Save the Date for the Inaugural US SAILING Yacht Club Summit

US SAILING, the National Governing Body of the sport, has announced the date and place for the first-ever US SAILING Yacht Club Summit. The summit will take place on April 2-3, 2011 at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago, Ill.

Flag officers, general managers, and committee chairpersons of yacht clubs and community sailing organizations of all sizes from around the country are invited to participate. The two day summit, moderated by US SAILING President Gary Jobson and a host of industry leaders, features a number of informative workshops and seminars, and an impressive list of expert panelists including special guest speaker and sailing icon, Ted Turner.

Learn More

Blogging the Great Lakes and Reflecting on Earth Day

Every four months, when you get the latest edition of Great Lakes News in your inbox, your often seeing only a sliver of the events that we could have reported on. Anyone who's watched the Asian carp's steady approach to Lake Michigan knows that things move quickly. Often quicker than we can report in a quarterly newsletter. That is why we're officially launching the Great Lakes United blog - a place for updates as they happen, or the quick and quirky that often fly under the radar.

Check back often to www.glu.org/en/blog for the latest updates. Today, a post on the value of Earth Day. Is it still sparking imaginations? Read, enjoy, and let us know what you think.

So Tomorrow is Earth Day
Posted: April 21, 2010 at 2:34pm

"The founding of Earth Day 40 years ago marks one of several milestones in the formation of an environmental movement. In the Great Lakes, the first Earth Day came less than one year after the Cayahoga River caught fire for the 13th time. The fire itself was small - it lasted only 30 minutes and caused $50,000 of damage. But, for the Great Lakes, the burning of the Cayahoga was the spark that enflamed a smouldering concern over the health of these waters..."

Read the full post

Boating Popularity in Ohio Soars to New Levels

COLUMBUS, OHIO – The popularity of recreational boating has reached new heights in Ohio as a record number of watercraft—419,364—were registered last year, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Watercraft. The previous record of 418,300 registered boats occurred in 2003. The totals do not include additional watercraft registered through commercial liveries.

“More Ohioans are registering hand-powered watercraft, such as canoes and kayaks, and using those boats to enjoy affordable and healthy water recreation,” said Pamela Dillon, chief of the ODNR Division of Watercraft, in explaining the higher registration total.

According to the Division of Watercraft, paddle sports are among the fastest growing of all outdoor activities. Indeed much of the increase can be found in the number of Ohio registered canoes and kayaks, which have increased 50 percent from 54,868 in 2004 to 82,670 in 2009. The division also reported that the number of watercraft, mostly canoes and kayaks, included in commercial livery registrations increased from 5,123 in 2004 to 5,894 in 2009. 

 
“We believe that people are buying more canoes and kayaks in Ohio,” said Dillon. “There also appears to be a resurgence in the number of people registering older boats for use again on the water by purchasing current watercraft registrations and alternative registrations.”
 
Ohio remains a popular boating destination, with more than 5,000 miles of navigable streams and rivers to offer paddlers. Included among these waterways are four designated Ohio Water Trails, 14 designated State Scenic Rivers, a 451-mile portion of the Ohio River and the 112-mile long Muskingum River, which features the nation’s only remaining operational wooden lock structure.

Counties with the highest numbers of registered watercraft in 2009 included Franklin – 26,586;  Cuyahoga – 23,972; Summit – 19,320, Hamilton – 17,971; and Montgomery – 15,239. The Division of Watercraft reported that watercraft registrations increased in all but seven counties from 2008 to 2009. A listing of county-by-county watercraft registrations is available online.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at www.ohiodnr.com.

Catawba Island Boat Show

US SAILING Announces New Protest and Redress Procedures

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (April 16, 2010) - US SAILING President Gary Jobson and US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics member Farrah Hall today announced that the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) has agreed to Hall’s request to dismiss her February 2008 complaint that The Racing Rules of Sailing do not comply with the Ted Stevens Act, a federal law, and USOC’s Bylaws. Hall’s request followed US SAILING’s adoption of three prescriptions regarding the conduct of protest and redress hearings.

The prescriptions will become official for certain events on July 1, 2010.

CLICK HERE for more...

