Here's a description of the 2011 DRYA Winter Seminar Series, scheduled for most Wednesdays in January, February, and March. All seminars are free (except for the CPR seminar with a nominal materials fee) and open to the public.
January 5, 2011:"Sailing, Pure and Sometimes Simple"
is a potpourri look at the joys of sailing from three different viewpoints by people who are living their dreams. Our first seminar of the 2011 series will feature three speakers relating their unique sailing experiences: Jim Hiller, owner and builder of a Contessa 32 (the smallest boat to survive the fabled and devastating 1979 Fastnet Race) will discuss his building and design adventure; Peggy Walsh-Sarnecki from the Detroit Free Press who has written regularly about Michigan sailing will discuss how she combined her vocation and her avocation; and Jim Rapelje will discuss his first Trans-Atlantic crossing in the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers on a 44 foot catamaran. We are all sailors and experience is what it is all about! This free seminar will be hosted by the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club from 7:00 – 9:00 PM on January 5, 2011. The restaurant will be open ahead of time, accepting credit cards only. Beverage service will be available. The formal dress code will be waived.
January 12, 2011“Race Management”
A sailboat race is defined by three documents, a notice ofrace, the sailing instructions and the rule book. Com. Jim Rodgers, a U.S.Sailing certified regional race officer will take you through these documents so you know what to expect from the race committee when you get to the race course. This event will be held at the Edison Boat Club on Wednesday evening, January 12, 7:00 –9:00 PM. Limited food and beverage service will be available beforehand. Credit cards or cash accepted.
January 19, 2011:“Engine Maintenance & Trouble Shooting”
Everything in sailing is important, but some things are more important and frustrating than others. You may understand this better if you have been in the situation where the engine fails to start or charge the batteries. Our seminar presenter, Paul Lee, started Waterfront Boatworks in 1995. He grew up sailing at the DYC. While in the U.S. Coast Guard he was trained as a machinery technician and became a second-class petty officer. He has worked on engines ranging from Cooper Bessemer's (freight train engines) to 9 hp outboards.Topics to be discussed include:1. Understanding the cycles of an engine.2. How and why to do a compression test. How to adjust valve clearances.3. Understanding the fuel system. How to bleed the fuel system. How to change a fuel filter.4. Understanding the oil system. How to change marine engine oil.5. Understanding the marine exhaust system. 6. Understanding marine engine cooling systems.This offering to the series seminars will be held at the Great Lakes Yacht Clubon Wednesday January 19, 2011 from 7:00 - 9:00 PM. No restaurant service available.
January 26, 2011:“Understanding Your Sailboat’s Electrical System”
Com. Skip Gmeiner and sons Ron and Steve will present an in-depth, but practical look at this sometimes vexing topic. The Gmeiners are well-versed in this topic area as their commercial venture, SPEMCO, is one the largest manufacturers of nautical switches and control panels in the world. Topic areas will include: 1. New Battery-Saving LED Navigation Lights 2. Changes in ABYC Wiring Requirements 3. New Tricks with Existing Wiring 4. New Ways to Charge Auxiliary Batteries 5. Trouble-shooting Ideas. This new offering to the series seminars will be held at the Bayview Yacht Club on Wednesday, January 26, 2011 from 7:00 -9:00 PM. Restaurant and beverage service will be available.
February 2, 2011:“Chartering”
Our fifth seminar is another of our new topics this year. It will be an in-depth coverage of chartering, for cruisers as well as racers. Hope Swift, a fellow sailor and owner of Swift Yacht Charters will bring her years of sailing and chartering experience to share with us.In this two-hour seminar she plans to: i.) Explain the function of an independent charter agent; ii.) Discuss chartering options including bareboating and obtaining the qualifications necessary for those new to chartering; iii.) Provisioning & otherconsiderations; iv.) Availability of captained and fully crewed charters including destinations, planning, and itineraries; and v.)Theme charters (e.g. Racing, Diving Healthy Living, and Honeymoon /Anniversary. We trust that you'll join us in the midst of winter while we dream of the joys of other seasons! The Detroit Yacht Club will be our hosts for this seminar from 7:00 - 9:00 PM. The Starboard Haven Lounge will be open with a limited (special) menu starting at 5:30 PM. Credit cards please; the formal dress code has been waived..
February 9, 2011:“Weather for Poets”
Pat Healy served as head dinghy team coach at theNaval Academy from 1976 until 1981 and then again from 1998 until 2002.In between he was the Canadian National Sailing Coach leading the Canadians to win five Olympic medals and twenty-two Pan American medals. After leaving Canada, Pat ran the Louis Vuitton Cup for the1995 AMERICA’S CUP. He has been the marketing director for theCommanders’ Weather Corporation, a private weather forecasting company supporting racing and cruising boats worldwide. Pat graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a bachelor’s degree in Meteorology."Weather for Poets" is a non-technical explanation of why there is weather, why the weather patterns look the way they do, thunderstorms, lake breezes,what to look for on the water and on the internet. Join us at the Tompkins Center, Windmill Pointe Park (home of the Grosse Pointe Sail Club) on Wednesday evening, February 9, 7:00 – 9:00 PM. No restaurant facilities available.
