May 2026 Edition: Issue #24 of Our Boating Newsletter
Welcome to our May Edition!
Ahoy, Reader!
The season is officially underway—and things are moving fast.
Boats are in the water, Memorial Day is right around the corner, and summer dates are already filling across charters, rentals, and training.
Whether you're planning your first outing, organizing a group celebration, or making sure your skills are dialed in before peak season, now is the time to lock it in.
In this issue:
- Memorial Day bookings (before availability disappears)
- Spring and summer charters for celebrations and festivals
- Boating safety events this May
- New courses designed for real-world confidence
- Final openings before the season hits full stride
Let’s get you underway. 🚤⚓
🇺🇸 Memorial Day Weekend: Reserve Your Boat Now
Kick off summer on the water—before everything books out.
Choose your experience:
- ✔ Captained Charters – Relax while we handle everything
- ✔ Bareboat Rentals – For experienced boaters
- ✔ Full or Half-Day Options – Flexible scheduling
Holiday weekends fill quickly—don’t wait.
💍⚓ Spring Charters: Perfect for Celebrations
Make your next gathering effortless with a private charter aboard Rendezvous, our Mainship Pilot 30.
Ideal for:
- Bridal parties
- Family gatherings
- Small group outings
Why Rendezvous:
- Spacious layout with shaded seating
- Classic New England cruising comfort
- Swim platform + onboard shower
- Operated by a licensed captain
Relax, celebrate, and enjoy the water—without managing the boat.
📆 Now booking spring & summer
🦺 Boating Safety Month: Join Us
We’re proud to support the national Safe Boating Campaign.
Key dates:
- 📸 Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day — May 15
- 🚤 National Safe Boating Week — May 16–22
Confident boaters are safe boaters—join us in spreading the message.
🌟 We’d Love Your Feedback
Trained with us recently?
Your review helps future boaters choose the right training—and helps us continue delivering real-world instruction.
🆕 New Courses & Training Opportunities
We’re expanding this season based on what boaters need most:
navigation confidence, safety readiness, and real-world vessel knowledge.
❤️ CPR & First Aid Certification
Confidence on the water includes knowing what to do when something goes wrong.
This course provides essential life-saving training that meets requirements for both recreational boaters and professional licensing.
Course includes:
- Adult & child CPR
- AED usage
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- First Aid essentials
Format:
- Online learning (2–4 hours, completed before class)
- In-person skills session with certified instructor
Upon completion, you’ll receive an official CPR certification card.
🔎 Bow-to-Stern Dockside Assessment
Buying a boat, upgrading, or just want to truly understand your vessel?
This 3-hour private dockside consultation with a USCG Licensed Captain gives you a complete walkthrough of your boat’s systems and setup.
Covers:
- Propulsion systems, generators & charging
- Electronics, radar & navigation systems
- Safety equipment review
- Dock lines, departure setup & best practices
- Fueling and onboard systems
Optional add-on:
✔ 3-hour on-the-water training session for hands-on application
This is one of the most valuable ways to build confidence before the season begins.
🚤 Recreational Training: Start the Season Strong
⚓ US Powerboating – Start Powerboating Right!
Safe Powerboat Handling (NASBLA Approved)
A 16-hour, 2-day classroom + on-the-water course designed for:
- First-time boaters
- New boat owners
- Anyone wanting to improve boat handling
No experience required.
Covers:
- Docking & close-quarters maneuvering
- Navigation rules & aids to navigation
- Person-in-water recovery
- Anchoring & systems
- Weather & preparation
✔ US Sailing / US Powerboating Certification
✔ State Boating Education Card
✔ On-the-water portion can be scheduled on your boat
👉 Next Class June 13 & 14
🌊 NSBC Certified On-Water Training Modules
Focused, 3-hour hands-on training:
- Intro to Boating
- Precision Docking
- Open Water Handling
Advanced Maneuvering
Take one or complete all four.
Modules begin in May.
