Newport Unveils Education Series for this year’s Boat Show
Newport Exhibition Group, owners and producers of the Newport International Boat Show, announced today the 2016 Education Series for this year’s Boat Show. Greatly expanding on past offerings, the Newport International Boat Show will host on-water courses, seminars and demonstrations, giving showgoers plenty to look forward to beyond the excitement of new boat debuts and boating gear.
This year’s education opportunities include Confident Captain’s At The Helm instruction program; the CruiserPort University seminar series presented by PassageMaker, Sail, Soundings and Power & Motoryacht; and Sail America’s Discover Sailing program. Additional events within walking distance of the show grounds include the first annual Newport Wooden Boat Show, located at Bowen’s Ferry Landing Marina and the Newport Brokerage Boat Show at the Newport Shipyard. Ticket holders will also have the opportunity to tour America’s newest tall ship, the 200-foot SSV Oliver Hazard Perry, at no additional charge. The ship will be docked at Perry Mill Wharf for tours and staff will be on-hand to answer questions.
“Every year we aim to expand and diversify our education programs at the show,” said Nancy Piffard, show director at Newport Exhibition Group. “By partnering with industry publications and associations, we are able to offer more courses and seminars that are of interest to our attendees. People come to the Newport show from all over the world and we have everything they could possibly want to see or experience, all in one destination!”
Confident Captain is one of the largest U.S. Powerboat and Sailboat training providers in the nation. Each course is run by professional, licensed Captains and U.S. Powerboating-Certified Instructors. Hands-on courses range from 90-minute to three-hour sessions and are offered on the following topics: Become a Power Boater, Powerboat Docking and Maneuvering, Advanced and Twin-Engine Powerboat Docking and Maneuvering. New in 2016, Joystick Controls and Piloting, a Beginner Women-Only Powerboating course and Youth Powerboating Outreach. Sailing courses consist of two- or three-hour sessions and include: "First Sail” for beginners, Sailboat Docking and Close Quarters Maneuvering,
Advanced Sailboat Handling and Sail Trim (includes Spinnaker work), and Sailboat Crew/First Mate Skills.
CruiserPort University will include a number of seminars by world-renowned speakers. Author and researcher Nigel Calder will present two talks entitled Diesel Engines:
Maintenance & Troubleshooting and Troubleshooting Electrical Systems. Jeremy Davis, will discuss Weather Basics for Boaters. Peter Swanson and Nigel Calder will present Rum, Rhumba & Revolution: Go To Cuba Legally With or Without Your Boat. Bob Sweet will present Navigation for Husbands & Wives and Hot News About Marine Radar. Kim Russo will speak on The Great Loop: How To Prepare, What To Expect. Naval architect Lou Codega will talk about The Physics & Psychology of Hull Shape. Finally, Paul Comyns will speak about Onboard Communications & Entertainment. Seminars will take place at the Newport Blues Café across the street from the boat show entrance. There will also be a presentation entitled, On the Docks: A Close Inspection of Yacht Systems featuring several cruising powerboats.
Just outside the show grounds, the hour-long film, Wood, Sails, Dreams will be playing at the Jane Pickens Theater on Saturday, September 17 th at 7:00 p.m. The film explores the resurgence of wooden boats, the restoration of American maritime history and the lessons to be learned from the ancient craft of traditional boat building. Filmmaker Joe Stanton will be in attendance for a brief question and answer period following the film.
On exhibit at the Seamen’s Church Institute is Wood, Wind & Water, The Genius of F. Spaulding Dunbar. His design collection is part of the Hart Nautical Collections at the MIT Museum in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
