BANGOR – Penobscot Bay Sail and Power Squadron will hold a boating safety course at 7 p.m. Wednesdays, beginning Oct. 1, at Bangor High School. The class will meet for seven weeks.

Over the past five years, 229 people have completed the course in the Bangor and Down East area.

The course will cover both sail and power boat operation. Trained instructors will focus on boat handling, safety, seamanship, equipment required by the U.S. Coast Guard for safe operation, lines and knots, boat trailering and more.

“Offering this course is one of our most valuable contributions to boating safety and enjoyment,” said Dick Jacobs of Orono, commander of the Penobscot Bay Sail and Power Squadron.

He said that from 1998 to 2002, 44 people died in recreational boating accidents in Maine. “Obviously we want to help reduce the number of boaters drowned to zero, but we also want to make boating fun and pleasant for all of us who use Maine’s more than 6,000 waterways.”

The United States Power Squadron’s Boating Course provides essential information for both sailors and power boaters, including boat handling and navigation, safety, seamanship, rules of the road, lines and knots, charts and aids to navigation, engine troubleshooting and more.

The instruction is free; $30 is charged for the text. Dividers and plotters will be needed and will be available for sale at the first class for those who need them.

Those interested should register with Bangor Adult Education at 941-6310. For more information call Jay Johnson at 866-2511, or e-mail Johnson@maine.edu.