Washington State Boaters Education Card

• 1
  Include life jackets on your sailboat.Life Vest image by itsallgood from Fotolia.com
  
  Contact the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadrons to certify for a Washington state boaters education card. Cost for certification is $10.
  
  
• 2
  Cruising in calm weather.sailing image by david purday from Fotolia.com
  
  If you are arriving from out of state, obtain a Washington state boaters education card online at Adventures in Boating for $24.95.
  
  
• 3). Carry the card at all times during the excursion to prove certification. The certification does not expire and therefore doesn't need to be renewed.
  
  

Heavy Weather Sailing

• 1). Enroll in a heavy weather sailing course to learn the tactics for sailing in heavy weather and in order to prepare for the annual winter storm season. Lessons are available November through April. Lessons can be taken from Discovery Sail in Washington and other sailing clubs and associations.
  
  
• 2). Prepare your sailboat for heavy weather sailing by selecting flat sails with a strong leach and a hollow cut into the leach to prevent flogging when the winds hit.
  
  
• 3). Check the radio to make sure that it is working and purchase additional batteries for the radio.
  
  
• 4). Put extra life jackets on the sailboat so you will be prepared for rough water.