Re-Emphasis on Celestial Navigation The emphasis on Celestial navigation as taught in the Junior Navigation (JN) and Navigation (N) advanced classes has on oc- casion been called an anachronism, just an antique technique used more as a initiation rite to the senior grade levels than a truly useful tool. Now it seems that perhaps the US Power Squadrons were ahead of the curve on this after all. Those of us who have had or are currently taking those courses just may not be old fogeys who are fascinated by the olden days after all. (And BTW—congrats to P/D/C Dave Shively, now proudly JN, one of the twelve current Beaverton members who have passed at least JN.) It seems that after many years of neglecting the technique, the US Naval Academy at Annapolis has decided to dust off its sextants and once again teach the midshipmen how it was done in the “olden” days. Apparently they have wised up to just how vulnerable their wonderful (and they really are, BTW) computer systems might be to hackers, foreign and domestic, and other mishaps and misdeeds. With the recent cyber attacks that have been in the news lately, the realiza- tion that the electronic digital goodies need to have some kind of analog backup has been a wakeup call to what we have been teaching for years—a system relying on only one technique of anything (including watching your bank re- cords, for instance) is a disaster waiting to happen. So, what could happen? There’s the usual collection of hackers that seem to enjoy inconveniencing everyone else, stories abound about the cyber exploits of certain foreign countries, and even our good old Sun can blast us with a megaflare that could take our black boxes away (check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_1859 to read about the Carrington Event, and what happened to the telegraph system used then, way before all the fancy stuff we have today. And check the cover photo. Yikes!). For more info on what the USNA is teaching, check out http://www.usna.edu/Sailing/lectures/ and check under the heading of Navigation/Celestial Navigation. Nice to know we’re back out in front! “THIRD WEDNESDAY AND IMPORTANT NOTES” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NO THIRD WEDNESDAY IN NOVEMBER 21 November 2015 Multi-Squadron Meeting Date: 21 NOVemBER 2015 Time: 1845 doords open, dinner at 1900 Location: ALL SAINTS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 3827 NE GLISAN, PORTLAND, OR Topic: Larry Talbert, P, Portland Squadron Through the Panama Canal Details on p. 5 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8 November 2015 Live Fire Extinguisher Training Details on p. 3
Transcript
Re-Emphasis on Celestial
Navigation
The emphasis on Celestial navigation as taught in the Junior
Navigation (JN) and Navigation (N) advanced classes has on oc-
casion been called an anachronism, just an antique technique used more as a initiation rite to the
senior grade levels than a truly useful tool. Now it seems that perhaps the US Power Squadrons
were ahead of the curve on this after all. Those of us who have had or are currently taking those courses just may not
be old fogeys who are fascinated by the olden days after all. (And BTW—congrats to P/D/C Dave Shively,
now proudly JN, one of the twelve current Beaverton members who have passed at least JN.)
It seems that after many years of neglecting the technique, the US Naval Academy at Annapolis has decided to dust off
its sextants and once again teach the midshipmen how it was done in the “olden” days. Apparently they have wised up
to just how vulnerable their wonderful (and they really are, BTW) computer systems might be to hackers, foreign and
domestic, and other mishaps and misdeeds. With the recent cyber attacks that have been in the news lately, the realiza-
tion that the electronic digital goodies need to have some kind of analog backup has been a wakeup call to what we
have been teaching for years—a system relying on only one technique of anything (including watching your bank re-
cords, for instance) is a disaster waiting to happen.
So, what could happen? There’s the usual collection of hackers that seem to enjoy inconveniencing everyone else,
stories abound about the cyber exploits of certain foreign countries, and even our good old Sun can blast us with a
megaflare that could take our black boxes away (check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_1859 to read
about the Carrington Event, and what happened to the telegraph system used then, way before all the fancy stuff we
have today. And check the cover photo. Yikes!).
For more info on what the USNA is teaching, check out http://www.usna.edu/Sailing/lectures/ and check under the
heading of Navigation/Celestial Navigation. Nice to know we’re back out in front!
8544 Apple Way, Portland (Just off Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy)
COST: $28 per person
MENU: Family Style Traditional Italian Dinner – No-host Bar
ACTIVITIES: Nautical Holiday Ornament Exchange and Raffle
It’s getting to be that time of year again – our annual Holiday dinner and party at Ernesto’s. There’s always lots of laughter and good conversation. The nautical holiday ornament exchange is optional. If you wish to participate, please bring a wrapped nauti-cal tree ornament to share. The competition for coveted ornaments can be fierce. We’ll once again have our raffle. Last year’s raffle was hilarious, and Elisabeth Gatton did a wonderful job (as usual) as MC. If you have any items to donate, please bring them. Hope you feel lucky! The price is right, the food is delicious, and the camaraderie is wonderful. Please plan to join your Beaverton Squadron colleagues for an evening full of fun and holiday spirit.
