Winter Educational Seminars

During the winter, the club organizes a series of educational seminars which are free to members.

Unless stated otherwise the Seminars will be at Steamers Landing Restaurant, 375 South End Ave, New York NY 10280 (on esplanade south of North Cove).

Steamers Landing has donated the space so please consider eating a burger or grabbing beer while you are there.

If you would be willing to lead a seminar, please send an email to William Lipscomb.

Wednesday - April 16, 7pm
Preparing for MSC Skipper Standing, ( Part 3 Chart Work & Eldritch ) - Ted Wallace.
Part three of an ongoing workshop aimed at helping club members interested in standing for the MYC Skipper membership. Topics will include preparing for test, effective communication skills, review of local conditions and more.

Wednesday - Feb 6
So, You want to be a Skipper?": Preparing for MSC Skipper Standing, (Part 1) - Ted Wallace.
Part one of a two part workshop aimed at helping club members interested in standing for the MYC Skipper membership. Topics will include preparing for test, effective communication skills, review of local conditions and more. PLEASE BRING: A print out of the skipper certification test and copy of the NY Harbor Chart.

Tuesday - Feb 19
Adventures in Sail Trim - John Koten
"Ease your sails until they start to luff and then trim them in a bit." Sailors have crossed the Atlantic with little more understanding than that of how sails interact with the wind to make a boat move forward through the water. But anyone who wants to get the most performance as possible out of a boat needs to know a lot more than that! This session will serve as an introduction to sail trim for people who are relatively new to the subject. It will cover the basic aerodynamic principals of how sails work and how those principals can be applied on the water to improve boat speed-and, in so doing, have more fun. Attendees will learn how each of the onboard controls that affect sail shape-main sheet, cunningham, outhaul, traveler, backstay, etc.--are used to custom tailor a boat's foils to suit the appropriate wind and wave conditions on the water.

Tuesday - Mar 4
Introductions to Racing Rules (Part 2) - Stephen W. Yip & Joe Just
The second session of two workshops aimed at introducing the rules of racing. This session is good introduction for novice racers and a great review for experienced racers.
1. Quick review of session 1
2. Situational analysis : Downwind sailing, leeward marks roundings and the finish
Format: Audience participation, open discussion
PLEASE BRING YOUR RULE BOOK

Wednesday - March 12, 7 pm
MSC Dinghy Sailing in NY Harbor - Randy Lewis and T.J. Shea
Lasers, Sunfish, Optis! Dinghy Sailing in New York Harbor! After bringing dinghies back to the harbor last season, MSC is getting ready to expand the program this year. Come join Randy Lewis and T.J. Shea to hear more and see how you can ride the wind and waves by Lady Liberty. We will discuss the vision of the dinghy program and share the experience, tips and advice from the experts!

Tuesday - Mar 18, 7pm
Marine Weather for the Mariner - Gary Conte from NOAA
Gary Conte, Warning Coordination Meteorologist from the National Weather Service (NWS) Office in Upton, NY will deliver a presentation on how NWS services can be used to help prepare Mariners for boating around NY Harbor. This presentation will include how to receive the latest NWS forecasts and check on the latest weather conditions before leaving port. He'll show how to retrieve the latest Tides and Currents, the latest weather observations, and how to use NOAA's Weather Activity Planner. Additionally, Gary will prepare you for the quick development of Thunderstorms and the hazards they bring.

Preparing for MSC Skipper Standing, ( Part 2 Ferry Day & Chart Work ) - Ted Wallace.
Part two of an ongoing workshop aimed at helping club members interested in standing for the MSC Skipper membership. Ferry Day is a touring event in which we take a couple of ferry rides and compare charts and routes within the harbor.

Wednesday - Mar 26, 7pm
Trip planning for the Coastal Cruiser - Joan Lappin
"Beyond just sailing about or racing in New York Harbor, or going on the MSC regattas such as our terrific trip to St. Maarten this year, there is cruising. Joan Lappin has been plying the waters between NYC and Maine for the last 25 years in her 36' sloop. Cruising is a great way to explore the coast, and expand your sailing skills. It's a wonderful family activity if you have kids. You need to understand the tides, currents, weather, and the navigational challenges to get safely to your destination. You need to know how to steer a proper compass course. You need to know the difference between a heading on your GPS (which is historical and after the fact) and a compass heading which is where you are going NOW. You need to know how to estimate how long it will take to get to your destination so you arrive in daylight. Also important is assembling a capable and compatible crew, proper provisioning and making sure you have all the safety gear aboard that you might ever need if something goes wrong. Come hear Joan share her knowledge about the special challenges of cruising. You certainly can't learn it all in an hour but you can definitely expand your thinking to include this great aspect of sailing."

Tuesday - April 1, 7pm
Racing For Beginners - Joe Just
Intro to Racing will provide an introduction to the basic concepts of sailboat racing for those new to the sport. We will discuss how races are organized and conducted, outline crew positions and roles, and introduce the fundamentals of racing strategy and tactics. This course is a great primer for those who would like to begin racing at the Manhattan Sailing Club, and will be a good refresher for existing racers warming up for the new season.

Tuesday - April 8, 7pm
America II, her first year as our flagship and future plans.
Two members of the Twelve Meter Syndicate, Peter Wechter and Kinya Tago, will talk about our first year with America II, which competed with Stars and Stripes during the 1987 America's Cup in Australia. We will also talk about our vision for bringing her to regattas in Newport, Greenwich, and Monaco over the next several years and in hosting a Twelve Meter regatta in New York, probably during the 2009 season. While a syndicate of club members brought America II to New York, we will need help from MYC club members to effectively and competitively race her in the upcoming regattas and Michael Fortenbaugh will present some ideas and plans for how more club members can be a part of this effort."