United States Coast Guard to Offer Winter Boating Course

The 2022 season will start soon, and more people will be enjoying activities on the water. Your local Coast Guard Auxiliary group, Flotilla 95, is offering a Winter session of the Boating Skills and Seamanship (BS&S) course. This is a boating around Marco Island 101 course. The eight-session course is presented over four weeks. The class will meet Monday and Thursday evenings from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM at the Flotilla Station at Caxambas Park, starting on January 10, 2022.

To register for the course contact Joe Riccio cgauxcourses@gmail.com or 239-384-7416

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has released their annual report on boating accidents this past summer. Since 2003, falling overboard has been the leading type of fatal accident with drowning as the leading cause of death. Of the drowning victims, 88% were not wearing a life jacket. Today’s boaters can choose from several models of light and comfortable, inflatable belt-pack or over-the-shoulder life jackets that can be worn while fishing or enjoying the sun. Events can happen quickly and unexpectedly, and boaters might not have time to grab their life jacket before finding themselves in the water. The message is clear, “Life Jackets Save Lives.”

The FWC reported that Florida had 836 boating accidents in 2020 which is 113 more accidents than in 2019, a 16% increase. A total of 79 people lost their lives last year in boating accidents, 14 more than the previous year.

Flotilla 95 and the FWC continue their efforts to reduce the number of boating-related fatalities through education and the importance of wearing life jackets while boating.

To that end, the BS&S course will provide the new boater all the basics of boating around the Marco Island area. It covers boating safety, boat handling, waterway markers, navigation, weather and using the VHF radio, always with an emphasis on what makes boating in our area different such a three foot plus tides, lots of shallow water – and especially – the beauty of the Ten Thousand Islands and the fishing!

Set aside a little time and commit to safe boating. Come join us for an informative, practical, and fun course. This course meets the requirements for the Florida Safe Boating Card and is approved by the U.S Coast Guard.

It is also important to note that many boat insurance plans offer discounts for boaters who have taken this course and obtain their Florida Safe Boating Card.

To schedule your FREE Vessel Safety Check, please call: John Moyer, 239-248-7078 or Coast Guard Auxiliary Station – Flotilla 95, 239-394-5911 or email John at Jmoyer1528@aol.com.

For those interested in joining Flotilla 95, USCG Auxiliary, please contact Joe Grazzini at 239-272-9493 or ciscojmg@hotmail.com.

Saving Lives since 1939. The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary – A Proud Tradition, A Worthy Mission. For more information, please visit www.cgaux.org.