The Northeast Ocean Race Symposium

Roy Greenwald will serve as the symposium moderator once again in 2024. Roy is a trustee of the Marion Bermuda Race, an advisor to the Bermuda 1-2 Race, a member of the Cruising Club of America, and a past commodore of the Blue Water Sailing Club. He has sailed over 80,000 miles in his Valiant 42, Cordelia, primarily double-handed with his wife, Gail. They have completed two transits of the Atlantic Ocean, one crossing of the Pacific Ocean, multiple passages between New England and the Caribbean, four Marion-Bermuda Races, five Bermuda 1-2 Races, and the Newport Bermuda Race. Cordelia has often performed well as a racer, most recently in 2023 finishing first in class and second in fleet on the Bermuda 1-2 combined, and first in fleet, class, celestial division, team competition and short-handed in the 2019 Marion Bermuda Race. Roy has also published several articles in Blue Water Sailing magazine related to various cruising and racing topics.

Yacht racing is an exercise in controlling as many variables as possible, and vessels and equipment are the low hanging fruit. This session will go below the waterline to discuss the boat bottoms and their appendages’ conditions, types of coatings, preparation techniques, and maintenance/ownership considerations. There are many options for the myriad of boats, budgets, and schedules. The presentation will also include current and future industry regulatory pressures that may impact paints and coatings.

Born and raised in Southern California into a sailing family, Ned Jones was introduced to sailing very early. Cruising with the family led to competing in 470, 505, Star, and Snipe classes. Working primarily as a sailmaker during high school and college years, he was introduced to college coaching and spent twelve years between Orange Coast College, St Mary’s College of MD, US Merchant Marine Academy and US Naval Academy. Following head coach duties at Navy, Ned moved on to learn the production boat building business with 10 years at Vanguard Sailboats in Rhode Island. Adding a yacht design certificate from the Landing School and a marine survey business led to work with J Boats Inc, and the last 8 years with AkzoNobel Yacht Finishes, manufacturer of Interlux, Awlgrip and Seahawk paint brands. Ned holds the position of sales team Lead in the northeast and midwest territories of North America. Ned owns an Outbound 44, and bases sailing and cruising out of his homeport of Newport RI.

This presentation will cover sleep stages and cycles to provide an overview of ideal nap durations that can facilitate the design of on-watch and off-watch sailing schedules. It will also include demonstrations of the consequences of extended sleep deprivation. Even a few hours of sleep deprivation can lead to significant impairment in cognitive ability and has contributed to several disasters including plane crashes, oil spills and, while sailing, collisions and running aground. As we race a sailboat, be it fully crewed or shorthanded, it is key to find the right balance between being awake and sleeping. The mind requires sufficient rest to be able to become instantly alert when on watch to respond as quickly as possible to changing conditions. Understanding how and when the brain enters different phases of sleep is critical for designing effective watch systems.

Phil Haydon Ph.D. is the Annetta and Gustav Professor of Neuroscience at Tufts University School of Medicine and is internationally recognized for his research on the control of sleep. His work has identified the molecular mechanism by which sleep deprivation affects brain function. As an offshore sailor who has sailed across the Atlantic Ocean as well as competed in numerous Bermuda 1-2 races, he has integrated his love of sailing with his knowledge of sleep to design his nap schedules into his watch systems. Phil competes regularly in shorthanded races throughout New England on his race boat, Fearless, which is based in Rhode Island. As someone with medically controlled epilepsy he is also President of Sail For Epilepsy, a 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to educate the public about epilepsy, as well as to inspire those with epilepsy to be “fear-less” and live fuller lives by identifying what they can do with proper safety guardrails in place.

Over the past several years there have been rapid developments in personal flotation and signaling options for offshore sailors. Since 1996 when the USCG began approving inflatable personal flotation devices (PFDs) they have become the go-to PFD for offshore sailing and racing. Several manufacturers have entered the market, challenging sailors to correctly select, use and maintain these devices. As inflatables have evolved so have linked technologies for incorporation within them. These originally included small emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) devices, which have gotten both smaller and smarter. More recently, man overboard (MOB) position broadcasting devices have come to the market to provide the shipboard crew with the location of an MOB, making recovery more rapid and likely. This session will provide details on the state of the art of inflatable PFDs, their mechanisms, care, and related accessories, to bring all attendees up to date on the current state of the art in this important area.

