There are two messages contained below.  The first on the Navigation Course, the second on changes in our monthly meetings and courses for this winter.  See you Jan 13^th.

USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 05-10

NAV Course starts January 13


What you need to buy and or download before coming to class:

* "The Weekend Navigator" by Robert W. Sweet.   Available on Amazon.com for $15.61

* "How to Read a Nautical Chart" by Nigel Calder also available on Amazon for $11.53   This book is not "required" but higly recommended.  You will keep and use this book for a lifetime, it is the "Bible" for chart symbols.  

* Download the ACN Text.   Yes it is old, but this book is excellent, and better than the one that replaced it that is no longer in print.  Ignore the electronics section, or read it and smile when you see how far we've come.  Here is the address:
 
www.uscg.mil/directives/cim/16000-16999/CIM_16798_15.pdf

* Powerpoints for the Weekend Mariner Course can be found on:

http://www.cgauxed.org/elib/courses/WNListing.htm

* Powerpoints for the AUX NAV Course can be found on:

http://www.cgauxed.org/elib/courses/bacn.htm

* Training Chart 1210 TR   These charts are available locally in NY City from  New York Nautical, 158 Duane St., New York, NY 10013, Tel.: (212) 962-4522 (near West Broadway)  They are also available on the internet from people like Landfallnavigation.com   http://www.landfallnavigation.com/noaamisc.html   Perhaps someone will make a run to NY Nautical and buy a bunch for our class?  You will not need these for the first class.   COST $3.00 each. 



A word on Charting Instruments.  These are available many places.   Weems-plath however will give us a discount.   http://www.weems-plath.com  Call in your order by telephone on 1 800 638 0428. Tell the salesperson that you are taking this for the USCG Auxiliary and receive a 25% discount.  

* Dividers: "Ultralight Dividers" Dividers with a thumb screw mechanism work best as they won't slip on you while you're working. Part No. 176, Price $21

* Parallel rules: There are two choices that will work fine for our class. Buy both if you want to splurge, otherwise pick the one that best suits your future needs.

Option 1:  If you want the easiest dividers to use in a testing environment where you can spread your chart out then buy the 24" dividers. Because they are so large when you transfer a line across the chart you will do it with less movement thus less error. Recommended if you are taking the 6 pack or advanced exams. Needless to say these are not the most practical on board most small boats. If you are not so worried about future exams buy the 15 or 18 inch versions.  24 inch length, parallel rules part no. 24 Price $38

Option 2: If you are going to navigate in a tighter environment on board a boat then check out the Weems Protractor $18. It is simple and works great in tight spaces and when the boat is having a bumpy ride. Part No. 255, Price $18.00

* Pencils and the infamous Staedtler Mars White Plastic eraser.   Believe me you're going to need it!

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A few words on the Nav Course

Auxiliarist Mark Melvin will be teaching our famous and fabulous Navigation Course starting January 13.  He will be assisted by yours trully and Alex Krupnik FC from a Brooklyn Flotilla.   We've all taught this course 3 years running so you're going to have a great time!!

There are two Navigation Courses, the Advanced Coastal Navigation "ACN" course for Auxiliarists and the Public Education Nav Course which is called "Weekend Navigator."   The Auxiliarist course has two tests at the end referred to as NAV A and NAV B.  Auxiliarists will take these tests.   The "Weekend Navigator" will have only an example of a "cruise" to plot and no official test.  Remember the Aux has some courses for the Public and some for its members, that's why there are two Nav classes and two Nav Tests.   Everyone will learn the same material. 

We will teach both of these courses concurrently and here's why.   The majority of material in the "ACN" course is in the "Weekend Navigator" but the ACN course does a much more thorough job of real navigation.  That said, the "Weekend Navigator" course has all new sections on GPS that are not covered in ACN.  Frankly this was a major gap in the ACN class since not knowing how to use a GPS unit after taking a Navigation class was a real problem. 

SIGN-UP  As I am writing we have 26 signed up, so we have limited sign-up to Flotilla 5-10 and 5-11 members and paying general public members only.

Here is the link where we have our sign-up and information on the course:

NAV COURSE REGISTRATION

Here is the link address:
http://www.smarttix.com/show.aspx?showCode=USC4

You can also go to our website   www.flotilla510.org and click on the RED link "Register for a course"  which will take you to the Smarttix site.  

All Winter Long, Just Think Tuesdays
 
Think Tuesday night 7:00pm, when you think about the flotilla this winter.  Our plan for the winter training season is to keep as many of our classes/events as possible on Tuesday nights.  Why?  Because you asked for it.   I've asked many of our students and discussed this in our last monthly meeting and the feeling was that Tuesday was the best night of the week for classes.  So this winter when you think about the Flotilla, think Tuesday nights.

Always remember that as an Auxiliarist I encourage you to come to class even if you're not officially signed up and taking the test.  If you spend one Tuesdeay night with us and learn something, from any class we teach you should feel a sense of accomplishment.   Also, as always if you want to bring a friend, please do so, no need to ask.  

 
Monthly meetings moved to Third Tuesday of the month and will be held before class. 

Ok here's what's going on with monthly meetings.    Frankly, we're getting much better turn-out for our classes than we are for our monthly meetings traditionally held on Thursdays.   Why, you ask?    1) People want to go out on Thursday night.  2) Members who have come to class on Tuesday often don't want to come a second time the same week,  3) Active members who come to class already know what's going on with the flotilla and don't feel the need to show up at the meeting.  

In effect, active members are being asked to come to a second meeting while inactive members come to one meeting a month...maybe.   So lets switch this.  Lets get the inactive members to come for a short meeting before class starts and maybe they'll hang around for class afterwards.

Never fear, if we really have need of a long meeting or have some other event we can still use Thursday night.  


Nav Class, Celestial Navigation and other courses this winter

Navigation Class starts Jan 13 and you must sign-up to participate. 

Nav Class Sign-Up

Address:  http://www.smarttix.com/show.aspx?showCode=USC4

Go to our website frontpage for info on what to buy/download for this course. 

This class will run until the end of March, after Nav we are going to try to have a weekend Celestial Navigation course taught be experts from the USCG Academy.   There will probably be a small charge for this course to cover the expenses of our instructors.   This is the first time we will have ever done anything like this and I'm really excited to offer this course.   Cross your fingers that this all comes through. 

We also want to bring back our Marine meteorologist Austen Dooley for a few lectures.  We had a great response to his first lecture during the weather class and frankly we would love to get him back. 

Prior to starting Boat Crew Training this winter we may also run another of our Auxiliary specialty courses.   Potential courses are Aux Communications, or Aux Seamanship.  
 

Our Web Site Address is:

www.flotilla510.org

I've been trying to put these emails up on the front page of our website.  If you ever don't know what's going on check the website for dates/times/courses.