Boating education is one of the core missions of the Akron Sail and Power Squadron. We offer all the classroom-based courses from the national organization. They are divided into two categories: (1) the core courses leading to the grades of Seamanship, Piloting, Advanced Piloting, Junior Navigation, and Navigation and (2) an extensive catalog of elective courses.
Core Courses
Courses Include:
- Advanced Marine Navigation (leading to the AP grade)
- Offshore Navigation (leading to the JN grade)
- Celestial Navigation (leading to the N grade)
The national organization is currently revising these courses to ensure up-to-date and accurate content. Special emphasis is being placed on making use of current electronic navigation technologies. Contact the education department for detailed information about specific courses.
Elective Courses
Courses Include:
The specific courses offered depend on what the membership wants to learn about. Contact the education department with your requests. Members of ASPS receive a $75 discount on all courses.
Workshops and Seminars
ASPS may also offer two-hour seminars and workshops at various times. You can learn about these through squadron publications, email notifications, and announcements at meetings. There are discounted prices for ASPS members.
On-The-Water Learning
PaddleSmart seminars offer an hour of classroom instruction followed by two hours of on-the-water learning in kayaks or paddleboards. These classes take place every June and July. There is a small charge for them with a discount
The JumpStart program matches you up with a squadron member who will spend a couple of hours with you on your boat to help you learn and practice key skills. The program is free to both members and non-members.
Fall, 2023, Courses -Completed
Sail
Learn about basic sailboat designs and nomenclature, rigging, and safety from experienced USPS sailors. Then tackle the physical aspects of sailing forces, techniques, sail applications, marlinespike, helmsmanship, and handling of difficult sailing conditions. This course will benefit non-sailors as well as novice and experienced sailors.
What's included?
- Types of sailboat rigs and hull shapes, including sail configurations and standing rigging
- Wind and water forces affecting sailboat stability and balance
- Sail shape and tuning the standing rig
- Steering and helmsmanship
- Sailing upwind, downwind and spinnaker handling
Weather
Don’t let bad weather ruin your day! Understand the specifics of a forecast and anticipate how the weather will impact you. Learn about meteorological systems, how weather is created, and signs of impending poor or dangerous weather.
Our newly revised weather course covers the profound changes in the ways weather forecasts are produced and disseminated including how supercomputers make forecasts more accurate and how boaters have many choices in getting them while onboard via internet, satellite communications, and smart phones.
What's included?
- What causes weather
- Why winds blow, fog forms and precipitation falls
- How storms form, behave and move
- What clouds can tell us
- How modern weather forecasts are produced
- How to get them using computers, smart phones, radios and satellite communications
Something Else?
If you would like to take one of the other courses offered by USPS, let us know at education@akronpowersquadron.com If there is enough interest, we will find an instructor and schedule it.