OXNARD : Free Boating Safety Courses to Be Held

In an effort to reduce the number of boating accidents that occur each year on state waterways, two volunteer organizations are offering free boating safety courses.

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will offer a 13-week boating skills and seamanship class from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays beginning Sept. 10 at the Coast Guard Reserve Center.

The center is directly across from the Oxnard Coast Guard Station at 4201 S. Victoria Ave.

John White, a Coast Guard Auxiliary class instructor since 1954, said the course will include information on boat handling, navigation, legal requirements and charts and compasses.

There is a $10 fee for text materials, White said.

To register for the course, call White at 483-0534.

A shortened version of the class will be offered during two days beginning Nov. 3 at the Anacapa Yacht Club.

Instructor for this course will be Bill Henry; he can be reached at 818-712-2420.

The U.S. Power Squadrons will offer a 12-week boat-education course Sept. 12 at the Ventura Yacht Club and mid-September at the Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club in Oxnard.

For class times, call 818-892-3013.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Power Squadrons are the primary volunteer organizations that offer boating safety classes throughout the nation. According to the California Department of Boating and Waterways, there were 752 boating accidents in California last year, resulting in 50 fatalities.