NORTH FORT MYERS, Florida - Florida Sailing & Cruising School (FS&CS) has created a new 36-page student guide for its Inland Powerboat Cruising (P-102) course based at Marinatown Marina in North Fort Myers, Florida.

The new textbook/workbook will be used by students enrolled in a range of courses aboard trawlers with single or twin engines from 32 to 50 feet in length. Students live aboard the vessels for the three-day course. Inland Powerboat Cruising courses teach students how to plan, prepare, and execute a three-day inland waterway cruise with at least one night at anchor.

Barbara Hansen of FS&CS said students combine workbook study with hands-on study to learn to use charts, tide tables, cruising guides, and local knowledge. They learn how to fix the vessel's location while underway, correct the compass heading, determine speed over ground, select secure overnight anchorage, and launch and retrieve a tender. Students also are expected to learn how to properly handle such emergencies as a fouled propeller, loss of steering, person overboard, and engine trouble.

Courses, scheduled for the convenience of the students, are limited to four students. Reservations also are being accepted now for participation in Basic Power Boating (P-101), a three-day course, and Combination Handling and Cruising (P-101 and P-102), a comprehensive six-day course. Students may also reserve their participation in Offshore Powerboat Cruising, an eight-day course that includes a round-trip cruise from Fort Myers to Key West. First Mate, a two-day course, combines yacht and classroom instructions to teach the first mate on board the safe boating and seamanship skills necessary to be an effective first mate on a recreational powerboat. Safe Boating 101, a one-day classroom course, helps students new to boating learn terminology, knots and lines, seamanship tips and protocols, and read charts.

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 in Punta Gorda. All courses are taught by U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captains. Sailing instructors are also certified by the American Sailing Association (ASA).