If you are new to boating or experienced, yet hoping to gain more skills, during the Bay Bridge Boat Show (April 17-19) there are several on-water training options to consider. A BoatUS partner, the Chesapeake Boating Academy (CBA) offers three-hour onboard boating courses that are available to boaters of all skill levels.
Captain Sarah Lawrence, founder and owner of CBA, and her team have been teaching onboard courses for five years at the show, now held at Safe Harbor Kent Narrows Point in Grasonville, MD.
“We’re excited because it’s in our backyard now,” says Capt. Sarah, whose family owns and runs Tow Jamm Marine, an independently operated TowBoatUS provider.
This year’s on-water course offerings include: Intro to Boating, Women Making Waves—Intro to Boating, Precision Docking and Boat Handling, and Open Water Boat Handling. All courses last for three hours; registration ($225) includes tickets to the Bay Bridge Boat Show.
Capt. Sarah says, “Students may take as many or as few of the courses as they want, but we do encourage people to take them in order. Sometimes people sign up for just one, but they like it so much, they sign up for more.”
In addition to working in the family’s TowBoatUS business, Capt. Sarah is a 100-ton USCG Captain, National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) instructor, US Powerboating instructor, US Sailing instructor, and American Sailing instructor. The Maryland native grew up a cruising kid and sailing instructor and later gained more teaching experience in the Bahamas where she lived for nine years and met her husband (and business partner).
“I have pretty much been teaching some form of boating my whole life. I love being on the water and getting people excited. It’s never stagnant; it’s always something different,” she says.
For new or returning boaters who don’t know the show setup or haven’t taken a course for a while, CBA will make the process easy. Upon registration, students immediately receive an informative confirmation email, including precise arrival details, what to wear (CBA provides lifejackets), and the cancellation policy. About a week before the course, students will receive a text with the address pinned, parking information, a waiver to sign, and contact information.
“We try to keep things smooth and straightforward,” says Capt. Sarah, noting that courses are designed to build real-life boating skillsets and confidence in a safe and relaxed atmosphere.
CBA teaches their courses aboard two Key West 239s (24-foot center consoles), which comfortably accommodate four students plus one certified instructor. All the instructors are US Coast Guard-licensed captains; the verified curriculum of the NSBC conforms with the American National On-Water Standard.
Find complete course descriptions and details at chesapeakeboatingacademy.com. Find out more about the Bay Bridge Boat Show at Safe Harbor Narrows Point at annapolisboatshows.com.