The Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association's annual Race & Win Performance Racing Seminar in Annapolis is set for Saturday, March 18, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Naval Academy.
Local sailors have found these seminars, based on sailor/author Bill Gladstone's "Performance Racing Tactics" to be helpful in improving performance on the water. This year's course has been completely revised and includes all the latest in racing tactics and techniques.
Joining Gladstone in teaching the seminar are world-class racers Steve Benjamin and Annapolis' Dave Flynn. All are noted for their abilities as instructors, with years of racing expertise as well as teaching experience, and they typically focus on straight sailing topics rather than their own sea stories.
Topics to be covered include starting techniques, strategies when you know what the wind will do as well as when you don't, priorities in mixed-fleet racing, and breakthrough insights on downwind wind shifts.
The seminar will cover how to tell when you're tacking too much, when to split and when to cover, and key differences between reaching and running tactics. It also will offer tricks for current, rules, tactical weather analysis, crew organization and more.
Gladstone's book, which will be provided to all seminar attendees, also has been extensively revised, and now is available in its fourth edition, which includes tactics, rules, weather and strategy, along with new quizzes and skill-building sections designed to show how to develop a race-winning approach.
The cost of the seminar is $70 for skippers, $63 for crew and $5 for lunch. Those who can't attend the seminar may purchase Gladstone's book for $20, including postage. CBYRA and BOAT/U.S. members are offered a discount of $7 off the skipper price.
Registration can be done by mail, phone, fax or e-mail. Include seminar location along with your name, address, phone/fax numbers, MasterCard/Visa number and expiration date and contact Performance Racing Seminars, 1-800-34-SAILS (1-800-347-2457); fax 708-869-6780; Compuserve 74447,401; or mail to Box 1169, Evanston, Ill. 60204. Do not call CBYRA to register. Registration must be done directly with the seminar providers.
Offshore racing/cruising
The 1995 Annapolis to Newport Race will begin June 17. This 473-mile biennial event is sponsored by the Annapolis, Ida Lewis and New York yacht clubs, and the Naval Academy Sailing Squadron.
Starts are offered for IMS, PHRF, Mumm 36 and J/35. The entry fee is $400 for current U.S. SAILING members and $425 for nonmembers, and includes pre-race and post-race parties for skippers and crews. The entry deadline is May 30.
It's also time to plan for a refresher course in offshore safety, and there's none better than the annual Safety at Sea Seminar, April 1-2 at the Naval Academy.
Tickets are available now at $40 per day or $70 for both days, with a $5 discount offered to current U.S. SAILING members with proof of valid membership number.
Because this year's presentations will be conducted in Mahan Hall, seating is limited, and early reservations are strongly recommended.
This year's moderator, veteran TransPac and single-handed racer Chuck Hawley, will discuss crew overboard and safety gear considerations. Other expert speakers will include WUSA weather forecaster Topper Shutt on Chesapeake Bay weather conditions, 1993 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Cam Lewis on offshore boat preparation, Search & Rescue Missions manager for NASA Ron Wallace on EPIRBs and locating distress alerts, Cruising World technical editor Ralph Naranjo on crew preparation, Gale Rider designer Skip Raymond on heavy weather considerations, veteran sailor/surgeon Dr. Steve Hiltabidle on medical considerations, naval architect Mike Kaufman on yacht design considerations, and marine surveyor Fred Hechlinger.
As usual, the instructive on-water demonstrations will be Saturday at noon, including the often dramatic Coast Guard helicopter rescue. One of the most valuable portions of this on-water session is a look at the highly successful quick-stop man-overboard recovery technique.
New this year, during the advanced session on Sunday, will be a session focusing on Chesapeake Bay considerations, sponsored by CBYRA and covering situations such as large cargo ship traffic.
The Safety at Sea Seminar is sponsored by the Naval Academy Sailing Squadron and the Greater Annapolis Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with U.S. SAILING, Cruising World, and West Marine Products Inc. For information: call (410) 268-7676.