Advanced Classes


			*Lake George Power Squadron* *Advanced Classes*

Seamanship

Building on the basics taught in the USPS Boating courses, Seamanship is the recommended first course fornew members, both powerboaters and sailors. The student learns practical marlinespike,navigation rules, hull design and performance, responsibilities of the skipper, boat care, operating a boat under normal and abnormal conditions, what to do in various emergencies and weather conditions, nautical customs and common courtesy on the water. This course provides an introduction to the USPS educational program and a strong foundation for the other Advanced Grades courses.

Piloting

Piloting introduces the fundamentals of piloting and positioning -- the study of marine charts, aids to navigation, adjustment and use of the mariner's compass, dead reckoning, planning and plotting courses, and taking bearings to determine on-the-water position.

Advanced
Piloting

Advanced Piloting builds on the knowledge gained in Piloting to
teach how to navigate safely in coastal waters predict tides and
tidal currents and their impact on boat position, advanced positioning
techniques, and the use of electronic navigation systems for positioning
and course planning.

Junior
Navigation

Junior Navigation begins the study of offshore (open-ocean) navigation-
integrated electronic positioning systems, sight taking with a mariner's
sextant on the sun, moon, planets, and stars, how to reduce sights using
the nautical almanac to determine position, and passage planning with
special open-ocean charts.

Navigation

Navigation further develops the understanding of celestial navigation
theory and the skills in sight taking and reduction-- additional sight
reduction techniques and the orderly methods of carrying on the day's
work of a navigator at sea. Of particular interest and importance is
the study of offshore navigation using minimal data and/or equipment,
such as when on a disabled vessel or lifeboat.