New Edition of U.S. Chart No. 1 is Available Now

     U.S. Chart No.1, Nautical Chart Symbols, Abbreviations and Terms, is an essential aid for new chart users and a useful reference for all mariners. The latest version, Edition 11, is now available for free download from the web.

     The new edition updates the descriptions and depictions of the basic nautical chart elements and symbols used on nautical charts produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). The document also shows the "INT1" symbols described in the Chart Specifications of the IHO published by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO). It supersedes the November 1997 edition of U.S. Chart No.1.
     Download U.S. Chart No. 1, in PDF format, from the Office of Coast Survey website. It will also be available from the NGA Maritime Safety Information site by December 10.
     NGA will officially announce the 11th edition in US Notice to Mariners 51/2011. The Notice will have a cover date of December 17, 2011.
     NOAA and NGA jointly produce U.S. Chart No.1. Preparations for Edition 12 are already underway and publication is anticipated by 2013. Edition 12 will feature the addition of the symbols specified by the IHO for the portrayal of electronic navigational chart (ENC) data on Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS).
     NOAA's Office of Coast Survey has provided two centuries of service to the maritime transportation system, as America's trusted source of navigational charts, data, and services since 1807.

Coast Guard and Local Authorities Suspend Search for 46-year-old Sailor

      Tangier Island, Va. -- The Coast Guard and local authorities have suspended the search at 2:51 p.m. Friday for a 46-year-old man aboard a 30-foot sailboat who went missing approximately two miles south of Tangier Island, Va., Thursday.

     The boater contacted Coast Guard Sector Baltimore watchstanders at 3:54 a.m. Thursday and reported his boat had sustained damage, and he was requesting assistance.

     A crew aboard a 41-foot Utility Boat from Coast Guard Station Crisfield, Md., crews aboard two MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, N.J., crew aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Cochito, homeported in Little Creek, Va., a crew aboard a Virginia Marine Resources Commission boat, members of the Tangier Island Fire Department and a crew aboard a Maryland State Police helicopter responded to search for the man.

     The Coast Guard searched a total of 200 square miles in approximately 36 hours for the man.

34th Gaboon Race Sunday, Dec. 4 at Hampton Flats

     Newport News, Va. -- Mariners are advised that the 34th Gaboon Race is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 4 from noon to 5 p.m. The sailing race will be in the vacinity of the Hampton Flats and Newport News Middle Ground. The Coast Guard is advising mariners to use caution and bare steerage when transiting the area.
     Race organizers say the staggered start race is open to all and marks the official season end of "big boat" racing on the southern Bay. Racers must have a valid PHRF rating certificate (or a provisional one) to enter.
     The start/finish line is between the orange flag staff on the Hampton Yacht Club dock and the blue rock on the Hampton University shore.
     For additional information and to enter, contact Phil Briggs at 757-723-5477.

Downtown Sailing Center Gets Overhaul

     Baltimore, Md. -- The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Boating Services and Downtown Sailing Center in Baltimore recently held a ribbon cutting to officially open the newly renovated marina located in the Inner Harbor.
     “The Department of Natural Resources is committed to ensuring that everyone can enjoy boating on Maryland’s waterways,” said Bob Gaudette, DNR’s Director of Boating Services. “By partnering with the City of Baltimore and the Downtown Sailing Center we were able to construct a major boating access facility for persons with disabilities, making this project an overwhelming success.”
     DNR began the project in September 2010 and it was completed on September 23, 2011. The agency constructed concrete piers recycled from the Inner Harbor Marina to enhance the existing marine facility. The newly configured dock layout serves multiple purposes; it creates a bigger platform to accommodate a larger number of people, allows for easier wheelchair access onto vessels, and provides more space for larger boats. The entire facility is designed to meet ADA requirements.
     “The Downtown Sailing Center Marina improvements provide significant access to Baltimore’s Harbor and the Chesapeake Bay,” said the Center’s Executive Director, Kristen Berry. “The funding for this project enables us to provide sailing instruction and experiential programs for members of the public, including a specific focus on Baltimore area youth and people with disabilities.”
     The total project cost was $300,000. State grants were provided through the DNR Waterway Improvement Fund. Revenue for the fund comes from the one-time 5 percent excise tax paid when a boat is titled in the State of Maryland. This fund has financed over 300 public boating access sites statewide and supports boating safety, dredging, environmental and resource protection projects that benefit the general boating public.

Caribbean 1500 Starting in Hampton Nov. 7

     Hampton, Va. -- Mariners are advised that the Caribbean 1500 will start in Hampton, Virginia and head eastward towards Thimble Shoal Channel and then out to sea. The event will be held on Nov. 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
     Mariners are requested to use caution and bare steerage when transiting the area.
     The Caribbean 1500 is timed to begin soon after November 1 when most insurance companies set the end of the hurricane season. Hampton is the departure location to try to increase the odds of a safe and comfortable passage south for rally participants. The main fleet will finish in Nanny Cay, Tortola BVI, and the Bahamas Class will finish in Bluff House Marina, Green Turtle Cay, Abaco.
     Over 1200 boats with 5000 ralliers aboard have met the challenge of the Caribbean 1500 since it started in 1990. Find out more at http://www.worldcruising.com/.

Sailing Regattas Between Hackett Point and Poplar Island Begin this Weekend

     Annapolis, Md. -- Mariners are advised that the Naval Academy Sailing Squadron’s Regattas are scheduled to occur on the middle Chesapeake Bay, between Hackett Point and Poplar Island, with individual events scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the following dates: October 22-23; November 4-6 and November 8. Each race consists of up to 170 participating sailboats (22 to 60 feet in length). For any comments or questions, contact Coast Guard Sector Baltimore Waterways Management Division, at (410) 576-2674 or Ronald.L.Houck@uscg.mil Chart: 12270.

Sailboat Show in Annapolis Starts Thursday

     Annapolis, Md. -- Now in its 42nd year, the United States Sailboat Show, October 6 - 10, attracts more than 50,000 boating enthusiasts from around the world to the waterfront of historic Annapolis, Maryland. The Sailboat Show is followed by the United States Powerboat Show, October 13-16.
This year's sailboat show features:
Daily Seminars by Cruising World and Chesapeake Bay Magazines
Take the Wheel Interactive Workshops including Boat Demos
Smaller Boats From One Designs & Trailerables To Sailing Dinghies & Inflatables
Sailing Equipment, Rigging & Accessories
Maintenance Products & Services
Cruising & Vacation Charter Information
Hottest Domestic & International Racing and Cruising Boats
One of the Largest Collections of Multihull Sailboats on the Planet
Grand Prize Drawing - One week charter in the British Virgin Islands provided by Sunsail with airfare sponsored by BVI Tourism Board

Saturday parking schedule:
Be advised that due to a Navy home football game alternative parking will be provided on Riva Road. Follow the signs to locations on Riva Road. Bus transportation will be provided on this day and each day of the shows. (GPS navigation – begin search at 2700 Riva Road)
     Find complete boat show information at http://www.usboat.com.

Annapolis Yacht Club Regattas Begin This Weekend

     Annapolis, Md. -- Mariners are advised that 2011 Annapolis Yacht Club’s Regattas (sail racing) are scheduled to occur on the Chesapeake Bay, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on the following dates: October 1-2, 8, 15-16, 22-23 and 29-30.
     The races will occur near the mouth of the Severn River, between the William P. Lane Jr. Memorial (Chesapeake Bay) Bridges and Bloody Point (Kent Island), Maryland. For additional information, interested persons may link to individual events by contacting the AYC Regatta Management website at www.race.annapolisyc.org. Chart 12270.

