A Real Anchor Man at the Anchor Inn on Manitoulin
"So valuable to the North Channel Boating World, Roy Eaton is a Gem"
by Bonnie Kogos, Columnist, Window Seat, The Sudbury Star
(Bonnie is a sailor, a founding member of the Little Current Yacht Club, and loves this region. She is the author of "Manitoulin Adventures." Her next book will be published Spring 2006 in North Ontario. To reach Bonnie, BonniKogos@aol.com)
During the summer months on Manitoulin, Little Current Yacht Club Commodore Roy Eaton, who has the smooth delivery of a highly paid radio broadcaster, is busy each morning acting as broadcaster and net controller for the only VHF Marine Radio Cruiser’s Net on the Great Lakes.
Boaters looked forward to Roy’s smart, newsy and warmly delivered broadcasts each morning, delivered at 9AM on Channel 74. He’s definitely the Morning Show Man.
The Cruisers’ Net runs from the beginning of July to the end of August and has proven so popular with boaters that 1027 check-ins were recorded by August 31.
Roy delivers present and long range weather forecasts for Northern Georgian Bay and the North Channel, the latest news from around the world, Ontario, and of course, Manitoulin Island. He loves the Island and constantly keeps boaters aware of upcoming events of interest to visitors. At the end of each broadcast, he functions as a Net Controller. This means boaters report their boat name and location, relay information to other boaters, ask questions of Roy, and, each morning, several boats will want him to make contact with friends on other boats in more distant anchorages.
Transmitting from an antenna placed atop the Anchor Inn Restaurant, it rises 120 feet above water level, allowing the Net to cover the waters from the far western end of Manitoulin, and south to the Flower Pot Island off Tobermory. All of the boaters who call in greatly appreciate Roy’s broadcasts. One boater heard the broadcast as far east as Pointe au Baril. “We tune in at every opportunity,” said another boater.
A year ago, when Roy began this community service to boaters, only a dozen or so boats would call in each morning. This year, in the height of cruising season a record 47 boats called in one day!
It was a pleasure to be present as the 1,000th boater called in on Roy’s end of season transmission. Roy spoke about the McLeod School in Sudbury, which has been designated as one of the top 40 schools in Canada. He congratulated the staff who initiated the “Pay It Forward” program, of doing kind unexpected acts for others.
I’m invited to his “broadcasting room,” the back office at the popular The Anchor Inn Restaurant in Little Current. Owner Bruce O’Hare has provided all the equipment for the use of the Little Current Yacht Club in hosting the Cruiser’s Net.
As I join his wife Margaret and Roy for breakfast at The Anchor Inn, a boater comes over, from off his boat, to congratulate Roy not only on his delivery, but the content of his daily presentations. “Have you worked in radio,” asks the boater.
“No, I was in education for 34 years,” smiles Roy.
Roy has had several fascinating careers. Long ago, he worked in INCO’s engineering department, and then he went into teaching at Manitoulin Secondary School. He was Head of Guidance and retired as Principal of the school. For several summers, he lectured at Laurentian University’s Native Social Counselor Program. During his retirement, he taught a number of computer courses for Cambrian College at their Manitoulin Campus.
Now, with Lakeshore Excursions, Roy acts as a touring host to the people off the cruise ships that dock at Little Current. An avid and practiced sailing captain, he truly enjoys acting as a captain/instructor with Discovery Yacht Charters. Having sailed these waters for the past 30 years, he knows all the places and anchorages that visiting sailors love and long remember. Listening to him talk about a recent charter, I was ready to sign up with my family for a week to sail with Roy.
Roy has been involved in volunteer community service throughout his life but now it’s the Little Current Cruiser’s Net, helping other boaters which seems to give him the most pleasure.
Roy’s quick to point out that “A vital component in ensuring that “Cruiser’s Net” runs continuously and smoothly is the willingness of our other members of the yacht club to fill in on the days I’m away. I’ve created a format for his colleagues to follow.” Each broadcast demands serious preparation time in addition to the actual broadcast and each net controller picks and chooses his/her own stories to emphasize.
Roy credits Bruce O’Hare as “the critical person necessary to the success of this effort for providing the equipment and the office space”.
In addition to the Cruiser’s Net, the Little Current Yacht Club runs a free speaker series each Saturday at 10:30 am in the bar area of the Anchor Inn. Once again, facilities generously provided free of charge by Bruce O’Hare.
Roy’s wife, Margaret manages their lovely home overlooking the North Channel, where she maintains seven distinctive and beautiful flower gardens.
At the last broadcast of this season, Roy makes a point of telling what’s happening with Manitoulin’s upcoming events. He concludes warmly, “And then, boaters, look forward to three fabulous days of sun, sun, sun.”