Carol Ships Parade of Lights 2009

Carol Ships Parade of Lights Society Schedule 2009 and Sailing Directions

Last Updated October 6, 2008

2009 Carol Ship Parade Itinerary

Proposed destinations: Dated October 1, 2009

Friday Dec.4th - Grand Opening and lighting of sails at Canada Place

Lions Gate Bridge 7:20 PM Canada Place at 7:30 PM, South Shore 7:45 to 8:15 North Shore 8:30 to 9:20, Lions Gate Bridge 9:30 English Bay 10:05 or Canada Place for inner harbour boats.

Saturday, Dec. 5th, - Inner Harbour

Canada Place at 7:25 PM, North Shore 7:40, 2nd Narrows 8:00, South Shore to Canada Place 9:00, Lions Gate 9:50 PM.

Sunday, Dec. 6th - Inner Harbour tour

Lions Gate Bridge 7:20 PM North Shore 7:40, 2nd Narrows 8:00, South Shore to Canada Place 8:25 English Bay 9:00 PM,

Monday, Dec. 7th - Fireworks and Inner Harbour tour

Lions Gate Bridge 7:20 PM North Shore 7:40, Cannery 8:00, South Shore to Canada Place 8:25 English Bay 9:00 PM,

Tuesday, Dec. 8th - False Creek

Lions Gate Bridge 7:12 P English Bay at 7:30 PM, False Creek 7:55 PM, Science World 8:20 PM, English Bay 8:40 PM, Lions Gate Bridge 9:10 PM

Wednesday, Dec. 9th - West Vancouver

Lions Gate Bridge 7:20 PM, Ambleside 7:35 PM, Dundarave 7:50 PM, Caulfield Cove 8:00 PM, Dundarave 8:15 PM, Ambleside 8:30 PM, Lions Gate Bridge 8:45 PM, Coal Harbour 9:30 PM

Thursday, Dec. 10th route - False Creek

Lions Gate Bridge 7:12 P English Bay at 7:30 PM, False Creek 7:55 PM, Science World 8:20 PM, English Bay 8:40 PM, Lions Gate Bridge 9:10 PM

Friday, Dec.11th - False Creek and Science World.

Lions Gate Bridge 7:20 P English Bay at 7:40 PM, False Creek 8:05 PM, Science World 8:25 PM, English Bay 8:55 PM, Jericho 9:10, Lions Gate Bridge 9:45 PM

Saturday, Dec12th - False Creek /RVYC @ Jericho

Lions Gate Bridge 7:20 PM English Bay at 7:30 PM, False Creek 8:10 PM, Cambie St Bridge 8.20 PM, Science World 8:40 English Bay 9:10 PM, RVYC at 9:20 PM, Lions Gate Bridge 10:05 PM

Sunday, Dec. 13th - Inner Harbour tour, #2 route Outer harbour

Canada Place 7:10 Lions Gate Bridge 7:30 PM North Shore 7:50, 2nd Narrows 8:15, South Shore to Canada Place 8:40, Lions Gate Bridge 9:00 PM

Monday, Dec. 14th - Inner Harbour tour #2 route Outer harbour

Canada Place 7:10 Lions Gate Bridge 7:30 PM North Shore 7:50, 2nd Narrows 8:15, South Shore to Canada place 8:40, Lions Gate Bridge 9:00 PM

Tuesday, Dec 15th. - Inner Harbour tour #2 route Outer Harbour

Canada Place 7:10 Lions Gate Bridge 7:30 PM North Shore 7:50, 2nd Narrows 8:15, South Shore to Canada Place 8:40, Lions Gate Bridge 9:00 PM

Wednesday, Dec16th - Inner Harbour tour #2 route Outer harbour

Canada Place 7:10 Lions Gate Bridge 7:30 PM North Shore 7:50, 2nd Narrows 8:15, South Shore to Canada Place 8:40, Lions Gate Bridge 9:00 PM

Thursday, Dec 17th - Inner Harbour tour #2 route Outer harbour

Canada Place 7:10 Lions Gate Bridge 7:30 PM North Shore 7:50, 2nd Narrows 8:15, South Shore to Canada Place 8:40, Lions Gate Bridge 9:00 PM

Friday, Dec 18th - Port Moody or Inner Harbour (2)

Canada Place at 7:10 PM, 2nd Narrows 7:30 PM, Roche Point 8:00 PM, Reed Point Marina/ Port Moody 8:35, Roche Point 9:10 PM, 2nd Narrows 9:30 PM

Saturday, Dec.19th - Deep Cove or Inner Harbour (2)

Canada Place at 7:25 PM, Roche Point 7:55 PM, Deep Cove at 8:30, Roche Point 8:45 PM, 2nd Narrows 9:05, Lions Gate 9:50 PM.

