Safety on the Inland Seas

by Jan Harley on 1 Feb 2017 If exploring inland lakes and waterways or coastal waters is in your plans for the upcoming boating season, a new webinar, geared to sail and power boaters alike, should be part of your preparations. Presented jointly by the Great Lakes Cruising Club and the Cruising Club of America, the two-part webinar – on April 4 and April 6, 2017 – will draw from US Sailing’s Safety at Sea and CCA’s Safety for Cruising Couples curriculums. As a public service to recreational boaters, the webinar is highly discounted.

“Attending a GLCCSchool webinar is almost like attending a class in-person, including interactive Q&A with the instructors,” said GLCCSchool Coordinator Bill Rohde. “Each session runs about an hour, plus Q&A, and as a public service to reach as many recreational boaters as possible, the two-session class is discounted 75% off the normal per-session pricing to cover delivery costs, making registration only $10.00 for this webinar.”

Part One: Basic Tools and Practices for Cruising Safety

Addressing a boater’s need to periodically review and update information and procedures for their use of the safety equipment recommended for recreational cruising boats, the session on Tuesday, April 4, examines basic skills and tools for safe cruising. Topics explored will include effective VHF radio usage, making maximum use of Digital Selective Calling features on radios, use of safety equipment (i.e. throw bags, life slings, EPIRBs, AIS MOB locator devices, flares and fire extinguishers), knowing where critical safety equipment is stored and crew overboard retrieval methods.

Part Two: Putting Safety Skills into Practice in Short Handed Situations

Most boaters are short-handed cruisers, typically with only two aboard in a husband-wife or cruising partner situation or perhaps as parents with young children. This session, on Thursday, April 6, delves into the realities of how we cruise, and explores the dynamics behind well understood and practiced safety procedures within that context.

Webinar Instructors Sheila McCurdy and Ron Trossbach are extensively experienced boaters and moderators/moderator leaders for US Sailing's Safety at Sea seminars and the CCA’s Safety for Cruising Couples seminar. With thousands and thousands of sea miles behind them, each brings both powerboating and sailing perspectives to the table.

To register please visit website, click “Free Enrollment” to enroll with the school; register for the class here. Skipper and crew are encouraged to participate in class sessions together under one registration. Each registrant will receive links to review recordings of the sessions as often as they desire after broadcast of the live classes.