Kinsale Cup Regatta Hosted by the Northern Neck Sailing Association

     Lower Potomac, Va. -- Mariners are advised that the annual Kinsale Cup Regatta is scheduled to occur in the lower Potomac River on Saturday, September 24, and Sunday, September 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Approximately 25 participating sailboats (20 to 40 feet in length) will compete on a designated round-the-buoys course, located on the Potomac River, near the entrance to the Yeocomico River. Interested mariners may contact the Northern Neck Sailing Association’s Race Committee boat on scene on marine band radio channel 72 VHF-FM. For any comments or questions contact Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, Waterways Management Division, at telephone (410) 576-2674 or
Ronald.L.Houck@uscg.mil. Chart 12233.

Hammond Memorial Sunday Starting in Oxford

     Oxford, Md. -- Mariners are advised that the “50th Annual Hammond Memorial Race” is scheduled to be held on the Chesapeake Bay, Choptank River and Tred Avon River on Sunday, September 18. The sail race consists of approximately 190 participants, with a start at Oxford at 8:30 a.m. and a finish near Poplar Island at approximately 3 p.m. Mariners are urged to use caution when transiting the area. For any comments or questions, contact the Tred Avon Yacht Club at (410) 226-5269, or the Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, Waterways Management Division, at (410) 576-2674 or email Ronald.L.Houck@uscg.mil. Chart 12266.

Sailing Races Scheduled Between Hackett Point and Thomas Point

     Eastport, Md. -- Mariners are advised that the Eastport Yacht Club’s Regattas are scheduled to occur on the middle Chesapeake Bay, between Hackett Point and Thomas Point, with four individual sail racing events scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the following dates in 2011: September 17-18 (25 boats, 22 feet in length), September 24-October 1 (10 boats, 22 feet in length); and October 28-30 (45 boats, 25 feet in length). For any comments or questions, contact Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, Waterways Management Division, at (410) 576-2674 or Ronald.L.Houck@uscg.mil. Chart 12270.

Dr. Davies Honorary Chairman For Hospice Cup XXX

     Annapolis, Md.  -- Hospice of the Chesapeake has announced Paul W. Davies, M.D. of Annapolis to be the organization’s Honorary Chairman for Hospice Cup XXX, America’s largest annual charity sailing event. Dr. Davies is the founder and CEO of Advanced Pain Management, a multidisciplinary pain management practice with locations in Maryland and Washington DC. He is on the Board of Directors for Hospice of the Chesapeake. The Hospice Cup regatta is scheduled for Saturday, September 24, on the Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis.
     "I am delighted to serve as Hospice of the Chesapeake’s Honorary Chairman for the 30th anniversary of Hospice Cup," said Dr. Davies "Hospice Cup has provided tremendous support to Hospice of the Chesapeake over the course of the past thirty years and we are very excited to celebrate that long and successful legacy."
     Entering its 30th year of racing on the Chesapeake Bay, Hospice Cup has raised more than $8 million to support Hospice programs in local communities in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia. The post-race shore party will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Annapolis Sailing School in Annapolis, Maryland. The 2011 participating hospices are Hospice of the Chesapeake, Capital Caring, Chester River Home Care and Hospice, Montgomery Hospice and Talbot Hospice.
     Event sponsorships for Hospice of the Chesapeake are available online as well as ticket information at www.hospicechesapeake.org.

Miles River Yacht Club to Host "American Red Cross One Design Cup"

     St. Michaels, Md. -- Mariners are advised that the “American Red Cross One Design Cup” charity sailing regatta is scheduled to occur on the Miles River at St. Michaels during August 6-7. Up to 150 participating sailboats of all fleets (10 to 22 feet in length) will race in three separate, designated course areas located on the Miles River near the entrances to Long Haul Creek, Leeds Creek and Little Neck Creek. The races will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Additional information can be obtained from the Miles River Yacht Club at (410) 745-9511 or www.milesriveryc.org.
     For any comments or questions, contact Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, Waterways Management Division, at telephone (410) 576-2674 or email Ronald.L.Houck@uscg.mil. Chart 12270.

Governor's Cup Sailing Race Set for August 5-6

     Annapolis, Md. -- Mariners are advised that the “Governor’s Cup Yacht Race” will be held on the Chesapeake Bay, from 6 p.m. on Friday, August 5 to approximately 4 p.m. on August 6. The annual, overnight 70-mile race consists of up to 150 participating sailboats, starting near the mouth of the Severn River at Annapolis and finishing in the St. Mary’s River at St. Mary’s City. Additional information can be obtained from the St. Mary's College of Maryland Sailing Association website www.smcm.edu/govcup. Interested mariners may contact the Race Committee during the race on marine band radio channel 68 VHF-FM. For any comments or questions, contact Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, Waterways Management Division, at (410) 576-2674 or Ronald.L.Houck@uscg.mil. Chart 12270.

"Screwpile Lighthouse Challenge" Returns to the Patuxent River

     Solomons, Md. -- Mariners are advised that the Southern Maryland Sailing Association (SMSA) will sponsor its annual “Screwpile Lighthouse Challenge” sailing races on the Chesapeake Bay, from Sunday, July 17, through Tuesday, July 19, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Up to 160 participating sailboats will race in three fleets on three separate, designated course areas located at the mouth of the Patuxent River, near Solomons. Interested mariners may contact the SMSA’s Chief Race Officer aboard the 53-foot Hatteras MAVOURNEEN on marine band radio channel 16 VHF-FM or at telephone (301) 481-8665. For any comments or questions, contact Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, Waterways Management Division, at telephone (410) 576-2674 or email Ronald.L.Houck@uscg.mil. Chart : 12270.

Annapolis to Solomons Sailing Race this Weekend

     Annapolis, Md. -- Mariners are advised that Eastport Yacht Club will sponsor its annual “Solomons Island Invitational Regatta”, an overnight sail race on the Chesapeake Bay, beginning at approximately 7 p.m. on July 15 and ending before noon on July 16. The overnight, point-to-point distance race with up to 150 participating sailboats will occur between Annapolis (off Triton Point) and Solomons Island, near the mouth of the Patuxent River. Interested mariners may contact the EYC’s Solomons Race Committee Coordinator during the start and finish on the marine band radio channel 16 or 68 VHF-FM. For any comments or questions, contact Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, Waterways Management Division, at (410) 576-2674 or Ronald.L.Houck@uscg.mil.
Chart: 12270.
     Click here for the complete Local Notice to Mariners.

Annapolis Community Boating Announces Membership Rates and Schedules

     Annapolis, Md. -- Annapolis Community Boating offers memberships at $100 a year. Members can use the club's four keelboats (two J-24s and two SB3s) Monday evenings at Annapolis Sailing School and the kayaks, canoes, paddleboard, small sailboats and motorboats Wednesdays at Back Creek Nature Center on Edgewood Road. Also, boats are available to try at the Friday cookouts.
     Whether you come out on a Monday evening to sail or a Wednesday evening to paddle there will be staff there to offer help and instructions. Show up between 5:30 and 6:00 to get your boat assignment. Not a member yet, don't worry you can join when you get there.
Application Form
     Monday evenings ACB meets at Annapolis Sailing School: 7001 Bembe Beach Road Annapolis, 21403. Wednesday evenings, ACB meets at the Back Creek Nature Park Boating Center: 7314 Edgewood Road, Annapolis 21403.
     For further information call: Lorie Stout 410-703-8248.

Annapolis Yacht Club Racing Set to Begn in July

     Annapolis, Md. -- Mariners are advised that 2011 Annapolis Yacht Club’s Regattas (sail racing) are scheduled to occur on the Chesapeake Bay, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on the following dates: July 6 and 23, September 16-18 and 24-25, October 1-2, 8, 13-16, 15-16, 22-23 and 29-30.
     The races will occur near t he mouth of the Severn River, between the William P. Lane Jr. Memorial (Chesapeake Bay) Bridges and Bloody Point (Kent Island), Maryland. For additional information, interested persons may link to individual events by contacting the AYC Regatta Management website at http://www.race.annapolisyc.org/.
     For the complete Local Notice to Mariners, click here.