Sunday, Dec.20th - West Vancouver

Lions Gate Bridge 7:20 PM, Ambleside 7:35 PM, Dundarave 7:50 PM, Caulfield Cove 8:00 PM, Dundarave 8:15 PM, Ambleside 8:30 PM, Lions Gate Bridge 8:45 PM, Coal Harbour 9:30 PM

Monday, Dec.21st - False Creek

Lions Gate Bridge 7:12 PM English Bay at 7:30 PM, False Creek 7:45 PM, Science World 8:15 PM, English Bay 8:35 PM, Lions Gate Bridge 9:00 PM

Tuesday, Dec.22nd - False Creek

Lions Gate Bridge 7:12 PM English Bay at 7:30 PM, False Creek 7:45 PM, Science World 8:15 PM, English Bay 8:35 PM, Lions Gate Bridge 9:00 PM

Wednesday, Dec.23rd - False Creek

Lions Gate Bridge 7:12 PM English Bay at 7:30 PM, False Creek 7:45 PM, Science World 8:15 PM, English Bay 8:35 PM, Lions Gate Bridge 9:00 PM

Notes:

Strong ebb tides in late evening on Dec 10 through 13.

(2)=Second option for boats not able to do first option

All Times are approximate and subject to revision

Sailing Directions

Charts required for these routes

All routes 3482 ( Harbour)

West Van Route add 3481 (Outer Harbour)

Port Moody/ Deep Cove add 3494 (Mid Harbour)

3495 (Indian Arm/ Port Moody)

Tides:

* This is another "Year of the Ebb Tides" with some strong tidal currents through both First and Second Narrows. Special care should be exercised, especially on the return trips through First Narrows during ebb tides to avoid overcrowding as vessels press up against the current. Vessels crossing the back-eddy between Siwash and Prospect Point during strong ebb tides may encounter special problems.

Depths:

Depths along the planned Carol Ship routes will not be less than *20 feet at chart datum with the following exceptions:

Port Moody with a 13 foot minimum depth (at the Rocky Point turn-around position)

False Creek with a 10 foot minimum depth (in east basin)

Speed Requirements:

Maximum speed planned through all routes is *7 knots over the ground, minimum speed is 4 knots over the ground.

Tidal currents in First and Second Narrows may require brief periods at a maximum water speed of 9 knots. Please monitor your speed regularly and try to maintain the parade speed at all times.

Schedule Times:

Times listed in the following schedule refer to the parade lead, Vessels positioned well back in the parade must add up to 30 minutes for parade length. (See Parade Spacing and Positioning)

* Return times this year are scheduled most nights for 2130 hrs for the lead of the parade (2200 hrs for the tail end) at Coal Harbour. The exceptions are Friday and Saturday nights when a Lead Ship return times between 2230 hrs. and 2300 are planned.

*Parade Director:

The parade director and lead vessel(s) will be announced each night.

* The term "Parade Director" or "Commodore" is a title only. The Parade Director has been asked to assist in some "parade" related operations. All Owners and masters of all vessels must assume responsibility for the safe operation of their respective vessels.

General Procedures:

Parade musters counterclockwise between the Fuel Docks, Canada Place and Burnaby Shoal by 1900.

Vessels of similar size should line up together and identify themselves to the vessels fore and aft.

Vessels should position themselves in the line during muster. Please position according to vessel size, maneuverability, and expected return time (see parade spacing and positioning)

Only vessels that are decorated should be in the parade.

Once the parade is underway, vessels are discouraged from standing off and watching the parade pass by, this practice causes confusion for Vancouver Traffic and parade vessels. All routes each evening will double back on themselves to give guests on Carolships ample opportunity to view the other Carolships.

Carolships breaking off from the parade should extinguish Xmas lights so as not to confuse other traffic.

Common courtesy, marine etiquette and safety should be exercised at all times during the event.

Masters are reminded to consider their vessel's wash when overtaking or alongside another vessel and please keep overtaking to a minimum.

Parade Spacing and Positioning:

A closely spaced Parade is desirable for a good Carol Ship event but safety must take priority. The following suggestions should be considered only after considering all your vessel's characteristics and the Collision Regulations, especially rule 6.

Masters are requested to position vessels near minimum safe distances to close gaps in the parade.

Masters are requested to position vessels among "like sized" vessels, and preferably in order of reducing size when practicable. With larger and less maneuverable vessels leading the more maneuverable vessels the spacing can be closed up safely. Conversely with small, maneuverable boats inserted in between large vessels visible gaps must develop to maintain safety levels.

Vessels needing to return early should position toward the front of the flotilla. (Please don't start passing flotilla vessels at speed once the parade is underway)

Vessels with later return times should position toward the back of the flotilla.

Music:

Please play appropriate music outward at key parade areas. One of the main complaints from shoreside is the absence of audible "Carols" from the "Carol Ships".

Decorations:

Please insure your decorative lights are out when your vessel is not in the parade.

Communications:

The Parade Director will be communicating with Vancouver Traffic Management (VTM) on VHF channels 12 and 16. The flotilla is normally directed and advised as a whole by VTM, individual vessels, within the flotilla, are not usually required to make radio calls on VHF 12 after joining the parade.

The Parade Director will be communicating with the flotilla on VHF channel 67.

It is imperative that all vessels monitor VHF 67 at all times during the event.

Please keep vessel-to-vessel chat to a minimum on VHF 67 and/ or chat on another working channel.

It would be appreciated if the last parade vessel identifies itself to the Director each night.

Please remember our charity focus:

Orphans Fund

Empty Stocking Fund

Variety Club