USPS Advanced Grade Courses
Advanced Grade Courses are offered to
all members.
·
Basic
marlinespike seamanship
·
·
Navigation rules
·
Operation under
normal and adverse conditions
·
Responsibilities
of the skipper
·
Fire prevention
and control
·
Basic first aid
·
Common courtesies
on the water
·
Boat care
·
Nautical Customs
and flag etiquete
PILOTING
This course is the first of a
two-part program studying inland and coastal navigation. Its focus is on the
fundamentals of piloting - keeping track of a boat's movement, determining one's
position at any time and laying out courses to a planned destination. Included
are subjects such as --
·
Charts and their
use
·
Aids to
navigation
·
The mariner's
compass
·
Variation and
deviation of the compass
·
Plotting and
steering courses
·
Dead Reckoning
·
Piloting and
labeling charts
ADVANCED PILOTING
This is
the final part of the inland and coastal navigation series. Emphasis is on the
use of modern electronic navigation systems and other advanced techniques for
finding one's position. Seamanship and Piloting are prerequisites. Among topics
covered are--
·
Tides and
currents and their effect on piloting
·
Finding position
using bearings and angles
·
Simple use of the
mariner's sextant
·
Electronic
Navigation - radar,loran, GPS, etc.
JUNIOR NAVIGATION
Junior Navigation is the first of a two-part program
of study in offshore navigation. It is designed as a practical "how
to" course. Advanced Piloting is a prerequisite. Subject matter includes
the following--
·
Precise time
determination
·
Use of the
nautical Almanac
·
Taking sextant
sights of the sun, moon, planets and stars
·
Reducing sights
to establish lines of position
·
Special charts
and plotting sheets for offshore navigation
·
Offshore
navigational routines for recreational craft
NAVIGATION
This course is the second part
of the study of offshore navigation, further developing the student's
understanding of celestial navigation theory. Junior Navigation is a
prerequisite. The course covers --
·
Additional
sight-reduction techniques
·
Honing skills in
sight taking and positioning
·
Orderly methods
for the navigator's day's work at sea
·
Navigating with
minimal resources, as in a lifeboat