US Sailing National Sail Training Symposium, Report #1
Roy Mast (roym@mails.imed.com)
Wed, 20 Jan 1999 16:40:35 -0600
AHOY:
In November, 1994, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) national office issued a
new boating safety policy that has a significant impact Sea Scout Ships.
The policy established requirements in two areas: 1) equipment, and 2)
leader training. In summary, the policy established that vessels were to be
locally certified as seaworthy and safe by having a current USCG Auxiliary
Courtesy Marine Examination (CME) sticker. Leader training certification
may be satisfied in several ways including holding a USCG Marine Pilots
License, completing a US Power Squadron Safe Boating Course, completing US
Sailing certification, or demonstrate completion of comparable training to
be approved by the local council safety committee. Some councils, including
my local Bay Area Council (BAC) and Sam Houston Area Council (SHAC) have
established Sea Scout Fleet Committees that have implemented programs to
have boats inspected and Skipper Training Certification issued. Other
councils may not be so well organized or may not feel the need to develop
fleet certifications.
The purpose of this communication is to address the issue of adult leader
training certification for Skippers involved with ships which focus on
small boat sailing and cruising. Many of us have entered into leadership
roles in our ships with little or no depth of experience and need a way of
obtaining practical training. This discussion is intended to address only
training and certification of adult leaders with sailing programs in their
units.
Shortly after the BSA policy was announced, the BAC fleet established
vessel inspection and skipper certification programs. Most of our vessels
and skippers have been certificates indicating compliance with the national
policy. We do have some gaps, but we are actively working to track vessels
and individuals to maintain current certificates. We have allowed several
forms of equivalency for leader certification as is appropriate. We have
also taken on a challenge to develop a capability within the fleet to be
able to instruct courses leading to leader certification.
With the help of the National Sea Scout Committee and with funding from the
US Olympic Committee, a select group of dedicated Sea Scouters have been
working with US Sailing to become US Sailing Level 1 Instructors and Level
1 Instructor Trainers. US Sailing has excellent training resource materials
that complement the programs of sailing Sea Scout Ships. We have been
fostering a closer relationship between the training staff of US Sailing
(namely training director Tim Daly), the BSA National Scout Office (namely
Bill Rogers and .. ), and the National Sea Scout Committee (namely Jimmie
Homberg, and the others).
In order to continue to foster a closer relationship between BSA Sea Scouts
and US Sailing, and to promote the development of a uniform high standard
for adult training, a core group of invited leaders is today meeting in San
Diego, California, to attend the US Sailing National Sail Training
Symposium. We will be meeting with the most experienced sailing instructors
in the US to improve common understanding and develop a strategy to provide
a higher level of cooperation between these organization.
Both groups bring much to offer. BSA has a huge membership and tremendous
resources. US Sailing has an unmatched depth of knowledge of sailing.
Working together we can accomplish much toward improving the quality of
sailing programs offered by the Boy Scouts of America and provide an inroad
for Scouts to the higher level of the sailing signified by US Sailing. US
Sailing coordinated the US Olympic Sailing Team and is the governing body
for the sport of sailing in the US. It is appropriate for us to have a
closer relationship that we all will benefit.
As I write this first report, my Southwest Airlines flight has left Phoenix
on the last leg into San Diego. I will prepare daily updates and post them
to the net. I hope that you find the reports interesting and informative
and that we can start a "new thread" on the topic of adult sailing training
certification.
YISS,
Roy T. Mast
Skipper Ship 303 "Fandango"
Lake Jackson, Texas
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