Powerboat Sunset and Night Cruise Clinic

There is no certification for this course.  There is no written test.  This is a skills clinic only. 
In this course we will be practicing many of the skills at night in the dark that we learned in the RPBA 1101, Close Quarter Powerboat Handling.  You will get to experience docking and undocking at night.

• How to achieve the best possible night vision.
• How to use the electronic navigation equipment including Radar and AIS. How to adjust the Raymarine chartplotter so it doesn’t ruin your night vision every time you look at the screen.
• Details about the electronic navigation and the symbols on the chartplotter. Cans and Nuns.
• Use the charts to identify navigation marks which have light characteristics.
• Judging distances at night. How to use the chartplotter to make it easy. Red right return.
• How to use the Aids to Navigation in the harbor and near shore to help you return from the sea and find your way into the harbor.
• What is different and what is the same about cruising in the dark.
• Why red light bulbs instead of white lights? Why not to shine a flash light into the eyes of a fellow crew member.
• Regardless of the season, it is always cooler on the water at night. We’ll discuss appropriate layering a cruise that starts before sunset and ends at night.
• Safety is even more critical at night. We’ll discuss life jackets and tethers and jacklines.
• Man Overboard at night. It is a lot more difficult.  We’ll practice.
• We’ll discuss night watch schedules. How to prepare less experienced crew with more experienced crew.
• How to read the navigation lights on other vessels. And how not to get confused by other lights. How to tell who is the stand on and who is the give way vessel.
• How to watch out for lobster traps and avoid other dangers in the water. There are small buoys right outside the harbor that are hard to see during the day.
• Weather at night.Ashore Knowledge
  Power Vessel Theory
  • Pre-departure planning
  • Pre-departure passenger safety briefing
  • Pre-departure and post-sail vessel check
  • Crew communication and safety
  • Correct use of a VHF RadioUnderway Skills in the dark
  • Develop and execute a vessel departure plan with due consideration for wind, current, traffic and any special circumstances
  • Crew communication/briefing and assignment of duties including proper sequence for casting off dock lines and fender placement/usage
  • Demonstrate two methods for centering helm/wheel
  • Pivot/turn vessel 360 degrees in tight quarters
  • Back down a narrow channel in a straight line
  • Dock bow first in a protected slip (touch and no touch)
  • Dock stern first in a protected slip (touch and no touch)
  • Dock bow first at a facing pier (fuel dock) both port and starboard to
  • Dock stern first at a facing pier (fuel dock) both port and starboard to
  • Dock bow first at a facing pier using a spring line
  • Depart a facing pier using a spring line
  • Develop a docking plan including crew assignments and duties, desired dock line sequence, and due consideration for elements
  • Secure vessel in a slip properly (make fast) including correct placement of fenders and use of spring lines and bow & stern lines
  • Perform “Post Sail” check to secure vessel and turn off equipment properly