Mid-Island Sail Training (MIST)

by Rob Dodge on 1 Apr 2017 The Bluewater Cruising Association’s Vancouver Island Chapter is proud to host the fourth annual Mid-Island Sail Training (MIST) on-the-water event in Nanaimo, May 5-7, 2017. MIST is dedicated to the development of traditional sailing skills by practice in the “great water laboratory” at our doorstep, rather than by theory in a classroom setting. MIST is a weekend of camaraderie and fun with the goal of making us better sailors in a more basic, practical sense. This is an excellent hands-on training experience on its own or in addition to V.I.C.E. (Vancouver Island Cruising Experience.)

It is hoped that participants will arrive at the docks at Newcastle Island with their boats, although in the past we have had “boatless” people who have managed to book berths on other’s boats and have a great time. Assuming most boats will arrive on Friday, attendees are invited to an informal happy hour at 1700h on Protection Island (Grace and Rob Dodge, hosts). Please bring a contribution to the evening social. Dinner on Saturday will be a potluck, also hosted by Rob and Grace.

Course Outline

The main theme this year will be navigating without your electronics, including dead reckoning, using depth contours and celestial navigation. We will review the function of your sextant, what to buy if you don’t already own one, how to ensure it hasn’t been dropped and knocked out of adjustment and how to readjust if needed. There will be “classroom” time on Saturday and time on the boats figuring out where best to take the sights from, and your eye’s elevation. This will be followed by some theory and the calculations to take a noon sight, establishing both your latitude and longitude.

Sunday is traditionally a day on the water at a predetermined location in the middle of the Strait. Weather depending, boats will sail on one or more dead reckoning exercises after generating a compass deviation card, and with a bit of luck will get a MerPass position (Meridian Passage) sighting.

Although the focus of the weekend is on navigating without electronics, the program always seems to evolve with the interests and needs of the participants, so don’t be afraid to request any non-electronic training you may want, i.e. heaving to, reefing on ALL points of sail, and wind vanes etc.

If you can’t make it to Nanaimo on Saturday, you are welcome to participate on Sunday only.

Registration Information
MIST is limited to 22 people.
Advance registration is mandatory – please email Rob.
Cost per participant is $10 (possibly less), payable upon arrival.

Suggested Moorage
Newcastle Island dock or mooring buoys, or anchor in Mark Bay.

Mentors
Skippers are encouraged to bring a mentor along with them. Request one when registering or search under resources/mentors on the BCA website.

Don’t have a boat?
Boat-less sailors who wish to participate as crew can also register by contacting Rob Dodge; effort will be made to find a host boat and accommodation. Boat-less sailors are also encouraged to ask at Club Nights and/or use the website to try and line up their own ride.

Mark Bay (Newcastle Island) and Georgia Strait
05 May 2017 1700h to 07 May 2017 1700h
Members $10?/?Non-Members N/A

This article has been provided courtesy of the Bluewater Cruising Association.