Canadian Yachting June 2017 - 3

VANTAGE POINT
June 2017
PUBLISHER Greg Nicoll
877-620-9373 * gnicoll@kerrwil.com
MANAGING EDITOR Andy Adams
416-574-7313 * aadams@kerrwil.com
TRAVEL EDITOR Elizabeth Kerr
416-258-9948 * elizabethkerr@kerrwil.com
ART DIRECTOR Allan Bates
416-485-9229 * allan.s.bates@sympatico.ca
AD PRODUCTION
705-527-7666 * admin@kerrwil.com
CONTRIBUTORS Andy Adams, John Armstrong,
Robin Ball, Glen Cairns, Kate Fincham, Bob Nicoll,
John Morris and Katherine Stone
ADVERTISING
Mark Collett
604-351-0211 * markcollett@kerrwil.com
John Armstrong
289-962-1310 * johnarmstrong@kerrwil.com
Jim Negen
320-281-7454 * 855-484-7200
* jnegen@kerrwil.com
Ian Gilson
905-719-5152 * igilson@kerrwil.com
Bob Nicoll
250-419-4858 * bnicoll@kerrwil.com
PRINT PRODUCTION Eileen Walsh
705-527-7666 * eileenwalsh@kerrwil.com
CIRCULATION Elissa Campbell
705-527-7666 * elissacampbell@kerrwil.com
ACCOUNTING Michelle McKerness
705-527-7666 * michellemckerness@kerrwil.com
Canadian Yachting is published by ADASTRA
MEDIA INC in association with
KERRWIL PUBLICATIONS LIMITED.

HEAD OFFICE
538 Elizabeth Street
Midland, Ontario L4R 2A3
Tel: 705-527-7666 Fax: 705-527-7662
www.kerrwil.com
ADASTRA Media
John W. Kerr Jr.-Director and Managing Partner
Greg Nicoll-Group Vice President
Canadian Yachting is published six times a year.
Subscription Rates: 1 year $31.95 + tax; 2 years $47.95 + tax
Outside Canada: 1 year US $52.00
Prices include GST Registration #R102819539
The contents of this publication are the property of Kerrwil
Publications Limited and may not be reproduced in whole or
in part without prior written consent. We encourage letters to
the editor, submissions and query letters from writers and our
readers. For material to be returned, please include a
stamped, self-addressed envelope. Occasionally, we allow the
use of mailing lists to firms offering products and information
that we feel may be of interest to you. If you do not want
your name made available, please return your mailing label to
us marked DO NOT RELEASE.

Send all address changes, post office returns and
subscription enquiries to:
Canadian Yachting
538 Elizabeth Street
Midland, Ontario L4R 2A3
T: 705-527-7666 F: 705-527-7662
E-mail: elissacampbell@kerrwil.com
Canada Post Mail Agreement
40065481
ISSN 0384-0999 Return
postage guaranteed

A "Flare" for Safety
For decades, larger vessels have been required to carry distress flares in case of emergency, but have you ever had to set one off?
First, it is illegal to set off a flare unless you are in a genuine emergency situation,
so very few people anywhere in Canada, have ever actually set one off (thankfully).
Pyrotechnic flares are very powerful and we assume, dangerous and tricky to use,
particularly if you have had no previous experience. The instructions are clearly
marked on the flare, but if you were in a real emergency, I would bet you would not
be thinking very clearly.
The pyrotechnic flares need to be stored safely and kept dry plus, they have a
clearly marked expiry date, after which they may not function correctly. For the vast
majority of Canadian boaters, the required flares are bought, stored onboard and
then need to be disposed of and replaced with fresh flares.
The Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons (CPS-ECP) in cooperation with
CIL/Orion who make the flares, have developed a very important and valuable
flare disposal program where boaters can return expired flares. CIL/Orion safely
disposes of them.
Also, in cooperation with CIL/Orion and the Canadian Coast Guard, CPS-ECP
has developed a DVD and manual on the safe operation of all types of flares which
is available to purchase from CPS-ECP through their web site.
Go to the website at cps-ecp.ca or the www.cps-ecp.ca/?WCE=C=47|K=240853
Recently, a company called Weems & Plath introduced their "SOS Distress
Light" to the market in the USA and this product has received US Coast Guard
Approval for use in place of pyrotechnic flares.
So far, the "SOS Distress Light" is not approved for use in Canada, but boaters
cruising up from the USA will undoubtedly be carrying these on their boats and we
think that for the surprisingly low price of under $150, we would buy one for our
own boat, even though we will still carry the required flares.
It seems like an advance in boating safety but there is an environmental aspect
and it is significant.
At the Canadian Safe Boating Awards (CASBAs) this past January Weems &
Plath received the "Safeguarding the Environment" Award.
This prestigious award recognizes a company who has introduced to Canada a
boating product or campaign that reduces marine pollution and makes the sport of
boating more environmentally friendly.
The SOS Distress Light was chosen because it is a safe, non-toxic, fully recyclable, user-friendly LED light signal. It can be a supplement to pyrotechnic flares on
recreational boats in Canada. It also reduces the contamination of landfills, ground
water and oceans that happens through the improper disposal of expired flares.
"We are honored that the Canadian Safe Boating Council has recognized the
SOS Distress Light for both its' safety and environmental benefits," said Weems &
Plath President, Peter Trogdon.
The SOS Distress Light is the first and only LED Visual Distress Signal Device
that meets U.S. Coast Guard requirements to completely replace traditional
pyrotechnic flares. Unlike traditional flares, this electronic flare never expires which
solves the challenge of flare disposal.
Expired pyrotechnic distress signals are hazardous waste and an environmental
contaminant requiring special disposal but regrettably, a large proportion of expired
flares are illegally dumped in landfills or the environment. It is estimated that each
flare illegally dumped, can contaminate 900,000 litres of water.
That's a staggering number!
So, please always make sure you and all your boating friends dispose of flares
properly through the CPS-ECP Disposal program.
Also, support CPS-ECP and your boating associations in their push to see
Transport Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard approve the new LED electronic
flares for use in Canada. This is a big improvement in technology and safety too!
Andy Adams-Editor

subscription.canadianyachting.ca

www.canadianyachting.ca

http://www.cps-ecp.ca http://www.cps-ecp.ca/?WCE=C=47|K=240853 http://www.kerrwil.com http://subscription.canadianyachting.ca http://www.canadianyachting.ca\

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