Cruise to florida keys is part of this eight-day navigation course north fort myers, F

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CRUISE TO FLORIDA KEYS IS PART OF

THIS EIGHT-DAY NAVIGATION COURSE
NORTH FORT MYERS, Florida – Florida Sailing and Cruising School (FS & CS) has announced an eight-day “Offshore Powerboat Cruising” course, emphasizing traditional and electronic navigation, that includes a week-long, round-trip cruise aboard a 36 to 46 foot trawler from Fort Myers to Key West.

Students live aboard the twin-engine trawler during the course and learn how to navigate with charts and compass as well as with electronic instruments such as the global positioning system. Students will plan, prepare and provision for a seven-day cruise. During the cruise they will maintain the ship’s systems while underway, operate the vessel inshore and offshore and in dark and daylight, navigate with electronics, make a night landfall, establish an overnight anchorage and more. After a stay in Key West, including “shore leave,” the students will prepare and embark on the return trip.

Reservations are being accepted for several instructional cruises in 2001. The minimum number of students per class is two; the maximum is four persons per vessel.

The Offshore Powerboat Cruising course, priced at $2,395 per person, is one of three new powerboat courses announced by FS&CS. The school also introduced a two-day course called the “First Mate” to help mates and skippers communicate and work onboard effectively for safety and enjoyment. Safe Boating 101, a one-day course, helps students new to boating learn terminology, knots and lines, seamanship tips and protocols, and read charts.

The new courses bring to 25 the number of power and sailing courses offered by Florida Sailing and Cruising School. All courses are taught by U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captains. Sailing instructors are also certified by the American Sailing Association (ASA). Florida Sailing & Cruising School is a division of Southwest Florida Yachts, Inc., which operates one of the largest yacht charter fleets in Florida. The charter and instruction fleet consists of more than 20 sail and power yachts at two locations, Marinatown Marina in North Fort Myers and Burnt Store Marina on Charlotte Harbor.

For more information contact Vic and Barb Hansen at [e-mail] or by phone at 800-262-7939 or 941-656-1339. Write to them at 3444 Marinatown Lane N.W., North Fort Myers, FL 33903. Website addresses are www.swfyachts.com and www.flsailandcruiseschool.com