Please complete the following form and return it with your check payable to BSPS no later than
December 01, 2015. Mail to: Cdr. Carla Montchalin, 1675 Sand Creek Rd., Drain, OR 97435
SATURDAY GATHERING OF MEMBERS Date: Saturday, November 21, 2015 Time: 1845 – Dinner, 1900 - Meeting Location: All Saints Roman Catholic Church 3827 NE Glisan, Portland, OR This is our fourth annual joint dinner and meeting with Portland Sail and Power Squadron. Of course, all squadrons are invited to join us (and frequently do!). This year the food will be done as a fund-raiser for PSPS SEO Dan Toyooka’s Boy Scout Troop. The meeting hall is a quiet room, the food should be tasty (cost and menu haven’t been announced yet, watch for an e-mail blast or call the Commander), the conversation is always lively, and the feature presentation will take us through the Panama Canal courtesy of one of Portland’s members. PSPS’s Larry Talbot, P will entertain us with pictures and sto-ries of his trip through the Panama Canal. Join us for a fun evening. See you there!
Jan: 21 –Squadron Meeting - TVFR Station #59, West Linn
Feb: 5 – Bridge meeting
15 – Sweethearts dinner – Rock Creek Café
18 – Squadron Meeting - TVFR Station #59, West Linn
Mar: 6-8 – D32 Spring council/conference and Change of Watch
14 – BSPS Change of Watch – Mandarin Palace Restaurant
Apr: 1 - Bridge meeting
15 – Squadron Meeting - TVFR Station #51, Tigard
25 – Seminars-VHF & DSC, anchoring, and spring commissioning, PCC Sylvania Campus, 9-12,
May: 6 – Bridge meeting
16-17 – Safe Boating Week – Squadron Activities at West Marine, Tigard
20 – Squadron meeting - TVFR Station #51, Tigard
June: 3 – Bridge meeting
12-14 - Cruise to Hadley’s Landing
17 – No Squadron meeting in June
July: 17-19 – Upriver cruise to Beacon Rock – CANCELLED DUE TO LOW WATER
25-26 – Maritime Heritage Festival, St. Helens - CANCELLED
Aug: 1 – Detroit Lake Barbeque - Details on p. 1
21-23 – D32 Rendezvous, St. Helens
Sept: 2 – Bridge meeting
16 – Squadron meeting - TVFR Station #51, Tigard
19-20 – Foothills Park Cruise, Lake Oswego - Barbeque and Potluck on Sat.
Oct: 2-4 – D32 Fall council and conference
17 Partner in Command seminar
21 – Squadron meeting - TVFR Station #51, Tigard
Nov: 5 – Bridge meeting
21 – Multi-squadron dinner meeting - see page 5.
Dec: 5 – BSPS Holiday party – Ernesto’s Italian Restaurant
Beaverton Sail and Power
Squadron
2015-6 Calendar of Events
Your Squadron is an active one. Make
plans to attend all of these great events! -
Editor
®
Cover photo—A large solar prominence erupts from the
Sun 16 April 2012. NASA/GSFC/SDO/Rex Shut-
terstock
The Advantage of BSPS Membership
by P/C Carla Montchalin, AP
Although there are many advantages of being a member of the United States Power Squadron, such as the edu-
cational opportunities and civic functions, for me the main advantage has been the opportunity to meet so
many really interesting and enjoyable people who share an affinity for boating. It’s surprisingly easy to meet
new members, whether they’re in my own squadron or in another squadron in our District 32. I’ve even met
members from other districts and from the Canadian Power Squadron.
I have become acquainted with a very special person who belongs to the Ft. Vancouver Sail and Power
Squadron. Kermit Buchanan was first introduced to me at one of our November multi-squadron dinner meet-
ings. I saw him again at our District 32 Conferences and noticed the beautiful decorative stools that he made
and sometimes put on display or even put in the raffles, but I was never lucky enough to win one of those fine
stools.
At our last Conference in March, I approached him with determination. I bombarded him with praise
and flattery. I begged him to make me a stool. To my surprise, he was persuaded. We exchanged email ad-
dresses to discuss the details, and ended up being email friends. He sent me progress reports and pictures,
since I live over 150 miles from him. Finally the day arrived when my stool was finished. I was so excited but
had no way to pick it up.
Then I remembered the network of USPS friends I have made over the years. Beaverton Squadron was
having their annual barbecue at Detroit Lake, and D/C Jerry Brown and his wife D/LC Diana Brown from Fort
Vancouver Squadron were planning to attend. They kindly agreed to pick up the stool from Kermit and bring
it to the barbecue. Of course once Diana saw the stool, she wanted to keep it, but it’s MINE!
So thanks to Kermit for making me that beautiful stool. And thanks to USPS for giving me the oppor-
tunity to meet such an interesting and talented man.
Photograph by P/D/C Dave Shively, JN
(More of what we did last summer,
wasn’t room last month.)
Hot fun in the summertime !
Seven brave United States Power Squadron members braved the 100+ degree heat of Detroit,
Oregon, on Augist 1, 2015, to enjoy an outing and study of the drought conditions we were
experiencing. As usual there was way too much food. Lt/C Steve McDonald, JN, outdid
himself by bringing both appetizers and dessert; P/C Carla Montchalin, AP, brought home-
made pasta salad and dessert; D/C Jerry Brown, AP, and D/Lt/C Diana Brown, S, brought
dessert; P/D/C Dave Shively, JN, and Lt/C Barbara Shively brought meat (no dessert); and
P/D/C Steve Gatton, JN, brought something that never made it out of the bag. Thanks to all
that attended and pray that next year there may actually be a lake!
Photograph by P/D/C Dave Shively, JN
®
THE FOGHORN is the Official Publication of BEAVERTON POWER SQUADRON
and is published monthly, occasionally com-bining/skipping July and August.
