Education on safety at sea isn’t just for employed yacht crews. It’s a life-saving topic for recreational boaters too. That’s why Bluewater Crew Training USA has used its expertise in teaching professionals to develop its newest curriculum for pleasure boaters. Aptly titled, Safe Boating, this five-day interactive educational platform provides a real-world lifesaving approach to boater safety.
“First is the need for preparation,” says Kevin Petrovsky, Bluewater’s chief academic officer, about some of the most commonly needed boating safety skills the course addresses. “Making sure that the boat is equipped with proper safety and communication equipment, that all passengers are familiar with their use and emergency procedures, and that the boater has filed a float plan with a relative or friend before going out. The second area is situational awareness while on the water. This course provides the students with two full days on the water, putting classroom theory into practice by preparing a boat and passengers, piloting a boat in congested areas, applying the rules of the road, interpreting markers and buoys, and actually donning and using safety and survival equipment in the water.”
Bluewater’s Safe Boating course is open to anyone ages 13 and older from beginner to experienced boaters and prepared individuals to take the NASBLA/Florida Safe Boating Exam, a requirement to obtain a Boating Education Identification Card. This course will be offered at Bluewater’s training facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on June 12-17; June 26-July 1; July 10-15; July 21-August 5; and, August 7-12. Enrollment is $795.00. bluewatersafeboating.com