Thanks for the advice, I have perused the USPS site for my region and they
look to have some helpful information. The class I wanted, the Squadron
Boating Course, isn't offered for a while so I found it on video and have
ordered it, not as good as a live class, but it will do for now.

Have you tried using travelnewsgroups.com to access this newsgroup, its
available directly from the web and will also alert you when your post has
been replied to?

H. David

"Nomen Nescio" ] wrote in message
...
H. David wrote:

I am just beginning to explore getting into cruising, am
newly retired, and want to cruise on the waterways of the
Pacific Northwest doing regular overnight cruises for two
people and occasionally 4.

Skipper replied:

Take the Coast Guard Auxillary course on boating safety.
You'll learn about lights, rules of the road, navigation,
locking through to Lake Union, and general safety.

Since the Coast Guard Aux gets their materials from the U.S.
Power Squadrons, might I add to this by advising you to take
the course offered by, and tojoin the U.S. Power Squadron as
well?

You say "Pacific Northwest" which would be either District 16
or District 32. Since we don't know exactly where you are, you
can go to the following two websites, and find the local chapter
(squadron) closest to you.

http://www.usps.org/localusps/d16/

http://www.usps.org/localusps/d32/

Now, some people here might discourage you from joining the USPS,
but I have found the people there to be a wealth of knowledge.

Some people might also take you to task for paying attention to
people who "post anonymously", but they refuse to grasp the fact
that I don't have access to newsfeeds from my ISP, having to read
from Google Groups. Since my ISP doesn't offer Usenet, and I have
had so much spam from signing on to Google Groups, this is the best
method for me to post. You can take my advice with a grain of salt,
but I am glad I joined the Power Squadron. Worth investigating, at
the very least, IMHO.

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Those who complain about others not being "team players"
are the same ones who never give up the ball.
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