Several special presentations have been added to the Cruising Club of America-Newport Bermuda Race Safety Weekend on March 15-16, 2014 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Goat Island, Newport, R.I. Always highly regarded and well-attended, this year’s Safety Weekend features a US Sailing sanctioned Safety-At-Sea Seminar on Saturday, plus the following special events on Saturday or Sunday:

• Hands-on satphone training (Jeff Thomassen, OCENS technical services rep) Will not conflict with Saturday safety seminar
• Seasickness prevention and treatment (Dr. Jeff Wisch, Bermuda Race Medical Chair) In Saturday Safety-at-Sea Seminar
• Duties of the boat’s medical officer/“ship’s doc” (Dr. Barbara Masser, emergency room doctor and Bermuda Race Physician) Sunday Medical Seminar
• Preparing your boat, your crew, and yourself   -- for the race to Bermuda, the delivery home, or cruise offshore (Bermuda Race veterans). Sunday Race Preparation Seminar

Saturday Safety Seminar speakers include John Rousmaniere (recent accidents), Rives Potts (heavy weather), Frank Bohlen (weather forecasts & Gulf Stream), Chris McNally (offshore communications), Henry Marx (personal safety equipment), and Ron Trossbach (abandon ship).

Saturday also features the ISAF Offshore Personal Survival Refresher Course and exhibits of safety-at-sea services and products. McMurdo Grab Bags will be presented to registrants for the Saturday seminar.

Sunday Medical Seminar will focus on scenarios that “ship’s docs” may encounter in an offshore passage. Led by Dr. Jeff Wisch and Dr. Barbara Masser, the seminar will include: the medical officer’s responsibilities, communicating medical information to others, and preparing for, treating, and preventing medical emergencies. Cases will be presented for discussion.

Sunday Bermuda Race Preparation Seminar features the Gulf Steam, boat preparation, sail selection, and race strategy, among other topics. Speakers will include Nick Nicholson, Frank Bohlen, Robbie Doyle, Mike Keyworth, and moderator Kenyon Kellogg.

Also on Sunday: hands-on training session that, combined with the Saturday seminar, yields the ISAF Approved Offshore Personal Survival Course certificate. Dan O'Connor of Safescape LLC will moderate hands-on training.

Questions? [email protected].
Reservations at the Hyatt Regency Hotel: (888) 421-1442,
ask for Cruising Club of America rates. Online reservations: https://resweb.passkey.com/go/CruisingClubofAmerica
For more on the Newport Bermuda Race: www.BermudaRace.com.

Offshore seamanship and safety: Cruising Club of America website, www.cruisingclub.org/seamanship/seamanship_safety.htm.