The heat index may have already been breaking 105, but there were fires blazing outside the junior clubhouse at Larchmont Yacht Club this past Friday.
The Larchmont Fire Department’s fire safety demonstration was just one of the events on the docket for the annual Safety at Sea Seminar. The event featured a variety of demonstrations, activities, and discussions centered around safety preparation and emergency prevention on big boats.
The seminar, presented by the Storm Trysail Foundation in partnership with Larchmont YC and the JSA of LIS, celebrated its fifteenth anniversary this year. Storm Trysail held the first seminar at LYC, and has since expanded to host additional seminars in Marblehead, Mass., Newport, R.I., Perth Amboy, N.J., and Annapolis, Md.

Safety at Sea Chairman Rich du Moulin estimated that Storm Trysail has worked with over 3000 sailors, 500 boats, and 5,000 man overboard drills in the past decade and a half of seminars.
“Big boat sailing is really an adventure, and that’s what is so great about it – but it requires knowledge, teamwork, and seamanship,” said du Moulin in opening remarks.
Sailors and instructors attended five different sessions, all focusing on specific aspects of these themes, including crew organization, man overboard situations, preparation for squalls, fire safety, and equipment and rigging safety.
Kelly Robinson and Ann Myer led the dock demonstration on LYC Commodore Carl Olsson’s J/105 Morning Glory. Robinson and Myer discussed safety tethers and other equipment, and invited several sailors to come aboard and practice reefing the mainsail.

Captain John Caparelli and members of the Larchmont Fire Department reviewed the different types of fires that can occur on boats and how to prevent and extinguish them. In a demonstration activity, they lit contained gas fires that sailors were able to practice extinguishing.
Caparelli stressed the importance of preparedness and personal safety, saying, “Fiberglass burns very hot and very fast, so you don’t have a lot of time to make decisions. Boats can be insured, boats can be replaced, but if you feel that you’re getting in harm, then get out of the boat.”
Bob Boehringer’s talk, “Preparation for Squalls” drew examples from recent events to talk about extreme weather sailing, including the 100+ knot sustanined winds that ripped through last week’s Chicago-Mackinac Race as well as the 40+ knot gusts that came through New York Harbor last week.
Boehringer recommended that sailors keep a close eye on weather forecasts a month preceding distance ocean sailing and other offshore events.
“Start watching weather patterns so you have an idea of what the weather might do in the future. You need to know what it is, where it is, and how its works,” he said.
In a classroom session on Man Overboard situations, Adam Loory reviewed rescue techniques. He highlighted the importance of safety tethers – “Never unhook while you’re on deck” – and other preventative measures. Loory also showed videos about crew recovery, emphasizing how the safest and most effective approach to crew recovery is from a close reach.
“Practice the method ahead of time. Don’t count on ‘Oh, we’ll just grab the person and pull them in,’” said Loory.

After a morning of classroom sessions, sailors and coaches were ready to hit the water to practice maneuvers on boats that had been donated by owners for the day’s use. However, the afternoon sailing session was called off due to light air and extremely hot weather. Each club received instructions and drills for a 3-hour on the water practice to complete on their own time.
Participants felt that the seminar provided a variety of valuable lessons and tools.
“It’s been really useful,” said Steve Lewis, from Riverside Yacht Club. “This is my second time here and I am still learning stuff.”
“It’s good for getting filled in for all the safety things you never knew before,” added Michael Haidinger, another Riverside sailor.
Sailors will have the opportunity to put their newfound knowledge to the test in several upcoming JSA big boat events this August, including the Dorade Trophy and the Beach Point Overnight.
For more pictures of the event, see here.