Island cruising preparation seminars coming up

by Andrew Keays on 3 Nov 2015 Hailed by past participants as a must do with comments like “you saved me a fortune avoiding wrong turns and recommended systems” to “You lit the fire that stoked our dreams, now we’re out there doing it and loving it”

It’s a big step going from a harbor sailor to extended coastal cruising and an even bigger one to offshore cruising. One thing is for sure, it’s well worth the effort.

Just what’s involved? Do I have the right boat? Is this something I can do? How do I set up my boat? These are all questions that come up regularly when we’re speaking to people about cruising whether it’s extended coastal, power or sail, or offshore cruising they’re thinking of.

This two-day Cruising Preparation seminar series is designed to answer those questions and a whole lot more, get you out there, well prepared, safely and having fun. With over 30 topics ranging from sails and sail repair to safety gear and how to use it, your electrical system to communications aboard, this weekend seminar covers it all.

The number of attendees is limited to just 15 couples at each venue which allows each participants situation to be addressed.

For subjects that need a little more intense coverage there’s the option of four separate intensive sessions on the Monday and Tuesday after the weekend seminar.

Cruising Prep. Seminar Syllabus
Times: Sat. 0800 Sun. 0900 (Each day finishes 1700)
• The Ideal Cruising Yacht? – Hull design – Material – Tender – Ventilation Sanitation and accommodation layout
• Rigging – for extended cruising and safety inc deck layout, preventors, etc
• Sails - selection, balance, tuning, fault finding, maintenance
• Furling - headsail, mainsail, car handling, storm safety
• Anchors and Anchoring –– techniques, types, warps, laying, windlass
• Provisions - food stores, what is available
• Water - treatment, filtration, purification, disinfectant, watermakers
• Vessel Systems – water, plumbing, gas, fuel...
• Power generation – looking at all the options
• Electronics – radios, charting, GPS, Radar, auto pilot, AIS, etc.
• Money – management of, establishing credit lines
• Mail – forwarding, ICA mail and fax drops in the South Pacific, NZ and Australian East Coast.
• Email - ways to receive this, advantages
• Search and Rescue – authority and scope of SAR
• Cat 1 - What it means to you.
• Safety Gear- plus watch systems and safety protocols
• Ship Registration – guide to ships registry
• Navigation – basic equipment requirements
• Charts – tables, filing, requirements
• Log Keeping – plus basic record keeping
• Books – recommended, pilots, reference manuals, cruising guides
• Computers – what they can do aboard to assist you
• Interfacing – all electronics, advantages and pitfalls
• Radios, VHF, SSB, HAM – skeds, basic operation, installation
• Steering - Tiller, wheel, vanes, emergency
• Diesel Engines – how they work, trouble shooting spares
• Fuel – Filters, injectors, filtering before it enters the tank
• Passage preparation – Coastal and Offshore
• Passage Planning - Coastal and Offshore.
• Weather - Coastal and Offshore
• Emergencies at Sea – fire, grounding, heavy weather, hull damage, leaks, MOB practice
• Repairs at Sea – rigging loss, steering loss, towing, being towed and abandoning ship
• Legalities – of items that concern cruisers
• Heavy Weather – storm rigs, storm sails, heaving to, laying ahull, sea anchors, drogues
• Living while extended cruising - with other cruisers plus the locals.

There will also be time for Q and A as we go through the syllabus and at the end of each session

For more information or to register for this event visit website or click here