MIST, our Mid-Island Sail Training program, is entering a new phase. MIST alumni, many of whom were repeat attendees, will recall Rob Dodge’s pleasant, cajoling manner as he encouraged us to eschew our reliance on electronics, electrical labor savers, and other “modern” approaches to sailing, and focus on the well-proven traditional skills that support safer bluewater cruising. BCA members past and present have benefitted from Rob’s gifts of skill, experience, and knowledge, all doled out with laughter and humor. Over the years, Rob was backed up by Grace, with her cruising wisdom and as host at their home on Protection Island, where many MIST potlucks took place. This phase is over, but MIST needs to carry on. Many thanks to Rob and Grace for creating and hosting MIST for several years.
Rob and Grace Dodge at a BCA rendezvous
What is MIST?
MIST has always been an enjoyable weekend, with a mix of social contact, networking, discussion, and sharing of skill and knowledge, usually based between Saysutshun (Newcastle) Island and the Dodge home on Protection Island. A happy hour on Friday night gets things going, while Saturday is filled with the critiquing of boats, a discussion of gear, and usually a specific presentation or demonstration, followed by hands-on practice of new skills and things we ‘should’ practise but often don’t. Sunday is boat day, with exercises that bring occasional surprises, reinforce the need to practise, and teach us how things really work.
The mission of MIST is to foster an attitude of self-reliance, problem-solving, and skill and knowledge development, without reliance on the sailing ‘aids’ that can sometimes fail.
Now Where Do We Go?
This year MIST happened without Rob but followed the same template; the feedback suggests that the program should continue, but perhaps with some changes. “More boat work, less talk,” is what I heard several times.
As the new MIST Coordinator, here are my thoughts on the current format:
- MIST should stick to it’s mission of providing hands-on boat work that supports self-reliance and safety at sea.
- It is not a program for specific skills, nor is it intended to replace or compete with topic-specific seminars and courses provided by BCA and other organizations. This is not the role for MIST.
- It should be a place for all skill levels, from ‘no sailing experience’ to experienced cruisers who want to sharpen their skills or just practise what they already know (we will try to throw in some curves for challenge).
- People without boats should be welcome, with an opportunity to ‘boat hop’ to learn about options, boat- and gear-selection criteria, and to network. MIST should be a place for Doners to share their experience and skills with Doers and Dreamers.
- MIST should encourage repeat offenders. The program should be different each year so that attending more than once will sharpen skills as well as teach new ones.
- MIST should be integrated into the BCA structure, be answerable to the board, and draw from the skills and knowledge of BCA members, especially the Doners.
- It should retain it’s social, fun, and casual nature, while developing and practising boat management and self-reliance philosophy.
- It should not be dependent on just one or two people to make it work. This should be a fully sponsored BCA event.
What’s Next?
Members may have noticed that MIST now has a presence on the web site [1], complete with email contact addresses. I will be addressing the BCA Board of Directors in the fall with some proposals for MIST ’25. In the meantime, please help me out in the following ways:
- Prospective MIST attendees – please tell us what you’d like to get out of the time invested in the event. Be as specific as you can.
- Alumni – please provide feedback on what you think MIST should be, and how to do it (Philosophy). What worked for you, what have you wished to have seen and tried, what ideas do you have to grow both the social and sailing aspects of the program?
- Dreamers – ideas, ideas, ideas. One of the issues I have is coming up with topics that will be useful, and that will benefit from a hands-on, on-the-water (or in-the-water!) approach. Many skills are only talked about in courses; MIST might be a good place to develop some of that practical knowledge.
- Doners – please share your experience and especially your stories. What happened that required some out of the box processing and skills that just weren’t captured in the training courses?
Please: send your ideas and comments here [2]; corner me wherever you see me (my boat is Marimba 2, a slightly odd-looking sloop with broad yellow and red stripes along the shear line); or talk to Dee Logan on Dolphin Tales, who is helping make this work.
MIST works for BCA members by helping to develop skills and attitudes for cruising, both in offshore and home waters. Help make it happen.