Last call for 'Safety at Sea' and 'Great Lakes Wind Forecasting'

by South Shore Yacht Club RC on 27 Feb 2015 Safety at Sea seminar is being held on Saturday, March 14 at SSYC. Before you head offshore to cruise or race, join us for the most authoritative daylong seminar on safe seamanship, heavy weather tactics, weather forecasting, communications and boat preparation. See safety equipment demos and crew-overboard recovery techniques. Pose questions to our expert bluewater sailors.

This could be the most important day of your sailing life. Learn about sun safety, hypothermia and seasickness prevention. Learn the differences between SOLAS and other visual distress signals.

• Moderated by some of the top names in sailing safety.

• Organized by US Sailing.

• Developed by Cruising World Magazine.

• Sponsored by Cruising World, West Marine and Landfall Navigation.

The US SAILING Sanctioned Safety at Sea Seminar is a certified safety program for offshore sailors, required for many US races and recommended for anyone who wants to learn about safe sailing . Seminars are delivered by approved moderators using a US Sailing certified curriculum Don’t miss it!!

Great Lakes Wind Forecasting Workshop

Sunday, March 15 at SSYC

No aspect of weather is more important to sailors than the wind. It dictates when it is safe to leave port and whether your journey will be fast or comfortable. On the race course, properly predicting the wind separates the winners from the losers. This workshop is designed for sailors of all experience levels and interests. Accurately forecasting the wind promotes safer, more enjoyable outings and improves performance on the race course.

Whether you are a day sailor, beer-can racer, long-distance cruiser or serious competitor, the skills learned during this workshop will enhance your understanding of the wind and improve your sailing experience.

What you will learn

• Why the wind behaves the way it does.

• How to translate the confusing symbols and meteorological shorthand on forecast graphics.

• The basics of lake breezes, land breezes, thunderstorms, clouds and other dynamics that produce localized and short-term changes in the wind.

• Ways to judge the likelihood, strength and duration of headers/lifts.

• A methodology for observing the wind and using online resources to develop your own forecast.

• Strategies for using your wind-forecasting knowledge to your advantage, whether you are a day sailor, cruiser or serious racer.

The workshop combines traditional classroom instruction, case studies and several hands-on forecasting exercises to create an engaging learning experience. Additional information regarding the workshop is available on the Frequently Asked Questions flyer.

About the speaker

Mark Thornton has been sailing on Lake Erie for more than 20 years and currently owns Osprey, a C&C 35. His interest in weather forecasting grew from his experiences cruising and racing on the lake. Mark is a 2006 graduate of the Penn State University Certificate of Achievement in Weather Forecasting, a two-year program that develops skills in general, tropical, and severe weather forecasting. He is the president of LakeErieWX LLC, a company dedicated to providing marine weather education and forecasting resources for recreational boaters (www.lakeeriewx.com).

lake-eerie-wxHe served as race meteorologist for the 2014 Bell’s Beer Bayview Race to Mackinac, and is the past president of the Cleveland chapter of the American Meteorological Society. Mark is employed as the vice-president of administration for the law firm of Wegman, Hessler & Vanderburg, and as a teaching assistant in the Certificate of Achievement in Weather Forecasting Program at Penn State University.

Safety at Sea Signup

Combo pricing if you sign up for both. Early-bird discount if you register by Feb. 28. Also, logged-in SSYC members will receive another $10 off when paying online; does NOT apply if you will be paying by check. This event is open to the public. All are welcome.

Even though these seminars are not required for the Queen's Cup, they are highly recommended, especially for the slightly longer race this year to South Haven MI.

Safety at Sea only - $155 (early bird discount); $165 after Feb. 28.

Great Lakes Wind Forecasting only - $50 (early bird discount); $60 after Feb. 28.

Both events combo - $195 (early bird discount); $215 after Feb. 28.

Register here