🛥 RI & MA 1-Day Boater Safety Course
8-hour classroom course preparing you for the RI or MA boating exam.
✔ Same-day exam
✔ Application submission included
✔ Insurance discounts may apply
Next class: May 23
👩✈️ Women In-Command
A one-day program (4 hours classroom + 3 hours on-water) designed to build:
- Docking confidence
- Radio & emergency readiness
- Seamanship knowledge
- Active crew or captain capability
All-female instruction. Supportive environment. Real skills.
👉 Next Class May 30
Private groups of 4 available upon request.
🧭 Dock-Pro: Conquer Docking Anxiety
A focused 3-hour on-the-water lesson covering:
- Close-quarters maneuvering
- Wind & current adjustments
- Fender & line setup
- Crew communication
Available on our boats — or yours.
Spring sessions begin June 20.
🌍 Powerboat Cruising + IPC Certification
Planning to charter internationally?
Our 5-day Basic + Inshore + Night Operations course qualifies you to apply for your International Proficiency Certificate (IPC).
Conducted aboard a Sabre 36 Express.
Next session: May 18–22
🛥 New Owner Training: Protect Your Investment
Buying or upgrading your boat?
Insurance companies often require formal training — and even if they don’t, your confidence will.
We design custom programs tailored to your boat, including:
- Rules of the Road
- Systems & safety walkthroughs
- Docking & low-speed maneuvering
- Open-bay cruising
- Anchoring & shore power transitions
Experienced across:
- Single & twin screw
- Thrusters & joystick controls
- Pod drives (IPS & Zeus)
Training built around your boat and your goals.
📞 401-4SAFETY
📩 info@incommandri.com
🔎 Bow-to-Stern Dockside Assessment
A 3-hour dockside evaluation with a USCG Licensed Captain covering:
- Vessel systems
- Propulsion & charging systems
- Electronics & radar
- Safety equipment
- Dock line configuration
- Fueling & water procedures
An optional 3-hour on-water add-on is available.
If you want confidence before launch day, this is where it begins.
🎯 Private One-on-One Skill Development
On Our Boats
2-hour private sessions to improve:
- Docking confidence
- Close-quarters handling
- Decision-making & control
Instructor & fuel included.
On Your Boat
Custom 3-hour (power) or 4-hour (sail) instruction tailored to your vessel:
- Twin screw handling
- Joystick maneuvering
- Thruster techniques
- Docking & crew communication
Confidence on your boat matters most.
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⚓ Professional Courses: Turn Experience Into Opportunity
Thinking about taking boating beyond recreation?
Now is the time — before the season fills up.
6 Pack / Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV) – U.S. Coast Guard (Domestic)
If you’ve ever dreamed of becoming a licensed captain and taking paying passengers on the water, this 80-hour course is your first step. Approved by the U.S. Coast Guard in lieu of the written exam, the OUPV—often called the “6 Pack License”—prepares you for your license application so you can operate passenger vessels upon Near Coastal, Great Lakes & Inland Waters.
This comprehensive training covers:
- Shiphandling – docking, maneuvering & close-quarters control
- Coastal Navigation – plotting, chart reading, and route planning
- Emergency Procedures – from man-overboard to onboard incidents
- Navigation Rules – understanding and applying the “rules of the road”
- Pollution Prevention – compliance and best practices
- Watchstanding – safe vessel oversight and responsibilities
If your goal is to earn your Master 100 Ton License but you don’t currently hold a license, start here. Through our partnership with Northeast Maritime Institute (NMI), graduates can access discounted online upgrades for the Master’s 100 GRT or Limited Master (Launch) credentials. Complete your OUPV with us by taking the short online upgrade and submitting all credentials together for maximum efficiency.
📢 This course fills up fast—secure your spot early!
