Enough of this internet! Let’s meet in person and talk at the Strictly Sail Pacific Boat Show in Oakland, California April 14 through 17. Pam Wall, Gwen Hamlin and I will be presenting 2 Women and Cruising seminars plus a slew of other talks (details below). The Women and Cruising seminars are super for asking your questions about cruising (anything goes!).
We love these seminars and all the new friends we have made doing them. In fact, I love the seminars so much I am packing up my bags and leaving the boat in beautiful Eleuthera, Bahamas (with sand in my shoes) to fly to the Oakland show. When we’re not giving seminars we will be hanging out at the Author’s Corner. I will be selling my French for Cruisers and Spanish for Cruisers books plus a new audio. Come by and talk cruising! We look forward to seeing you there!
Blue Water Sailing is the Presenting Sponsor of the Seminar Series. The one-hour seminars are FREE with your paid show admission. Attendees will receive two issues of Blue Water Sailing and a complimentary subscription to Cruising Compass.
Women and Cruising
by Kathy Parsons, Pam Wall, Gwen Hamlin
Kathy Parsons, Pam Wall and Gwen Hamlin team up to share experiences and answer all your questions about preparing for cruising and life aboard: from the skills you need to cruise, to outfitting and provisioning, to seasickness, staying healthy, finances, long passages, safety and the fears and the rewards of cruising.
Attendees will receive a Women and Cruising Resource List to supplement the information covered in the seminar.
Dates:
- Friday, April 15, 2011 – 11:45am
- Saturday, April 16, 2011 – 4:45pm
What Works: Tips and techniques for long-distance cruising.
by Kathy Parsons, Pam Wall, Gwen Hamlin
Sometimes it is the little things that make all the difference. With decades of cruising and tens of thousands of miles under their keels, cruisers Pam Wall, Gwen Hamlin and Kathy Parsons have learned lots of little things that make cruising safer, more comfortable, more successful.
In this quick-paced seminar, they will share some of their favorite tips, techniques and gear. They will cover the full gamut of cruising: from passage-making, boat-handling, anchoring, line-handling, provisioning, stowage and boat systems, safety, communications, finances. You are bound to learn new ideas to improve your cruising.
Dates:
- Thursday, April 14, 2011 – 11:45am
- Sunday, April 17, 2011 – 10:30am
Cruising the French and Spanish-speaking Caribbean
by Kathy Parsons
The French and Spanish-speaking countries of the Caribbean provide rich and varied cruising opportunities: from Martinique and Guadeloupe’s French creole cuisines, to inland travel through Central and South America, to the music and beauty of Cuba. Yet boaters often hesitate, faced with language and cultural differences.
With photos, hand-outs and personal stories from over a decade of travel throughout the Caribbean, author and cruiser Kathy Parsons shows how and why to fully explore these areas. You will leave this seminar with a list of Caribbean destinations that you won’t want to miss and practical tips that will reduce cultural misunderstandings and make your travel more safe and enjoyable.
Date:
- Thursday, April 14, 2011 – 03:30pm
Spanish for Cruising Mexico
by Kathy Parsons
To make the most of your cruise to Mexico, you’ll want to be able to communicate with the people you meet – from port officials to repairmen, market vendors and fishermen.
In this seminar, Kathy Parsons, will give you techniques and strategies that help you communicate with everyone you meet ashore and on the water. Participants will learn techniques that ease communication, will learn to avoid common cultural mistakes and receive hand-outs covering Spanish for provisioning, clearing in, conversation, and other essentials of Mexican cruising.”
Date:
- Saturday, April 16, 2011 – 11:45am
Outfitting Part One – On Deck
by Pam Wall
Pam Wall will give sensible and practical ideas on how to make your boat more seaworthy, safer, more efficient, and more fun. The systems and equipment that she and her husband, Andy, have on their boat came from years of practical sailing.
From bow to stern Pam will show you what she found made her boat a better blue water cruising boat. Be ready to take notes on what works and what does not work in this informative seminar on proper deck hardware and systems. All this leads to having a better time aboard your boat.
Date:
- Thursday, April 14, 2011 – 1:00pm
Outfitting Part Two – Below Deck
by Pam Wall
Once again Pam Wall will show you ideas on how to make your boat more comfortable and more efficient down below where your living quarters make all the difference to your comfort and safety! See the many ideas Pam has put into use to make the interior of her boat functional and safe. Again, be prepared to take a lot of notes on the good ideas presented in this seminar.
Date:
- Thursday, April 14, 2011 – 2:15pm
Cruising the Bahamas
by Pam Wall
I don’t have to sail around the world to be in Paradise! Pam Wall has sailed around the world, but her most favorite place of all is in her back yard!
The Bahamas are Pam’s favorite cruising grounds, and she takes you there with a flair! See the beauty of these magnificent islands, so near, yet so far. This slide presentation will have you jumping into the clear water before you know it.
Date:
- Friday, April 15, 2011 – 3:30pm
How to be your own Maintenance Captain
by Pam Wall
Pam Wall will take you from bow to stern, on deck and down below, to help you check out what you need to know to maintain your vessel without the help of trained professionals. This type of basic knowledge of maintenance and how to keep everything in good running order will give you the confidence to know your own boat and all its systems. Pam will suggest easy programs to keep all you have aboard in good condition making your cruising more successful without any breakdowns. Learn from Pam how a woman can contribute to the maintenance schedule to keep your boat in top condition. All this will allow you to have a happy time aboard and give you the basic knowledge of how to eliminate most annoying failures!
Date:
- Saturday, April 16, 2011 – 1:00pm
Cool Products No One Knows About
by Pam Wall
Pam Wall has been working for West Marine for twenty years. She sees and tries many new and lots of old products that are available to the yachtsmen around the world. Let her show you many really great products that very few people know about. The secrets of great things will be revealed so you can take advantage of a lifetime of finding cool products that few have ever tried. Pam has her favorites that she will share with you, and you will come away with many great ideas for your own boat.
Date:
- Sunday, April 17, 2011 – 1:00pm
Severe Weather Preparation
by Pam Wall
Many of you may have attended Pam’s Hurricane Preparation seminars in the past. This year Pam will take you through the steps to be prepared for severe weather while at sea! The list of what you should have aboard, how you should prepare yourself, and how you should handle your boat are all given to you by someone who has lived through many a severe weather situation in her years of sailing. This is a seminar everyone should attend to be prepared and therefore be able to handle any situation with severe weather
Date:
- Sunday, April 17, 2011 – 3:30pm
More info
- About Kathy Parsons, Pam Wall and Gwen Hamlin
- Visit the Strictly Sail Pacific website
- Download the complete seminars schedule
Thank you for the great Women & Cruising seminar at the Oakland boat show this past weekend. Your experiences and enthusiam are a great motivator for folks in the “planning stages” of going cruising.