Attention all USPS ®Boating Course Students

* Date and Time of our next Educational Cruise will follow. *

Sign up for our 3-hour USPS D/4 Educational Cruise aboard the Atlantis, a 147 foot, all weather, steel hull, luxury yacht. The cruise is scheduled to depart at 6:00 PM from Liberty Landing Marina in Liberty State Park, Jersey City, NJ. Brown Bag it (bring your own meals, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages), bring binoculars if you have them, and dress warmly. The ship is heated and has two large staterooms with dozens of tables and chairs and two large wraparound decks. You will find it to be very comfortable.

On TBD, the United States Power Squadrons District 4 Marketing Committee has made arrangements with the BRAND NEW Atlantis for a unique three-hour New York harbor cruise aboard a modern luxury yacht in order to provide students a better understanding of Aids to Navigation and their light characteristics. An understanding of Aids to Navigation (floating buoys, fixed aids and ranges, etc.) is an essential part of safe boating and although covered in the classroom during the USPS Course, is best understood by actually seeing the aids at sea. During the entire voyage, Captain Hank Griffin, a USPS member and a professional captain, will provide commentary. You will see and hear about Aids to Navigation and more during our Harbor cruise. You'll have fun and improve your boating education. USPS has made arrangements for docking at Liberty Landing Marina at the North end of Liberty State Park. A detailed map of the area will be included with your boarding passes. Be sure to get to the dock about 15 minutes before sailing time.
Each USPS student will be given a New York Harbor chart replica showing the various navigational aids and their individual light characteristics. These will be numbered on the chart. The actual Aids to Navigation will be identified as we cruise past them. We will begin boarding at Liberty Landing Marina, at the north end of Liberty State Park at 5:45 PM and depart at 6:00 PM. The timing of the cruise has been planned so that we will have a minimum of an hour cruising during daylight followed by a minimum of an hour cruising at twilight, at which time, the navigational light characteristics can be seen. The ship is scheduled to return to the Liberty Landing Marina Dock approximately three Hours after departure time.

Attention New Yorkers: If you reside in Manhattan and take the Path Train to Journal Square, you can get a bus to the Marina. Following the cruise, transportation can be arranged from the Marina to Manhattan.

Children: Children attending the USPS Boating Course are welcome to participate in the Educational Cruise. However, we must restrict participation by other family members (and friends) to those 12 years of age and older. USPS is a family oriented organization and we sponsor many activities which include children. But because this cruise requires the concentration of the participants, we have the 12-year restriction. Thanks for your understanding.

On arrival: The Atlantis will display USPS banners and flags and USPS members in uniform will greet you on arrival. Once you turn into Liberty State Park, we will have signs to assist you in finding your way to Liberty Landing Marina.

About USPS: Formed in 1914, the United States Power Squadrons is the worlds largest nonprofit boating organization. Our 60,000 members in 450 squadrons are boating families who contribute to their communities by promoting safe boating on the water and class room. All USPS members are volunteers. USPS District 4 is comprised of 3,000 members in 18 squadrons. Collectively, our 18 squadrons teach the USPS Public Boating Course to more than 1,500 students twice yearly. All of the students in our 25 class locations are being invited to join this cruise and because of this, we urge you to get your reservations in early. Fill out the top and bottom sections of the accompanying registration form and mail it with a check, $15.00 per person, payable to: District 4 Marketing Committee. Please include your telephone number on the check. We are limited to 150 passengers. During our Spring and Fall cruises, we have turned away 50 or more students who enroll too late. If you are among those that enroll too late, your check will be refunded.

About Liberty State Park: Liberty Landing marina is at the north end of Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ. The Atlantis is a large 147 foot luxury yacht which you will see at dock "D" approximately 15 minutes before departure time. You may want to consider visiting the Liberty State Park Science Center which is in the same area. Whatever your plan, boarding begins about 15 minutes before departure time. Please allow for traffic. We are sorry, but the Marina does charge for parking. We therefore suggest car pooling.

What you receive: To make your cruise more enjoyable, USPS District 4 will provide you with a chart replica of New York Harbor showing you our course and the Aids to Navigation. The Aids to Navigation will be numbered or lettered on the chart. These aids will be pointed out as we cruise past them. Since sunset will occur at about 7:35 PM Eastern Time, we will be point out the light characteristics which appear on the charts, as well as the aids themselves. We will also conduct a tour of the ship's Pilot House and show you the latest in navigational instruments and computers.

To make the driving easier, a map of Liberty State Park, indicating the location of Liberty Landing Marina, will be sent to you with your Boarding Passes. We know you will enjoy the cruise and learn much from it.

Be sure to see you course chairman or proctor and fill out the form and send it in as soon as possible. This cruise will sell out fast.

Reminders

Boarding begins approximately 5:45 PM on TBD.
Boarding is on Dock "D" at Liberty Landing Marina at the north end of Liberty State Park.
There is a $5.00 Parking Fee at the Marina Lot. We suggest that you car pool if possible.
Don't miss the boat. Traffic can be bad on Sunday.
Return is approximately 3 hours after departure.
Brown Bag it (meals, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages).
Dress warmly.
Bring binoculars.
Be certain to complete and return both pages of the registration form.

For any information, call Hank Griffin 718-356-0438 or email at: hggriffin@juno.com