US POWERBOATING Offers Variety of Courses at Training Centers Around the Country
Contact:
Jake Fish
US SAILING Communications Manager
jakefish@ussailing.org
PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (May 11, 2011) – US POWERBOATING, an affiliate of US SAILING, has launched a new website at www.uspowerboating.com that provides powerboaters with educational resources designed to help hone skills and learn more about the handling, cruising and instructor courses being offered in the U.S.
From basic rules of the water to advanced navigation techniques, US POWERBOATING can help you learn and improve skills and techniques using video demonstrations, animations, diagrams, pictures and instruction. Topics include boat anatomy, maneuvering your boat, navigation, anchoring, rules, weather and knots.
These courses are offered by US POWERBOATING recognized member schools, clubs and community programs with waterfront and classroom facilities, powerboats and certified instructors:
- Safe Powerboat Handling
- Safe and Rescue Boat Handling
- Accelerated Safe Powerboat Handling
- Safety, Rescue and Race Support Boat Handling
- Basic Powerboat Cruising
- Inshore Powerboat cruising
- Accelerated Basic Powerboat Cruising
- Inshore Powerboat Cruising and Night Operation
- Combination Courses
US SAILING developed the first national on-the-water hands-on certification for small powerboat handling. US SAILING Certified Instructors provide flexible, entry-level courses for adults and youth. The Safe Powerboat Handling course is NASBLA approved and recognized as meeting the state boating requirements in many states throughout the country.
"The practical skills taught provide the beginning boater everything they need to know to operate a boat safely and with confidence," said Rob Crafa, a member of US SAILING's Community Sailing Council and a Powerboat Training Coordinator. "Experienced boaters are also impressed by learning things the right way, correcting bad habits and discovering new tricks. The logical progression from classroom to dockside and on-the-water training has been developed over decades of experience and is supported by highly trained instructors with the latest training materials. Get out on the water with a US POWERBOATING course and you will not be disappointed," explained Crafa, who is also Director of Waterfront Programs at SUNY Maritime College.
Powerboat Training Centers serve as a model and resource for sharing best practices with start-up powerboat facilities in their regions, as well as hosting powerboat instructor and safe powerboat handling and cruising courses. In July of 2010, the U.S. Coast Guard awarded US SAILING with a significant one-year Drivers Education for Boaters™ grant. These funds are being used to support the increase in retention and acceptance of safe boating practices, expand our on-the-water training capacity, ensure sustainable powerboat training facilities, reduce accidents, and create effective marketing and branding tools. The Drivers Education for Boaters grant has been renewed by the USCG for a second year.
For three decades, US SAILING has been training sailing instructors in powerboats to ensure the safety of students and instructors on the water. US POWERBOATING was established by US SAILING to meet the need for hands-on, on-the-water training of all operators of powerboats. Following US SAILING’s successful national model for on-the-water training, US POWERBOATING has implemented a program that has trained more than 300 instructors, who have certified over 3,000 students, teaching the course at nearly 100 different facilities in more than 20 states since 2003. US POWERBOATING courses emphasize on-the-water training for recreational powerboat operators and uses its definitive national standards to validate knowledge and practical skills of operators.
Use the US POWERBOATING course provider and course calendar to find a course near you. Visitors can also contact a certified Powerboat Instructor in their area to schedule a course.
US POWERBOATING is the standard for Instructor Training. Our member organizations host Instructor Training Certification Courses. Search our calendar for more information on these certification opportunities.
To learn more about US POWERBOATING, visit our new website at www.uspowerboating.com.
US POWERBOATING was organized to directly address the educational needs of powerboat owners and operators in the United States and is an affiliate of US SAILING, the national governing body for the sport of sailing. Its powerboat courses are offered through participating schools, community programs and clubs. These courses highlight on-the-water training for recreational powerboat operators, rescue boat operators, race support boat officials and instructor candidates, starting at the entry level and progressing into advanced boat handling, cruising, and applied piloting and navigation. The Certification Series of US POWERBOATING™ has established definitive national standards to validate knowledge and practical skills of operators of sport and cruising powerboats.
About US SAILING
The United States Sailing Association (US SAILING), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and growth for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US SAILING is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. US SAILING offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org .