Safety At Sea Seminar 2012

The most recent seminar was held on February 25 & 26, 2012, at the YMCA in downtown Seattle. The seminar, designed and conducted by sailors, all experts in their fields, provided novice and experienced mariners with information and skills required to prepare for sailing offshore, boat preparation, handling heavy weather, recommended safety equipment, and emergencies at sea. Click here for the seminar agenda.

Saturday's lecture topics included: medical and first aid, rescue at sea, heavy weather seamanship, weather forecasting, damage control and repair, communications equipment, navigation, and personal safety equipment. Noted author John Rousmaniere moderated the weekend's events, assisted by West Marine's Chuck Hawley. Speakers included USNA's naval architect Paul Miller, Carol Hasse, Ken Fabert and more.

Sunday's session provided hands-on training with in-the-water demonstrations, key survival tactics, man-overboard recoveries and more. The session was accompanied by in-depth discussions and provided a logical preparation step for those sailors seriously preparing for independent, self-sufficient offshore sailing - both racing and cruising.

The weekend's certified program was designed to meet the US Sailing requirements for Safety at Sea training for offshore racers in US events.