BACKFLOW PREVENTERS

APRIL 19, 2010

To all GCBA, I-LYA and AYC member clubs, in the State of OHIO

I attended a meeting today with the OHIO Department of Health as to the requirements of the backflow preventers.

THE 1052’S ARE OK TO BE INSTALLED. THE 12 HOUR TIME HAS ONLY TO DO W/ THE POSSIBLE FAILURE OF A LEAK OF WATER (WHICH COULD BECOME EXPENSIVE) BUT IN NO WAY INHIBITS THE BACKFLOW OPERATION.

Remember the 1052 will be required this spring at our clubs.

The 15’ rule has changed to 10’. This is from the water supply to the connection on the boat. You would then need a 1024.  If your boat does not comply w/ this call me as I would like to go for a ride. 

NO “T” OR “Y” TAPS CAN BE INSTALLED AFTER THE 1052. For example a hose to the boat and another used for washing the boat (a garden hose), another boat,  etc.

The 500’ rule on “facilities” is stricken.

ALL OF THE LOCAL DEPARTMENTS WILL BE ENFORCING THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!

In about a week the Ohio Dept. of Health Regulations with the proposed changes will be posted on their website   www.odh.ohio.gov

There is a proposed meeting to be held in Sandusky the week of May 17^th. I will let you know date, time, and location when I find out.

I hope this clears up any confusion.

Feel free to contact me at    johnojr@aol.com          Ph# 216-314-4521

P/C John Onacila Jr.

Measured in surface area, Lake Erie is the world's 11th-largest lake, though by volume not so large. Still, being warm, shallow and awash in nutrients, the lake is by many accounts the most productive freshwater fishery in the world. Yet, for how much longer? Ray Petering, the Ohio Division of Wildlife executive administrator of fish management and research, ominously warns, "We're running out of fish up there." For Ohio, which encompasses about 51 percent of the lake's surface, Lake Erie and its fish add up to a money machine.

Jeff Hinckley | Dispatch Commercial and agricultural chemical runoff is among the causes for Lake Erie's dwindling fish population, according to officials.

"Lake Erie is a huge deal," Petering said recently.

That's why he's concerned that the stocks of walleye and yellow perch, the species most important to people from both a recreational and consumption standpoint, have been dwindling.

CLICK HERE to read the Dispatch article in it's entirety.

Reject the Distribution of E15 Marine Fuel

Help stop the request to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency REJECT any petition for a waiver of the Clean Air Act to allow distribution of E15. Moreover, we urge comprehensive scientific studies be undertaken to identify the full effects of mid-level ethanol blends on the safety and operability of millions of existing marine engines in America’s recreational boating fleet. 

Please download and fill out petition!!!!

E 15 Petition

Return to any GCBA Officer or mail to:

GCBA Headquarters

3782 W. 128th St

Cleveland, Ohio 44111

Lake Erie water quality worsening

Monroe News
Mar 13 2010

Lake Erie was shrouded in fog Friday, but its future waters might be a muddier brown or an eerier bright green due to persistent pollution and climate change, experts suggest.

The Racing Rules of Sailing 2009-2012 is Now Available for the iPhone and iPod Touch

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (March 4, 2010) – US SAILING, the national governing body for the sport, has just made the racing rules more accessible. The Racing Rules of Sailing 2009-2012 Including US SAILING Prescriptions application is now available for download from the Apple App Store for $5.99. The application’s interface offers simple navigation and is the only racing rules application approved by US SAILING. “This application is symbolic to US SAILING’s ongoing efforts to educate sailors and equip them with the resources they need to ensure a level playing field for all racers at a reasonable price,” said Charlie Leighton, executive director of US SAILING. “Accessing the racing rules is faster and more convenient than ever.” Application Features: •    Every rule and definition available at the touch of a finger •    Images and descriptions of all the signal flags •    US SAILING Prescriptions are integrated into each rule and appendix  •    Details on penalties, propulsion, protesting, and requesting redress, etc. •    Bookmarking feature for your most referenced to rules and definitions •    Convenient numerical, word and phrase search function The Racing Rules of Sailing application is designed for the avid racing sailor who needs instant access to the official rules and signals. Be prepared to answer any rules or signal questions at any time. For more information on the Racing Rules of Sailing application including screen shots of different features, visit the US SAILING application website.