Newport International Boat Show unveils 'At The Helm' program

by Andrew Golden on 2 Jul 2014 Newport Exhibition Group, owners and producers of the Newport International Boat Show, announced today its 2014 At The Helm program for this year’s Boat Show.

Developed in conjunction with Confident Captain/Ocean Pros, At The Helm provides sailors and powerboaters of all experience levels the opportunity to take to the water in a vessel similar to their current boat, or one they may be interested in purchasing or chartering. Participants receive hands-on instruction from U.S. Coast Guard licensed captains and US Powerboating and American Sailing Association certified instructors. With At The Helm, Newport gives showgoers the tools to become confident boaters and enjoy life on the water to the fullest.

'We are pleased to offer these robust opportunities for individuals to learn or improve their boating skills at the Newport International Boat Show,' said Nancy Piffard, Show Director of Newport Exhibition Group. 'By partnering with Confident Captain/Ocean Pros, our show guests will have the opportunity to improve their skill set with a variety of different courses designed for boaters of all levels. This program will enhance maneuvering, safety, navigational, powerboating, and sailing skills with custom tailored instruction based on individual needs and interest.'

There are five powerboat and four sailing courses. Each can be customized based on the experience level of the individuals in each session. Four of the powerboat sessions are 90-minutes. At The Helm: Docking and Maneuvering provides hands-on docking including collision avoidance and how to handle emergencies in close quarters, as well as stopping, turning and keeping control of a boat even in windy conditions.

At The Helm: Navigation and Electronics provides the basics of operating a GPS/Chartplotter and radar including planning routes, setting courses and waypoints, taking bearings and avoiding the common pitfalls of electronic navigation.

At The Helm: Emergencies Underway helps boaters learn how to confidently and calmly handle emergencies while underway. Activities for this course includes man overboard, medical and fire emergency procedures, and how to call for help and take over if the Captain is incapacitated.

At The Helm: Advanced Docking and Maneuvering is designed for the confident boat handler and provides hands-on training of advanced techniques using lines and engine control to overcome tight and tense situations. Topics in this course include: motoring with forces such as prop walk, prop wash, wind and currents, and how to master tough maneuvering situations like upwind, downwind and crosswind situations. Becoming a Power Boater is a three-hour course designed to help boaters become confident at the helm. Topics in this course include: Safe navigation, 'The Rules of the Road', Local, State and Federal regulations to comply with, onboard systems and handling of emergencies underway.

For sailors, Managing a Sailboat Under Power in Tight Spaces, is a two-hour course designed to demonstrate the different forces acting on sailboats while maneuvering under power and how they respond to prop walk and wind. Sailing Fundamentals is a three-hour, hands-on course for beginner sailors. This course utilizes easy techniques for understanding how sailboats move with just the use of the wind. The three-hour Intermediate Sailing Skills course teaches more advanced skills such as: reefing, heaving-to, man overboard drills under sail and additional methods of sailing more efficiently. Women Teaching Women is also three-hours long and is taught by an American Sailing Association certified instructor. It is intended for female sailors at any level who would like to learn additional skills with other women.

Hosted by the Newport International Boat Show with a curriculum developed by Confident Captain/Ocean Pros and Narragansett Sailing LLC, the At The Helm program is an extremely cost effective opportunity for hands-on training that increases boating safety and confidence. Each session lasts from ninety minutes to three hours and requires advanced booking online here. At The Helm headquarters will be located near the Show’s Commercial Wharf entrance, and all training courses will depart from and return to the docks near the Show grounds.

The Newport International Boat Show will take place September 11-14, 2014 on the Newport Waterfront along America’s Cup Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island. One of the largest in-water boat shows in the country and the kick-off to the boat show season, the event will host exhibitors from around the world with an exceptional assortment of boats of every type and style, and a wide variety of accessories, equipment, electronics, gear and services for boaters.

For more information on the Newport International Boat Show or At The Helm program and to sign up for sessions, visit www.newportboatshow.com [Sorry, this link had a problem]port_Boat_Show [Sorry, this link had a problem].