Brian Flowers is the vice president of operations at Life Raft and Survival Equipment (LRSE), a firm that specializes in marine safety. Prior to his 25 years at LRSE Brian worked in the fire alarm/fire suppression industry, bringing that background to his current position. His responsibilities require that he stay current in the constantly evolving field of life safety in the marine environment. From the advent of inflatable life vests to the rise of AIS and personal signaling systems, and on to advancements in life rafts, immersions suits and shipboard signaling systems, Brian’s expertise is both expansive and always current. Brian has conducted and taught in numerous classroom training sessions as well as those in pools and on the water. His work helps to bring these systems to sailors and mariners alike, allowing them to voyage safely, both while on coastal cruises and well offshore.

One of the many challenges of going offshore is preparing for both medical emergencies and routine medical problems. This session will focus on three main areas in this regard: medical kits, victim/patient evaluation and crisis management. The choice of purchasing a commercial medical kit to which certain elements may be added, or the assembly of kit(s) from scratch to fit the particular needs of the voyage and crew, will be discussed. Sequential evaluation of a sick or injured crew is essential in determining the proper course of action, be it initiating first aid and/or seeking shore-side medical advice. In the event of a medical emergency the crew should be prepared to work as a team to treat the victim quickly and effectively. At the conclusion, we will have a live simulation of a medical emergency with audience participation. Lists of recommended medical equipment and supplies will be provided for a 3 to 6 day offshore race.

Dr. Eric T. Pierce is a recently retired anesthesiologist and faculty member of Harvard Medical School. He has over sixty years of sailing experience including extensive cruising of the New England and Canadian coasts, five Bermuda races with two return trips as well charters in the Caribbean and the Great Barrier Reef. On most of his offshore passages he served as the boat’s physician. Last summer he raced his Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 in the Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race with a crew of six and then continued on with his wife to the Bras D’Or Lakes of Nova Scotia. He holds USCG 100-ton Masters License with Sailing and Towing endorsements and is a member of New Bedford Yacht Club, Blue Water Sailing Club and the Cruising Club of America.

Larry Pardey: “There is no better tool or equipment you can have onboard than a well-trained crew.”

In the complex environment of ocean racing, what are the skills and attributes you need to be considered “competent” crew? This seminar will discuss:

• The technical, mental, physical, and emotional proficiencies that combine to create offshore crew competency.
• The necessity of honest self - assessment.
• Why “faking it till you make it” only creates a personal shipwreck.
• Theory vs Practice.
• Learning resources and opportunities.
• The importance of mentorship.
• The benefits of continued study and learning.

Whether you are crew who is new to ocean passages or racing, experienced but wanting to fill in some knowledge gaps , or a skipper who is mentoring skill development for his team, there will be some takeaways for everyone.

Lisa is a 3rd generation sailor who lives on Cape Cod, MA and holds a USCG 100-ton Master/200-ton Ocean Mate license. Lisa is also currently the commodore of Blue Water Sailing Club and a member of Tall Ship America, Seven Seas Cruising Club, U.S. Sailing, the American Schooner Association, and The National Women’s Sailing Association.

Since 2009, she has logged over 65,000 nm which includes Atlantic, Pacific, and Biscay crossings, over 18 New England - Caribbean deliveries, sailing in the North Sea, Sea of Cortez, and the Mediterranean. In 2014, she flew to Hoorn Netherlands to be inducted into the exclusive Cape Horners Society for her 2013 voyage from Auckland, New Zealand to Port Stanley, Falkland Islands.

As an active member of the USCG Auxiliary, she teaches boating safety and is a damage control instructor for Sector Southeast New England. Nationally, she is Branch Chief of Academics for the Coast Guard Auxiliary University Program (AUP) in charge of the Program of Study, and works as an instructor for the AUP at Massachusetts Maritime Academy. As a racer, Lisa has participated in the 2010 Velas Sud America, several Atlantic Challenges, 2019 Marblehead to Halifax, and the 2019 Marion Bermuda Race, as well as multiple local offshore races.