Hinckley Introduces Newest Chesapeake Bay Owners

     Annapolis, Md. -- Hinckley Yachts has introduced Gene and Dori Haley, along with first mate Amanda the dog, as the proud new owners of the Hinckley Sou’wester 42 sailboat UNA. 

     On Saturday, June 4th, Peter Howard, Senior Sales Director for Hinckley Yachts joined Gene, Dori and Amanda for a lovely Christening ceremony on Spa Creek.

     “Rest assured, Gene is an old salt from his time serving on the USS RAZORBACK (SS 394),” commented Howard. “So he and Dori had all their bases covered in regards to a wonderful, old fashioned christening ceremony.” Joining the party was a rousing pipe band so it’s safe to say a good time was had by all.

     Hinckley, a privately held company founded in 1928, is renowned for its premium sailboats and power boats. The company builds its boats in Trenton and Southwest Harbor, Maine, and operates eight service yards along the U.S. East Coast. Hinckley has approximately 1,500 boat owner and 5,000 service customers worldwide.

Sailing Classes this Summer at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

     St. Michaels, Md. -- Explore the Miles River and learn maritime skills in the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s summer sailing program, where new sailors and old salts gain the confidence to sail a small boat in a fun, safe, and encouraging environment.

     Weekly classes are available now through August 15 for participants 8 years of age and older, and offer instruction for sailors at basic, intermediate and advanced sailing levels. The daily classes include limited classroom instruction and three hours of on-the-water experience. Participants learn sailing and teambuilding skills including water safety, rigging, boat handling and docking. The week ends with a family picnic and awards ceremony, where the students’ accomplishments are celebrated. Pre-registration is needed, with a museum member cost of $175, or $200 for non-members.

     On the weekends, the museum also offers adult and teen basic sailing classes using the museum’s fleet of 15-foot boats. Hourly, private sailing lessons are also available by reservation.

     For class schedules, visit http://www.cbmm.org/pdf/CBMM_Summer_Sailing_11_web.pdf. 

     To register for any of the museum’s sailing programs, contact Helen Van Fleet at 410-745-2916.

Fatal Boat Accident In Harford County Being Investigated by NRP

     Havre De Grace, Md. -- The Maryland Natural Resources Police Special Operations Division is investigating a fatal boating accident that occurred at 9:45 a.m. Friday at the Tidewater Marina located on the Susquehanna River in Havre De Grace.

     A preliminary investigation found that a 44-foot sailboat was leaving the dock area of the marina when one of its passengers, an 81-year-old man, fell into the water. The man was not wearing a life jacket.

     After being pulled back onto the boat and brought to shore, the man was transported to Harford Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The cause of death is yet to be determined, and the victim’s name was being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

     The Maryland Natural Resources Police remind all citizens and visitors that attention to boating safety saves lives, and is of paramount importance when enjoying Maryland’s waterways. While it is recommended that everyone on board wear a personal floatation device while a vessel is underway, a child under 13 years of age must wear a life jacket while underway in a vessel that is less than 21 feet in length.

     In addition, children under 4 years of age and/or less than 50 pounds must have a life jacket equipped with a grab strap, inflatable headrest and crotch strap. NRP also recommends filing a float plan with a friend or relative. The plan should include the vessel’s destination, how long it will remain at the destination, and what time it’s expected to return. This information will assist rescue units if the vessel does not return. The Maryland Natural Resources Police emergency number is 800-628-9944 .

Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum Seeking Sailors for Mister Jim

Volunteer crew members aboard the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s replica buyboat Mister Jim prepare the vessel for visitors. Pictured from the left: museum volunteers John Gillespie, Duane Lundahl, Lloyd Devigne, Lou Berman, Tom Hollingshead, and Robin Gordon. The museum is recruiting new volunteers for its on-the-water programs with crew testing on June 1 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the museum in St. Michaels. Call 410-745-4956 for more info.

      St. Michaels, MD -- The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Maryland, will be recruiting volunteer crew members for its on-the-water programs with crew testing on Wednesday, June 1, from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the museum’s campus. As crew members, volunteers aboard the museum’s buyboat, Mister Jim, ensure the safety of passengers and share information with visitors about the Chesapeake Bay.
     Volunteers should be comfortable aboard a boat and possess some general boating skills. Participants will be selected based on their ability to perform basic agility skills such as climbing down a ladder into the engine compartment, climbing on top of the cabin to lift the raft, tying up the vessel, and setting up the man overboard ladder.
     Volunteers selected must be willing to participate in a Coast Guard required drug-testing program, attend three half-day training sessions, and make a commitment to work at least six days during the summer season. Shifts are six hours long and are available Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through the fall.
     Individuals interested in volunteering as crew for the museum’s on-the-water programs will learn safe boating practices and the specific procedures necessary to ensure the safety of passengers aboard the buyboat Mister Jim. They will also develop talking points based on the region's social, cultural, and environmental history to engage and interest museum visitors. For more information about becoming a volunteer crew member, contact Director of Education Melissa Spielman at 410-745-4956 or email mspielman@cbmm.org.

OkoumeFest Small Boat Event May 13 and 14 a Family Fun Event

OkoumeFest features paddling and sail-powered small crafts.



     Annapolis and Stevensville, MD -- Chesapeake Light Craft's annual Okoumefest weekend is May 13 and 14 this year. CLC's small-boat festival brings do-it-yourself boatbuilders and small-boat enthusiasts together for workshops, on-the-water demonstrations, and prizes. An Open House is Friday at Chesapeake Light Craft’s factory and showroom in Annapolis from 2-7 pm; on-the-water fun takes place Saturday at Kent Island’s Matapeake State Park from 9 am-5 pm. Complete information is available at www.clcboats.com/festival.

     Now in its 13th year, OkoumeFest (pronounced oh-KOO-me-fest) is a family-friendly event centered on the joys of building and using small boats. For those new to boats or boatbuilding there is no better opportunity to get on the water, attend seminars, and have questions answered.

Affordable Saturday Sailing Programs Offered at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is offering sailing to visitors in a selection of rowing and sailing skiffs, like the Melonseed skiffs shown here. Dates for the program are June 11, July 17, August 13, and September 17, with two sessions from 10 am to noon and 1 pm to 5 pm. Cost to participate is $10 plus museum admission. Drop-ins welcome.

     St. Michaels, MD -- Beginning in June, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Maryland will offer novice and experienced boaters a chance to get out on the water along Fogg’s Cove in a selection of the museum’s beautifully crafted wooden sailing and rowing skiffs.
     The Sailing Saturdays program runs June 11, July 16, August 13 and September 17 with two daily sailing sessions running from 10 am to noon and 1 pm to 4 pm. Boats used for the program range in size from 12 to 20 feet, and were crafted in the museum’s Apprentice for a Day public boatbuilding program. The boats are perfect for one to two people, with instruction provided for beginning sailors or boaters.
     “For people interested in commissioning the museum to build one of these boats, this is a great way to ‘try before you buy,’” explains Boat Yard Manager Rich Scofield. “And for the experienced boater, this is a unique opportunity to enjoy sailing in some of the nicest, handmade wooden boats in the world.”
     Boats in the program rotate from the museum’s collection, which includes Melonseed sailing skiffs, Rushton rowing skiffs and paddleboats. “You might event get to sail in the boat that appeared in the Failure to Launch movie as part of your experience,” commented Scofield.
     Reservations can be made, with drop-in participation welcomed. The cost to participate in the Sailing Saturdays program is $10 per session plus museum admission. The museum is open daily and also offers visitors the opportunity to help build one of these skiffs through its Apprentice for a Day program. For more information, call 410-745-2916 or visit http://www.cbmm.org/.

