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Who we are
We are
an organization of Sail and Power Boaters located in the Wilmington, DE area.
Our members live in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey,
and Pennsylvania. Most of us boat on the beautiful
Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. |
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The Wilmington Sail and Power
Squadron (WSPS) is a unit of the
United States Power Squadrons® (USPS®) and a member of
District 5 (D/5) covering the Mid-Atlantic states. USPS® is a
nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to making boating safer
and more enjoyable by teaching classes in seamanship, navigation and
related subjects.
Click here for more information on the United States Power
Squadrons® - America's Boating Club.
Our members are boating
families who contribute to the community by promoting safe boating
through education. We enjoy participating with our fellow members on the
water and in the classroom.
More information on USPS®
member benefits and discounts can be found
here.
Here's a link on
how to
become a member.
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Educational opportunities
 We offer the
Basic Boating Course to the public. In addition, members have the opportunity to take many boating education courses including
advanced educational courses such as Seamanship, Piloting, Advanced Piloting, Junior Navigation, and Navigation. Other boating education courses include
elective courses in Sail, Weather, Engine Maintenance, Marine Electronics, Cruise Planning, and Instructor Qualification. We also offer
home study courses such as Compass Adjusting, Navigational Astronomy, and many more.
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Social
Activities
We also offer many social events, including on-water
activities, picnics, and meetings. All are listed on the
calendar on the About Us
page.
Take a look at our
Photo Album
to see some of our activities.
Social meetings are held each month from September through
May (during the summer months, we're too busy boating!) and
typically feature a guest (boating related) speaker
in addition to a great meal. During the boating
season,
we host on-water
activities, including a well-attended annual
week's cruise and several on-water get
togethers.
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Vessel Safety Checks |
 We also offer free courtesy Vessel Safety
Checks to verify the presence and operable
condition of certain safety equipment required by
state and federal regulations. Here's a sample vessel
safety check on-line with more information (a
new window will open, just close it to return here).
Vessel Safety Checks are for your safety and as
such, are not a boarding or a law enforcement issue.
No citations will be given if boats do not meet
safety requirements. The Vessel Examiner is a
trained specialist and is a member of the US Power
Squadrons or the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. They will
also make certain recommendations and discuss safety
related issues that will make boat owners safer
boaters.The inspection is really quick
and easy. Many trailerable boats can be inspected in
ten minutes. All boaters will receive a copy of the
evaluation form at the end of the inspection. Boats
that meet the safety requirements will receive a
current Vessel Safety Check decal to be displayed
onboard. If replacement or additional safety items
are needed to successfully meet the requirements,
the Vessel Safety Check form can be shown at West
Marine stores to purchase necessary safety related
items at a discount. If the necessary items are
purchased at the time of the check, the decal will
still be awarded.
Boaters
can bring their trailerable boats to selected marine
centers or arrange for a future Vessel Safety Check
appointment with the Vessel Examiner at your boat
launch, marina or yacht club.
Want a free Vessel
Safety Check? Contact John Bailey at
mpnwhat@gmail.com
or click here and
you will be taken to the Coast Guard Auxiliary site to fill out a
contact form. The closest examiners from the USPS® and USCGA will
contact you.
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Civic Service
WSPS also supports NOAA by maintaining and updating nautical charts with our
Cooperative Charting Program.
Join
Us
So. Are you ready to join up? Membership is by application.
Check out our "Join Us" page
for details. Hopefully, we'll see you at one of our
educational opportunities,
socials and out on the water.
Our Current Bylaws
Click the
above link to view the Wilmington Sail and Power Squadron's
Bylaws.
Merit Marks
Click the
above link to view USPS® criteria for
awarding merit marks. |
