For sixty years, the mission of the volunteer civilian members of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary has been to assist the Coast Guard in the performance of its civil functions - particularly the promotion of recreational boating safety. One of the four cornerstones of our organization is Public Education. We are pleased to offer the following courses. Click on one to find out details of the course, when and where it will next be offered, and class registration fees.
FLOTILLA 72
NORWALK, CT
PUBLIC EDUCATION CLASSES
About Boating Safely (ABS)
Basic Coastal Navigation
Boating Skills and Seamanship
Major topics covered in this class, which meets once a week for approximately 2 1/2 hours for 9 weeks include: which boat is for you, equipment for your boat, trailering your boat, handling your boat, your "highway" signs (aids to navigation), the rules you must follow (navigation rules), and personal water craft (PWC). After taking the course, and passing the tests, you may apply for the Connecticut Safe Boating Certificate, (required by the State for anyone operating a vessel in the state's waters, including Long Island Sound) as well as the for a PWC license.
For a more detailed listing of the topics covered in this course, click here. For a schedule of the next available class, click here.
If you are interested in an exciting, in-depth boating safety course, check out the eight-hour in classroom version of our popular boating program ‘About Boating Safely’. This safe boating class will give you the knowledge needed to obtain a CT Safe Boating and Personal Watercraft (PWC) Operation certification. At the end of the course, participants can sit for the proctored CT Safe Boating Exam. Many boat insurance companies will offer discounts on boating insurance to boaters who successfully complete About Boating Safely.
For a schedule of the next available class, click here.
Learn the basics of coastal navigation - perfect for use in Long Island Sound and beyond. Suitable for both power boaters and sailors. The class meets for 10 weekly 2 1/2 hour sessions (or our new intensive 2 day format). Course covers theory and its practical application, including hands-on chart work.
For a more detailed listing of the topics covered, click here. For a schedule of the next available class, click here.
If you'd like any additional information on the courses, or you wish to register, call our Course Registrar at 203-846-8471 or e-mail peggybonhage@aol.com.
After reviewing this information, if you still have questions contact our Course Registrar at 203-846-8471 or e-mail peggybonhage@aol.com.
COURSE SCHEDULE
All courses are held at the Dominic Lametta Training Center, unless otherwise noted. For directions to the Center, click here. If our location or the timing of our class offerings is not convenient for you, we urge you to check the offerings of other Flotillas in our area. Click here, then select District 1SR. To contact us for additional information, or to register for a course, click here.
Course Fees
Dates and Time
Boating Skills and Seamanship $80
Meets weekly for 9 weeks on Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm for 2 1/2 hours.
None currently scheduled.
About Boating Safely (ABS) $80 (includes lunch)
One day course on Saturday meets from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Classes currently scheduled for July 26
Basic Coastal Navigation $90
Meets weekly on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 pm for 10 weeks.
None currently scheduled.
How To Read a Nautical Chart$65
Saturday morning class (4 to 5 hours): No classes currently scheduled, but we
expect to offer another course later this summer, or early fall.
Flotilla 72 offers Water and Boat Safety classes for young children from the ages of 3 to 9 years of age. In a 30 to 45 minute presentation, the Instructors introduce the young child to the importance of learning to swim, swimming with a buddy, having an adult/life-guard at the scene, how to get help, wearing a life jacket, loading of a small boat, and other topics important to staying safe on a boat. The children get a chance to try on life jackets, and to "sink a boat". Each child is give a booklet to take home with them. Courses are free. To schedule a Water and Boat Safety class, please contact: Ginny Lovas at fcfso72@aol.com
This course is good for Girl Souts, Boy Scouts, Brownies and Cub Scout Groups, as well as youngsters from a Boat Club, and Elementary School.
This is an approximately four hour seminar unraveling the mystery of charts. At sea there are no streets. To the uninformed, everything looks the same. For navigating at sea, and especially in coastal areas, we need charts. Charts provide an amazing wealth of information to the informed boater, helping him plot a safe passage, avoid navigational dangers, and a means for determining his position.
This course will teach the boater how to interpret a chart’s numerous details. We’ll also discuss the limitations of charts, and their relationship to today’s modern electronic navigational instruments. The course includes a textbook and a training chart.
Immediately after the course, we’ll be conducting a short hands-on training session on how to use charting tools. We’ll show you how to plot a position, determine a course line, measure distances, and determine the latitude and longitude of any point on a chart. For those interested, remember to bring your own plotting instruments (dividers, course plotter bars/parallel rulers/course protractor, or similar device, pencil, eraser).
For a schedule of the next available class, click here.
