Time to get smart about boating

Potomac River Power Squadron announces its fall schedule of classroom boating courses at locations convenient to residents of District of Columbia and close in suburbs.

PILOTING is set to begin September 19, 2015, at the Capital Yacht Club, 660 Water Street SW, Washington, DC. Piloting is the first of the sequence of United States Power Squadrons courses on navigation, focusing on coastal and inland navigation. Develop your skills with hands-on exercises using charts and piloting tools over ten, two-hour sessions.

Piloting is open to any United States Power Squadrons members and to experienced boaters. United States Power Squadrons will certify members who successfully pass the seven-day take home exam as Pilot. Material cost is $52.00.

AMERICA’S BOATING COURSE (ABC) is the Power Squadrons’ boat safety course that covers the fundamentals of safe boating. ABC is an eight-hour course taught over four, two-hour sessions on October 6, 8, 13 and 15. Students who pass the proctored exam receive a Boat Safety Certificate required to operate a recreational vessel on DC, Maryland and Virginia waters and in other States that require such certification. Location is the historic Seafarers Yacht Club, 1950 M Street, SE, Washington, DC.

SEAMANSHIP is for recreational boaters who possess Boat Safety Certificates and who wish to build confidence and competence for safe and fun on-the-water adventures. Seamanship presents material for both power and sail, covering construction and functioning of a boat, the skipper’s responsibilities, preparing the boat for use, handling and maneuvering a vessel under various conditions in close quarters and on the open water, rules of the road, anchoring, emergencies, and marlinespike/basic knots and more. United States Power Squadrons will certify members who pass the seven-day take home exam as Seaman.

Class will begin November 1, 2015 in Ft. Washington, Maryland, but details are still to be announced. Course materials sold at cost.

Experienced boaters who are volunteer members of United States Power Squadrons and Potomac River Power Squadrons teach all courses. For more information, or to register, contact Howard Gasaway, Squadron Education Officer, at 202-439-0225, or gasawaysr@aol.com.

The United States Power Squadrons® is the world’s largest recreational boating organization with more than 35,000 members. For more than 100 years, we have worked to make the water a safer place through boating education, civic service and fellowship.

Potomac River Power Squadron is a unit of United States Power Squadrons chartered in Washington, DC, in May 1915.

Both United States Power Squadrons and Potomac River Power Squadron are nonprofit, all volunteer, 501(c)3 educational organizations.