A Safe Boating Course will be presented at Darien’s Noroton Yacht Club, beginning at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday Feb. 4, continuing on consecutive Tuesday evenings for six classes, a review and an exam.
— an announcement from the Darien Power Squadron
Taught by members of the Darien Sail & Power Squadron, this is the last presentation of the course for this boating season.
Photo from Darien Sail and Power Squadron
Students in the course will be invited to an on-the-water session in May.
Covered in the six classes are basic boat handling and seamanship, equipment and regulations, an introduction to charts and aids to navigation, basic piloting, and navigation rules. The course is directed at general, practical issues of interest to all boaters, and is not targeted to either power or sail.
Photo from Darien Sailing and Power Squad
The full course includes not only state certification but marine charts, radio, lines, and more.
Graduates of the course are awarded a diploma that qualifies for the Safe Boating Certificate, along with the Coastal Boater Endorsement and the new Safe Water-skiing Endorsement.
The Coastal Boater Endorsement recognizes students who complete courses that are more comprehensive than the minimum requirements.
The State’s Safe Boating Certificate regulations apply to all operators of vessels registered in the state, regardless of age.
Photo from the Darien Sailing and Power Squadron
Boating Course Students Participate in Boat Camp
“The focus in this part of Long Island Sound is on basic coastal boating skills, significantly more than the minimum requirements set by the state in their one session classes. This is a ‘course’ and not just a ‘class’ on state regulations,” said Geoffrey Axt, commander of the Squadron.
“We can say it covers the state requirements for the certificate, but it also covers ‘radio, ropes, and charts’ — which is a short way of saying that there are many major topics that can be covered when you have a course that meets over a period of weeks,” Axt said.
“We use ‘radio, ropes and charts’ to call attention to the fact that while these topics are not covered in the short state classes, the squadron believes they are vital to good seamanship in our area of Long Island Sound,” he said.
On the Water in May
The new program mixes classroom and on-the-water activities, which has become very popular as students are assigned to boats in small groups, with everyone taking part in the exercises.
Students in this course will be included in the Squadron’s “spring refresher” morning of on-the-water activities scheduled for May 18, said Mark Dam, executive officer of the squadron and also an instructor for the course.
Photo from the Darien Sailing and Power Squadron
Students enjoying time on the water in May.
“This new program will allow students to actually practice what they learned in the classroom — the use of charts, radios, lines, anchoring — as much as time will allow,” Dam said.
“We again expect about 10 boats on the water, with approximately 40 students,” he said. “We know that the weather is going to be great in May when this happens — this is a great way to spend a Saturday morning with the class.”
If You’re Taking the Class …
Photo from Darien Sailing and Power Squadron
Boating course students use marine radios.
- The cost of the class ($95) includes the text book, charts and plotting equipment, with significant discounts available for multiple members of the same household.
- Although pre-registration is not necessary, class materials may be reserved by filling in the form at the Darien Power Squadron website or by phoning (203) 656-1129 for further information.
- You may also send an e-mail to dspsct@gmail.com to receive a schedule of classes listing the topics that will be discussed on each date.
