by Capt. Don Greene
I was sitting in my chair next to a beautiful roaring fireplace on a rainy Sunday afternoon, when I decided to get out a chart and my new Garmin GPS Model 478. I set out a course from Greenport, NY to Stonington Harbor.
See if you can chart the course. You just passed the 1GI flashing green buoy, at Gardiners Point, Long Island. You set a course for the flashing R10 (red bell buoy).
As you reach the eastern end of Fishers Island you notice that the sun has set and it is starting to get dark. You reach over to switch on your running lights and they do not turn on. You switch again. They flash very bright then off. You also notice that the GPS is turned off.
With all the rocks near you, what will you do after you get everyone into PFDS??
In the next printing of the Resident, I will finish plotting the course. If you cannot plot a course into Stonington Harbor, you need to attend our next boating class.
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 25-03 will be conducting a “Weekend Navigator” class. The classes will be held on Saturday, April 4th and Saturday, April 11th. The course will be held from 9 am to 4 pm on both Saturdays at the Odd Fellows Home on Lestertown Road, Groton.
For information and/or registration please contact Bruce Buckley at 860.391.3364 or via email at cgaux.mysticct@yahoo.com. Fee is $75.
Ask Bruce to save you a seat.
