Host A Course

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Thank you for offering to host a US Sailing Small Boat course. Below are requirements for host facilities. If you meet all requirements, please complete the Host a Course Form online with information on your facility and requested course dates: https://www.ussailing.org/education/resources/course-calendars/host-a-course/.

BOATS AND EQUIPMENT:

ON-SHORE/SWIM CHECK FACILITIES:

PRE-COURSE PREPARATION:  

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1. Identify the Date, Host and Location a. The host organization must be a member of US Sailing.

b. For approval and date selection, please contact your Area Race Officer (Race Management), Regional Administrative Judge (Judge) or Chair of the Umpires Committee. i. Advanced Race Management Seminars also require the approval of the Chair of the Race Officer Training Subcommittee.

ii. Advanced Judge Seminars also require the approval of the Chair of the Judges Training Subcommittee.

2. Identify the Instructor a. Your ARO, RAJ or the US Sailing Race Administration office can help you with this.

b. You can find a list of US Sailing certified instructors on the US Sailing website.

c. Instructors are volunteers, but the host organization should offer to cover their travel and lodging expenses.

3. Finances a. US Sailing charges a standard registration fee of $35 per person for race officer, judge and umpire certification seminars (One Day Race Management Seminar, Advanced Race Management Seminar, One Day (Club) Judge Seminar, Advanced Judge Seminar, Umpire Seminar and Advanced Umpire Seminar).

b. US Sailing charges a standard registration fee of $10 per person for Continuing Education Roundtables.

c. US Sailing charges a standard registration fee of $15 per person for Judges Protest Day.

d. US Sailing no longer includes additional expenses, such as food and beverage or instructor travel, in the registration fee. The host organization may choose to absorb these additional expenses, arrange to collect an additional fee, or permit seminar participants to purchase food and beverages at the venue. You should not plan for

participants to leave the seminar venue for lunch – there is not enough time in the schedule.

e. If the host organization is an MVP program club, they may use MVP credits to offset the course fee. For details on how to do this, or to join the MVP program, please contact us at info@ussailing.org.

4. Complete and Submit the Host Form a. Please complete the Host a Course form as soon as possible.

b. You will need to know your organization’s member ID, which can be found on the Member/Organization Lookup page.

c. Once your host form has been submitted and approvals secured, the seminar will be posted as soon as possible on our seminar calendar.

d. We recommend opening registration as soon as possible.

5. Online Registration a. Participants must be members of US Sailing.

b. A discounted one-time only Special Introductory Membership is available to first-time members. To receive the $10 discount, these new members must join through the seminar enrollment process.

c. New members may immediately download The Racing Rules of Sailing in digital format. Paper rulebooks are also available for sale online.

6. Register Early a. Seminars do fill up, so we recommend registering as soon as possible. This allows students enough time to prepare and get the full benefit from the seminar.

b. Walk-ins are permitted only at one-day seminars. The organizer must make sure that each person who walks in registers online at the beginning of the seminar. Participants must register to receive seminar credit and online test credentials.

c. Advanced seminar registration closes three days before the first day to ensure students have enough time to prepare.

7. Optional Items for Purchase a. While registering for the seminar, participants will have the opportunity to purchase optional items. These items are not required for the seminar.

b. Orders are processed through the US Sailing Store and the items will be shipped directly to the registrant’s designated delivery location.

8. Registration Confirmation Email a. Registrants will immediately receive an email confirmation once they have submitted their registration form. This email contains links to student materials.

b. Students can also access the materials directly from our website.

9. Course Roster a. Only the instructor has direct access to the course roster in order to protect the privacy of our members, including minors.

b. The instructor may share portions of the roster with the host to help with preparation for the seminar. Please treat the information as confidential.

10. Contact Participants a. The organizer and/or instructor will email the participants about one week prior to the seminar with venue-specific details and reminders about downloading student materials.

b. Email templates are available on the instructor’s online site and email addresses are available from the course roster.

11. Online Testing a. Testing opens at 1700 (Eastern) on the last day of the seminar. Participants will receive an email with information and the test link shortly before the seminar.

b. All seminars have a four-week test window. Please reinforce with participants that they must complete the test during the test window (think of it like protest time).

c. Walk-in participants will be registered for the online test after they complete the online registration. The organizer is responsible for ensuring that walk-in participants register online when they arrive.

d. Online testing is required for anyone seeking certification, and recommended for all.

12. Test Scores a. Test-takers receive immediate feedback and their score as soon as they submit their test. The instructor also receives participant’s test score.

b. Scores are posted to the member’s SOARS account after the test period ends.

c. For retest policies, please contact raceadmin@ussailing.org.

13. Questions or Problems? Please call (1-800-877-2451) or email (education@ussailing.org).

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ADAPTIVE SAILING WORKSHOP REQUIREMENTS

BOATS AND EQUIPMENT:

_____ Ideally, one Keelboat (or stable centerboard boat available for every three candidates (14-24 ft., sloop-rigged, tiller or joystick steered)

_____ Twelve 2 ft. lengths of line for knot-tying

_____ One safety boat (ideally center console that can tow a boat if necessary)

COURSE PREPARATION:

_____ Procedures for emergencies at site location

_____ Check condition of equipment before course (equipment in good condition is key

to hosting a successful course – please be sure that boats are in good shape)

_____ Check condition of equipment after course; arrange for repair of any damage

ON-SHORE FACILITIES:

_____ Reservation of “classroom”; well-lighted and ventilated for classroom purposes

_____ Chalkboard with chalk and eraser or whiteboard with dry markers in 3 colors

(board should be a minimum of 4’x6’) or flipchart with “stick up” pages

_____ Table and chairs for each participant plus several extra chairs

_____ LCD projector and screen (really helpful but not deal breaker)

_____ Restroom facilities nearby

_____ A Hoyer-type lift and/or transfer box (if at all possible on site)

MISCELLANEOUS:

_____ Arrangements for low cost lunches so participants can purchase (or bring their own) and eat together at course site

_____ Site to provide materials for building a transfer box on site during the course (according to provided plans from US Sailing) along with the tools to construct it.

