Cruising Club sponsors Safe Offshore Sailing weekend


The Cruising Club of America is sponsoring a public safety-at-sea seminar over the weekend of March 13-14. The seminar, called Safe Offshore Sailing will be held at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Newport, R.I., and will meet requirements for this year’s Newport Bermuda Race which begins on June 18.

On Saturday, March 13, seamanship experts Ron Trossbach and John Bonds will moderate an all day Safety-at-Sea Seminar covering heavy weather, flares, life rafts, man overboard and helicopter rescues and the challenges of crossing the Gulf Stream. Blue Water Medalist and circumnavigator Rich Wilson will speak.

Sunday’s seminars include a choice of American Red Cross CPR training and a Race Preparation Seminar covering inspection, crew qualification, Bermuda customs, and more. Under Newport Bermuda Race rules, a minimum of 30 percent of each crew (including at least two of the following: captain, navigator and port and starboard watch captains) must attend a U.S. Sailing sanctioned safety-at-sea seminar within five years prior to the start of the race. For the double-handed division entries, both crewmembers must meet this requirement.

For more information on the Safe Offshore Sailing weekend and the Newport Bermuda Race visit www.BermudaRace.com.

By Ocean Navigator