Submitted by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary San Juan Islands Detachment

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary San Juan Islands Detachment is offering a free “Adventures in Boating” course on Saturday, Nov. 4, at the fire station located at 1011 Mullis Street in Friday Harbor from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pre-registration is required and admission is free.

Everyone wishing to learn or share their safe boating skills, as well as review local boating regulations is invited to attend. Upon successful completion of the course, attendees may submit a copy of individual “certificate of accomplishment” with $10 for the issuance of a boater education card by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.

All Washington residents must carry a boater education card while on the water operating a power-boat greater than 15 horsepower. This includes people over 12 years of age and born after Jan. 1, 1955.

Anyone can take this course online, but by taking the class in person, boaters share their experiences and discover new aspects of boating. The in-person class provides attendees to explore and understand the challenges of boating in the Salish Sea. In previous sessions, there have been Olympians, masters of unlimited tonnage, and nine-year-old mariners have shared sage advice about boating.

If you plan on boating in jurisdictions outside of the state of Washington, you are encouraged to determine what the state, territory, and/or nation’s boater education/competency requirements need to be satisfied prior to getting underway.