Conference unifix::sailing

As suggested before in a previous reply (Lord knows where...):

It sounds simple, but get/borrow Eric Sloane's "Weather" book, and buy a 
copy of the Golden Book of Weather, one of those little pocket-sized 
editions many of us cherished in junior high school, one of the series on 
geology, plants, dinosaurs, etc.  You can learn a few of the basic weather 
components and systems with a quick perusal, and digestion of the entire
tome will constitute an at-home Weather 101 course. 

J.

    Another excellent source for weather-related publications is in
    aviation supply stores.  Many of the larger airports have pilot 
    shops (one of the best ones in the Mass. area is in Norwood) which
    have books ranging from weather overviews to complex theory.
    
    Cheers

There is a pilot shop at the Nashua, NH airport also.  If you want to
choose from many books, call 800 information and get the number of
Sporty's Pilot Shop in Batavia, Ohio.  You will get catalogs for books
and other pilot stuff forever....

    
    
    	If books aren't enuff for ya, and some multimedia and boat-talk
    with others on cold, crummy nights is more up your alley, try the Power
    Squadron. They have, on top of the basic/seamanship/piloting/celestial
    courses, stuff like Weather and Engine maintenance. There are enough
    squadrons around that the drive should be short.
    
    	I've been blowing away winter nights for abou 10 years in this way,
    beats whatever's on TV, usually. The Coast Guard Auxiliary also runs
    classes, but I'm pretty clueless on them. There's an 800-number, I
    forget the sponsor (Boat-US?) which is a good start. They steer you to
    a number in you neighborhood; you take it from there.
    
    Have fun!

    As stated in .4 --
    
    The U.S. Power Squardons have a very good weather course -
    the only pre-requisite is you need to be a member.
    
    I have been active in the USPS for quite a few years now  - my Squadron
    'Minute Man' is based in the Acton Mass area and is 80% Sail boaters.
    (This years main trip was from Provincetown to Nova Scotia - alas my
    gas tanks weren't big enough)
    
    There are many other good courses available:
    
    Seamanship, Piloting, Advance Piloting, Jr. Nav., Navigation are the
    5 main stream course & must be taken in order.
    
    Elective courses (no prerequisite) include:
    Sail, Weather, Engine Maintainence, Cruise Planning, Marine Electronics,
    Presentation Skills,... & a raft of others.
    
    Most courses run 6-12 weeks, one night a week, for 2 hours a night.
    You learn as much from the interaction & experiance of others as from
    the courses themselves -- I find them very enriching and confidence 
    building.
    
    The Coast Guard Aux. indeed runs a similar set of courses - perhaps
    someone would like to confirm.
    
    Both orgs. are very good & often not what people really expect (i.e.
    overly regimented, stuffy, etc...)
    
    If you would like further infor on the USPS please feel free to give me
    a call (dtn 285-3540 or Salem::Klotz)
    
                                     Take care,
                                               Lou

    There is a nice article in this months Cruising World on weather.  It
    is written by Bob Rice, a noted forecaster for big time races.
    
    -gayn
    

    
    Just a reminder --
    
    Note # 8   has some course announcements in it (some old some new)
               (I now realize I need to update the USPS Courses)
    
               At any rate most of the Phone ## are still good contacts for
               information in a given area.
    
                                    Take care,
                                                Lou
    

I just called Boat US a few days ago.  The toll-free
number for information on where both CG Auxiliary and 
Power Squadron offers training is:

	800-336-BOAT
	800-336-2628

They will tell you who to contact for information near
the area you request.

No membership in Boat US is needed to use this number.

Regards,

As Lou pointed out in an earlier reply, the Coast Guard Auxiliary also has 
numerous courses for its members. These are free of charge and for the most part
can be taking in any order. 

There are two main tracks of training. The first, Auxiliary Operations program
or AUXOP for short, is considered the "Phd" of Auxiliary. It is mostly classroom
work and focuses on the theory. There are seven courses which vary from twelve
to 30+ hours in class and roughly the same for outside studies and exercises.

			Seamanship
			Communications
			Search and Rescue
			Auxiliary Administration
			Weather
			Patrols
			Piloting A & B

The second training program is the "Boat Crew Qualification Program" or BCQP
for short. It is based on the material in the Boat Crew Manual (BCM) which in
turn is based on the Coast Guard's small boat (under 25 meters +/-) manual.
The BCM (700+ pages) material is usually taken as self-paced study and is 
coupled with extensive practice on board vessels operating under Coast Guard 
orders.

As each candidate feels they are prepared to perform certain tasks e.g. there
are several line handling tasks for beginners, they must perform the task for
a Qualification Examiner (QE). If sucessful, their task book is signed by the
QE and they progress on to more complicated task. There are about 230 tasks in
the entire BCQP and you are allowed a maximum of two years for each level of
qualification and must requalify every five years. The levels of progress are:

			CREW -     may be counted as qualifing crew on ordered
			           missions. Usually assigned as Lookout, Deck,
				   Helmsman and occasionally as navigator.
 
			OPERATOR - May receive orders and is responsible for all
				   aspects of running the boat, but not
				   necessarily the mission.

			COXSWAIN - Is considered by the Coast Guard and 
				   Auxiliary to be the most skilled boatsman
				   and may be assigned to any authorized 
				   position including AUX Patrol Commander,
				   On Scene Commander, Operator or Crew, etc.
				
Auxiliary Members have access to the Coast Guard Institute coorspondence
courses.

The Auxiliary Program also is supported by training it members as above and to 
support the public programs with qualified:

			Instructor
			Courtesy Marine Examiner
			Elected Officer course
			Air Observer
			ATON Verifier
			Auxiliary Leadership

    Re: .6  It was SAIL magazine, not CW, which has the article on weather.
    Oct '90 issue "The Sailor's Sky".  I'll be glad to Xerox it if you
    send me a dept mail address.
    
    -gayn