February 28, 2008                    <<IMPORTANT NOTICE>>
Safety at Sea Training Requirements Changed
 

REVIEW: PREPARING FOR THE OFFSHORE PASSAGE TO HALIFAX

2005 SAFETY AT SEA BREAKOUT SESSION BIG SUCCESS

On March 26th, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in conjunction with the Marion-Bermuda Race organization and their Safety at Sea Seminar (under U.S. Sailing sanction), the Boston Yacht Club (BYC) Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race Committee (MHORC) organized a breakout session to address issues that would be of specific interest to participants in the Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race. This was a first-time effort and, in advance, no one knew what sort of interest or turnout it might engender. The Bermuda Race is an ORC Category 1 event so attendance is mandatory for participants at least every three or so years; the Halifax Race is an ORC Category 2 event so attendance is entirely voluntary although highly recommended.

As it turns out, there were approximately 400 total attendees at the event and approximately 100 of those were there specifically because they are planning to compete in the 2005 Marblehead to Halifax Race! From the view of the BYC MHORC, this was an overwhelming turnout and we are delighted with that level of interest and commitment. The breakout session was organized and chaired by the BYC Fleet Surgeon, Dr. John Henson, who deserves all credit for the smoothly orchestrated event that transpired. There were five speakers who supported the breakout session: (1) Eric Bornhofft, who addressed the Gulf of Maine tidal currents; (2) Bill Seifert, who addressed ORC Category 2 Safety Regulations and the race-specific inspection requirements; (3) BYC Race Director and Race Committee Chairman Geoff Smith, who addressed Communications requirements in general and the introduction of location transponders to the race for the first time; (4) BYC Vice Chairman and Past Commodore Harvey Brand, who addressed Racing in the Fog, Entering Halifax Harbor, and Crossing the Finish Line and arriving at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron; and (5) Ted Squires, who addressed returning to the U.S. and satisfying Customs and Border Patrol entry requirements.

The breakout session was supposed to take 90 minutes, easily overran that limit, and included a great deal of lively and valuable discussion across the gamut of subjects that were covered. Feedback was asked of the attendees but, if the perception of the presenters is even close to reasonable, it was a very successful event and you can expect we'll do it again before future races!