Look at the ranks of the top sailors in the world and you’ll see that Rhode Island has an outsize population of experienced cruisers and championship racers. The Ocean State is the place to be if you want to learn how to travel by wind power alone, so this year the Providence Boat Show teamed up with Sail America, the trade association for the U.S. sailing industry, to bring you a new series of Premium Seminars for cruising and racing sailors. Sail America produces high-quality seminar programs at boat shows around the country; their industry experts will teach you about the joys of the sport while giving you valuable hands-on tips so you can net more enjoyment from your time on the water. All seminars in the Sail America series are one-hour long and take place on Saturday, January 24. The seminars are $25 each per person, which includes one ticket for Saturday admission to the boat show.

Click here to register!

Saturday

11:00 am Life Rafts and Offshore Safety Equipment Jim O’Connor

12:15 pm Marine Plumbing Installation and Design Tips Bryan Cooney

1:30 pm Onboard Sail Care Eric Wakefield

2:45 pm Sailboat Racing for the Novice Skipper Joe Cooper

4:00 pm Manage Today’s Fuel in the Marine Environment Robert Cerio

Life Rafts and Offshore Safety Equipment

Safety is no accident and prior planning and practice can make all the difference in the face of adversity. Learn critical life-saving techniques and recommended safety equipment in this not-to-be-missed seminar. Speaker Jim O’Connor, president and founder of Life Raft & Survival Equipment, Inc., will demonstrate the proper use and storage of emergency life rafts and other survival equipment such as EPIRBs and inflatable PFDs.

Saturday, 11:00

Marine Plumbing Installation and Design Tips

One of the most important systems on your boat is your plumbing system. Join this session to learn and learn from a pro about what toilet system is best for your boat. Seminar leader Bryan Cooney, president and founder of Headsync LLC, will also give you six valuable tips for a achieving a reliable, odor-free system. You will also learn about recent advances in these systems, including advances in DC water makers.

Saturday, 12:15

Onboard Sail Care

Learn how to build a useful sail repair kit to keep on board in case of a sail failure. Professional sailmaker Eric Wakefield of North Sails will explain what you need and how to use it, with a comprehensive display of materials. This session will include hands-on training as you will be able to see ripped sail material for first-hand repair instruction. The repairs you will learn about in this seminar are based on the book Sail Care and Repair, which will be handed out to session attendees.

Saturday, 1:30

Sailboat Racing for the Novice Skipper

Join world-class racer Joe Cooper—who has raced in the America’s Cup, in Atlantic and Pacific ocean races, and at the top end of one-design competition—for a valuable session on sailboat racing for the novice skipper. You’ll learn about racing theory, language, rules, sequencing and other issues that will make sailboat racing simpler and easier to understand. You’ll also explore topics such as the starting line, the starting signals (aural and visual), starting sequence, rights-of-way, mark-rounding, and a bit on boat prep to boot! This is a great session for a novice who wants to try his or her hand at the game of racing sailboats, or a new racing crew who wants to move confidently into the role of skipper.

Saturday, 2:45

How to Manage Today’s Fuel in the Marine Environment

Don’t get left at the dock with bad gas. This interactive discussion will focus on the effects of the marine environment on today’s fuels and the causes of fuel degradation and solutions. There will also be a major focus on the proper handling and use of today’s fuels and fuel blends. How fuel problems manifest themselves, diagnosis, and repair will also be discussed. The last segment of the presentation will concentrate on preventative measures, fuel treatment, and restoration processes. The session will be augmented with samples of fuel with existing problems, treatment products, and mechanical treatments utilized to restore fuel to their American Petroleum Institute (API) standard.

Saturday, 4:00

Seminar Presenters

Robert Cerio

Robert Cerio has over 30 years of experience in energy and environmental conservation and management. He is an energy resource consultant and operates a successful energy conservation and management consulting business based in Rhode Island. Most recently, he and business partner Tom Zarrella formed Fuel Management Group, LLC. He also serves as a technical advisor and petroleum liaison to the National Biodiesel Board, is a member of the New England Institute of Technology Curriculum Advisory Board for HVAC, and was instrumental in the development of the URI Energy Center and Master Energy Training Program.

Bryan Cooney

Bryan Cooney is president and founder of Headsync LLC, a Newport, Rhode Island–based marine service company that specializes in marine plumbing services for boating enthusiasts and professionals.

Joe Cooper

From the America’s Cup, to ocean races in the Atlantic and the Pacific, to the top end of one-design competition, Rhode Island racer Joe Cooper has done it all. He will be at the Providence Boat Show to share his knowledge with sailors who want to get into the racing game. Joe’s entire career has been in the sailing industry and has included positions as yacht captain, rigger, sailmaker, yacht broker, high school sailing coach, and independent coach and consultant.

Jim O’Connor

Jim O’Connor is an expert in marine safety and survival who routinely outfits vessels that venture offshore. He will be demonstrating the proper use and storage of emergency life rafts and other survival equipment at the Providence Boat Show. As president and founder of Life Raft & Survival Equipment, Inc. based in Tiverton (R.I.), he has been outfitting commercial and recreational boats since 1980.

Eric Wakefield

Eric Wakefield of North Sails is a professional sailmaker who is coming to the Providence Boat Show to help showgoers learn how to manage their onboard sail care. He has worked in the sail-repair industry for 16 years, including work for America’s Cup syndicates and Volvo Ocean Race teams. He currently runs one of the largest sail-repair facilities in North America.

Sail America Seminars