We're America's Boating Club®!
America's Boating Club®
Boating is fun - we'll show you how!
Boating is fun - we'll show you how!
We are recreational sail, power, and people-powered boaters from north central Indiana and southwest Michigan. Find out who we are and how we can help you make boating safer and more fun! Check us out on the “What is U.S.P.S.?” page! Questions? Email us at info@sbsps.org.
This Month's Highlights
Commander's Message
Commander Ernie Piotrowski's January message has been posted. See it on the From the Helm page.
Next Regular Meeting - “Coast Guard Boarding Protocol”
Location - Varsity Club, 3800 N Main Street, Mishawaka, IndianaDate/Time - 19 January 2010 at 7:00 p.m. (Cash bar at 6:30 pm).
BM1 Jason Fowler of the Michigan City Coast Guard Station will present a program on boarding protocol and answer general questions about CG duties and responsibilities. Reservations required.
For more details, see our Next Meeting page.
Spring 2010 District Conference
The Flint Squadron will be hosting the Spring District Conference at the Southfield Marriott in Southfield, Michigan 19 - 21 March 2010. The theme for this conference is Join the Seven Seas Adventure. Hospitality rooms will be themed to countries and food from around the world. Join us for some great fun, food, and fellowship! Reservations should be received no later than 26 Feb, 2010. Download a Reservation Form today.December/January SpringLine
The December/January edition of the SpringLine has been posted on the Member's Page (access restricted to members).15 January 2010 Roster
The 15 January 2010 edition of the Roster is the most recent issue of our roster. It has been posted on the Member's Page (access restricted to members).
Cookbooks Still Available!
Looking for that perfect birthday, anniversary, or “just thinking of you” gift? A limited number of our spectacular 50th Anniversary Cookbook are still available. You have seen them, you have read them, you have swooned over the recipes that have been shared among our members for generations. Now, you can have one for yourself and one for a gift. Save money, help your squadron and its projects, and share a memorable kitchen companion. These hard-bound, quality volumes sell for just $18.00, or two for $34.00. For more information call the squadron telephone number, 574-232-2307; or send your check payable to South Bend Sail and Power Squadron to P.O. Box 4255, South Bend, Indiana 46634. Be sure and write "Cookbook" on the check. These make wonderful gifts, and are perfect for birthdays or other special events. Get yours today!Public Boating Classes
Our Spring 2010 public boating classes have been scheduled. The first will begin 22 March and run for six weeks, while the second will begin 03 May and run for six weeks. An optional two week charting module is available with each class. Our Special Weekend Edition of our public boating course is being offered this spring beginning on 17 April at Pier 33 Marina in St. Joseph, Michigan. The Special Weekend Edition covers the same course in just two Saturday mornings, with the exam on the third Saturday. Check our Education Page regularly for updated information about our schedule of public classes and registration information.Boating Tip of the Month
Get Your Boat to Self Steer Under Sail
In the days of coastal shipping under sail, the old schooners or gaff headed cutters were often sailed by a “man a boy and a dog.” How did this small crew handle the 50 to 70 foot cargo ships that were laden with lumber, coal, granite, grain and other commodities that were hard to ship overland? The trick that made this possible was the ability of the skipper to get the vessel to steer itself under sail for long periods at a time. Those boats had long straight keels and sail plans with low centers of gravity; plus, they had numerous sails to trim so the boat could be balanced with many fore and aft adjustments, including square sails for down-wind running.On modern fin-keel, spade-rudder designs that most of us sail, the trick of getting a boat to steer itself can be a little more complex because the hulls have lower built-in directional stability and the sail plan usually consist of only two fore and aft sails that are normally flown on one side of the boat or the other thereby creating a natural imbalance.
Down wind, you can get a modern sloop to sail straight by running dead downwind wing 'n wing – that's with the mainsail on one side and the genoa poled out on the other. The boat will steer before the wind for hours this way as long as the helm is balanced and neutral. You can adjust the balance by reefing or unreefing the sails as necessary.
Up wind, modern boats can be made to steer themselves for many minutes if you can get the sails completely balanced so the helm is neutral. You do this with sail trim by adjusting the sheets, the cars on the genoa leads, the traveler and the mail outhaul. Once the sail plan is balanced, the boat will slip along without rounding up or falling off and will maintain a constant angler to the wind.
Balance the rig, trim the sails carefully and you will find your boat will go where you want it to all by itself.
Courtesy of Cruising Compass and Blue Water Sailing Magazine.
USPS® Exam Waiver
USPS has waived the exam requirement for membership, at the discretion of the local squadron. Bring a prospective member to the next meeting!News Feed from USPS Added
All of the latest news from USPS is available on a news feed that is constantly updated. Keep up with what is going on on a national level. Follow the link to USPS News.Education
Public Boating Class - Begins 22 March 2010. Six weeks. Advance registration requested.Public Boating Class - Begins 3 May 2010. Six weeks. Advance registration requested.
Public Boating Class - Special Weekend Edition - 17 April 2010 (3 weeks), Pier 33, St. Joseph MI.
Piloting (Members Only) - begins 01 March 2010.
Engine Maintenance (Members Only) - Begins 07 April 2010 (Ten weeks)
See the Education page for details.