LITTLE CURRENT—The Little Current Yacht Club (LCYC) North Channel Cruisers’ Net broadcasts have become internationally famed since they were established through the efforts of perennial regional booster Roy Eaton and the Anchor Inn.
Mr. Eaton recently announced that “after broadcasting from and being pampered for 20 summers by the Anchor Inn, I’m moving.”
“The wonderful old barber shop room was taken by a new barber and the only remaining area came with a number of challenges,” he noted. Faced with those challenges, Mr. Eaton began scouting around for a more suitable location—and he found one.
“My wonderfully supportive town administration stepped in and I’m pleased to report the Cruisers Net will continue to broadcast this summer from a room on the second floor of the municipal building,” said Mr. Eaton. “Yesterday, Gary Holtze of M/V SloM’Ocean, my wife Margaret and I brought the VHF equipment, desk, folding chairs and a bag of burgees to the room.”
LCYC Commodore Bruce R O’Hare organized a crew to take down the tower antenna from the Anchor Inn. Sadly, the venerable broadcast tower ended its days at the landfill, but Manitoulin Amateur Radio Club (MARDC) has donated a 250-foot coil of top quality COAX.
Reid Taylor, Notheast Town manager of community services and Allan Boyd, president of MARC are working on the installation of the antenna, although a six week waiting period for the tripod base for the antenna means that inventive crew will have to work some temporary magic, according to Mr. Eaton.
“Hopefully, all will be ready for the Net to greet everyone on Canada Day, July 1,” said Mr. Eaton. “I’m looking forward to boaters attending in person, checking in on VHF or via ZOOM or like M/V Schatz Sea via text from Lake Superior.”
Mr. Eaton gave a shout out thanking the original Cruisers’ Net hosts, Bruce and Kelly O’Hare and Rob Norris, as well as their successor hosts at the Anchor Inn, Denise Lytle and
Chris Callaghan, “for being outstanding generous, supportive and encouraging hosts these many years. By the way, Denise and her staff at the Anchor will continue to host the Friday afternoon Cruisers Net Happy Hour.”
Mr. Eaton and his happy band of supporters are all volunteers in the work they do to help keep local boaters enjoying the best freshwater boating in the world informed, connected and safe.
