Our 14th Annual Junior Safety at Sea Seminar was held on Friday July 16 at the end of Larchmont Junior Race Week.

LARCHMONT, N.Y. (July 20, 2010) —The Storm Trysail Foundation, in partnership with the Larchmont Yacht Club and Junior Sailing Association of Long Island Sound, held its 14th Annual Junior Safety at Sea Seminar on Friday July 16 at the end of Larchmont Junior Race Week.  210 junior sailors from 20 clubs attended.  For the first time, there were juniors representing the Larchmont Shore Club, Orienta Beach Club, and the Young Mariners (Stamford Sailing Foundation).

During these 14 years, over 2800 juniors and their instructors have received training at Larchmont, and another 1000 in Newport, Annapolis, and Raritan Bay (N.J.).   Storm Trysail Safety at Sea Chairman Richard du Moulin explained: “The Storm Trysail Foundation was created by the Storm Trysail Club to support and expand the Junior Safety-at-Sea Program and the Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta.  We believe that big boat sailing provides juniors an exciting challenge and the opportunity for a lifetime for adventures and great friendships.  But we want them to do it safely.”

The morning classroom sessions included presentations by Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy’s Offshore Director Chris Gasciorek (Crew Organization), Ed Cesare (Bermuda Race Navigation), Adam Loory (Man Overboard), Kerry Klingler (Preparation for Squalls), Rich du Moulin (Dockside Demo), and Larchmont Fireman John Caparelli (First Aid and AED). 

Last years Beach Point Overnight Race witnessed a 70 knot squall that knocked down many competitors.  Some boats were not fully prepared for the sudden squall, but due to Safety-at-Sea training every crewmember was wearing a PFD and harness. There were no injured juniors.  Training had helped, but the JSA Committee headed by Amy Kellogg and Karin Nye, working with the Storm Trysail Foundation and other clubs that sponsored big boat events, made revisions to the NOR and Sailing Instructions for the junior big boat events.  Storm Trysail then modified the agenda for the 2010 Seminar.  In addition to the classroom session on “Preparation for a Squall,” the Dockside Demo included reefing and unreefing a J105. 

Twenty-one generous owners loaned their boats for the afternoon on-the-water session.  Over thirty volunteer coaches joined the owners to help instruct the junior sailors.  For the first time, a more rigorous agenda was set and the perfect 15-18 knot southerly enabled all the boats to accomplish the key maneuvers.  Upon boarding the boats, the owners briefed the juniors on the location of safety equipment, thru-hull fittings, fire extinguishers, fuel shutoffs, and the VHF radio.

After getting underway, juniors assumed all the crew positions and first sailed upwind, practicing tacks and upwind Man Overboard (MOB) Quick-Stops, recovering a floating cushion or small buoy (no swimming allowed!).  Then with spinnakers set, the crew practiced gybes and downwind Quick-Stops.  Each boat also practiced reefing and unreefing.

With only four hours of sailing, Storm Trysail recommended that each boat utilize three (maximum 4) helmsmen so a good level of expertise could be developed.  When the juniors, owners, and coaches returned to Larchmont Yacht Club, they were exhausted from non-stop heavy-duty practice but managed to devour all 40 pizzas ordered by Marcy Trenholm.

This great event would not be possible without the generosity of the 21 boat owners listed below.  More than thirty coaches provided hands-on instruction.  The Jamie Boeckel Foundation provided 20 PFD’s that were raffled off, and Landfall Navigation brought an inflatable life raft and flares.  The Larchmont Yacht Club provided its extensive facilities including rooms, launch service and moorings. Marcy Trenholm, Executive Secretary of the Storm Trysail Club, and Adam Loory, Chairman of the Intercollegiate Offshore regatta (Columbus Day Weekend at Larchmont with 40 big boat college teams!) worked tirelessly to help pull it all together.

Thank you to everyone and for more information on the Safety at Sea Seminars, Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta and the Storm Trysail Foundation visit our website.

Richard du Moulin
Chairman, Safety at Sea
Storm Trysail Foundation

List of Boat Owners
Adrenaline                  Patrick Croke
Aragorn                       Dick York
Avra                            George Petrides
Bachannal                   Jan Smeets
Deviation                    Iris Vogel
Dragon fly                   Colin McGranahan
Honalee                       HL Devore
Jouster                         Julian Croxell
Lora Ann                     Rich DuMoulin
Mandalay                    Ralph Sheppard
Maudelayne                Bud Heerde
Morning Glory            Carl Olsson
Patience                       Rick Royce
Ripple                          John Towers
Rocket Science           Cliff Crowley
Shamless                     Pete Van Duyne
Siren Song                   Tom Carroll
Soulmates                    Adam Loory
Strider                         Andy Berdon
Sundari                        Barry Gold
Warhorse                     Scott Florio

-end-