NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Sailing & Cruising School (FS&CS) has opened registration for students to attend its popular two-day First Mate course, combining instruction in the classroom and on a poweryacht. The next class has been scheduled January 26-27 at school headquarters at Marinatown Marina, 3444 Marinatown Lane in North Fort Myers.

The course, limited to six students, consists of half a day of classroom study and a day and a half of hands-on instruction on a powerboat practicing anchoring, handling of lines, navigation support and marine radio communications. The student’s goal of the course, according to the course description, is to learn how to be an effective first mate “on a single or a twin-engine power vessel of 32-42 feet in length operating during the day in inland and coastal waters.” The tuition of $195 includes course materials.

“There are no prerequisite courses for taking the First Mate course,” said Barb Hansen of FS&CS,” said Barb Hansen of FS&CS. “This is a learn-to-boat course for couples and singles who are new to boat cruising, who want to improve the communications between the bridge and crew, or just want to learn more about boating before they buy a boat.”

Students are taught boating terminology, the basics of the ship's systems, USCG required safety equipment, three basic knots, proper line-handling, proper use of the marine VHF radio, emergency procedures, basic chart reading, and seamanship tips. 

In addition to its First Mate course, FS&CS is known as the “liveaboard” school. It offers a mix of three, six, and eight day boating courses during which students live aboard the vessels, power and sail, while they take courses.

Florida Sailing & Cruising School is the educational division of Southwest Florida Yachts, Inc., one of the largest yacht chartering companies in U.S. For course descriptions, charter information or other details contact SWFYACHTS@aol.com, telephone 800-262-7939 or 239-656-1339, or write 3444 Marinatown Lane N.W., North Fort Myers, FL 33903. Website addresses are www.swfyachts.com, www.flsailandcruiseschool.com, and www.swfyachtsales.com.