The Lake Hartwell Sail & Power Squadron conducted inspections of Lake Hartwell buoys and markers in March, which is the most challenging time due to weather and lack of participants. To participate, call Huub Bakx at 268-3624.

In mid-January, a planning and teaching session was held at to start organizing the Adopt-A-chart expedition on the St. Helena Sound. This exercise is scheduled for June 1-5 and again for mid-October.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers advises the following:

• Follow navigation rules of the road, buoys, and other aids to navigation.
  Watch your wake and keep a safe distance* from docks and other structures, swimmers, and other boats. It’s the law, its courteous, and it is in place for everyone’s safety.
• Please keep hold of your trash – items such as drink cups, cans, old fishing line, and bait containers can easily be blown into the water, especially from a moving boat. Not only are these items unattractive, they can be harmful to fish and other aquatic life.
• Do not tie up your boat to buoys or signs.
• Wear a life jacket whether you know how to swim or not and dress appropriately for the weather. Most people who drown never intended to be in the water in the first place and drown within 10 – 30 feet of safety.