This session will describe many of the numerous pump types used in boats today. The focus will be on centrifugal, diaphragm, and flexible impeller pumps and their numerous applications onboard. These applications include bilge, fresh water, washdown, livewell, ballast, engine cooling, water pumps, toilets, and oil changing. Fine points and nuances will be explained, as there are pros and cons with each pump type. Some details regarding care and spare parts will also be covered. After this session, you’ll be able to know what the right pump is for the right job and how to care for each of them.

Steve Tilders has been in the boating business since 1975 and is currently the sales director for Xylem, which owns the Rule and Jabsco pump brands. He started out in the warehouse at BoatLIFE, a Long Island manufacturer of sealants and cleaning compounds and was with that company until 1992. During his tenure at BoatLIFE, Steve travelled the world doing boat show after boat show in his bright yellow jacket building the brand. He joined Rule in 1992 and moved to New England as product manager and was their director of marketing for 15 years; he has been director of sales for the past 16 years. During his tenure at Rule & Jabsco, he has absorbed additional responsibility in caring for the beverage and industrial markets. Steve also sits on the board of directors of the National Marine Manufacturers Association.

This discussion will address many of the decision factors related to the sails one might purchase, carry, and set in the offshore racing and cruising environment. Not only are the sizes and types of sails primary considerations, but the methodology on how to use each of them also comes into play. With changing routing plans and wind conditions, choices should be understood well in advance of the time of decision. There will also be some focus on furling headsails, as these have become an option for some of today’s racers and cruisers. Choices in downwind sails and their uses will also be discussed. The value versus cost factor will be considered as well.

Joe Cooper’s extensive sailing resume began sailing with his father from about age 2, including, from age 6, on the family’s Sabot. During his school years, he sailed on many of the classic Aussie kid’s boats.

In the 1977 and 1980 “Coop” sailed on America’s Cup challenges on Gretel 2 and Australia. His further keel boat sailing has included SORCs, Newport to Bermuda, Sardinia Cup, Mac race, DH Halifax races, and Bermuda 1-2 (Two DH return legs winning class, and fleet once). His oceanic sailing also includes multiple deliveries to and from the Caribbean, the US Mid Atlantic coast, and across the Pacific basin. Coop was also the mate on the J class Endeavor, including a Transatlantic delivery from France to Antigua. After Endeavour, he built a Mini 6.50 and was an accepted entry in the 1995 Mini Transat.

After a 40-year career with Hood Sailmakers, Coop is currently coaching a High School team and instructing and coaching adults in their boats, to get “more” out of their sailing. Joe Cooper is also a columnist for WindCheck Magazine, holds a RYA Yacht Master Offshore and has been an instructor for Safety at Sea many times.

Many racing and cruising boat owners are already enjoying the benefits of lithium-ion batteries for their primary electrical energy storage. This session will review the advantages of lithium-ion chemistries over lead acid-based batteries and discuss the safety considerations. It will also look at what is involved in converting a boat to lithium-ion storage and how that impacts the cost. System design, installation, and commissioning considerations will be covered. Finally, the speakers will address what is required to monitor the batteries and maintain them in top condition both during the season and when the boat is laid up.

Father and son, Rufus and Rogan Van Gruisen, have both sailed multiple races to Bermuda and the RORC Transatlantic Race from Newport to Cowes, UK. Rufus has been an inshore and offshore race navigator for many years and has experience racing Marblehead to Halifax and the RORC Caribbean 600. Rogan enjoys racing every summer on the New England classic yacht circuit.

After completing a BSc in electronic engineering in the UK, Rufus sailed to the Caribbean and founded Cay Electronics, before moving to the USA and opening a second location in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Cay Electronics sells, installs, and services marine navigation, communication and electrical, systems for yachts, powerboats, and commercial vessels.

Rogan studied yacht design at the Landing School in Maine. After commencing his career with Gunboat, he worked for several carbon fiber catamaran builders before joining Cay Electronics, where he currently oversees the equipment installation and commissioning.