Oak Bay Power and Sail Squadron

Basic Navigation and Boat Handling
2026-09-24 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Vancouver)
This classroom course covers the fundamentals of traditional navigation – understanding global coordinates, using a magnetic compass, and planning a cruise using paper charts. The class then covers navigation with electronic devices, such as phones, tablets, and chart plotters.

Boat handling topics include operator and crew responsibilities, managing onboard emergencies, collision avoidance rules, anchoring techniques, docking/undocking techniques, and understanding marine weather forecasts, and tide/current tables.

Material will be presented in the classroom, and you will have access to the material online, along with quizzes to check your understanding of the topics, navigation practice exercises, course notes, and a final exam, that if you complete with 75% or higher, may lower your boat insurance.

The course takes 10 Thursday evenings starting on September 24th and ending on December 3rd. All the material and quizes will also be available online, so don’t worry if you have to miss an occasional class.

Click here to see more details and to register for the class.

VHF radio operators licence, ROC(M) with DSC
2026-10-07 19:00 - 21:00
This class will take place at Sidney North Saanich Yacht Club in the upstairs training room. This course qualifies you for the Canadian Marine Radio Operators Certificate aka ROC(M), which is legally required to operate a marine radio. The class takes three consecutive Wednesday evenings starting at 7pm, and is taught by a highly experienced instructor who teaches BC Ferries staff. The exam is held on the last evening, and you will receive your ROC(M) certificate upon passing.

Click here to see more details and to register for the class.

VHF radio operators licence, ROC(M) with DSC
2026-11-04 19:00 - 21:00
This class will take place at Royal Victoria Yacht Club in the Discovery room downstairs. This course qualifies you for the Canadian Marine Radio Operators Certificate aka ROC(M), which is legally required to operate a marine radio. The class takes three consecutive Wednesday evenings starting at 7pm, and is taught by a highly experienced instructor who teaches BC Ferries staff. The exam is held on the last evening, and you will receive your ROC(M) certificate upon passing.

Click here to see more details and to register for the class.
