Safe Boating Week was welcomed to the Sunshine Coast on Saturday, May 21 with the Sunshine Coast Power Squadron hosting two events.
The first was a recreational vessel courtesy check, at the Gibsons Marina. Five squadron members, headed by co-ordinator Jon Nimmo, completed nine vessel inspections confirming the inspected vessels met the minimum requirements for safety equipment under the federal Small Vessels Regulations.
Running at the same time, the squadron was hosting a marine flare return program. This was co-sponsored by CPS National, CIL Industries in Quebec, and the Bitter End Boaters Exchange in Gibsons.
During the course of the day, event co-ordinator Rod Moorcroft and two squadron members took in more than 1,350 expired marine flares. To give this number some perspective, the average boater would generate six expired flares every four years. Thus, a huge number of boaters took time out of their day, on a long weekend, to legally dispose of their expired flares.