ACB/CRAB Bash Kentucky Derby Day at Port Annapolis Marina

     Annapolis, MD -- May 7th is just around the corner, less than two weeks away. For many this means Kentucky Derby Day. Annapolis Community Boating understands that Maryland is still a big horse racing state. However there is something else happening that day that's even more fun and a lot closer. The Annapolis Spring Sails Event is May 7th & 8th.
     This year on May 7th the event will feature, among other things, the Grand Opening of the Back Creek Nature Park. Later that same day, beginning at 5:30 pm, the Pavilion at Port Annapolis Marina (7074 Bembe Beach Road, Annapolis) will host the annual Spring Sails Event to benefit Annapolis Community Boating and CRAB (Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating), a full hour before post time. So even if you placed a bet on your favorite thoroughbred, the organizations invite you to join them for good food, great drinks and lots of dancing. Bring a smartphone so can watch the derby online.
      This year entertainment is being provided by DJ-JD and the local band Dirty Names. Betka of the Portside Cafe will be there grilling up some sausages, burgers and hotdogs for party-goers. Admission is $10 and benefits both clubs.

Volunteers are Needed     Volunteers are needed to help with the CRAB/Annapolis Community Boating Bash. There are shifts to fill from set-up to tear down and everything in-between. So if you are a good bartender or great with selling drink tickets, your help will be appreciated.
     Find out more at crabsailing.org and annapolisboating.org.
     Annapolis Community Boating is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to making boating accessible to the community. In collaboration with many local youth and boating-based organizations, Annapolis Community Boating is working to create a vibrant boating center that can be used by public and private organizations to introduce, teach, and inspire the community to get involved.
     CRAB (Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to making the thrill of sailing a reality for physically and/or developmentally-challenged individuals and for those individuals whose financial circumstances preclude their participation in recreation on the waters of Chesapeake Bay.

Bay Bridge Boat Show to Offer Boatload of New Attractions

     Stevensville, MD -- Spring weather means it’s time to start gearing up for a summer season on the Chesapeake, and what better place to start the process than the Bay Bridge Boat Show, located at the Bay Bridge Marina on Kent Island and running from April 28 through May 1.
     With four days to wander through more than 150 land-based exhibits and check out over 200 new and brokerage boats in the water and displayed on the marina grounds, the Bay Bridge Boat Show offers a one-stop shopping opportunity for all your boating needs. It's a great place to comparison shop and figure out what boat best suits your needs and interests.
     Two huge tents offer the latest in gear, gadgets and services, plus experts ready to answer your questions about their products. Docks lined with dramatic state-of-the-art vessels as well as time-tested used boats make comparison shopping easy. Add a host of land-based and shoreside activities that will engage the whole family and you’ve got a good idea of what the show has to offer.
     Boat dealers are reporting an uptick in boat sales, but boat pricing is still competitive. The dealers are ready to deal and financial services are eager to make loans to qualified buyers. Climb aboard the vessels on display and see for yourself what all the hype is about.
     For tickets and more information about all the show's new attractions, visit usboat.com.

Local Notice to Mariners Advises About Severn River Races

     Chesapeake Bay, MD -- Mariners are advised that the Annapolis Yacht Club’s 2011 Wednesday night sail racing series is scheduled to occur on the Severn River and Spa Creek from April 27 through September 7 (excluding July 6), between 6 p.m. and approx. 9 p.m. Each race consists of up to 25 participants, with 10 fleets starting at various times, and a maximum of 140 participating sailboats and auxiliary sailboats (12.5 to 71 feet in length).
     The races will occur in the Chesapeake Bay south of Hackett Point Shoal Buoy 1 (LLNR 7820) and north of Annapolis Harbor Channel Lighted Bell Buoy 2 (LLNR 19695), in the Severn River east of Spa Creek, and in Spa Creek with a finish line off the Annapolis Yacht Club.
     Interested mariners may contact the Special Events Race Committee boat on marine band radio channel 65A VHF-FM, if necessary. Chart 12282.
     For the complete Local Notice to Mariners visit http://navcen.uscg.gov/pdf/lnms/lnm05162011.pdf

Bavaria Yachts Names U.S. Distributor in Annapolis

Bavaria Cruiser 32

     Annapolis, MD -- Bavaria Yachtbau GmbH in Germany has appointed Bavaria Yachts USA as the sole US importer, distributor and dealer for Bavaria yachts on the East Coast of the USA and across to the Great Lakes and Texas. In May 2011, this new company will launch the Bavaria Yachts brand in the US with the all-new Cruiser models designed by Farr Yacht Design and BMW DesignworksUSA as well as the spacious Vision series.
     Founded by a new management team with a completely new business model, Bavaria Yachts USA will focus solely on the direct sales and after-sales support of Bavaria yachts. The company’s flagship office and a range of the newly designed Cruiser models are based in Annapolis, Maryland.
     The business model of Bavaria Yachts USA is new to the industry and eliminates the three-tier structure currently in place for other manufacturers. The innovative format effectively provides "factory direct" purchasing from Bavaria Yachtbau GmbH in Germany. For the customer, this new approach translates to better pricing, a better selection of yachts available for test sails and charter, yachts built to personalized specifications, expert product knowledge and a dedicated after-sales support and service program. The Cruiser 32, Cruiser 36, Cruiser 40 and Cruiser 45 will be available for charter and test sails from Bavaria Yachts USA in Annapolis from June 2011.
     Dr. Jens Ludmann, chief executive officer of Bavaria Yachtbau GmbH, said: "With many new developments at Bavaria in Germany, we are very pleased that a new era for Bavaria yachts has begun in the US market too. We strongly support the new management team and their new business model that will connect customers directly with the shipyard here in Germany. This, combined with the superbly designed and engineered Cruiser range, means that we are very proudly re-entering the US market."
     Kenny Feld, managing director of Bavaria Yachts USA, echoed Dr. Ludmann's comments: "This is a very exciting time for Bavaria Yachts in the USA. The new Farr Yacht/BMW DesignworksUSA designed range differentiates itself from the competition by redefining quality, design, and value in cruising yachts. Bavaria Yachts USA distinguishes itself through its specialized integrated sales, charter, and service operation that is concentrated exclusively on Bavaria yachts."
     Andrew Thompson, a director of the new company, who has been importing Bavaria yachts into the Caribbean for a decade, added: "We feel very fortunate that as we re-launch the Bavaria brand in the US, we are able to do so with a complete range of Farr Yacht designed Bavaria Cruisers. Across the entire range of Bavaria Cruisers, from 32ft through 55ft, the Farr signature is boldly written: very strong and stiff construction certified by the exacting Germanischer Lloyd certification, class leading interior space, a wide range of joinery and upholstery finishes and styles, fine entry and beam carried well aft giving excellent performance and extravagant cockpit space, a large mainsail and easily handled jib has the husband and wife team smiling, and the lowerable transom gives a bathing/boarding platform that is just superb."
     Yachts from the new 2011 Cruiser range will be available for charter on the Chesapeake Bay from June 2011 when Horizon Yacht Charters, Annapolis, the charter arm of Bavaria Yachts USA, opens for business. The charter operation will also offer a full complement of services including learn-to-sail programs and comprehensive yacht management services. Horizon Yacht Charters, operating since 1998, has been the Caribbean importer of Bavaria yachts since 2000 and currently manages more than 50 Bavaria yachts in a fleet of 100 charter yachts at its bases in the British Virgin Islands, Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada and St Maarten.
     Bavaria Yachts USA is co-owned by managing director, Kenny Feld and directors, Andrew Thompson and Sylvia Driver. Field was a consultant at McKinsey & Company and vice president of Electronic Data Systems. Thompson and Driver are the founding directors of Horizon Yacht Charters in the Caribbean and have a combined experience of 40 years in the sailing industry.
     Geoff McCord is the general manager for Bavaria Yachts USA and Horizon Yacht Charters, Annapolis. McCord was previously the regional sales manager for Beneteau USA for 25 years.

