With a café kiosk operated by an independent provider on the new observation deck, Sail Parry Sound will offer the only elevated, outdoor, west-facing outlet in Parry Sound, where people can enjoy a “fast casual” snack while drinking in the panoramic view of the Big Sound, for several months of the year.

“We anticipate that people who are walking or cycling on the neighbouring Rotary and the Algonquin Regiment trail will find this a refreshing stop along the shore.”

In addition, the sailing club will invite independent operators to provide stand-up paddling training and rentals, as well as other human-  or wind-powered craft.    Another facet of the development plan is to have an independent operator of bicycle rentals and training.

Bob Griffiths continued, “Adjacent to the trail, which is the access route to hundreds of miles of cyclist-friendly trails, Sail Parry Sound is perfectly positioned to welcome cyclists.  It is our intent to earn certification as an approved site for Ontario by Bike.”

“This generous FedNor support”, he said, “has made it possible for Sail Parry Sound to exercise more ways to serve Parry Sound, further demonstrating sailing for a better community.”

Sail Parry Sound is a not-for-profit corporation formed by volunteers in 1997 to restore the sailing heritage to the waters of Parry Sound, through excellence in sail training and regatta management.

Photo posted by Parry Sound Tourism:

SPS volunteers and deputy mayor with Minister Clement

Waiting eagerly for spring

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Sail Parry Sound is cloaked in snow now.  Before freeze-up, Kirby Hall worked his magic in stone to create a ramp to our future observation deck.

The left side of the photo is real; the right side includes an interpretation of the plan for spring.  The wraparound deck will provide an open, elevated panoramic view of the Big Sound.

Now, we wait for the first signs of spring! Construction could begin as early as March.

Sail Parry Sound members are fundraising; our friends and supporters are embracing the vision.

Winter dreams of summer days: meeting friends at the café kiosk on the new observation deck, coffee in hand, enjoying the breeze, listening to the laughter of children, and watching the sails on the diamond-studded waters of the Sound.

Sails on the Sound

seen from deck height

How many gifts last a lifetime?

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A gift of sailing lessons will outlast them all.  It’s a summer of fun to look forward to, and much more.  Sailing gives young people physical literacy, builds self-confidence, helps them to be more socially adept, and most important, provides a lifelong sport to enrich their lives.

For the young person you love, give the gift of sail.

http://sailparrysound.on.ca/sps-sailing-school/registration/

It will take you five minutes to arrange, but that young person will thank you always.

Happy holidays!

 

Autumn

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The autumn brings many tasks at SPS.  One of them is the removal of the floating docks to protect them from the winter storms.  It’s hard work, on a rather sad day, realizing it really is the end of summer.  Often the weather is foul.

However, this year, it was warm and misty, and as you can see, somewhat of an adventure.

All heads turned aboard the Island Queen as they cruised past Terry Johnson, towing Wade Perkins, like Huckleberry Finn on a raft.

Just another beautiful autumn day in Parry Sound!

Yes, it really is a Brigantine!

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The diamond-studded waters of the Big Sound, and those great west winds, have brought sailors with ships large and small to sail Parry Sound.  The beautiful training ships Playfair and Pathfinder are popular visitors to the waterfront.  Living history with youthful crews, the ships are a welcome sight.Playfair and pram

 Everyone who sees these magnificent ships for the first time has questions about them.  Here, courtesy of Toronto Brigantine, everything you wanted to know about the blue ship which visited Parry Sound this week, STV Playfair.

STV Playfair

 Playfair

The following specifications are for the Sail Training Vessel Playfair built for Toronto Brigantine Inc. as a sail training vessel. She was commissioned by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1973, and remains the only Canadian ship to be commissioned by a reigning monarch.

A brigantine is a two-masted square-rigged sailing vessel with fore-and-aft rigged sails on the mainmast. This is distinct from a brig that has square sails on both masts. The name comes from the Italian word brigantino meaning a pirate ship and was associated with the vessels favoured by them in the Mediterranean. The term has been applied to a variety of types of vessels through centuries and now means a two-masted square-rigged sailing vessel with fore-and-aft rigged sails on the mainmast. This is distinct from a brig that has square sails on both masts.

 

Specification

Value
Year Built 1973
Designer Francis A. MacLachlan
Location Built Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Builder Canada Dredge and Dock Co.
Hull Welded steel, 1/4″ hull plating, 1/2″ keel plating, frames every 2′
Length Sparred 22m (72′)
Length Overall 18.23m (59.8′)
Length Waterline 14m (45′)
Beam 4.5m (15′)
Freeboard 0.8m (2.6′)
Draft 2.5m (8′)
Registered Tonnage 32.98 tons
Displacement 47 tons
Ballast 10 tons
Foremast Height 16m (52′)
Mainmast Height 167.4m (57′)
Sail Area Over 250m2 (2,600 sq. ft.)

Sails: Jiptop, Jib, Foresail, Forecourse, Foretopsail, Lower Studding Sails, Upper Studding Sails, Fisherman Staysail,Main Staysail, Mainsail, Main Gaff Topsail

Hull Speed 8.2 knots (15.3 km/hr or 9.4 mi/hr)

Cruising Speed (under sail)4-8 knots (7.5-14.9 km/hr or 4.6-9.2 mi/hr)

Cruising Speed (under power)7 knots (13.1 km/hr or 8.1 mi/hr)

Water Tank 862 litre (228 US Gallons)

Waste Tank 1090 litre (288US Gallons)

Fuel Tank2380 Litres (629 US Gallons)

Engine Detroit Diesel 3-71

Engine Power81 kW (110 hp) at 1800 rpm

Complement  Total 28:

1 Captain

1 First Mate

3 Watch Officers

1 Bosun

1 Cook

3 Petty Officers

18 Trainees

All information courtesy Toronto Brigantine, a charitable organization formed in 1962. Their founding tenets were the development of leadership, discipline, and citizenship in a maritime environment. 