February 16, 2011:“Medicine Afloat”
Once out on the water, we are very much left to our own devices and preparation with knowledge and supplies is often the key to safely continuing our sail or even safely returning to shore. With this in mind, we continue our efforts to bring new ideas and new voices to our superb group of seminar presenters over the past years with the addition of Dr. Robert Welch, M.D., M.S. from Wayne State University, Department of Emergency Medicine. His Medicine Afloat seminar, given from a sailor's perspective is sure to provide us with an educational evening addressing practical care in the setting of short term cruising and racing. This is an evening not to bemissed! This seminar will be hosted by the Grosse Pointe Yacht Clubfrom 7:00 – 9:00 PM and as usual, is free and open to the public. Therestaurant will be open ahead of time, accepting credit cards only.Beverage service will be available. The formal dress code will be waived.
February 23, 2011:“De-Mystifying Rating Systems”
will be presented by DRYA ChiefHandicapper David Spiers and DRYA RC and Nautical Historian, David M.Coleman. The Holy Grail of any yacht rating system is the fair and equitable leveling of the playing field for often disparate vessels. The first part of the presentation will be a brief historical look at the evolution of sailboat ratingsystems. Prof. Coleman will review the evolution of thisconcept from the first 'America's Cup' race, through the mighty J's. Included will be a discussion of Herreshoff’s "Universal Rule" and the development of the alphabet classes (P, Q, R, and J) and the Meter Classes. The parameters from these early racing systems are precedent to today's and their evolution will be tracked descriptively and with visuals. The majority of the evening will briefly review the IRC, IMS, ORR and One Design handicapping systems and usage in today's yacht racing. Then we will discuss in detail the PHRF System used by about 80% of the racers in the world today, as well as who administers the databases and how consistency is addressed. We will cover the US Sailing databases, standards and what items affect the ratingand how we address them to give fair handicaps and racing across the many types of yachts racing today. Questions are welcome! Comments areexpected! The Detroit Yacht Club will be our hosts for this seminar from 7:00- 9:00 PM. The Starboard Haven Lounge will be open with a limited (special)menu starting at 5:30 PM. Credit cards please; formal dress code has been waived for the evening.
March 2, 2011:“Staying Alive With CPR”
When someone’s heartbeat or breathing stops, immediate CPR is critical to their survival. Learning how to properly administer Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a genuine life-saving skill. Get that training by joining us for a three-hour class taught by PC Loretta Rehe, and Ted and Janie Williford, fellow sailors and certified CPR instructors. There is a nominal fee of $30.00 to cover the cost of educational materials. Pre-registration before February 26th is mandatory in order to have adequate equipment and instructors on hand. Participation is limited to 30. If there is enough interest, a second class will be added on March 3rd at the same location and time. This seminar will be hosted, form 7:00 – 10:00 PM, by the Edison Boat Club. No food or beverages will be served. Pre-registration will be available at any prior Wednesday Night Seminar or through kevinvsherry@aol.com
March 9, 2011:“Saving Sailing … Continued”
This Seminar will be a significant follow-up on the special DRYA "Saving Sailing" Symposium last October that featured Nick Haynes, author of the best-seller "Saving Sailing." This seminar will feature Michigan native Dawn Riley who is an America's Cup and Around the World Sailboat racer who is also an accomplished businesswoman, community leader and youth-sports advocate, author, speaker, TV commentator and committed philanthropist. Dawn will discuss her own passion for `saving sailing' including her newest activities with the Oakcliff Sailing Center which is dedicated to training sailors, boat workers, owners and teams in order to raise the level of sailors and sailing in the United States. A panel discussion including a large group of local sailors (including Jim Rodgers) who have been meeting regularly at North Star to put together a "Saving Sailing"action plan will complete this fascinating and relevant evening. David Coleman will moderate the discussion. This program will be held at the North Star Sail Club from 7:00 – 9:00 PM. There will be a cash bar (cash or credit card). No food service.
March 16, 2011:“Basic Racing Rules”
Sailboat racing is governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing. These rules apply to the sport worldwide, and some of them can be baffling. This seminar concentrates on only those rules that the newer sailor needs to understand to enjoy sailboat racing safely. This informative and entertaining seminar again will beled by Ted Everingham, an International Judge, a US SAILING certified Umpire and Senior Judge and a past Chairman of theUS SAILING Judges Committee. Join us at the Port Huron Yacht Club on Wednesday evening, March 16, 7:00 – 9:00 PM,for a seminar like no other. The availability of food and beverage service will be posted later.
March 23, 2011:“Safety at Sea”
This seminar, presented by Chuck Knowles and Margi Schneider, will be a practical discussion of safety issues and equipment that relate to both racing and cruising sailors. Chuck will present the very newest equipment available, and make numerous specific recommendations. Chuck and Margi are aggressively preparing their live-aboard yacht V-Twin for extended world cruising; lessons-learned to date, and planned upgrades will be discussed. This should be an instructive and entertaining evening. A special mystery guest will discuss safety from his perspective and explain what a sailboat ‘looks like' from the bridge of a fully-loaded 1000' freighter. This presentation is sponsored by West Marine. Please join us at the Grosse Ile Yacht Club on Wednesday evening, March 23rd from 7:00 -9:00 pm. The availability of food and beverage service will be posted later.
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