COAST GUARD COURSE UNDERSCORES IMPORTANCE OF BOATING SAFETY
OXNARD, CA: This summer, the U.S. Coast Guard released a summary of statistics on calendar year 2022 recreational boating incidents, revealing that there were 636 boating fatalities nationwide in 2022. Alcohol continued to be the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents. 75 percent of fatal boating incident victims drowned. Of those drowning victims, 85 percent were not wearing a life jacket. Where boating instruction was known, 74 percent of deaths occurred on vessels where the operator had not received boating safety instruction.
The Coast Guard encourages all boaters take a boating safety course that meets the National Boating Education Standards before they go boating.
The U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary’s Boating Skills and Seamanship (BS&S) course is a comprehensive boater certificate course designed for both the experienced and novice boater. The 2-day course consists of eight core lessons, plus five elective lessons providing up-to-date knowledge for handling boats under all conditions. The Coast Guard Auxiliary instructors are experienced recreational boaters with in-depth knowledge of boating safety and skills.
Topics Include: types of boats, equipment for your boat, trailering your boat, handling your boat, highway signs, boating traffic rules, introduction to navigation, powering your boat, lines and knots, weather, and your boat’s radio.
Class dates
Saturday February 10 and Sunday February 11, 2024, 9:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Training Room, 4201 S. Victoria Ave. Oxnard, CA. 93035.
Register for Class
Cost is $35.00. RSVP by January 26th, seating limited. Contact USCG Auxiliarist William Wicks, by ocnblueuscg@gmail.com or (805) 320-6028
