In case you missed the Sailing Seminar here in the Keys for some crazy reason, we just heard from Sandy Hook, NJ and they are going to host a Rick White Sailing Seminar on June 3-5 this year.

Here is the info:
Register quickly to avoid late fees and assure your spot is secure. It is already filling up very quickly. I’ve had many people sign up before this mailer was even released. This will also be promoted at other fleets. This isn’t very far away, so I need everyone to register right away!
Registration is first come first served.
The fee is $349 per per person, not boat for checks postmarked by May 13, $395 thereafter. I already have many spots filled, and I suspect there will be no spots left at that point in time
Lunch will be provided all 3 days.
Make your check payable to SHBCC, then mail it to:
Justin LaBarca
121 Amboy Road
Matawan, Nj 07747
You are not registered until I have your check!!!
Questions? Email justin@usradar.com or
call:
732-566-2035 days
732-583-5631 nights

A short bit about the seminars:
June 3, 4, 5
Our seminars take a building-block ap-proach to race-training.
We begin with boat-handling. You cannot go farther if you cannot control your boat in all situations.
We teach you how to stop your boat, park your boat, and accelerate out of a stop, how to back your boat up, how to get out of irons, how to do a 360 or 720 the most rapidly and efficiently, how to jibe properly, and how to tack without losing speed and momentum.
Then we move on to working on starts. A good start is crucial to getting a good finish.
We have drills that will get you ON the starting line at the start, that will help you with pre-start maneuvering, controlling your boat on the line, and starting with speed.
• Do you know how to get a transit?
• Do you know how to time the line?
• Do you know how to determine the favored end of the line?
• These are things that the winners do before EACH and EVERY race.
Then we move into mark roundings. Many races can be won or lost at the marks.
We have mark-rounding drills that will simulate crowded conditions and will teach you how to come out a winner at these very important points on the race course.
And the finish line. That last sprint to the finish can win the regatta if you know what to do.
Do you know how to determine the favored end of the finish line and the favored tack?
Finally, we cover windshifts and tactics. This is what racing is really all about.
• Do you know the difference between persistent, oscillating and geographical wind shifts and how to use them to your advantage?
• Do you know how to use a puff to your advantage?
• Do you know why you should avoid going to the laylines?
• Do you know how to balance defense and offense on the race course?
• Do you know how to tell whether you are doing better or worse than competitors on the other side of the course?
• Do you know how to tell if you are going to cross ahead of that guy who is approaching on starboard?
We also cover sail trim and weight dis-tribution and how to read telltales, and, when applicable, how to handle spinnakers. And we can tell you how to handle current and waves.
We have special expertise in downwind sailing and downwind tactics.
Rick White was one of the first pioneers to develop downwind tacking for multihulls in the 1960’s, and he is still one of the best in the world at this technique, which also applies to trimarans.
More about the format of the Seminar:
The format is flexible to accommodate local conditions and problems, however, this is the “normal” format:
On that first day everyone completes registration (pays whatever is still owed), and fills out registration forms, we have a get-acquainted session, introduction to the course, orienta-tion for the seminar (how the drills are run, the schedule, etc.), a brief rules clinic to make sure everyone is familiar with the basic racing rules, and an IN-DEPTH discussion of boat-handling procedures (tacking, jibing, stopping, accelerating out of a stop, backing up, etc.)
When to arrive?
Make sure to have your boat set up thursday night, we do not have time to wait for you friday morning as we will be starting the seminar.
Where to stay?
Tents and campers are welcome at the beach, there is one hotel in town, a nearby motel, and other hotel options a little further away. Email me for specifics

Any chance your video series will be coming out on DVD?

Indeed, we are combining all the videos into one DVD. Should be available very soon.
I will make an announcement when they are actually available.
Thanks,
Rick

Looking forward to it.

EZ

Rick:

If I decide to come up with my daughter. Should I bring my H-18 or my daughter's H-16? She's twenty-nine, I'm fifty-seven.

We'll be trailering a boat from Buffalo, NY.

Wyatt

Really doesn't make much difference, except I know a lot more about the TheMightyHobie18.., I sailed them for 15 years and have only sailed a H16 twice.

Thanks,
Rick

I've been sailing this boat for six years, and I could use the help.

Thanks,
Wyatt

It's possible you could bring both boats. If there are people who want to come to the seminar but can't bring their own boats, you could both end up with crews or sailing partners on your boats.

You can e-mail justin@usradar.com and ask if he has people who need to be teamed up on boats.

Rick, Count me and my 15 year old son Peter in!

Hopefully you can help us improve on our poor showing at last years Statue of Liberty Race - our first ever race!!!

We've wanted to do this for a while, but Florida is a such long drive from Philly . We're both looking forward to it.

Bill
Nacra 6.o

I just got this letter from one of the students in the April Seminar. Sort of tells it all about the clinics:

I just wanted to thank you for running such an effective sailing seminar last week. I still have a lot to learn but I now feel ‘comfortable’ with the Inter 18. To be honest, I had some ‘Demons’ haunting me about sailing this boat, and by the end of the week the demons were gone. I could not have done it without your guidance. As I reflect on the week, I never would I have envisioned sailing in a crowd and tacking/jibing on command. I never thought I would sail with my eyes closed or when standing (I actually found the drills to be exciting and informative). I now plan to practice those drills on a regular basis. Heck, before last week, I had not crewed since 1987---I had a blast crewing for Bruce and I sure learned a lot during the process.

Trish and I plan to take another one of your seminars in the future. What I do not understand is why more local fleets do not host your seminars---perhaps they all feel that there is nothing left to learn. I am going to try to see if there is interest in the Austin area for one of your seminars. Alternatively, Trish and I will drive back to Key Largo in a few years. I heard a speech by Coach K. of the Duke Blue Demons (this will relate to your seminar). He spoke of coaching the Olympic basketball team and having Michael Jordan seeking help from Coach K. on improving his ‘game’. It impressed Coach K. that someone of MJ’s stature was still looking for instruction on improving his game. My point is simple; if Michael Jordan can ask for guidance to improve his game, why cannot more ‘A fleet’ sailor admit that they could benefit from one of your seminars?

I plan on posting something on the Open Forum concerning how much I learned in the seminar and what a great group of people attended. I hope you will not mind. It is my belief that there are many sailors out there like Trish and me (desperately needing coaching but not knowing where to turn). It would be my hope that those individuals would follow our lead and take one of your seminars. To be honest, it was rewarding just being with sailors like Kate, Kathy, Chip and Barb, Bruce, Howard and finally Kim, Al, Linda, Marco and Eugene. After Monday, I was ready to quit, but something would not let me walk away. I sure the hell am glad I did not leave.

Again, thank you and I hope to see you and Mary again. I will never forget this experience.

Rick