Her name says a lot about what she does. The RV Chetlo is named after the Chinook jargon for oyster, and the 11.96-metre welded aluminum catamaran deals with those particular bivalves quite a lot.
Designed by marine architect Bradley Dale and constructed by Vancouver Island Unversity students in the 2008 Trades and Applied Technology Program’s Aluminum Boat Building program, the Shipping News boat of the week is used by the VIU Centre for Shellfish Research for research and training operations.
The vessel uses four-stroke Yamaha outboards that meet the highest emission standards, and the diesel hydraulic system operates on bio-diesel and uses environmentally friendly hydraulic oil. The vessel has an onboard toilet with waste holding to insure that waste is not discharged into the environment.
• When the third race of the Schooner Cove Yacht Club’s Hot Rum series of races took place on Feb. 12, Flight was able to maintain the lead, placing first out of the seven boats taking part. That follows a first place finish on Jan. 29 and a third place finish on Jan. 15.
Shingebiss continued its slow slide however, placing third, compared to a second place and first place finish respectively.
Amazing Grace came back from a fourth place finish in the last race to retain its second place ranking, which it won in the first race.
Island Fling, which didn’t finish the first race and came a strong third in the second, had a weaker showing this time, finishing in seventh place.
Both Trinity and Maxim, neither of which were able to finish the first race, traded places, with Trinity placing fifth, compared to its seventh place finish in the last race and Maxim taking sixth for the second time in a row.
The next race is set for Feb. 26 at Schooner Cove.
• Admiral Yanow Navy League cadets in Parksville made a point of shining their shoes and polishing their brass last Tuesday night as they prepared for a very special visitor.
That visitor was Commander Bob Lacquement, the commanding officer for Navy League, Vancouver Island division, who came to Parksville Elementary School to conduct a formal inspection.