Course starts October 13- November 21
Co-Requisites & Recommended Add-Ons:
- First Aid/CPR
- FCC Exam
Upgrade OUPV to Master 100 Ton
- Upgrade Master 100 to Master 200 Ton
Required Materials:
- Plotting Tools (Dividers, Parallel Ruler, or Triangles)
Calculator (TI-30 or TI-36)
Pencils & erasers
- Training Charts (provided by NMI)
Price: $1,350 USD + cost of materials
Class Size: Minimum 4, Maximum 10 students
Location: In-Command Seamanship Training Center — One Phillips Street, Wickford, RI 02852
📞 401-472-3389
🧑✈️ OUPV / 6-Pack License + Application Assistance
Our USCG MMC License Assistance Program includes:
✔ 30-minute pre-course consultation
✔ 2 hours post-course personal assistance
✔ License level evaluation
✔ Forms, documentation & checklist review
✔ Ongoing NMC clarification support
Price: $195
Prerequisite: Enrollment in or completion of the OUPV course.
Professional licensing doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
🚤 Launch Operator – U.S. Coast Guard
16-hour, 2-day course meeting USCG requirements for:
- Limited Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels
- Launch Tender Service (Inland Waters)
Ideal for marinas, yacht clubs, and waterfront employers.
🌊 Launch Operator Lab
On-the-water professional refinement covering:
- Passenger loading
- Dock approach
- Mooring transfers
- Wind & tide management
- Professional communication
Next session: June 27
Available individually or as a discounted package with licensing.
📩 carol@incommandri.com
📞 401-4SAFETY
🌊 Wickford Boat Rentals: Spring Is Opening
🎶 Plan for the Newport Folk & Jazz Festivals – Book Your Charter Now!
It’s almost that time of year again—Newport’s iconic music festivals are right around the corner! Experience the magic of live music from the best seat in the house—your private chartered powerboat.
🎷 Newport Folk Festival
📅 July 24- 26, 2026
📍 Fort Adams State Park
🎷 Newport Jazz Festival
📅 July 31- August 2nd, 2026
📍 Fort Adams State Park
Wickford Boat Rentals offers half-day and full-day powerboat charters with a licensed captain—perfect for soaking in world-class performances from the water.
Whether you're a die-hard music lover or just looking to enjoy summer with a front-row view, our captained charters are the ultimate way to celebrate.
✨ Grab your crew, bring your favorite snacks, and enjoy the show in style!
📩 The festival organizers are sending us this year’s official lineup—stay tuned for updates in the next issue!
🟢 Ready to reserve your charter now?
📢 Spread the Word & Save: Captain’s Club Referral Bonus!
Love being on the water? Share the experience! When you refer a friend to our Captain’s Club, you’ll earn 10% off your next boat rental or training course just to introduce them to the adventure.
🚤 Already a Captain’s Club member?
Enjoy an extra 10% off your first rental of the season as our way of saying thanks!
⚓ Boating is better with friends—start saving today!
🚢 The Season Is Here
Boats are launching.
Courses are filling.
Charters are booking.
Now is the moment to secure your time on the water.
We’ll see you out there. ⚓
📣 Stay Connected
- Blog updates
- Course announcements
- Anniversary content
- Fleet reveals
🌟 Share the Joy of Boating!
If you love what we do, why not share the experience with friends and family? By sharing this newsletter, you can invite them to join our warm and welcoming community of boating enthusiasts.
We’re passionate about building a vibrant community; your referrals mean the world to us. Together, let’s make 2026 our best season yet!
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Your journey on the water is important to us, and we're here to support every step of the way. Whether you're charting a course toward professional boating or enjoying the seas recreationally, In-Command Seamanship Training and Wickford Boat Rentals are your trusted partners.
We're just an email or phone call away for any questions or to register for our courses and rentals. Here's to smooth sailing and the adventures ahead!
Warm regards,
The Team at In-Command Seamanship Training & Wickford Boat Rentals
Captain Carol Beecher, carol@incommandri.com
Captain Dave Fetherston, dave@wickfordboatrentals.com