 

Get into Sailing with Sail Parry Sound on July 19

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Come sailing with us; experience the beauty of silent wind power!  This is how our ancestors arrived and fell in love with Parry Sound.  You will understand!HeaderSail

Come to Sail Parry Sound on July 19, and come out on the water.   Board a cruiser or a dinghy, wearing your PFD or a loaner lifejacket, and sail away with an experienced sailor who will show you the ropes, sitting or sailing–your choice.

Get into Sailing at Sail Parry Sound is sponsored by Wade Perkins of Assante Capital Management Ltd., and by Shirlene Johnston, Sales Representative for Royal LePage Team Advantage Realty Brokerage

If you haven’t already had a taste of the finest freshwater sailing in the world, you will have it here.  The Big Sound is unparalleled for sailing, with its dependable winds, long fetch, and magnificent natural scenery among the 30,000 Islands.

You’ll love the quiet, with crisp sails against the sky, with the waves lapping the hull of the boat, the feel of the cool spray on your face, the warmth of the sun, and the distinctive deep blue of the Big Sound.  On a perfect summer day on the water, every sense is alive to the wonder of sailing in the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve.

Come to Sail Parry Sound at the west end of Waubuno Road, next to the Rotary and the Algonquin Regiment Fitness Trail, and Get into Sailing!  

                        Saturday, July 19, from 10 AM to 3 PM

Get into Sailing at Sail Parry Sound is sponsored by  

Sponsorship2

Wednesday night family fun racing starts this week

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At the end of a hot summer day, a walk in the cooling breezes off the Bay as the sun slides toward the horizon is a perfect reward. Any Wednesday in July and until August 20, take a short detour west off the Rotary and the Algonquin Regiment Fitness Trail near the Old Town Beach.  Find a seat on the rocks or on a bench at Sail Parry Sound, and watch the Wednesday Night Family Fun Racing, sailing school advanced-level students and instructors and family members, just catching a breeze.

It is all very informal,  to extend a fine day on the water for another hour or two–as we all love to do.

The fun races may use the channel markers for the racecourse or possibly a large yellow floating marker.  The little boats must round the marks quickly, without touching, and then start off in a completely different direction, all by controlling the sails, the rudder, and the sailors’ position within the boat or out on the trapeze. It can look like an intricate dance on a windy evening.

Competition is all in fun, the dinghies with their bright sails and spinnakers are fast and colourful, and you will be relaxed and entertained while you enjoy sitting on the shore.
Bring your camera and sunglasses, and drop in at Sail Parry Sound on a summer Wednesday evening around 6 PM, take a walk around the Rotary Sunset Trail bordering the Boatyard, and enjoy the view.

Racing in the golden late-afternoon sun

Racing in the golden late-afternoon sun

Adults and children are welcome to take sailing lessons, youngsters by the week, and adults by appointment, pre-registered.
Sail Parry Sound is a not-for-profit corporation formed by volunteers in 1997 to restore the sailing heritage to the waters of Parry Sound, through excellence in sail training and regatta management.

The buoys of summer

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As the sun rose this morning, Coast Guard buoy tender Samuel Risley cast off, laden with red and green buoys, and set a course for the northerly shores of the Sound, one of the most welcome signs of spring so far this year.
With the channel markers in place, boaters, especially those with a deep keel, are reassured among the islands.
Buoy tenderThe Samuel Risley carries a large and powerful crane on her long low afterdeck for manipulating buoys. Two hundred and twenty-eight feet long, 1967 tons, with a crew of 22, it is a light icebreaker, capable of cutting through up to 33 inches of ice. A familiar sight arriving and departing the Coast Guard wharf next door, she has been observed standing off, like a protective parent, if a fleet of little sailboats is returning to Sail Parry Sound as she approaches.
The Coast Guard writes of the original Samuel Risley, the first chairman of the Board of Steamship Inspectors, that he was born in New York City in 1821. After he came to Upper Canada he became a steamboat inspector under the Steamboat Act of 1851, at which time he would have been aged 30 with at least twelve years of practical experience. In 1858, he assumed the office of Chairman of the Board. After Confederation, Risley was responsible for shipping safety for the entire country.
Change was difficult in the face of lethargy but Risley was tenacious. If you have read Maritime Histories of the Great Lakes,  you will know that much of the news of the time was shipping accidents. The Globe and Mail noted in 1881 that 470 lives had been lost in only three years.
After the wrecks of the Asia, not far from here, and the overloaded Victoria near London, Ontario, Risley and his colleague William Morgan Smith set standards for such things as inspection, cargo and passenger capacity, and seaworthiness.
Risley’s reforms paved the way for shipping and boating safety today.

Splash Day!

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No matter how grey, and it was, nor how wet, and it was, splash day is the day to celebrate. A day to look forward to the sunny, breezy days on the Sound, heeling gently, listening to the slap of the waves on the hull.

Bring on summer, so we can all Sail Parry Sound!

Blue Pearl