Annapolis Man Keeping In Touch With Students During Around the World Race

Students videoconferencing  with Ryan Breymaier (Annapolis, Md.) while he is at sea. Photo courtesy of Awty International School.

     Barcelona, Spain -- Down the hall, in Room 310, the ninth-grade students taking Mr. Jurcic’s Computer Science course have been introduced to a new subject for exploration; open ocean sailing. Their classroom is in the Awty International School in Houston, Texas; their textbook is Ryan Breymaier (Annapolis, Md.), the lone American sailor in the Barcelona World Race.
     Breymaier, who is circumnavigating the globe for the first time, is currently on day 91 of the 25,000 nautical mile (46,300 km) journey, which includes 2,000 hours of non-stop competition across three vast oceans, two hemispheres, and around three famous Capes. Breymaier, with German co-skipper Boris Herrmann, is fighting his way back up to fourth place aboard Team Neutrogena as they race through the Atlantic Ocean to the finish in Barcelona, Spain.
     Awty School is the second largest international school in the United States, representing students from more than 50 countries. As a world-class international school, Awty aims to educate its students for success in global pursuits. This ninth-grade class has been following the race and communicating over email with Breymaier for the past two months. Just recently they engaged in a videoconference with him while he was at sea.
     “Other projects in class are mainly academic and about historical events,” said ninth-grader Milagro Rivera. “This was more current information, which was interesting and we could relate to it. Other kids at school think it’s pretty cool.”
     Most of the students studying Breymaier have never stepped foot on a boat before and find his story to be fascinating, not only because he is sailing around the world for the first time, but also because he didn’t start sailing until the age of 18, when he traded in his lacrosse stick at St. Mary’s College in Maryland for a dry suit and booties.
     “The first time I went sailing I was hooked and I have eaten, breathed, dreamed about and talked sailing ever since,” said Breymaier. “I think I was just lucky enough to find my ‘thing’ even if it was pretty late in life compared to lots of other professional sailors.”
     Teacher Marijan Jurcic found Breymaier’s story to be the perfect vehicle for getting students excited about global affairs. “The uniqueness of this project is how it makes the world seem so much smaller than it really is,” said Jurcic. “I’m amazed at how today’s technology enabled a group of ninth-grade students in a small classroom in Houston to communicate with this skipper on a small boat in the middle of an ocean on the other side of the world.”
     The students will continue following the Barcelona World Race until Breymaier crosses the finish line, which is expected on the tenth of April.
     “The main reason I am involved in the media aspect of the race I am doing now is to inspire people to try sailing,” said Breymaier. “I would like some young people to see what I am doing, put down the mouse, turn off the computer games and go give sailing a try.”

To View Breymaier’s life onboard
http://www.youtube.com/user/mediapronewport

How to Follow Team Neutrogena in the Barcelona World Race
http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org/en/

Classic Sailing Race to Benefit Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

     St. Michaels, MD -- Launching at Annapolis’ Eastport Yacht Club on Saturday, May 21, the inaugural Elf Classic Yacht Race will bring the centuries-old tradition of yacht racing to the Bay in a race benefiting and ending at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) in St. Michaels, Maryland.
     Organized by the Classic Yacht Restoration Guild (CYRG), the race’s flagship will be the CYRG’s restored 1888 racing yacht Elf. More than ten classic yachts will join Elf in a cloud of traditional sail for an 1880s-style race from Annapolis to St. Michaels. Featuring the nautical version of a Le Mans start, the race will have yacht captains row to their vessels in the Annapolis harbor to raise their anchors, sails and get underway.
     Spectators are invited to watch this unique 9 a.m. start off the Eastport Yacht Club and then spend the day at CBMM in St. Michaels as the racing fleet runs in during the afternoon. Captains will finish the race by anchoring off the museum and rowing to shore to sign the race log at the historic Tolchester Beach Bandstand on the museum’s grounds.
     The event coincides with the museum’s annual Maritime Model Expo, which runs May 21-22. The events are free for museum members or with admission.
     “We are really pleased to be recreating a by-gone era of yacht racing on the Chesapeake while supporting Elf’s homeport, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum,” said CYRG President and Elf’s Captain Rick Carrion.
     Proceeds from the race benefit the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and its mission to inspire an understanding of and appreciation for the rich maritime heritage of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal reaches, together with the artifacts, cultures and connections between this place and its people. More information about the museum can be found at http://www.cbmm.org/ or by calling 410-745-2916.
     To register your yacht for the race or for sponsor information, contact CYRG’s Rick Carrion at elf1888@earthlink.net. Early registration is recommended, with wooden, classic and traditional yachts given preference when participating vessel limits are reached.
     The Classic Yacht Restoration Guild is a membership organization dedicated to the preservation of maritime heritage through the maintenance and operation of the Elf. Built by the renowned Lawley Yard in Boston, Elf was restored to historically accurate condition by CRYG and re-launched in 2008. Go to http://www.cyrg.org/ for more information or search Classic Yacht Restoration Guild on facebook.

NOAA Up-To-Date Charts Available for Free

Charts available free online and through “print-on-demand” service     Spring is around the corner and nearly 13 million registered boaters in the U.S. are priming to hit the water. As part of their preparations, boaters need to make sure that they have the latest NOAA nautical charts on hand to avoid groundings or accidents while navigating along the coast. With modern technological advancements, obtaining the latest chart is easier — and more important — than ever.
     “Sailing the oceans and Great Lakes doesn’t have to be a voyage into the vast unknown of ages past,” explained Capt. John Lowell, director of NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey. “Obtaining the latest charts that provide increasingly precise depths and up-to-date navigational features can be as easy as clicking a link on a website.”
     Because storms alter seafloors, and water depths constantly change due to shifting shoals and submerged hazards, NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey is charged with maintaining the nation’s suite of over 1,000 nautical charts, covering about 3.5 million square nautical miles of ocean coasts and the Great Lakes.
     NOAA updates its charts weekly using hydrographic survey data that is collected by the agency, along with the most current U.S. Coast Guard Local Notice to Mariners, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Notice to Mariners, and other critical safety information reported by commercial mariners or other sources. Recreational boaters may also submit information or chart discrepancies through the Office of Coast Survey’s website: http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/.

WC Sailors Take Second at Regatta on the Chester

  Chestertown, MD -- The Washington College sailing team finished second of five schools in the Washington College 2-on-2 Team Race this weekend on the Chester River. Washington went 15-5 during five round robins of racing.
     Nineteenth-ranked New York Maritime won the regatta with a 19-1 record. University of Pennsylvania finished third at 11-9. Maryland (4-16) and Ocean County (1-19) rounded out the field.
     Junior Mike Whitford (Chicago, IL/Francis W. Parker School), freshman Sam Fitzgerald (Fairfield, CT/Green Farms Academy), junior Mildred Conroy (Newtown, MA/Tabor Academy), and sophomore Sam Bedinger (Richmond, VA/St. Christopher's) skippered for Washington during the weekend. Sophomore Matt Lawler (Alexandria, VA/Christchurch School), senior Max Kurland (Sharon, CT/Hotchkiss School), senior Caroline Hill (Tiverton, RI/Bishop Stang), and freshman Erin McAuliffe (Germantown, MD) were Washington's crews.
     Three round robins were completed on Saturday in a brisk 18 mile-per-hour southwest wind that slowly shifted to west-southwest throughout the day. The final two round robins were sailed on Sunday in a 10-15 mile-per-hour north breeze.
     The Washington College sailing team returns to action at the Team Race Challenge, hosted by Cornell, next weekend.

