News & Views for Southern Sailors - Southwinds Magazine

EVENTS & NEWS OF INTEREST TO SOUTHERN SAILORSTo have your news or event in this section, contact editor@southwindsmagazine.com. Send us information by the 5th of themonth preceding publication. Contact us if later. We will print your event the month of the event and the month before.■ RACING EVENTSFor racing schedules, news and eventssee the racing section.■ UPCOMING SOUTHERN EVENTSYouth Sailing ProgramsGo to our annual list at http://www.southwindsmagazine.com/yacht_sail_dir.php.EDUCATIONAL/TRAININGHurricanes and Boats Seminar, St. Petersburg, May 16The St. Petersburg Sail and Power Squadron will present theseminar Hurricanes and Boats, on Wednesday, May 16. Thistwo-hour seminar covers how to select a location and prepareyour boat for a hurricane. Includes student notes and copiesof the slides. 7 - 9 p.m. St. Petersburg Sailing Center, 250 2ndAve SE, Demens Landing, St. Petersburg. Instruction is free.Materials $15 per family. Maximum 20 Students. Pre-registrationrequired. www.boating-stpete.org.Marine Electrical Certification, Thunderbolt, GA, June 19-22Thunderbolt Marine. American Boat and Yacht Council.www.abycinc.org. (410) 990-4460North Carolina Maritime Museum, Beaufort, NCOngoing adult sailing programs. Family Sailing. Ongoingtraditional boatbuilding classes. www.ncmm-friends.org,maritime@ncmail.net, (252) 728-7317.About Boating Safely Courses—Required in Florida and Other Southern StatesEffective Jan. 1, 2010, anyone in Florida bornafter Jan. 1, 1988, must take a boating safetycourse in order to operate a boat of 10 hp ormore. Other states require boaters to haveboater safety education if they were born aftera certain date, meaning boaters of all ages willeventually be required to have taken a course. To learnabout the laws in each state, go to www.aboutboatingsafely.com.The course name “About Boating Safely,” begun bythe Coast Guard Auxiliary, satisfies the education requirementin Florida and most Southern states and also givesboaters of all ages a solid grounding (no pun intended) inboating safety. Other organizations offer other courseswhich will satisfy the Florida requirements.The About Boating Safely (ABS) covers subjects includingboat handling, weather, charts, navigation rules, trailering,federal regulations, personal watercraft, hypothermiaand more. Many insurance companies also give discountsfor having taken the boater safety education course.Completion of courses qualifies attendees for Florida’sBoater Safety Card.The following are ABS courses (with asterisks **):** Boating Safety Class, Sarasota, FL, May 14-23. SarasotaPower & Sail Squadron building, 2814 Hyde Park St.,Sarasota. Includes instruction on the water. $55 includes allcourse materials. (941) 400-6467, albur103a@yahoo.com.www.sarasota-boating.org.**America’s Boating Course, St. Petersburg Sail andPower Squadron, July 9. Available to anyone 12 orolder. Free. Materials cost $35 per family. Classes held oncea week (two hours each Monday) for seven weeks.Completion of this course will enable the student to skippera boat with confidence. 7-9 p.m. St. Petersburg SailingCenter, 250 2nd Ave SE, Demens Landing, St. Petersburg.Maximum 20 students. Pre-registration required atwww.boating-stpete.org, or call (727) 498-4001. Other membercourses on navigation, seamanship, maintenance, electrical,etc., regularly scheduled. Go to the website for moreinformation.Easily Accessible to Gulf, ICW& World Famous John’s Pass• Open 7 Days a Week• Public Pump Outs (at slip)• Gas, Diesel & Propane• Non-Ethanol Fuel• Wet & Dry Slip Dockage• Monthly & Transient Rentals• Ice, Beer & Snacks• Monitoring VHF Channels 16/ 68• Fishing Charters• Boat Club• Close to Shopping/Restaurants• Propeller Reconstruction• Marine Supplies• Free WiFi• Liveaboards WelcomeWalking distanceto the beachHarbormaster:Dave Marsicano CMM503 150th Ave.Madeira Beach, FL(727) 399-2631www.madeirabeachfl.goPlease contact for newlow monthly ratesAll Major Credit Cards Accepted**Monthly Boating Safely Courses 2012 Schedule in FortPierce, FL. Go to http://a0700508.uscgaux.info/ (click onClasses) for class information. 2012 schedule: May 26, June16, July 28, Aug. 18, Sept. 15, Oct. 20, Nov. 17 Classes areusually very full, call and reserve space on the preferredprogram date. $36 (+ $10 for each additional family member).Classes held monthly. Eight-hour class at 8 a.m. Flotilla58 Coast Guard Auxiliary Building 1400 Seaway Dr., FortPierce FL. (772) 418-1142.**Vero Beach, FL. Sponsored by the Vero Beach PowerSquadron (VBPS). 301 Acacia Road, Vero Beach, FL.14 May 2012 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com