Navigation course offered at Coast Guard Station

Chart reading, trip planning and local knowledge
Fri, 07/26/2019 - 8:30am

Midcoast Maine has one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, but that beauty can hide hazards that can quickly ruin your day on the water. Geography, tides, weather and sometimes confusing aids to navigation can conspire to make even the most experienced mariners wish they’d stayed ashore.

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 2-5, based at Coast Guard Station Boothbay Harbor, has created “Navigating Mid Coast Maine,” a navigation course based entirely on the local marine chart # 13293, which covers the area from Small Point to the west to Pemaquid Point to the east.

“Navigating Mid Coast Maine” is a four-evening, eight-hour (two hrs/night) course that will introduce you to the basics of navigation and trip planning while taking you to the far corners of the local chart.

“Local Knowledge” is an often recommended but sometimes difficult commodity to acquire; our experienced instructors have over 100 years of combined boating experience in the local area, and all are current or former certified small boat coxswains in the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

“Navigating Mid Coast Maine” will be offered for the first time at U.S. Coast Guard Station Boothbay Harbor, Aug. 5, 7, 12 and 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. each evening.

The latest edition of the #13293 chart is included in the course fee. Cost per person: $70. Roller plotter or parallel rule and dividers are required. Available “at cost” at the class.

To enroll or for more information, contact David Eastwood at davidbeastwood@gmail.com