Womanship to Offer Sailing Lessons in Annapolis

  Annapolis, MD -- Now in its 27th year of teaching women-only crews, couples, families, and groups, Womanship will be offering its onboard two- and three-day Sail Yourself Safely Home sessions in its homeport of Annapolis for the first time this spring. Taught in the familiar waters of co-sponsoring organizations in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, Virginia, and Louisiana over the past 23 years, the Annapolis-based Sail Yourself Safely Home sessions begin in April and will continue through October. Participants will come aboard for hands-on learning, practice, and advancement in 17 safety, control, and emergency procedures so they can sail their boats safely home in all types of weather.  For more information call 800-342-9295 or visit http://www.womanship.com/.

American Schooner Association Meeting at CBMM

St. Michaels, MD -- A few seats are available for CBMM members and guests to attend the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the American Schooner Association's annual meeting this Saturday, March 12 from 10 to noon in the Museum's Van Lennep Auditorium.
The topic for this meeting will be the anniversary of the War of 1812.
The guest speaker is Geoffrey Footner, author of Tidewater Triumph; The Development and Worldwide Success of the Chesapeake Bay Pilot Schooner and USS Constellation; From Frigate To Sloop Of War.
Cost of lunch is $5. The event is free for Museum members or with Museum admission. Pre-registration required, as space is limited. To register or for more information, contact Darlene Alexander of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the American Schooner's Association at darlene36507@gmail.com.

First CG Foundation Cup in Annapolis

  Annapolis, MD -- The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the education, welfare and morale of all Coast Guard members and their families, has announced its first annual sailboat race, the Coast Guard Foundation Cup. Established to raise funds for foundation programs for enlisted Coast Guard members, provide financial support for college to families of Coast Guard members lost in the line of duty, and offer relief for Coast Guard families who have lost possessions in natural disasters, the first annual Coast Guard Foundation Cup will be hosted by the Annapolis Yacht Club (AYC) in Annapolis, Maryland on Saturday, May 14.
  The Coast Guard Foundation Cup is an overnight distance race, highlighted by a fun-filled weekend of events that will increase awareness and raise funds to support the foundation’s important projects and programs that benefit the Coast Guard. The race will start and finish outside of Annapolis Harbor; with additional events scheduled for participants Friday, May 13 and Sunday, May 15.
  “The Coast Guard Foundation Cup is a perfect mix of two of my core passions -- the Coast Guard Foundation and sailing,” said Jim Muldoon, noted sailor, Coast Guard Foundation board member and chairman of the Coast Guard Foundation Cup. “It is a great opportunity for sailors to take part in a competitive race and the community to learn more about the foundation and the tremendous work it does for our maritime guardians.”
  Sponsorships of the Cup are available to individuals and businesses with proceeds benefiting the Coast Guard Foundation and its support of the men and women of the Coast Guard and their families. Available sponsorships are Presenting Sponsorship with Exclusivity; as well as Title, Captain, First Mate, and Shipmate sponsorships ranging from $15,000 to $1,000. Details on sponsorship opportunities and benefits are available at coastguardfoundation.org.
  “This race is a natural fit for the Coast Guard Foundation,” said Anne Brengle, president of the Coast Guard Foundation. “The men and women of the Coast Guard serve our country by protecting sailors and other mariners. By sponsoring this Cup, people and businesses are able to give back to those who give so selflessly of themselves to protect everyone at sea.”
 The Coast Guard Foundation Cup is open to sailboats with valid PHRF/Chesapeake 4P ratings; J/30, J/35 and J/105 one design classes; and boats with valid CBYRA Multihull ratings. Boats with IRC ratings will sail in their PHRF class and will be scored for both PHRF and IRC. The race will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing 2009-2012 (RRS). Scoring will be in compliance with the Low Point System as defined in Appendix A of the RRS. A Coast Guard Foundation Cup skipper’s social will be held at the AYC on Friday, May 13, 2011. Awards will be presented at the AYC on Sunday, May 15. The race is a CYBRA sanctioned event.
  Entries for the race must be submitted by 7:00 PM, Tuesday, May 10. An online entry form and race details will be available starting late February on the Annapolis Yacht Club’s racing website, www.race.annapolisyc.org. For more information on the first annual Foundation Cup including sponsorship opportunities, the Coast Guard Foundation or to help support its work, please visit the Coast Guard Foundation website http://www.coastguardfoundation.org/.

AMM to Host Cruising Chesapeake Seminar

Janie Meneely at the Baltimore Boat Show.

 Annapolis, MD -- Annapolis Maritime Museum, along with West Marine, Weems & Plath, Annapolis School of Seamanship and Chesapeake Bay Magazine, presents an innovative one-day learning program for boaters interested in cruising the Chesapeake Bay.
  The Chesapeake Bay offers a vast array of spectacular cruising opportunities for recreational boaters, but for many boat owners new to the Bay (or new to boating), deciding where to go and figuring out how to get there can be a daunting prospect. With these novice Bay boaters in mind, the Annapolis Maritime Museum will be hosting a "cruising readiness" seminar on Sunday, April 3, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., at the museum campus in Eastport.
  Entitled "Cruising Chesapeake Bay: Tips and Hands-On Training for Bay Cruisers" the all-day event will give boaters the low down on how, when and where to cruise the Bay this season, whether you're traveling with kids in a small cuddy cruiser or heading out as a couple aboard a more commodious trawler or sailboat.
  Led by experts Captain Robin Allison of West Marine, Peter and Cathie Trogdon of Weems & Plath, Captain John Martino of Annapolis School of Seamanship and Janie Meneely of Chesapeake Bay Magazine, the seminars will focus on making sure your boat is cruising ready, reviewing navigation and seamanship as it relates to Bay-wide situations, and providing a virtual tour of the Chesapeake, including not-to-miss calendar events. In addition, special small-group hands-on training segments will review basic chart reading, dead reckoning, rules of the road, provisioning and safety equipment.
  Attendance fee is $60/person, which includes four seminars, product demonstrations, several hands-on sessions, lunch and a wine-and-cheese wrap up, plus door prizes and take-aways. Proceeds benefit the Annapolis Maritime Museum.
  To register, contact the Annapolis Maritime Museum at 410-295-0104 or http://www.amaritime.org/.

CRAB Knot-Tying Class in Annapolis

 Annapolis, MD -- Chesapeake Region Assessible Boating has scheduled a knot-tying workshop for sailors, skippers, volunteers and friends for four upcoming Saturdays. Participants will learn the basic knots that every capable sailor uses for safety, ease and quickness. Increase your skills and use the right knot for the need. You’ll have fun and leave knowing how and what to knot … and what not!
  Allen Faurot, who teaches knot-tying at the Naval Academy, will lead the class with Don Backe’s assistance.
  Faurot moved to Annapolis from NYC in 1994 and has, since then, volunteered as a Sailing Coach at the Naval Academy. He retired after a fourteen year career with the Ford Foundation as a money manager, and, before that, practicing law for twelve years in the Big Apple.
  Faurot has served CRAB as a coach in the CRAB Cup and the Boatyard Bar & Grill Regatta to Benefit CRAB for many years. He owned and raced his Tartan 30 and C&C 35 Mk III, mostly in Long Island Sound. He has cruised the East Coast extensively as well as four of the Great Lakes. Faurot competed in the Chicago Mackinaw and the Huron Mackinaw races with Midshipmen as crew. With his Navy crew, he sailed a donated C&C 49 from the Great Lakes to the Naval Academy in Annapolis.
  The same knot-tying workshop will be offered on four Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
  The workshop will be limited to 6 persons each session. The classes will last approximately 1 1/2 hours and will be held in the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Assoc. (CBYRA) office, 612 Third Street, Annapolis, MD 21403, Suite A, 4th floor (just above the CRAB office).
  The workshop’s tuition is $15, including the cost of class materials. Reserve your space by sending your check, made out to CRAB, to: Don Backe, Executive Director, CRAB, P.O. Box 6564, Annapolis MD 21401-0564. Note on the check the date of the knot-tying workshop you will attend. Include your phone number, postal address and email address.
  Sign up early as space is limited. Contact Backe with any questions: 410-693-1878, cell; or 410-626-0273, office; donbacke@aol.com.

