> Alp-Maritimes Special Newsletter- Nipigon Xmas B

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: Dear Friends, : Well it is finally decided; the NIPIGON WILL BE SUNK JULY 26, 2003 at 13:00. More than six years of Jean Pierre Bouillon's visions and Herculean efforts will be rewarded by eastern Canada's first artificial reef and it will be done on a grand scale. : The Annapolis Class comprised 2 ships, displacing 3000 tons, and 371 feet in length. Armament consisted of 1 twin 3" 50 Caliber gun, two triple torpedo tubes and one triple "Limbo" anti submarine mortar, as well as her CHSS 2 Sea King ASW helicopter. These ships were the first to be built from the keel up as helicopter destroyers. Both were extensively modified electronically, with Nipigon serving as test ship for some of the components seen today in the Canadian Patrol Frigate, including the CANTASS, the Canadian Towed Array Sonar System. : The Récifs Artificiels de l’Estuaire du Québec Society (RAEQ), under the leadership of Jean Pierre, has been working on this project of capital importance for the development of scuba diving in Quebec. Over the years, the Rimouski region has become the oceanographic capitol in Quebec. This project is one of the most innovative, unique in Quebec and of major importance for the region. In fact, its realization will give Quebec and the Lower St-Lawrence region, already known worldwide for the wreck of the Empress of Ireland, an international recognition in the modern scuba diving world. : Right now it is 20 degrees below zero, 60-kilometer winds and Rimouski is sort of quiet. The Nipigon has been "put to bed" but the planning never stops, 1001 details have to be arranged and each day we are able to tick one more item off of the list. Come next spring the final push will be on toward D-Day. I said it is kind of quiet now but that is not the case in the summer, the region rocks, it is major tourist town, with dozens of events. For those of you who are not aware here in Quebec we sort of do the Euro thing and most people (like 60%) take their vacation at the same time, this year it is July 5 to 27, notice the last weekend! What this means is that accommodations will be overbooked on the Nipigon Weekend. Before anyone says anything as relates to the dates, please realize that this was not a decision that the R.A.E.Q. took lightly. The mandate is to sink the ship and do it straight and right. To do this we need the "best" seas possible and the tide charts dictate the "magic window", this is the best possible date in the whole summer. It will not do anyone any good if we sink it upside down.