U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary PE Speedgram No. 6-96

Number 6-96 -- 22 July 1996

Modification to Instructor's Guide (SS-3),
Sailing and Seamanship Course, fifth edition, first printing:
The Seven Lesson S&S

Introduction

For many years, flotillas have taught a seven-lesson Sailing and Seamanship (S&S) course. Although not as popular as the standard 14-lesson S&S course (by a wide margin), the shorter course does fill a niche. For example, some flotillas wish to offer a S&S course, but cannot arrange for a classroom for a sufficient length of time to present a 14-lesson course. Other flotillas have difficulty in arranging for instructors for a long course, etc. Feedback from the field through your DSOs-PE made it clear that you would like to have the option to continue the seven-lesson S&S course.

Whenever presenting a shortened version of an approved Auxiliary course, however, it is important to ensure that the scaled-down course meets all applicable standards developed by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). Courses that meet the national standards as developed by NASBLA are acceptable to the U.S. Coast Guard's National Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Program. Students receive reciprocity in all states without having to take additional courses except in cases of uniquely hazardous conditions.

Upon careful review of the presently-authorized seven-lesson S&S course, it was decided to make several changes to ensure that the course complies fully with present NASBLA guidelines. These changes are identified below and are effective immediately.

The Course Outline, given on page iii of the Instructor's Guide, describes a basic seven-lesson course consisting of the first seven chapters of the text. To ensure that this course fully complies with NASBLA requirements, the following changes are made:

(i) Chapter 10, Trailering, is added to the basic seven lesson-course.
(ii) NASBLA standards also require information on Accident Reporting, Float Plans, Hypothermia and Substance Abuse. To ensure that these requirements are met, material in Appendices A, B, D, and E are added to the basic seven-lesson course. Material in these appendices may be added to the lessons or taught separately according to the needs of flotillas conducting the course.
(iii) Flotillas are reminded that NASBLA requires that material on state boating laws and regulations be presented in all approved courses. As with the material described in (ii) above, this may be presented in a separate session or made part of other lessons.
(iv) Because inclusion of the above material would otherwise make the course longer, Chapter 6, Tuning and Heavy Weather, is relocated to the position formerly occupied by Trailering.
(v) The final examination is modified as follows: delete questions from Chapter 6 and add those from Chapter 10.

Modification to Instructor's Guide (SS-3),Sailing and Seamanship Course, fifth edition, first printing:The Seven Lesson S&S

Modification to Instructor's Guide (SS-3),
Sailing and Seamanship Course, fifth edition, first printing:
The Seven Lesson S&S