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Edition of the Milford Power Squadron Charles Island Bell Newsletter |
Well it's about time to close the books for the summer and concentrate on boating and good times. We can look forward
the cruises in the Sound where we can put all the boating education we've learned to the test. I'm certain you
all will have a bundle of questions come next Fall. Just remember above all, to practice the Boating Safety principals
which our instructors have emphasized time and time again. Reading the newspapers you can see that boating accidents
have already started by those who were speeding, driving under the influence, not maintaining a proper lookout,
or just plain not paying attention. The result of unnecessary accidents are fatalities and pain and distress for
the families who are just out boating "to relax".
Our VSC inspectors are currently carrying out their inspections at local marinas and boatyards. They should be
completed by mid-June. Our last Boat Smart course until September will be completed by 12 June.
I suggest every member pickup a copy of the 2004 Boaters Guide put out by DEP as it has some rule changes that
we have talked about and should be reviewed by all skippers to promote safety on the water.
The next Bell will be distributed in September and until then you can contact the web at www.usps.org/localusps/milford
for any last minute changes to our courses or our social schedule.
Glad to have you aboard and wish you a very pleasant boating season
Bob Reeves,Cdr.
Education Report - June 2004
The National Headquarters is doing a commendable job in composing material
that is current with technical aspect of boating, primarily Navigation. As a result we will have next Fall new
texts on Piloting and Advanced Piloting. The objective of the new courses is to educate you further in the art
of GPS and it's use in plotting, planning and tracking your course.
To understand the changes being fed into our courses-it is intended that Seamanship, Piloting and Advanced Piloting
material will be sufficient for a USPS member to sit for and pass the exams for a U.S. Coast Guard Captains License.
The new Piloting Course will include a student guide with tips, exercises and color graphics-the book "The
Weekend Navigator" contains a Maptech digital Training chart CD with extensive sample charts and the chart
navigator software.
Advanced Piloting is following similar changes as Piloting but is just a little behind in completion.
I suggest you take these courses in the progress of your boating Education and I also suggest that those members
that have taken the "old" course look into repeating these new courses since that material has changed
to a great extent as has our current methods of navigation.
Please check our calendar for the tentative schedule of courses starting in September.
Happy Sailing,
Bob Reeves