The Martha’s Vineyard detachment of the Coast Guard auxiliary offers a 10-week Boating Skills and Seamanship (BS&S) course beginning Wednesday, March 5. The course meets weekly on Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. through May 14, with the exception of school vacation week, at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School.

The in-depth course will cover topics and techniques for recreational boaters to foster safe boating. Information covered will include choosing a boat, equipping a boat, legal considerations, trailering a boat, boat handling, aids to navigation, navigation rules, nautical charts, basic piloting, powering a boat, knots and lines, weather, marine radio and safety issues.

Upon satisfactory completion of the course, youths 12 to 15 years of age are eligible to apply for licensure under the Massachusetts State Boating Regulations, so they may legally operate a power boat alone.

For pre-registration, additional information and reservation of space, call Chris Scott at 774-930-0921. While the instruction is free, there is a $50 fee to cover the textbook, chart and materials provided in the course.