Piloting Course

Piloting is the first course in the sequence of UNITED STATES POWER SQAUDRON courses on navigation, covering the basics of coastal and inland navigation. This course focuses on navigation as it is done on recreational boats today and embraces GPS as a primary navigation tool while covering enough of traditional techniques so the student will be able to find his/her way even if their GPS fails. The course includes many in-class exercises, developing the student’s skills through hands-on practice and learning. Topics covered include:

     *  Charts and their interpretation

     *  Navigation aids and how they point to safe water

     *  Piloting courses and determining direction and distance

     *  The mariner’s compass and converting between True and Magnetic

     *  Use of GP – typical GPS displays and information they provide, setting up waypoints

        and routes, staying on a GPS route.

     *  Pre-planning safe courses and entering them into the GPS

     *  Monitoring progress and determining position by both GPS and traditional techniques

        such as hearing and dead reckoning.

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

The course will run every Tuesday from 7:00 PM to 9:00PM starting on November 29th.  It will be held at

the Key West Sail and Power Squadron Building on College Road on Stock Island. The cost will be $118.

for Non-members and $78. for Members of any Power Squadron.

For information, call Vince Melendy at (305) 296-1126. More information and registration is posted at

www.usps.org/keywest.