Re: US Sailing National Sail Training Symposium, Report #1

Thank you and please keep us posted, I for one am fascinated and hope to benefit
from US Sailing's programs.

Kathy Wickward
Seattle, WA

Roy Mast wrote:

> 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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