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KEELBOAT INSTRUCTOR COURSE REQUIREMENTS

BOATS AND EQUIPMENT:

_____ One Keelboat available for every three candidates (18-27 ft., sloop-rigged, tiller steered).

_____ Three or four 8’-10’ lengths of line for knot-tying and a 60’ line for heaving and coiling.

_____ U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets.

_____ Reefing points on the sails.

COURSE PREPARATION:

_____ Procedures for emergencies at site location.

_____ Check condition of equipment before course (equipment in good condition is key to hosting a successful course – please be sure that boats are in good shape).

_____ Check condition of equipment after course; arrange for repair of any damage.

ON-SHORE FACILITIES:

_____ Reservation of room; well-lighted and ventilated for classroom purposes.

_____ Chalkboard with chalk and eraser or whiteboard with dry markers in 3 colors (board should be a minimum of 4’x6’).

_____ Table and chairs for each participant plus 6 extra.

MISCELLANEOUS:

_____ Arrangements for low cost lunches so participants can purchase (or bring their own) and eat together at course site.

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KEELBOAT CRUISING COURSE REQUIREMENTS

BOATS AND EQUIPMENT

 2 Boats similar in design and size, larger than 34’, inboard diesel, roller furling and capable of being double-reefed

 Utensils, cups, bowls, plates, etc. enough for 5 people per boat

 Cookware – pots, pans, coffeepot, etc.

 Cooking Stove – Propane or CNG is preferable

 2 Anchors and rodes sufficient to allow boats to be double anchored, chain, shackles

 Strobe light on each boat for night overboard practice

 1 Dinghy with oars to be towed

 1 Set of Jacklines per boat

 1 Emergency Tiller per boat

 Instruments - to include depth and speed/compass

 1 VHF radio per boat

 1 Boat Hook per boat

 Adequate Toolkit – Spare parts, electrical, filters, tools per boat

 Charts; any specific OPS manuals/checklists

 U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets

ON-SHORE FACILITIES

 One classroom large enough for 8 Candidates + 2 Instructor Trainers for;
Day 1 Meetings and Discussions,
Day 3 Exit Interviews
Exams; well-lighted with adequate tables and chairs

 Access to a copier

COURSE PREPARATION

 Contact Instructor Trainers and review course schedule, provisioning plans and charter fees (if necessary)

 Procedures for emergencies at site location

 Check condition of equipment before course (equipment in good condition is key to hosting a successful course – please be sure that boats are in good shape)

 Ensure that flares, and fire extinguishers are not out of date.

 Check condition of equipment after course; arrange for repair of any damage

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CRUISING POWERBOAT INSTRUCTOR COURSE REQUIREMENTS

BOATS AND EQUIPMENT

 (2) Powerboat needed between 26 ft and 50 with 1 boat single screw and the other twin-screw at least one of the boats with a bow thruster. Each boat needs the following equipment.

 Throw rings

 VHF

 Depth finder

 Bow and stern anchor

 USCG approved life jackets

 Charts of area

 Toolkit

 First Aid kit

 Throw lines

 Engine supplies

 Small whiteboard

 Flashlight

 Ability to run during darkness (running lights etc.)

 Strobes for nighttime overboard rescue

 Compass

 Boats need to be USCG compliant

ON-SHORE FACILITIES

 One classroom large enough for 4 Candidates + 1 Instructor Trainers for Day 1

Meetings and Discussions, Day 3 Exit Interviews

Exams; well-lighted with adequate tables and chairs

 Access to a copier

 Contact Instructor Trainers and review course schedule,

 Procedures for emergencies at site location

 Check condition of equipment before the course (equipment in good condition is key to hosting a successful course – please be sure that boats are in good shape and seaworthy)

 Check the condition of equipment after the course; arrange for repair of any damage

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SAFE POWERBOAT HANDLING INSTRUCTOR COURSE REQUIREMENTS

BOATS AND EQUIPMENT

• Powerboats
  • One (1) Powerboat 14-24’ long for every 2-3 candidates
  • Preference? 1 powerboat for the IT
  • Working Engine Cut-Off Switch (ECOS) – must be tethered, not wireless
  • Must have current registration (per your state’s & Coast Guard requirements)
  • Must be equipped with all U.S. Coast Guard required equipment
• Four (4) race-type buoys/marks
• Extra lines of adequate length for towing
• VHF Radios – minimum one per boat

ON-SHORE FACILITIES

• Classroom to accommodate 8 candidates and 1 IT
• White board with colored markers

PRE-COURSE PREPARATION

• Provide IT copy of procedures for emergencies at site location
• Ensure that all equipment is in proper working condition and seaworthy
• Prepare boats each day (fuel, etc.)
• Ensure insurance coverage for boats used in course (US Sailing  Borrowed  Boat Insurance is  available)
• Assistance in course promotion
• Arrange housing for visiting Instructor Trainers (if available) I don’t think we need to list it. I feel it is a liability to have someone stay at a strangers house.