ADVANCED PILOTING DESCRIPTION

Advanced Piloting is the second in the sequence of USPS courses on navigation. It continues to build coastal and inland navigation skill, allowing the student to take on more challenging conditions – unfamiliar waters, limited visibility, and extended cruises. GPS is embraced as a primary  navigation tool while adding radar, chartplotters, and other electronic navigation tools. As with Piloting, the course includes many in-class exercises, advancing the student’s skill through hands-on practice and learning. Ten classes of two hours each normally are scheduled for presentation of this course. In addition the students have seven days to complete the open book exam. Topics covered include:

     *   Review of Piloting Skills

     *   Advanced positioning techniques such as advancing a line of position.

     *   Other electronics: radar, depth sounders, autopilots, chartplotters, laptop computer software,

         etc.

     *  Hazard avoidance techniques using electronics (e,g., “keep out’ zones in GPS)

     *  Collision avoidance using radar and GPS

     *  Working with tides; clearances, depth, effects of currents.

     *  Piloting with wind and currents.

     *  The “Seaman’s Eye” – simple skills for checking that one is on course.

This course will be given by the Key West Sail and Power Squadron at 5205 College Road, Stock Island. It will be held for a period of 8 weeks beginning on Tuesday, February 21st from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. For information call Vince Melendy at 305-296-1126. The cost for this course is $82.00 for Power Squadron members and $122.00 for non-members.