BoatBanter.com - US Sailing to Provide Powerboat Instruction for USPS.....

Members of USPS will now be able to get some practical, hands-on,
instruction in the actual operation of a boat. That will improve the
value of that program significantly.

Members of US Sailing will be able to avail themselves of some of the
advanced navigation and other cirriculi developed by the USPS

Interesting development......

US SAILING and United States Power Squadrons Sign Memo of
Understanding to Share Educational Resources
Move Will Help More Boaters Gain Access to Boating Education, Safety
Training

September 11, 2007 - US SAILING and the United States Power Sqaudrons
(USPS) have signed a memorandum of understanding that outlines how the
two organizations can share educational resources, including
instructional programs and course materials. The move allows each
organization-each of which is a leader in the field of recreational
boating education-to tap into the other organization's particular
expertise; this type of collaboration is highly encouraged by the
United States Coast Guard, in the hope of ensuring a higher level of
competency and safety amongst boaters in the United States.

USPS will complement its classroom instruction with US SAILING courses
in on-the-water powerboat skill instruction and demonstration. US
SAILING will now be able to incorporate the extensive advanced
navigational course materials developed by USPS into its training
programs.

"This is a great partnership that will extend the reach of both
organizations," said Rich Jepsen, CEO of OCSC Sailing (Berkeley,
Calif.) who chairs US SAILING's Training Committee. "Each organization
has outreach to different audiences in the boating world, and sharing
our resources will give more boaters access to the training and
knowledge they need to make going out on the water more enjoyable-and
ultimately more safe."

According to USPS National Educational Officer Dick Kyle, "We are
looking to enrich our programs with US SAILING's strong experience
with on-the-water training. This expertise complements our classroom
courses for our new Boat Operator Certification Program and advanced
sail endorsements included in our USPS University."

The USPS Boat Operator Certification program has been created to
recognize the skill level of boaters and recognize their knowledge, in
much the same way as the Coast Guard license indicates professional
expertise. Until now, there was little most recreational boaters
could do to gain such recognition. To achieve each of the four levels
(Inland, Coastal, Advanced Coastal, and Offshore) the boater must
complete a set of USPS courses, attend a series of seminars, and
demonstrate skills, some on-the-water. Basic, on-the-water skills are
what USPS has looked to the US SAILING program for, for its inland
certification.

One of the key US SAILING courses USPS will offer to its members is
the Safe Powerboat Handling Course. This two-day, hands-on, on-the-
water course was originally developed to serve US SAILING constituents
who used powerboats but lacked formal training in handling these types
of craft. The original target audience for this program included
sailing instructors, coaches, and race committee personnel who needed
a high level of proficiency in powerboat handling in order to perform
their jobs on the water. The course has since become known as valuable
training for any individual who wants to learn how to safely operate a
powerboat. The National Association of State Boating Law
Administrators (NASBLA) has approved the course, and an increasing
number of U.S. states are recognizing that the program meets their
boating safety education requirements.

For more than 20 years on-the-water powerboat training has been a part
of US SAILING's educational offerings, initially incorporated into
courses used to train sailing instructors and later developed into
separate powerboat-handling courses. The courses are administered by
US Powerboating, a department under US SAILING's Education Division
organized to directly address the educational needs of powerboat
owners and operators in the United States.

The Power Squadrons' advanced navigational materials are the key USPS
resources US SAILING will now be able to incorporate into its renowned
Keelboat Certification Series, which provides high standards of
competency for sailors, sailing instructors, and sailing schools to
improve safety and enjoyment for thousands of sailors every year.
Qualified sailing schools and instructors teach sailors of all
experience levels proper boat handling and seamanship skills, as well
as the proper theory that is a crucial part of a sailor's education.
Making USPS navigation training materials available to US SAILING
Keelboat Certification schools will improve its already robust line-up
of navigation training.

US SAILING offers sailing and powerboat courses through participating
clubs, schools, and community programs. These courses highlight on-the-
water training for students and instructor candidates, starting at the
entry level and progressing into racing, cruising, and offshore
passagemaking. US SAILING's Certification Series has established the
definitive national standards for sailing and on-the-water powerboat
instruction in keelboats, small sailboats, and sport and cruising
powerboats.

United States Power Squadrons is known worldwide for its quality
navigation programs, from inland and coastal to offshore, using both
electronics and celestial tools. USPS has even trained navigators for
the Navy during times of war. USPS has become a leader working with
industry to understand and influence emerging navigation technologies,
thus assuring training in the latest techniques, equipment, and
software.

USPS University Boat Operator Certification programs tap into their
navigation courses as well as classroom and hands-on work in
seamanship, boat handling, weather, marine electrical and electronics,
engine and marine mechanical systems maintenance, cruise planning and
a wide range of seminars on shipboard gear selection and use. The
USPS Seminars are generally available to the public across the
country, often conveniently offered in marine stores, yacht clubs, and
marinas. Programs are offered through the USPS network of 450
squadrons located virtually everywhere you find boaters. USPS also
offers National Association of State Boating Law Administrators-
approved public boating safety programs in the classroom and online.
These courses have been a mainstay of USPS support to boaters since
1914.