Thanks for visiting the 2013 show! See you next year, Jan. 23-26, 2014
2013 Hourly Seminars Sponsored by Blue Water Sailing Magazine. Scroll down for a complete list.
2013 Feature Speakers & Paid Seminars require pre registration.
Let Us help organize your seminar schedule here.
NEW for 2013:
Meet the Guru of Sailing Systems— Nigel Calder - On site to offer three comprehensive 3.5 hour seminars. Each seminar will offer a thorough presentation of each topic.
Friday Jan 25th, 2 pm to 5.30 pm Room 329
Hassle-free anchoring and docking, kedging off if you get it wrong, and understanding the limits of chart accuracy so you don’t run aground in the first place!
Anchoring and docking are two of the more stressful boating activities. They cause many meltdowns between crew members. This seminar will describe mechanisms and techniques to take the stress out of anchoring and docking in order to preserve those precious relationships! We’ll also look at how to kedge off if you run aground. Given that chart inaccuracies are blamed for many groundings, we will finish off by looking at the extent to which you can trust paper and electronic charts, including some rather alarming facts and statistics.
Topics will include:
- Critical ground tackle design issues
- Stress-free anchoring techniques
- Anchor retrieval
- How to kedge off if you run aground
- Troublefree docking against wind and tide
- Coming off a dock against wind and tide
- The limits of chart accuracy in the digital age
- Key differences between raster and vector charts
Saturday Jan 26th, 9 am to 12.30 pm Room 329
DC systems design, installation, optimization and troubleshooting
Contemporary boats are loaded with more and more electrical gear. Electrical systems are the number one cause of problems on boats that have anything more than a rudimentary electrical system. In this presentation we'll look at:
- Designing electrical systems to avoid problems
- Proper installation practices
- Electrical systems maintenance
- Simple troubleshooting procedures
- Emerging technologies that will radically impact boat electrical systems design and functionality
This seminar is designed for the inexperienced and requires no prior knowledge. It will help you understand your own electrical systems and to nip many common problems in the bud. It will build your confidence when working on your electrical systems. According to Nigel, he doesn't have electrical problems on his own boats. If you follow his advice, he claims you will not have them on your boat.
Saturday Jan 26th, 2 pm to 5.30 pm Room 329
Do-it-yourself diesel engine maintenance, optimization and troubleshooting
If properly installed and maintained, modern diesel engines are remarkably reliable. In this seminar we will look at core installation issues that will eliminate many potential problems, basic maintenance, and a non-intrusive (i.e. not requiring engine disassembly) engine health check. Topics will include:
- Often overlooked critical installation issues
- Core maintenance and how to do it
- Testing cranking and charging circuits
- Techniques for starting recalcitrant engines
- Overheating engines
- Troubleshooting miscellaneous engine problems
- Optimizing engine use to minimize run time and maintenance
This seminar is designed for the inexperienced and requires no prior knowledge. It will help you understand your own engine and to nip many common problems in the bud. It will build your confidence when working on your diesel engine.
Course Fee: 60.00 per person and includes same day admission to the show. (click here to register)
2013 Paid Seminar — Pre Registration Required
NEW for 2013 A complete review of the new racing rules and how they will affect your racing.
Presented by David Dellenbaugh – Dave's Bio - How The New 2013-2016 Rules Will Affect Your Racing
David Dellenbaugh, champion racing sailor, rules expert, author and winning America’s Cup tactician offers an in-depth seminar about the new racing rules. David will explain the most significant changes and how they will impact your interaction with other boats on the race course for the next four years. The seminar describes how the new rules apply to starting, windward marks, leeward marks, obstructions, penalties and more – plus there will be time for your questions! Perfect for big boat and one-design racers, skippers and crews; this seminar will help you get up to speed on the new rules before you start racing next season!
Friday 1pm - 5pm Room 309 Fee: $79.00 Click Here to Register.
Saturday 10am - 2pm Room 309 Fee: $79.00 Click Here to Register.
The seminar fee includes show admission for the day and a free copy of the latest issue of David’s bi-monthly newsletter Speed & Smarts, which is all about the new rules and admission to the show. For more information Click Here for Dave's website.
2013 Full-Day Paid Seminar — Pre Registration Required
NEW for 2013! Jimmy Cornell to make a rare U.S. appearance at the 2013 Progressive® Insurance Strictly Sail® Chicago Show.
LONG DISTANCE CRUISING MASTERCLASS Presented by Jimmy Cornell
Jimmy Cornell, accomplished sailor, author of World Cruising Routes, World Cruising Destinations, World Voyage Planner and Cornell’s Ocean Atlas, founder of the ARC and noonsite.com will return to the USA/Strictly Sail Chicago & Miami shows to present his popular one day seminar on long distance and offshore cruising. In the last four decades Jimmy has sailed 200,000 miles in all oceans of the world, including three circumnavigations and voyages to the Arctic and Antarctic. He has a wealth of practical advice to offer anyone planning a voyage, his font of knowledge being based not only on his personal sailing experience but also as the organizer of 24 transatlantic and five round the world rallies attended by some 12,000 sailors and 3,000 boats. Jimmy’s excellent photographs of many of the world’s most beautiful cruising areas will be used to illustrate his seminar.
