Member Course Schedule

Bellevue Sail and Power Squadron
a unit of United States Power Squadrons ® America's Boating Club ®

Boating is fun ... we'll show you how

BSPS Courses

BSPS introductory boating classes will teach you how to operate your vessel safely. When you've passed one of these classes, join the squadron and continue improving your skills. Our courses are dynamic and go beyond textbook learning. And besides improving their boating knowledge, BSPS members participate in a variety of social activities, such as our many rendezvous. You'll make new friends and have a great time.

The 2008 Junior Navigation (JN) class currently is underway. Students Brad Waters, AP and Dianne Greene, AP, took advantage of their newly acquired skills (and the weather) to obtain some Sun sights. JN now requires only Sun upper limb (UL) and lower limb (LL) sights. The morning sights were lower limb Sun sights taken from a parking lot west of Elliott Bay Marina in Puget Sound. They were dip short sights using a shore line near the port cranes on Harbor Island. The afternoon upper limb Sun sights were taken from the same location, looking just west of Blake Island and were natural horizon sights. Both students preliminarily had sights which would meet the JN requirement of less than 5.0 nm error. (Not too good for land, but certainly acceptable in the open sea).

National has relaxed the rule that LL and UL sights must be taken at different locations (required for a running fix). The sights now can be taken at the same place and a simulated running fix used. The nice part about the new program is that a morning sight can be taken, a relaxed lunch eaten with JN sight discussions, and then afternoon sights can be taken from the same known location. Obviously, this all means the Sun and clouds have to participate. The four-hour difference in the sights means that an acceptable "cut" or azimuth difference will exist. The remaining two students will take their sights at a later date, and hopefully get the same great results.

BSPS offers the following four course categories:

	Public Safe Boating Classroom Courses
	Public Seminars and Other Courses
	Public Self-Study Courses
	Squadron Member Courses

Public Safe Boating Classroom Courses

Click here to register for an upcoming Squadron Boating Course or ABC (America's Boating Course). For additional information, see our FAQ or the class descriptions below.

	Squadron Boating Course
	ABC (America's Boating Course)

Upcoming Course Schedules

Boaters who plan on taking their boats offshore, or just want more boating knowledge, are encouraged to join a Power Squadron and take more advanced courses.

Public Seminars and Other Courses

The following classes are available to both the public and squadron members. Click here to register for an upcoming course. For additional information, see the class descriptions below.

	Skipper Saver
	GPS
	VHF & VHF/DSC Marine Radio
	Radar
	On-Board Weather
	How to use a Chart
	Boat Handling Under Power
	Kids Safety Class
	Sail Trim and Rig Tuning

Upcoming Seminar Schedules

Public Self-Study Courses

	ABC (America's Boating Course)
	Video Boating Course
	JetSmart
	GPS

GMDSS

Knots, Bends, and Hitches

	USPS Learning Guides and other Material
	National Safe Boating Test

Squadron Member Courses

These courses are only available to members of the USPS. To join the USPS, contact our Membership Chair.

Click here to register for the Squadron Member Courses online. For additional information, see the class descriptions below or contact our Advanced Grades and Electives Chair .

	Advanced Grades & Elective Courses
	Upcoming Course Schedules

Trademark Statement

Disclaimer Statement

Privacy Statement

For problems using this site, please contact our webmasters, Lt. Jennifer Hamilton and Lt. James Hamilton.