COME ON BOARD!
Now that I am well and truly settled back in the south west, I am receiving enquiries regarding upcoming skipper’s ticket and marine radio courses. It’s a great idea to enrol in one before the summer season really kicks in, you become caught up in Xmas parties or family gatherings and before you know it, next year is already here! For those thinking about Xmas and birthday presents, gift vouchers are also available for courses and marine safety products from Sea Soaring Marine.
Before I outline the course schedules, be sure about a few things if you book a course with me. These are not quick fix, assessment only courses. You will always be in small groups, all courses include full training, local boating information, boating guides, stickers and emergency scenarios. You will not just look at radios, flares and EPIRBs, but will be shown how to use and store them properly. For me, one frustrating aspect of the practical assessment in the Recreational Skipper’s Ticket course is that launch and recovery of the vessel is not assessed. Anyone who has done any boating appreciates this can be one of the most difficult parts of the trip. Sitting at the Gnarabup Café, overlooking the boat ramp during the summer season, can be a very ‘insightful’ occasion. Throughout the state I see other assessors who launch the vessel themselves and when the client arrives they just step onto the boat to begin the assessment. This is perfectly within the assessment guidelines, but a great teaching/learning opportunity has been lost. The client has had no input regarding vessel preparation, bungs in, ropes attached beforehand, boat ramp etiquette and most importantly, having a launch and retrieval plan that everyone understands. So, if you want much more than just a skipper’s ticket or marine radio course certificate, come on board. You will be encouraged to ask questions, be with like minded people keen to learn and also have some fun during the day. There are scheduled weekend course dates listed below, but for anyone in the Margaret River region only, all courses are also available every weekday on request. The minimum age for Skipper’s Ticket Courses is 14 years and for Marine Radio Courses, 17 years.
Recreational Skipper’s Ticket
Gracetown-Sun Oct 30, Sun Nov 20, Sun Dec 4
Augusta-Sat Oct 22, Sat Nov 19
Marine Radio Course
Gracetown-Sun Oct 23
As this article goes to print, hopefully many of you have been able to take advantage of the rare good boating weather over the last few days. Better still, in answer to last week’s question, there is a new date for the demersal fishing season closure this year, Monday October 17. This has been introduced to allow people to take part in Australia’s first ever Gone Fishing Day on Sunday Oct 16. For those chasing rock lobster, the season opens on Saturday, October 15. This week’s question is, ‘Where is safe water, if you see 6 quick flashes followed by 1 long white flash on a marker buoy?’
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