There will be two opportunities for your friends and fellow boaters to take Boat Smart this spring. The first opportunity for Boat Smart starts March 12 at Staubli Corp, 201 Parkway W, Duncan, SC. The second opportunity starts April 3 at the Anderson County Library, 300 N. McDuffie Street, Anderson, SC.

Registration forms, which include complete schedule details, can be found on our website www.lake-hartwell.org. This class is a must for all skippers, spouses, and family members who will find themselves on the water.

Please come out and help. The squadron needs volunteers to help with registration, classroom monitors, and grading final exams.

Seamanship will be offered following the Anderson Boat Smart. Check the website for the most up-to-date details.

Advanced Piloting will begin March 7 at the Buck Mickel Center at Greenville Tech. If you’ve completed Seamanship and Piloting, this is the next advanced grade for you. This course continues to build coastal and inland navigation skills, allowing the student to take on more challenging conditions – unfamiliar waters, limited visibility, and extended cruises. GPS is embraced as a primary navigation tool while adding radar, chartplotters, and other electronic navigation tools. As with Piloting, the course includes many in-class exercises, advancing the student’s skills through hands-on practice and learning.

On a final note, congratulations go out to Jim Stewart and Rick Cunningham. These two members have been awarded the Educational Proficiency Award which recognizes members holding the grade of AP with the additional successful completion of any three elective courses.

If you would like to sign up for a class, have questions, or would be willing to volunteer, please contact me at education@lake-hartwell.org or at (864) 616-6555.