Museum to Host Boating Course

  St. Michaels, MD -- The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels is offering its first two-day Boater Safety Course for 2011 on April 12 and 13. The course will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. each day on the CBMM campus. The course is suited for participants eight years of age and older.
  Any Maryland boater born after July 1, 1972, is required to have a Certificate of Boating Safety Education, in order to operate a vessel. The certificate is obtained by passing a Department of Natural Resources approved boating safety course, and once obtained; the Certificate is valid for life. Participants completing the course and passing the test will receive this Certificate. The course is also recommended for anyone looking to become a safer, more experienced boater.
  Cost is $25 per participant, with pre-registration. To register or for more information, contact Helen Van Fleet at 410-745-4941 or email hvanfleet@cbmm.org. For information about future Boater Safety Courses, visit the “Learn” page at cbmm.org.

Safety at Sea Seminar April 2-3

  Annapolis -- The Annapolis Safety at Sea seminar will be held on April 2 and 3, 2011 in Alumni Hall on the campus of the US Naval Academy. The seminar will focus on offshore as well as inshore safety with programs of interest to both cruisers and racing sailors.
  The live on-the-water demonstrations and helicopter rescue are unmatched in this country. An ISAF certificate will be offered. Each year, technical experts, premier ocean racers, adventure sailors and sail training professionals blend their expertise into what has become the most complete and comprehensive of US Sailing endorsed safety training seminars.
  Registration online and more information can be found at http://www.mtam.org/. Sponsored by Marine Trades Association of Maryland and US Naval Academy Sailing.

Naval Academy to Host Safety and Sea Seminar

  Annapolis -- The Annapolis Safety at Sea seminar will be held on April 2 and 3, 2011 in Alumni Hall on the campus of the US Naval Academy. The seminar will focus on offshore as well as inshore safety with programs of interest to both cruisers and racing sailors.
  The live on-the-water demonstrations and helicopter rescue are unmatched in this country. An ISAF certificate will be offered. Each year, technical experts, premier ocean racers, adventure sailors and sail training professionals blend their expertise into what has become the most complete and comprehensive of US Sailing endorsed safety training seminars.
  Registration online and more information can be found at http://www.mtam.org/. Sponsored by Marine Trades Association of Maryland and US Naval Academy Sailing.

ACB and CRAB Join Forces

 Annapolis, MD (February 11, 2011) -- Annapolis and Anne Arundel County are blessed to have two nonprofit organizations sharing the same mission—overcoming obstacles to give everyone a chance to enjoy boats and boating. Both groups believe that with hundreds of miles of shoreline along the nation’s largest and most productive estuary, no one in this area should go without experiencing time on the water.
  Now, Annapolis Community Boating (ACB) and Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB) have agreed to forge a vigorous partnership this spring, with plans to merge.
  In the two years since it was formed, ACB has introduced more than 1,000 people of all ages to boats and boating, most at free or low-cost, one-day events or week-long camps. In its 20-year history, CRAB has specialized in taking disabled people sailing and has touched the lives of thousands. Both organizations have built fleets of boats to serve their needs and today oversee more than 50 boats ranging from kayaks and canoes to motorboats and sailboats.
  CRAB founder Don Backe is also an original member of ACB’s Board of Directors. He supports the merger as a way to continue and expand his organization’s mission by using ACB’s diverse fleet and extensive network of licensed instructors. ACB President Lorie Stout said merging will help solidify the fund-raising base for both groups, thus expanding boating opportunities to the greater Anne Arundel Co. area.
  The name CRAB will be adopted for the new entity, reflecting the commitment to continue serving the disabled community. The obvious fit of the two missions fulfills CRAB’s unstated goal — to integrate with all boaters. CRAB’s fleet of larger boats completes the large number of small craft which ACB has amassed. CRAB’s predominantly adult clients and ACB’s youth emphasis further bolsters the strength of what will become known as CRAB — accessible to all
  The two groups will cosponsor the Spring Sails Event party, a fund-raiser scheduled for May 7 at Port Annapolis, and will share keelboat training events for residents of all ages and abilities while ACB will run two weeks of adaptive summer camps for disabled youngsters at Mayo Beach. Merger negotiations will continue through the summer.
  Said Backe, “This merger will reflect our continued commitment to bringing people out on the water in boats, to providing introduction and training for the skills required to safely operate small craft on the Chesapeake Bay.”

No sailboats at this year's show in Baltimore

I was disappointed not to see any sailboats at this year's Baltimore Boat Show. Seems like the sailing industry isn't trying hard enough during this downturn.

Fawcett Continues Free Winter Seminars

Annapolis, Md. (Jan. 24, 2011) -- Mike Jones of Fawcett Boat Supply will talk about on-board safety at the store’s weekly educational seminar on Wednesday, Jan. 26.
Fawcett’s seminars throughout the winter are free, starting at 7 p.m. at their new location at 919 Bay Ridge Road.
Here’s the lineup of upcoming seminars:
Feb 2nd: Emergency Sail Repair, Chuck O'Malley, Doyle Chesapeake Sails
Feb 9th: Marine Electric Systems, Bob Campbell, Marine Electric Systems
Feb 16th: Outboard Maintenance, Scott Noyes, Fawcett Boat Supply
Feb 23rd: State of the Bay, John Page Williams, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
March 2nd: Heads & Plumbing. Al Graham, Fawcett Boat Supply
March 9th: TBA
March 16th: A/C and Heating, Jay Hamilton, Ocean Options
March 23rd: Boater's Responsibility, Jeffrey Cole, US Coast Guard
March 30th: Pre-season system check, Bob Noyce, Noyce Yachts.
Operating from its new facility in Annapolis, Maryland Fawcett serves customers throughout the Chesapeake Bay region, the US and the world. Boatyards, riggers, cruisers, live-aboards and racers have relied upon Fawcett since 1948. The business has thrived in the face of recessions, hurricanes, and big box retailers, maintaining both its value and relevance in the marketplace.
Fawcett is one of only 16 Harken distributors in the US, and has earned the designation as one of Gill's 5-Star dealers.

Lawrence, Pizer receive boating access award from BoatUS

A snapshot of the “Accessing the Virginia Coast” website by Lisa Lawrence and Margaret Pizer of the Virginia Sea Grant Marine Extension Program at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.

GLOUCESTER, Va., January 19, 2011 -- To Virginia’s recreational boaters, sailors and anglers, having access to the water is critical. However, when local communities attempt to increase boat access a range of property issues, regulations, and other hurdles pop up. A new online tool, “Accessing the Virginia Coast” at www.virginiacoastalaccess.net, provides timely, accurate and practical boating access information that can help local governments or individuals grow public boating access across the Commonwealth.

This excellent resource was developed on behalf of the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority by Lisa Lawrence and Margaret Pizer of the Virginia Sea Grant Marine Extension Program at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS). To honor their work in helping communities achieve more boating access, Lawrence and Pizer are recipients of a 2010 BoatUS Recreational Boating Access Award.

