Get ready for summer with safety, education classes

The Lake Norman flotilla of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary has added four one-day boating-safety classes to its schedule for 2013.

The four classes – scheduled for March 16, April 20, May 11 and June 15 – are in addition to four classes previously announced for April 27, May 11, June 8 and July 27 at Kings Point Marina in Cornelius.

The new classes will be held at Shepherds Volunteer Fire Department, 2014 Charlotte Highway in Mooresville, except for the March 16 class, which will be at Westport Marina, 7879 Water Oaks Drive in Denver.

All classes run 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. and cost $45 per person.

Successful completion of the class – which covers equipment requirements, state boating laws and safety regulations, navigation rules and other topics – will give the student a certificate and identification allowing them to operate powerboats and Jet Skis on any North Carolina lake.

For information or to register, call 704-663-5733, 704-663-3333 or 828-478-2507; or visit www.cgaux.org.

Boater-education classes

The Lake Norman Sail and Power Squadron has scheduled five boater-education classes for the coming year.

The one-day classes are $45 per person, with an additional $25 for each family member also taking the course, and are required to obtain an N.C. boating certificate to legally operate a powerboat in the state.

The classes will be March 9 at Huntersville United Methodist Church, 14005 Stumptown Road in Huntersville; April 27 at the Duke Energy Environmental Center, McGuire Nuclear Station Road in Huntersville; June 1 at Denver United Methodist Church, 3910 N.C. 16 N. in Denver; July 13 at Mount Zion United Methodist Church, 19600 Zion St. in Cornelius; and Aug. 17 at Lake Norman Volunteer Fire Department, 1518 Brawley School Road in Mooresville.

In addition, those successfully completing the boater-education course can take a free navigation seminar Sept. 14 at Mount Mourne Volunteer Fire Department, 1577 Mecklenburg Highway, Mooresville.

Registration is required: www.usps.org/lakenorman; 704-895-4994; or 704-846-2865.

Youth skiing, wakeboarding

The Lake Norman Ski Club is holding registration for a series of youth water skiing and wakeboarding classes.

The Learn2Ski and Learn2Wakeboard classes are open to students age 15 or younger and are tentatively scheduled for June and July 2013.

Classes will be in the cove at Vinnie’s Raw Bar and Restaurant on Williamson’s Road in Mooresville from 8-11:30 a.m.

The registration fee is $20 per person, and participants must have a signed waiver-release form from their parent or guardian.

For information, to obtain waiver forms or to keep posted on dates, visit www.lakenormanskiclub.8m.com.

Sailing scene

Don Corey and John Guthrie remained atop the spinnaker division standings, while Richard Blocker remained in a tight battle with Bob Davis in the nonspinnaker division after the third and fourth races of the Outrigger Yacht Club’s Icicle Series on Feb. 2 on Lake Norman.

Corey swept the day’s two races in the Spinnaker A division, giving him three wins in the series and a three-point lead over Alan Simonini (5-8).

Guthrie won the first race and finished fourth in the second to stay in the lead in the Spinnaker B division standings by two points over Bob Kluttz (9-11), who won the fourth race.

Blocker posted his first win in the nonspinnaker division after a pair of runner-up finishes and a fourth, and holds a one-point edge against Bob Davis (9-10), who won the third race.

The fifth and sixth races in the Icicle Series will be Feb. 16, while the makeup for the postponed second race is scheduled for March 2.

• The Lake Norman Yacht Club will hold a rules seminar 9 a.m. Feb. 16 at the LNYC’s race management center. The seminar will go over current and new race rules for the 2013 season: www.lnyc.org.

• The LNYC will host a seminar on “How To Run A Regatta” 1-4 p.m. Feb. 16 at the LNYC’s race management center. The seminar is open to volunteers serving as race officials for upcoming events: www.lnyc.org.

• New members of LNYC will have an orientation session at 5 p.m. Feb. 16 at the LNYC clubhouse. All new and second-year members are encouraged to take part in the meeting, which will outline the benefits of club membership: www.lnyc.org.

• The LNYC will hold its Winter Social dinner at 6 p.m. Feb. 16 at the clubhouse. This year’s social will have a Mardi Gras theme: www.lnyc.org.

• The Lake Norman flotilla of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will hold a boating-safety course for sailboat operators March 2 at the Lake Norman Yacht Club clubhouse. The class will run 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and cost $45 per person; coffee and water will be provided, but participants must bring their own lunch and snacks. Registration is required: 704-663-5733 or 828-478-2507.