JibeTalk

Training after the Summer for Junior Sailing Instructors

If you are a sailor who plans to become a Level 1 Small Boat Instructor next summer, now is a good time to take a Safe Powerboat Handling (SPH) course. This skill is not taught during the Level 1 course, yet you will be tested - so be prepared!  

Scheduled SPH courses: During the first half of September are the final SPH courses scheduled for 2013 in our area. One- and two-day courses are available:

• One day Accelerated Safe Powerboat Handling:  This eight hour hands-on course is for anyone who wants to learn how to more safely operate a powerboat or improve their on-the-water boat handling skills and already has a State Boating Safety Certificate or USCG license.

                Sept 7 – Essex CT, Pettipaug Sailing Academy
                Sept 15 – Bronx NY, SUNY Maritime College Waterfront 

• Two day Safe Powerboat Handling:  This sixteen hour, classroom and hands-on course is for anyone who wants to learn how to safely operate a powerboat, improve their on-the-water boat handling skills and wants to earn a State Boating Safety Certificate and/or a limited U.S. Coast Guard License.

                Sept 7-8 – Oyster Bay NY, The Waterfront Center
                Sept 14-15– Bronx NY, SUNY Maritime College Waterfront

• Other locations: Additional SPH courses are available on the US Powerboating calendar.

Club-arranged SPH courses: During this fall or next spring you may organize an SPH course at your own sailing venue and/or a group of sailing programs in an area may organize a course together. It's also helpful to include juniors age 13 and older, as well as other adults. All you need is a Powerboat Instructor.  Rob Crafa, Director of Waterfront Programs at SUNY Maritime College, can help you find one if you contact him at 718 - 409 - 7460 or [email protected] 

Instructor Trainers: Our Long Island Sound area needs good Instructor Trainers to teach the US Sailing Level 1 courses here.  If you know an outstanding instructor (or if you are an experienced instructor yourself), now is a good time to contact US Sailing to apply for a future Instructor Trainer course and earn money teaching next season's Level 1 Instructors.  There is a BIG need for good Instructor Trainers on Long Island Sound. So think about this opportunity to use your sailing experience to help in our area. Contact Cristen Schifino at US Sailing for information. 

Can you benefit from a Powerboat Handling course?

A Powerboat Handling course is like "driver's ed for boating:"

• Junior sailors can get a powerboat certificate even before they drive a car.
• New sailing instructors, or high-schoolers planning to instruct in a year or two, will need the powerboat certificate to get hired.
• Parents can get a refresher so they may be as capable as their kids who have just taken the course.
• Regatta support volunteers will learn how to safely move about the race course and rescue capsized boats.

Check out the US Powerboating calendar to take advantage of the many courses scheduled this spring and summer. For Long Island Sound sailors, courses are scheduled conveniently on weekends in Essex, Fairfield, Darien, Stamford, Bronx, Centerport and Oyster Bay. One of the Fairfield courses even runs afternoons after school.

There are three courses that we think sailors may find useful, depending on your experience and purpose in driving a powerboat:

1) Safe Powerboat Handling: This 16-hour hands-on, on-the-water course is for anyone who wants to learn how to safely operate a small motorboat and improve their boathandling skills on actual boats. The US Coast Guard and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators have approved this course and an increasing number of states have recognized it as meeting their requirements for a state boating safety education certificate.
2) Accelerated Safe Powerboat Handling: This 8- to 12-hour hands-on, on-the-water course is for anyone who has already taken a classroom boating course and has a state boating certificate, but needs hands-on experience to safely operate a small motorboat and improve their boathandling skills.
3) Safety, Rescue Boat Handling (with Race Support): This 10- to 12-hour hands-on, on-the-water course is for anyone who will be operating a race support boat for a race, regatta or event. An operator of a race support boat is expected to be able to perform safety, rescue and mark-setting operations. 

 

Powerboat Handling Classes in Fairfield CT

These powerboat handling classes start this week and run through mid June at Jennings Beach, Fairfield CT.

Contact Jay Lipp at 203-260-8414 or [email protected]

• Safe Powerboat Handling class includes 2-days (16 hours) of afternoon classroom and on-the-water instruction, 3:30 - 7:00PM, to provide the basics required for the CT Powerboat Certificate, plus on-water skill development.
  
  05-21-2012 - 05-24-2012, or
  06-04-2012 - 06-07-2012, or
  06-11-2012 - 06-14-2012, or
  06-18-2012 - 06-21-2012
  
  Minimum control speed, Helm & throttle coordination, Buoy course, Holding position, Pivot turn, Docking/ departure, Spring lines, Fueling, Aids to navigation, Minimum control speed, Rules of the road, Displacement modes, Making turns while planning, Quick stop, Crew overboard recovery, Bearing and range drills, Anchoring, Evaluate students on pivot turn and docking at pier , Parts of boat, Fueling , Capacity , Float plan, Casting off/ docking, Safety ignition switch, Rules of safe navigation, Night boating , Navigation aids, Anchoring, Reckless operation, Pfd, Fire extinguisher, Navigation lights, Signal devices, Manatee, Rendering aid, Fire emergencies, Foul weather.
  

• Accelerated Safe Powerboat Handling 8 hours; On-the-Water Instruction and abbreviated classroom instruction for those who already have CT Powerboat Certificate and want only the on-water skill development.
  
  All day Sunday 06-03-2012 from 8:00AM - 4:00PM, or
  Mornings Sat/Sun 06-09-2012 - 06-10-2012 from 8:00AM - 12:00NOON
  
  Minimum control speed, Helm & throttle coordination, Buoy course, Holding position, Pivot turn, Docking/ departure, Aids to navigation, Minimum control speed, Rules of the road, Displacement modes, Making turns while planing, Quick stop, Crew overboard recovery, Bearing and range drills, Anchoring, Evaluate students on pivot turn and docking at pier, Introduction to charts, Trip planning, VHF radio, Knots, Safe powerboat handling review questions, Written exam, Log book presentations.