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This series of three photos was taken while on a course due north from Little Duck Island to Rafuse Island. The first photo of the swelling cumulus is looking due west from north of Second Peninsula and the cloud base is estimated at 1500 feet. Rising currents of warm air have cooled to the dew point, condensed into cumulus and have continued to grow taller. These clouds are primarily summer clouds and this photo was taken at approximately 1100 hrs. The second photo taken at 1130 hrs indicates the growth in height and greater cloud cover to the cumulmus congestus stage. The last photo taken at 1230 hrs and from a position east of Round Island has the same cumulus congestus cloud, developed further and now complete with a rain shower possibly over Mahone Bay town. Throughout this sequence the winds on Mahone Bay were non existant or very light and no rain fell on Mahone Bay waters, but lightning was observed in this cloud. (Referenced to: Field Guide to Weather, National Audubon Society.) |
Over the last few years the number of times boaters have required assistance may be somewhat lower year to year. The current number is about 36 per year for the Mahone Bay Inshore Rescue team.. The reasons for assistance are varied and may include medical evacuation from boats or islands, boat collisions, gear failure such as mast overboard, motor failure, out of fuel, boats taking on water, lost in fog, groundings and other events that endanger Life and Limb and Boats. Many of these events are preventable. Is the trend to fewer requests for assistance because as boaters we are better prepared? Other duties are Courtesy Boat Safety Checks, rescue boat maintenance, rescue boat equipment checks, and daily patrols in all types of weather. New this year, the MBIR has provided Boating Safety Talks to the Junior Sailing Program at Chester Yacht Club. A Cautionary Note: As A group of boaters our VHF procedures are poor and our lack of respect of the VHF transmitter/receiver as a major part of the marine safety net is legion. Listen carefully to the Mahone Bay Inshore Rescue Crews as their VHF procedures are very well done. Hopefully if our procedures improve, respect for VHF Channel 16 as a major part of the marine safety net will follow. Goto Top of PageGoto Top of Page During a coastal cruise in a sailboat off the south coast of Nova Scotia, five waypoints, the times at the waypoints and horizon photos were taken. This waypoint group is in sequence from EXNS2 to EXNS6 and consists of four legs. This is only part of the trip and covers most of one day, from sunrise to late afternoon on a warm and sunny day, motor sailing in light and variable winds. The waypoints are not necessarily as followed on this trip and are presented here as a navigaton exercise you may wish to plot on a chart or chartplotter. The horizon photos are taken from the cockpit and are representative of the detail that a helmsman would observe from his position as he navigates. What landmarks or features can you identify, before plotting: after plotting? Locations: EXNS2: Sunrise at 0630 hrs. Photo taken over the stern @ 44 31.00 N and 063 62.48 W EXNS3: End of leg 1 at 0900 hrs. Photo taken over starboard bow @ 44 25.30 N and 063 25.60 W EXNS4: End of leg 2 at 1030 hrs. Photo taken at starboard 30 degrees @ 44 24.53 N and 063 39.37 W EXNS5: End of leg 3 at 1300 hrs. Photo taken over starboard bow @ 44 26.40 N and 063 55.90 W EXNS6: End of leg 4 at ?..? hrs. Photo taken over starboard bow @ 44 27.80 N and 064 06.40 WThe velocity made good for legs 3 and 4 is the same. Calculate the VMG for each leg, the time at end of leg 4, the distance travelled for each leg, the magnetic heading for each leg, and determine (most importantly) if all legs are safe and if not where is correction required. Now the features and landmarks on the horizon in each photo may be identifiable. Please contact Ed Sulis (see contact page) by email if you have questions or you wish to submit solutions. Answers will be provided by return email.
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