Sunday 8:30 - 6:00 PM Room 327
Course Fee:
$125 per individual
$195 per couple
Course fee Includes comprehensive seminar course book.
Details of all Jimmy's books as well as his seminars and lectures engagements are available on
www.cornellsailing.com
Lee Chesneau presents a One-day Marine Meteorology Weather Course
Sunday January 27, 2013 - 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Room 326
Lee Chesneau, Senior Marine Meteorologist, formerly with NOAA/NWS's Ocean Prediction Center, and now owner of Lee Chesneau's Marine Weather, will provide a challenging full day weather course as a follow up to his daily hour long seminars.
Lee's 40 years of forecasting marine weather and strategic route planning on a global, synoptic, and local scale for mariners has been now successfully transferred to the classroom where he takes you step by step toward understanding both the atmospheric environment that you boat in. As a former mariner, Lee knows that this is necessary and important for not only determining your own weather forecasts, but making strategic decisions whether operating with the coastal waters, offshore, or in trans-ocean crossings. Click here for course outline.
Course Fee: $99.00 in advance or $150 includes two-day ticket to the show. To register Click Here to Register
Location: Navy Pier Room 326
Email Lee Chesneau
2013 Full-Day Paid Seminar — Pre Registration Required
John & Amanda Neal—Mahina Expeditions
Saturday Jan 26th, 2013 Room 327
8:00AM - 6:00PM Mahina Offshore Cruising Seminar Sponsored by West Marine
This nine-hour seminar will give you the knowledge and tools to save years and thousands of dollars as you prepare for your cruising lifestyle. The 18 topics have dedicated PowerPoint presentations that follow the seminar's invaluable 260 page Offshore Cruising Companion. The organized format allows you to follow, absorb, understand plus retain crucial information vital to your safety and comfort.
Key topics covered include: Boat Selection, Outfitting for Offshore, Piracy & Security, Communication, Medical Emergencies, Cost of Cruising, Storm Survival Tactics, Insurance, Anchoring, Rigging & Sails, Weather & Cruise Planning.
Presenter/author/cruiser John Neal teamed up with professional rigger/sailmaker/international yacht racer Amanda Swan Neal in 1994 and together they have introduced thousands of people to offshore cruising through seminars and sailing expeditions. Their combined 73 years and 584,000 miles ocean experience spans the globe. Pete McGonagle recently completed a two year cruise with his wife and son from New England to the Caribbean and Panama. Pete's ocean experience includes 39,000 miles cruising, racing and delivering yachts and over 1,000,000 miles as an officer on merchant ships.
Cost per person: 179.00 Per couple 299.00
Seminar includes the 260 page Offshore Cruising Companion which details the 18 topics covered. The seminar outline and registration forms are available
Click HERE
Interactive Seminars on the Show Floor - Space 296 (By the Pond)
DIY Seminars
Presented by: My Boat Guys & World Cruising Club
Space 296 by the Pond
Thursday: 1:00 PM - Offshore Sailing Top Tips: From Safety to Watch Rotations
3:00 PM - Maintain your boat for the long-term
5:00 PM - Great Lakes to the Caribbean: w/ Rally Veterans
Friday: 12:00 PM - Offshore Yacht Rigging & Sail Handling
2:00 PM - Properly Maintaining external woodwork
4:00 PM - A good buff job; 3M Style
6:00PM - Great Lakes to the Caribbean: w/ Rally Veterans
Saturday: 11:00 AM – Great Lakes to the Caribbean: w/ Rally Veterans
1:00 PM – The debate over topside finishes
3:00 PM - Let's talk Your boat! "An Open forum on boat repair"
Sunday: 10:00 AM - Great Lakes to the Caribbean: w/ Rally Veterans
12:00 AM - Session 2: Let's talk Your boat! "An Open forum on boat repair"
2:00 PM - Protecting and coating your boats bottom
2013 Two-Day Paid Seminar — Pre Registration Required
2 Day Marine Navigation Seminar
Saturday January 26th & Sunday January 27th, 2013 - 9am to 4pm Room 306
Have you ever wondered what you would do if your GPS failed? Would you like to feel more comfortable when navigating? 3rd Coast Cruising, Chicago fastest growing sailing club is offering 12 hours of intensive training on Marine Navigation. Although this 2 day seminar was modeled after the classes offered when preparing for a Captain’s License, our program is also suitable for sailors who are simply interested in expanding their knowledge base.
The course will be presented by Captain Bruce Krizmanic, an experienced sailor with a Masters 50 ton and a commercial towing certification. Captain Bruce is a 40 year boating veteran with air and land instructional experience in the Air Force as well as a Certified Weather Observer. Captain Bruce will be assisted by 3
rd Coast Cruising crew members, and you’ll have a student to teacher ratio that will allow much more one on one attention to help you get through difficult navigation scenarios. Some of the topics covered include: CHART READING, LOCATING FIXES AND BEARINGS, COLREGS.
For highlights of this class, click here
Cost is $259 in advance, $500 at the show.
- Includes 2 day Marine Navigation Seminar (12 hrs)
- $75 Value- 4-day admission to the show and SS Yacht Club
- $100 worth of 3rd Coast Cruising Coupons
- 50 worth of Navigation Tools
SPACE IS VERY LIMITED, PLEASE CALL NOW TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT.
1-866-SAIL-3RD (524-5373)