Hands On Safety At Sea Seminar at SUNY Maritime

-

US Sailing Sanctioned Hands-On Safety At Sea Training Seminar on May 17, 2025

About the Seminar

Building on the success of past seminars, this one day event will follow an interactive curriculum where participants will learn about damage control, fire distress rockets and flares, put out fires, set storm sails, and exercise water survival skills & use of life rafts, perform crew overboard (COB) rescue among other activities.


One of two safety at sea certifications can be earned by a combination of participation in the hands-on training seminar and completion of the US Sailing online course material. You must complete the online course material before you attend the hands-on seminar.

  • US Sailing Sanctioned International Offshore Safety at Sea Course with Hands-On Training certificate by completion of the US Sailing Online Offshore Safety at Sea Course (Units 1-15) in advance of and participating in the Hands-On Training Seminar
  • US Sailing Sanctioned International Offshore Safety at Sea Refresher Course (World Sailing Certificate Refresh - Taken within the last 7 years) by completion of the US Sailing Online International Offshore Refresher Safety at Sea Course (Units 11-15) in advance of and participating in the Hands-On Training Seminar

See this diagram explaining the different certification requirements from US Sailing. Once we receive your completed registration and seminar payment, you will receive information on how to access the online courses.

Seminar Curriculum

Aside from the US Sailing online course, participants must review the following STC materials on the sidebar. Please pay special attention to the COB sections of the videos. Additionally, you must study the attached Control Grid. Another great resource is the SAS Leadership and Seamanship Report.  

When onsite, participants will rotate among session stations, groups will be assigned prior to arrival:

  • On water session with the latest advances in crew overboard recovery, setting storm sails & emergency steering
  • A Pool session with PFD, life raft use and combating hypothermia
  • This session will start with reviewing the proper wearing of your PFD and tether. You will then enter the pool with your foul weather gear and PFD to experience the inflation and use of your PFD. The STF staff will guide you in the pool in practicing cold water individual and group survival techniques. You will learn the best ways to stay afloat, work as a team, and fight hypothermia. You will practice righting, boarding, and working as a crew in a life raft.
  •  Bring your inflatable personal flotation device (PFD) and tether. This is required equipment for the course. The whole point of this course is realistic hands-on training. If you don’t wear a PFD like you would offshore, it isn’t realistic.
  •  Rearming your personal PFD: You will have an opportunity at registration and at the end of the day to have your PFD examined by Landfall Navigation and LRSE to ensure your PFD is properly armed.
  • An outside session learning Firefighting instruction, use of flares and pyrotechnics
  • A hands on session reviewing damage control, search and rescue including  emergency communication and much more

WHAT TO BRING

The seminar will be an all-day affair. You will be in the classroom, in the pool and outdoors for the fire safety segment and on a boat practicing MOB. Please be prepared for all of these different environments.

We suggest you bring the following:

  • Inflatable PFD - The PFD should be for offshore sailing i.e., have an integral harness, 33lb/150 newton buoyancy, etc. NOT a dinghy life jacket.
  • Spare CO2 cartridge
  • You will need a set of foul weather gear (jacket, pants, boots/shoes). Bring a change of clothes and bath towel because you will be going in a pool. The purpose here is to make the training realistic and give you the confidence to handle the added weight of the wet sailing gear. 
  • Second set of old foul weather gear or cold wather gear for on the water segmenet.


Fees and Registration

  • Attendance at the seminar is limited and is open to both racers and cruisers. Do not wait to register.
  • The course fee for the US Sailing Sanctioned International Offshore Safety at Sea Course with Hands-On Training certificate, which does NOT include the US Sailing online course (units 1-15), is $350.  
  • The course fee for the US Sailing Sanctioned International Offshore Safety at Sea Refresher Course (aka World Sailing certificate refresh), which does NOT include the US Sailing online course (units 11-15) is $350


Payment is due in FULL at the time of registration. Once your registration payment has been processed, you will receive a registration confirmation email from the Storm Trysail Club which will include important information about accessing the US Sailing online course. US Sailing members get a discount on these courses with the discount code found in your “My US Sailing” account under Member Coupons and benefits. The online courses cover a broad range of material in depth. We are confident you will find these courses quite valuable. There is an examination after each of the topics and at the end of the course. 

You must successfully complete the online courses at least 3 days before the date of the in-person portion of the course. If you are not in the US Sailing database as having completed the required courses, you cannot attend the hands-on day. No exceptions.


Payment is due in FULL at the time of registration. Credit Cards Accepted

Once your registration payment has been processed, you will receive a confirmation e-mail from Storm Trysail Club that will include important information about course requirements and a link to the seminar site.

DISCOUNT HOTEL ROOMS AVAILABLE

We are happy to offer our attendees and vendors a discounted rate for May 16 and 17th for your convenience. Here is the booking link that will be available until the Cut-off Date of May 1, 2025. Storm Trysail Club Rooms

Schedule

  • 0700-0745 Registration - MAC Academic Building, next to Sailing Center 
  • 0745-0900 Opening Session
  • 0900-1630 Participants will rotate between various activities including: Damage Control, Fire Fighting/Pyrotechnics, Pool/In Water Survival and On the Water COB
  • 1630-1745  Closing Session 

Coffee and bagels, lunch and afternoon coffee and snacks are provided

VIDEOS TO WATCH PRIOR TO ATTENDING

Man Overboard video with Gary Jobson


Damage Control: Don't Give up the Ship" Safety Seminar hosted by David Tunick


Shorthanded Sailing video hosted by NYYC and done in cooperation with CCA and Royal Bermuda YC

DOCUMENTS TO READ:

Damange Control

Damage Control


SAS Leadership and Seamanship Report

REGISTER