Mark Set Boat Handling Instructor Course
Prerequisites and course information

Goals
Prerequisites
Successful completion of the course
Course materials
Validation of instructors
Course fees
Cancellation policy
Register

Goal

  • Teach Mark Setting at your facility or at facilities across the country.
  • Teach your race support and powerboat operator’s precision boathandling.

Prerequisites

  • Safe Powerboat Handling Instructor Certification and Safety, Rescue and Support Boat Handling Instructor Certification
  • A US Sailing-recognized Powerboat Instructor must be at least 18 years old or turn 18 within the calendar year of the course you are taking.
  • Current First Aid and CPR certification. US Sailing accepts courses from the US Coast Guard’s approved list.
  • Ability to swim 50 yards both with and without life jacket.
  • Ability to exhibit appropriate personal and interpersonal skills.
  • Current US Sailing Adult Individual Membership.
  • Optional but recommended: Completed US Sailing Medical Form provided to Instructor Trainer BEFORE the course begins.
  • US Sailing strongly recommends at least a US Coast Guard OUPV License for this certification.

This is a rigorous course. It is highly recommended that you take a Safe Powerboat Handling course prior to taking this course.

Successful Completion of the Course
Practical and written tests each stand on their own, and each must be passed in order to pass the course. The determination as to whether a candidate passes or fails rests with the Instructor Trainer. In addition to Pass or Fail, there is a Plan of Improvement or a chance to re-test in the area of weakness. Re-testing for Plans of Improvement carries a $75 re-testing fee; re-tests are scheduled with specific representatives of US Sailing and must be performed within a specific time frame.

  1. Powerboat Operation Skills Practical Test: Execute, with comfort and confidence: system, equipment and starting checks, leaving and docking, high and low speed maneuvering, holding position upwind/upcurrent, backing, pivot turn (180 degree turn within boat’s length), anchoring and/or making fast to a mooring, overboard rescue and landing alongside a moored boat.
  2. Marlinspike/Seamanship Practical Test: Demonstrate ability to tie the following knots and hitches: Figure-8, bowline, sheet bend, clove hitch, two half hitches, rolling hitch, and cleat hitch. Also coil and throw a line.
  3. Personal and Interpersonal Practical Skills: Demonstrate professional conduct, an open-minded, positive and enthusiastic attitude, appropriate appearance (clothing, footwear and tidiness), participation in discussions, collaboration skills/team player, confidence and ease of manner.
  4. Classroom Presentation Practical Skills: Demonstrate lesson preparation, with clear, logical and accurate content, good voice enunciation/clarity/volume/pace/pitch, good non-verbal communication (gestures and body language), effective visual aids, good timed presentation(s) with introduction, conclusion, demonstration, clarity and use of notes, use of multiple pathways techniques, and ease in handling questions.
  5. Land Drill and Water Drill Teaching Practical Skills: Demonstrate good class positioning, control and positioning of powerboat, demonstration skills, effective on-the-water communication, evaluation, and feedback technique.
  6. Written Exams: A proctored, combined exam on the Powerboat Instructor Manual, Start Powerboating Right manual, the Safety Rescue and Support manual as well as an exam on the Teaching and Coaching Fundamentals for Sailing text. A passing grade of 80% is required on all exams.
  7. Attendance at all portions of the 3-day course.
  8. The Instructor Trainer’s overall evaluation
    ATTENDANCE AT ALL COURSE SESSIONS IS MANDATORY. ABSENCE FROM ANY PORTION OF THE COURSE EXCLUDES THE INSTRUCTOR CANDIDATE FROM EVALUATION.

 

Validation of Powerboat Instructors
Validation will be for three years providing First Aid, CPR, and US Sailing Adult membership are kept current.

Course fees
Fee for Mark Set Instructor Course: $375

Cancellation policy

Course fees are nonrefundable but are transferable to another course up to one (1) week prior to the course start date. Course Transfers are not available within the week of the course start. Fees are not transferable to another candidate. The fee for all transfers is $25.00

Register
Registration is only accepted via our online registration system. Should you need assistance, please contact education@ussailing.org. Register securely online below.