Author: glen

WLSA Websites Updated

A number of upgrades to the WLSA websites have now been completed.

The main changes are:

(1) The websites have moved to a much faster web server. The laggy web page loading times (often greater longer than 20 seconds) have been completely eliminated and overall website performance is vastly improved. . .

(2) The Members’ Page content has been consolidated with the SD and PD booking sites. There a number of benefits from this change::

  • improved password protection and security.
  • more direct links to booking pages from the main website
  • booking links on the members pages are now more “mobile friendly”
  • members pages are less cluttered.(e.g. SD members area no longer shows the GA booking link).
  • menu layouts no longer change when you switch between the members area and booking pages
  • there is now one less website to operate and maintain.

The process of accessing the members areas or booking a vessel is largely unchanged. The main change members will notice are the new links on the main website menu. There are separate links to SD and PD Members’ Pages. There are also direct.links the individual vessel booking pages.

Here’s a tip if you want to save a few mouse clicks or finger jabs. You don’t need to visit the main website warmlandsailing.com to book a vessel or to visit the members’ areas. You can use these direct links instead:

SD Members Page – https://s.warmlandsailing.com  

Blue Belle booking page – https://s.warmlandsailing.com/accommodation/blue-belle/

Kitkatla booking page – https://s.warmlandsailing.com/accommodation/kitkatla/

PD Members Page – https://p.warmlandsailing.com 

Grand Adventure booking page – https://p.warmlandsailing.com/accommodation/grand-adventure/

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Marine Electronics Course

SD member Dug Andrusiuk has provided details of a course he has registered for. It is in Duncan and is an in person course. The instructor is Jim Peakman. The course is scheduled to start Thursday October 19/23.

We still have openings for one or two more if you know of anyone who would be interested in taking this course.

Please find the student cost and schedule for this course. If you want to pre- register please send a cheque for $ 70.00 ( seventy dollars) and your mailing address and I will forward you the Thumbdrive  and the Chapter Questions notes. If you are in Duncan I would prefer to hand these out to save postage. My address is 6047 Hyacinth Place Duncan , phone # 250) 748-7376.
Thanks Jim.

Advanced booking dates – extended

At the September 25, 2023 the WLSA Board of Directors voted to extend the period for advanced bookings. WLSA vessels can now be booked up until May 31, 2025 subject to the following terms and conditions:

“Booking fees are subject to review at the Annual General Meeting (usually held in early June). The posted day booking fee is guaranteed only until May 31. 2024. By making an advanced booking you agree to pay any additional booking fees approved by the WLSA Members at the next 2024 AGM”. 

New WLSA Website

WLSA has new website. The new website will continue to located at

warmlandsailing.com . The new website is fully functional, You may, however,

be unable to connect to warmlandsiailing.com over the next days or two while

search engines and web browsers “learn” how to find the new website..

In the interim the

September 2023 Update Nanaimo Power & Sail Squadron FALL 2023 Training Schedule

Nanaimo Power & Sail Squadron website – Courses

UPCOMING TRAINING
The Nanaimo Power & Sail Squadron recently announced it’s FALL 2023 Training Schedule
BOATING 2 & 3 COMBINED The next steps following the PCOC is completing Boating 2/3 which is offered as a combined, integrated course.  In this course you are introduced to the art of navigation, anchoring, ropes, lines and knots – not to mention what to expect when the boat is moving under power.  When you progress into the Boating 3 components you will learn how to plot and label on paper charts, what the skipper should be doing before setting out and when under way, how to handle a boat under sail, your environmental responsibilities and electrical hazards.  A number of option topics will also be covered including tides and currents and collision regulations. 12-Week Course:  TUESDAY EVENINGS Sept 19, 2023 – Dec 5, 2023 at ONLINE VIA ZOOM STARTS SEPTEMBER 19, 2023
BOATING 5 Boating 5 (previously Advanced Piloting):   Knowledge of the basics of navigation and planning cruises on a maritime chart is just the start.  Expand that knowledge by using a variety of electronic devices to chart your course and enable you to plan your course under tidal, current and windy conditions.  

By learning more about dead reckoning, fixes and running fixes you will have attained a high degree of proficiency in navigating through coastal waters.  

In this CPS-ECP Course we cover GPS, Chart Plotters, Radar, SONAR, Autopilots and more. 13-Week Course:  WEDNESDAY EVENINGS Sept 20 – Dec 6, 2023 ONLINE via Zoom.  NOTE there will also be 3 in-person sessions (dates to be determined) STARTS SEPTEMBER 20, 2023
MARITIME RADIO The Maritime Radio course provides training on emergency radio procedures along with everyday operating techniques.  Subjects learned include the use of the VHF radio, choice of frequencies, operation, phonetic alphabet, procedural words and phrases as well as Digital Selective Calling (DSC) and the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).  This program is overseen by Industry Canada. 1-Day Course:  NOVEMBER 18, 2023 – in person – Safer Ocean Systems – 214 Prideaux Street, Nanaimo

Volunteers Needed – Blue Belle Haul Out – Sept 6 – 11, 2023

Seeking Volunteers between September 6th and 11th

Greetings everyone,
Just a reminder about the upcoming haul-out of Blue Belle.  
If you have a couple hours to spare during that time please join us at the Newcastle marina in Nanaimo.
Here’s the tentative schedule:

On the 6th of September:
1- power wash the haul.
2- scrape the bottom and lightly sand the top.
3- fix fibreglass chips
Day 2:
1- Apply the first coat of topside paint.
2- apply the anti fouling on the bottom.
Day 3:
1- apply the second coat.
Depending how many join, I will start working on a mechanical issue that are more urgent.
Day 4: Relaunching.
Day 5: Bring her back to Genoa Bay. Qualified skippers and crews are welcome to volunteer.
Please contact me if interested.

Cheers,

Chris

Booking and Events vs Availability Calendars

The WLSA Members’s Page has two types of calendars. The Bookings and Events calendar is a comprehensive, colour-coded calendar thar shows bookings for all three WLSA vessels.and club events. It shows not only which days a vessel has been booked but also which member booked it.

Each vessel has an individual Availability Calendar. Availability Calendars are intended to be used for a single purpose – booking a vessel.

Why use the Availability Calendars?

Availability Claendars are instantly updated when a booking is made. When booking a vessel always check the Availability Calendars as changes to the Booking and Events calendar may be delayed up to 12 hours.

You can check it out on the Members Page

– Glen

New WLSA website

The new WLSA website is now live at warmlandsailing.com and the old “Wix” website has been shut down. That’s probably all most WLSA members need to know, but, if you’re interested in knowing a liitle more about why and how we came to have a new website (actually 4 websites) then read on…………….

Why a new website?

About a year ago our old website platform, Wix discontinued support for their “Wix Hotels” booking system. After an exhaustive search it was decided that Motopress Hotels was the best available booking platform for our needs. Motopress Hotels uses WordPress – the most popular website platform world-wide.

Some of the factors that were considered::

  • The need for separate booking sites for SD and PD
  • Our old website was not particularly mobile friendly
  • The low cost and high flexibility of WordPress.

The new WordPress sites have been developed in four distinct stages:

(1) Power Division booking website

(2) Sailing Divsion booking website

(3) Password protected Members’ website

(4) Public website

– Glen