Canadian Yachting February 2021 - 77

Just as a learner's permit for your driver's license doesn't mean you are ready
to take off on a trans-Canada trip, your
Pleasure Craft Operator Card doesn't
mean you are now knowledgeable in
everything boating-related. This course
offers the minimal information you need
to make sure you don't injure yourself, or
someone else while out on the water, but
it leaves plenty of room for more knowledge and skill-building.
As with driving a car, there are dangers
and hazards that come along with operating a boat, some that a beginner may not
even be aware of. Changes in weather
conditions, water hazards and even other
boaters can all change at a moment's
notice and cause untold problems for
boaters relying on only a brief introduction into the marine world.
Sail Canada offers practical and in-person training to ensure boaters are prepared
to go out on the water confidently. Samara
Crothers, Program Manager from Sail
Canada, recommends that new boaters
expand their knowledge base with additional training before heading out on the
water.
" I think it would be similar to getting
your driving license, taking the test and
not having any opportunity to actually
drive a car without someone providing
some instruction, " said Crothers. " The
Pleasure Craft Operator Card provides
some of the basic theory and key regulations that boaters need to be aware of, but
it doesn't provide an opportunity for any
practical hands-on training. "

LEARN THE LANGUAGE
As if the marine world wasn't confusing enough, there is also a whole new
language to learn. As you get ready for
another exciting summer on the water
take some time to read up on the universal
language of boating.
Luckily, many commonplace terms
that we use every day, actually have their

foundation in the marine world. Think of
these expressions - 'all hands on deck' or
'don't rock the boat' - that refer to situations that occur in the marine world.
Vanessa Schmidt, Marketing and
Graphic Manager from Canadian Power
and Sail Squadrons explained there is a
different language for boaters, and there
are times when it will quickly become
obvious to experienced mariners that you
are a novice.
This winter, take some time to learn the
language of the world you will be enjoying this summer. Pretty soon you'll be
dropping 'bow',' stern', 'starboard', or
'port' into conversations and will sound
just like an old deck-hand.

WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW YOU
DON'T KNOW, COULD SAVE
YOUR LIFE
Beginning boaters should expand their
knowledge by taking courses designed
to increase confidence on the water, but
safety is another big reason to sign up
for a course from a certified instructor.
Crothers points to the constantly changing conditions while out on the water as
something that can affect your safety and
that of others.
" It's about being prepared and confident to handle different situations on the
water. Weather can change quickly and
knowing how to maneuver and get in and
out of docks and anchorages safely during
all those different conditions is important for everyone's safety on the water,
including other boaters, " said Crothers.
" Knowing what to expect when you
encounter another boater isn't just about
manners, it's a safety issue, too. "
Schmidt also stressed there are things
that boaters need to know about before
heading out on the water that may not be
covered by the Pleasure Craft Operator
Card training. She offered as an example,
that knowing who to contact in the case
of an emergency is something that could

literally save your life.
" We encourage people to get their
VHF radio license and explain how valuable that could be for your own safety, "
Schmidt said, adding that it's important
for new boaters to understand that mariners, are expected to offer assistance to
other mariners if they are in danger.
Knowing emergency protocols can
make a difference in how quickly you
are able to get the help you need. As an
example, calling 9-1-1 during an emergency instead of contacting the coast
guard, would delay getting an appropriate response, as would not being able to
determine your exact GPS location, or
offering an accurate boat description.
BECOME PART OF THE CLUB:
COURSES AND PROGRAMS TO
ADVANCE YOUR SKILLS
The Canadian Power and Sail Squadron
offers a wide range of courses, from
Level One all the way up to Level Seven,
and then additional advanced courses
on topics like VHF Radio, Navigation,
Anchoring Techniques, Reading Weather
Conditions and more.
The Canadian Power and Sail
Squadrons starts with the Pleasure Craft
Operator Card certification, but they can
also take you well beyond the basics.
These programs even cover topics like
boat maintenance and more.
Sail Canada also offers a wide range
of courses, including an Intro to Boating
program that covers everything from keel
boating to power-boating, including getting on and off the boat on a dock, how to
dock safely, and more. Navigation courses
can also provide further education and
understanding for everything from reading charts to how to navigate in a waterway that you may not be familiar with.
Both organizations offer alternative
virtual programming due to the COVID19 pandemic. Please visit their individual
websites for more information or to register for a program.
Sail Canada: sailing.ca
Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons:
cps-ecp.ca

CANADIANYACHTING.CA

http://www.sailing.ca http://www.cps-ecp.ca http://www.CANADIANYACHTING.CA

Canadian Yachting February 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Yachting February 2021