advanced bluewater cruising
Check out Hal Sutphens great book for offshore passagemakers


ocean sailing seminars

Call us and reserve your place today!
September 18-19, 2010 – Hampton, VA

Our 2-day Ocean Sailing Seminars will teach you what you need to know to make safe and confident passages under sail. Small class size allows for personalized discussions about realities of open ocean sailing. We’ll help you prepare your boat and crew, select your gear, and respond to  the challenges of ocean sailing. This is not another Safety at Sea Seminar.

Ocean Sailing Seminar speakers are experienced offshore sailors and skilled communicators. They will become your advisors as you prepare for your first offshore passage in months to come. Content has been developed from over 20 years of experience with participants in our Caribbean 1500 and Atlantic Cup Rallies.

You’ll learn about ...

  • Preparing mentally for offshore sailing
  • Leadership skills necessary to select and train the people on board
  • Cost effectively equipping your boat for passages  
  • Selecting the best sails and trimming them properly for passage-making and long term cruising
  • Communications and Navigation systems
  • The most common problems at sea
  • Planning your passage: Fuel, water, and provisioning
  • Weather systems and how they affect your sailing strategies
  • What to do when the weather gets rough
  • Successfully navigating the Gulf Stream
  • Getting yourself, your crew, and your boat ready to go
  • Enjoying life on board

Registration Fee

  • $295 per person ($250 for additional person).  Refundable up to two weeks prior to seminar date less a $50 cancellation fee

Seminar Includes

  • Lectures 8:30 – 5:00 Saturday, 8:30-4:00 Sunday
  • Continental breakfast and lunch both days
  • Copy of Advanced Bluewater Cruising – by Hal Sutphen, a $24.95 value
  • Certificate of course completion

Speakers

steve black Steve Black, founder and president of the Cruising Rally Association. He has completed over 50 offshore passages including three solo transatlantic races. A former educational publisher, he served as Executive Director of US SAILING before launching the Caribbean 1500.
Rick Palm, Director of Education and Chief Safety Inspector for the CRA. He is a lifelong sailor who has circumnavigated and continues to cruise extensively up and down the Eastern seaboard and throughout the Caribbean. Rick served as a sailing instructor in the U.S. Air Force and honed his training skills in the medical business. Working for a Tayana importer and MRPRefits Inc., he has benefitted from years of hands-on experience commissioning and refitting sailboats.
julie palm Julie Palm, Marketing Consultant for the CRA. She has circumnavigated with her husband Rick and has 30 years of experience in passage planning and bluewater sailing. The Palms have completed five Caribbean 1500 rallies and Europa 92 (the predecessor to the WorldArc), cruising from Grenada to NovaScotia and around the world. Julie particularly enjoys talking to the women in our seminars and rallies, helping newcomers benefit from the experiences of those who have done it before.
tim hasson Tim Hasson, President of Tech Yachts, is an expert in the selection, installation, and on board instruction for communication and navigation systems. He heads shore side opperations during our rallies providing communications, weather links, emergency management, and family support.
dave flynn Dave Flynn, Director of Special Projects Group for Quantum Sail Design is a professional sailor specializing in sail trim, and sail selection for the offshore cruising market. He is respected around the world as a sailmaker, champion sailor, coach, and educator. Dave has been part of winning racing programs for over 20 years, winning the Daimler Chrysler Trans Atlantic Race and the Newport Bermuda Race, among others.
Jeremy Wyatt, World Cruising Club, Director, will talk about rally opportunities around the world and internet resources including Noonsite.

Agenda

Saturday:  
0745 Registration, Continental Breakfast
0830 Welcome/Introductions

Mental Preparation – the psychology of being offshore, fear factors and leadership skills ... Steve Black
0930 The Right Equipment – Choosing your gear for offshore passages ... Rick Palm
1015 Break
1030 Electronic Navigation Systems – selecting, installing and operating navigation systems ... Tim Hasson
1115 Passage Planning - fuel, water and provisioning strategies ... Rick and Julie Palm
1200 Lunch
1300 Living the Dream - enjoying life at sea ... Julie Palm
1330 Choosing Communications Systems – SSB and VHF radios, AIS, computers, email, and satellite phones ... Tim Hasson
1430 Top Ten Problems At Sea – how to avoid them and how to fix them if they happen ... Rick Palm
1515 Break
1530 Offshore Sail Selection – selecting the best sails for passage making and offshore cruising ... Dave Flynn
Sunday:  
0745 Continental Breakfast/Informal Discussion
0830 Sail Handling Offshore – proper sail trim for offshore comfort and performance and the best reefing techniques ... Dave Flynn
1030 Break
1045 Offshore Weather Systems – understanding weather systems and choosing your sailing strategy ... Rick Palm
1130 Navigating the Gulf Stream – understanding ocean currents, eddies, meanders, and crossing techniques  ... Steve Black
1200 Lunch
1300 Heavy Weather Sailing – active and passive options, defensive survival practices... Steve Black
1400 Departure Countdown – what to do when to get ready to go ... Rick Palm
1415 Break
1430 Top Ten Keys to Success ... Steve Black
1500 Cruising In the Islands  - Maximizing fun, minimizing hassles ... Julie Palm
1545 Questions and Answers
1600 Good Bye and Thank You ... Steve Black
   

SIGN UP NOW!

2010

Ocean Sailing Seminars
Sept. 18-19, 2010 Hampton VA

Caribbean 1500
November 1, 2010

Bahamas Cruising Rally
November 1, 2010

2011

Ocean Sailing Seminars
March 26-27, 2011 Annapolis MD
April 9-10, 2011 Newport RI
Sept. 17-18 Hampton VA

Atlantic Cup
May 7, 2011

Caribbean 1500
November 7, 2011

The 1500 Bahamas Class
November 7, 2011

See Calendar for more Key Dates



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2930 Chesapeake Ave., Hampton, VA 23661
Tel: (757) 788-8872  steve@carib1500.com