Canadian Yachting October 2017 - 41

From the Ranks - David Ferguson

"We wanted a larger boat and proper
training"
Thirty five years ago David and his wife
Pat ventured out into the North Channel from their home in Elliot Lake in
their sixteen foot daysailor and knew
right away that they both wanted a
bigger boat and proper training. So in
1982 David enrolled in the Elliot Lake
Squadron's Boating Course and began
his tenure with CPS-ECP. David found
the training to be top notch and followed the Boating Course with Seamanship Sail, Advanced Piloting and finally
Weather. "I really enjoyed the courses
and many key learning points came my
way in the Seamanship Sail program,
and these I feel are all essential courses
to have if you are going to venture out
on the big waters of Georgian Bay."
On the night of his Boating Course
graduation David became a member of
CPS-ECP and promptly joined the Elliot Lake Squadron's Bridge as Executive Officer. He said that he had been
forewarned about the thin ranks of the
Squadron at the time and felt that he
could be an asset, so after one year as
Executive Officer, David then moved
up to be the Commander. This position was held for two years and then he
moved into the teaching end and became the Training Officer. However,
a work transfer a few years later found
him now in a land locked southern Ontario position so he stepped back from
his involvement in CPS-ECP.
David's early years were in Kingston, Ontario and then the family

moved to Streetsville just west of Toronto. After high school he then went
off to college at Sir Sanford Flemming
in Lindsey which was just opening up.
As a result David's classes were often
in the local repurposed Nunnery so he
said with some pride, "I am one of the
few males that graduated from a nunnery!" In 1975 he began working with
the Department of Lands and Forests
at an eastern Ontario fish hatchery.
Eventually this department's name
changed and is now known as the
Ministry of Natural Resources. Then
came his transfer to Moosonee, "and
that was a bit of a culture shock."
For David this was his first real exposure to a First Nations People and
"it was quite a learning experience."
Three years of working in the area was
an eye opener and good fortune came
his way. While there he met a nurse
who soon became his wife. However,
living in Moosonee was not an option
as there were no married living quarters available, so a transfer was applied
for and soon they were both bound for
the booming town of Elliot Lake located on the shores of Georgian Bay.
There we both "found adventure!"
There were lots of rowdy miners to
deal with, and as a new Ontario Conservation Officer the ongoing poaching of wildlife kept him very busy.
David then commented, "Now, of
course, Elliot Lake is a retirement site.
It's a town of grey hair and scooters,
quite a change from my days there." He
continued saying, "Now it is quite a respectable town and the lawns are even
well kept, but not in my days!" The Elliot Lake Squadron offered lots of opportunity to meet fellow boaters and he
and his wife "enjoyed associating with
fellow boaters and introducing the newcomers to the joys of safe boating."
While enjoying boating, David also
knows some of the dangers of boating.
One night the Conservation Officer
and his deputy were out in a 14 ft fishing boat just after the ice had moved

out when they were suddenly thrown
into the water. The boat's small 9.9 hp
motor was still running and the captainless boat began to travel in a large
circle. Fortunately both men had their
floatation suits on, but the water was
cold, so it was important to get back
into the boat somehow and return to
the land. David began swimming toward the circling boat trying his best
to reach it even though his work boots
were weighing him down. Finally he
was able to reach the side of the passing vessel, reach up with both hands,
grab the side of the boat and then with
a swift arm action hit the kill switch
located at the end of the motor's tiller
shaft. The vessel then came to a halt,
but by this time his deputy had been
run over by the vessel several times.
Hauling him out of the water was next.
This was achieved with no propeller
damage. The trip back to the shore
was not long, but the effect of the cold
water was certainly becoming apparent. Hypothermia is not only a danger
in the far north but in every Canadian
lake and you always have to be careful.
Back on the land and in their vehicle
they both sat and warmed up knowing
how fortunate they were.
Working with the Ministry of Natural Resources David got to operate a
large number of government watercraft,
everything from paddle canoes to the
larger 33 ft twin diesel patrol boats. His
first squall experience was here on a river.
Just after arriving in Moosonee he was
patrolling a stretch of the river in a 14 ft
aluminum boat with a 25 hp outboard.
This river is in an area where there are
very few trees and the land is very flat. A
thunderstorm suddenly appeared in the
west and moved rapidly toward him. As
luck would have it his destination was up
river, in the direction of the approaching
storm! So at high speed he zipped along
and as the line squall hit the boat it became airborne and floated on a cushion of air for 50 or 60 ft with only the
Continued on page 46

www.canadianyachting.ca

THE PORT HOLE

by R. John Garside AP

http://www.canadianyachting.ca

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Yachting October 2017