BoatUS (Boat Owners Association of The United States) created the award program in 2007 to highlight successes in protecting water access as boaters and communities were losing marina slips, service yards and boat launching areas. The goal is to draw national attention to innovative solutions and share success stories so that others may help to solve their own waterway access challenges.

Corsica River and Ramp Frozen

The title pretty much says it all.

DNR Releases Improved Online Boating Access Guide

Annapolis, Md. (January 15, 2011) -- The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is pleased to announce the launch of its updated Online Boating Access Guide. The web-based guide provides the location of public boating access sites across the state, as well as site-specific details on amenities, parking, directions, and fees. The new site is located at www.dnr.state.md.us/boating/boatramps.asp

“The previously offered data were out of date, and boaters told us they needed more information,” said Lisa Gutierrez, DNR’s Division Director of Boating Services who oversaw the project. “In addition, we wanted to reflect the growing number of non-motorized recreational boaters who wanted information on soft launch sites.”

DNR’s Boating Services Unit worked for almost two years to produce new maps and collect data from local, state and federal partners for the updated site. Boaters planning to use launch sites are encouraged to check the website before planning a trip. While DNR provides the maps, most boat ramps are operated by county departments of parks and recreation. Contact information for these offices is provided on the new website and boaters should contact the counties for information on parking, fees, and permits, which vary.

“This new guide will help supply boaters all over Maryland, and beyond, with the information they need to access and experience Maryland’s waterways and the Chesapeake Bay,” said Bob Gaudette, DNR’s Director of Boating Services.

For more information visit www.dnr.state.md.us/boating.

Boat Show Brings Baltimore Warm Thoughts and the Best Deals

Baltimore, MD (January 14, 2011) -- The Baltimore Boat Show coming to the Baltimore Convention Center later this month offers Chesapeake Bay boaters a once-a-year opportunity to shop for the best in boats, gear and accessories. A recent Foresight Research report confirms that boat shows are the only place consumers can compare different boats, models and prices from multiple dealers and view and board the boats – all under one roof.

The Foresight research also finds that:

• For those who attended a boat show, the boat show had the most influence on their decision to buy a boat (57% ranking 4 or 5 on a 5 point scale) versus their experience at a dealership (54%) and the Internet (47%).
• Buyers said boat shows have the most influence during the interest/consideration phase of the purchase process. Boat show attendees often “discover” brands they may not have known about. 
• Nearly six in ten new boat buyers (57%) attended at least one boat show in the 12 months prior to buying their boat.
• Nearly 20% of new boat buyers were first introduced to their dealer at a boat show.

“The Baltimore Boat Show is the most effective and fun way to compare boats and visit with a number of boat dealers all in one place. There’s no better way to get a great deal, while getting up close and personal with some of the region’s best and newest boats,” said show manager Tara Davis. “Whether you’re a long-time or novice boater, spending a day at the show will make sure you’re ready to hit the water just as soon as the boating season starts later this year.”

The recreational boating industry’s leading trade group, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), which produces the show, reports that there's pent-up demand for boats and hopes to find buyers come out this year given signs of economic recovery and growth in consumer spending.

The NMMA notes an estimated 66 million Americans who went boating in 2009 increased the time they spent on their boats by four percent, demonstrating boating’s popularity despite the recession. In fact, the NMMA says nearly one million Americans (933,000) bought a powerboat in 2009. Eighty-two percent were pre-owned and 18 percent new versus a normal 72 percent pre-owned indicating people are buying and want to go boating but are choosing what they perceive to be a more value-oriented approach. Manufacturers are responding by offering more value priced new boats in 2011, a number of which can be financed for less than $250 per month and can be found at the show’s Affordability Pavilion.

What’s more, the most recent data from NMMA shows that boating is still big business in the Chesapeake Bay area. The Delmarva area generated $785 million in boat and related sales in 2009 alone and is home to more than 505,000 registered boats.

The Baltimore Boat Show boasts the best in boat shopping, but also offers fun attractions and educational opportunities for boaters of all ages. Visit with Russell Newberry from Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch, who will be available daily to meet and greet fans. Brush up on your boating and fishing skills with free seminars from the pros at the Annapolis School of Seamanship, Chesapeake Bay Magazine and the Recreational Powerboating Association. For those with a competitive spirit, try your hand at Saturday’s Crab Pickin’ Contest to win great prizes from Crab Shanty or our Nautical Challenge Trivia Competition to win a 2011 Sea Doo GTI 130 jet ski and trailer package valued at $10,000 from Pete’s Cycle Co. All boaters can appreciate the nautical craftsmanship of long-ago days through an extensive display of vintage boats and motors by members of the Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society.

There’s also plenty to see and do for your youngest boaters, who can join in on the fun by learning their nautical knots, boat navigation and other boating skills through hands-on sessions or interacting with marine life on the Fishmobile. Don’t miss special appearances by SpongeBob Squarepants as well as a visit by special guest marine biologist and Shark Week expert Andy Dehart.

For more information on these features, including seminar schedules and appearance times, as well as a full list of activities at the show, visit www.BaltimoreBoatShow.com.

When:         January 27-30, 2011

                   Thursday and Friday, January 27-28: 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.

                   Saturday, January 29: 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.  

                   Sunday, January 30: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Where:        Baltimore Convention Center

                   1 West Pratt Street (at Charles Street) 

                   Baltimore, MD 21201

Tickets:       Adults $10 (16 and older)

                   Youth 15 and under are FREE with a paid adult ticket

                   **Advance tickets can be purchased online at BaltimoreBoatShow.com. 

                  

Phone:        212.984.7000

Online:        Visit us online, on Twitter and on Facebook for the latest updates and giveaways.

                  Web:  BaltimoreBoatShow.com

                   Twitter: www.twitter.com/BaltimoreBoatShow

                   Facebook: www.facebook.com/BaltimoreBoatShow

               

Media:         Visit BaltimoreBoatShow.com to sign up for a media badge or contact Christine Pomorski at 202.737-9774 or cpomorski@nmma.org for press materials, photos and interviews.

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About the Baltimore Boat Show

The 57^th annual Baltimore Boat Show is produced by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the world’s largest producer of boat shows and the leading association representing the recreational boating industry. NMMA member companies produce more than 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, accessories and gear used by boaters and anglers throughout the U.S. and Canada. The association is dedicated to industry growth through programs in public policy advocacy, market statistics and research, product quality assurance and promotion of the boating lifestyle. For more information, visit www.nmma.org.

Choptank Boatworks launches Atkin 22-foot skiff

Denton, MD (January 13, 2011) -- Recently launched from Maryland boatbuilder Choptank Boatworks is a William & John Atkin design based on a Seabright skiff. This 22ft launch is powered by a 25hp Betamarine diesel and is equipped with solid stainless steel hardware. The hull is strip-planked with white cedar on mahogany frames with a marine plywood deck, all sheathed in fiberglass and epoxy. The powerboat will reside in Royal Oak, Maryland.

Established in 2002, Choptank Boatworks specializes in wooden boatbuilding and restoration. Other projects in the boatshop include the restoration of a 41ft Aage Nielsen yawl, the repair of a Flying Dutchman sailboat, and the restoration of a Chuck Paine pocket cruiser.

Owner of Choptank Boatworks, Patrick Mertaugh applies the appropriate traditional and modern methods and materials to every project, practicing skills acquired at the Landing School of Boatbuilding and Design and honed during years of experience in the marine industry.

To contact Patrick Mertaugh about your wooden boat project call 410-479-0050, email patrick@choptankboatworks.com, or visit Choptank Boatworks at 10369 River Road, Unit 3, Denton, Maryland 21629. Visit the website www.choptankboatworks.com for project photos and details.