Advanced Knots - Soft Shackles • Robin Jiminez, Emily Joachim, Jeannette DeFriest and Kristin Pratt

During this hands-on class, you will learn what a soft shackle is, including its uses, advantages and disadvantages. You will learn how to splice your own soft shackle and leave the class with your very own soft shackle to use while sailing. (A)

Advanced Sail Trim • Kristin Pratt

This class delves into the principles and techniques of advanced sail trim to enhance your boat's performance. You'll explore wind dynamics, sail controls, and adjustments, learn upwind and downwind sail trimming strategies, and gain practical tips for real-world application. Ideal for experienced sailors looking to refine their skills and achieve optimal sail performance. Join us to master the art of sail trimming and take your sailing to the next level. (A)

Basic Sail Trim • Sarah Pederson

Take a look at the next step in sail trim of your mainsail, jib/genoa, and spinnaker. Do you ever wonder how that thing-a-ma-gig (cunningham), or whatchamacallit (outhaul) can be used to enhance your sail trim, and in turn, increase your cruising and racing performance? The goal of this session is to review the sail trim controls and how to use them to your sailing advantage. This session is for novice and intermediate sailors. (B)

Boat Guts: Knowing Your Hoses, Valves and Wires • Jeannette DeFriest

Love sailing but fear the tangle of stuff hidden away? We will spend time de-mystifying the innards of the boat that need your love and attention. Note: This is not an advanced "fix-it" class. It is a "meet your boat guts" class. (B)(I)(A)

Bow Skills: The Pointy End Demystified • Mickey Nielsen

We will cover bow to the pit basics of rigging , putting the sails up and down, and the greatest mystery of all. . .how to work with the back end of the boat and what they need to know.  (I)(A)

Building Sailing Opportunities for Women • Erica Trejo

Drawing from her own experience as a competitive sailor and advocate for gender equality, Erica will guide participants through the process of launching initiatives that promote inclusion. Key topics include the creation of Sail Her Dreams, a youth STEM sailing program that teaches young girls both sailing skills and STEM principles, and the formation of Sailing Sisters, a racing team dedicated to empowering women to compete at the highest levels. Students will learn how to foster mentorship, build supportive networks, and break down barriers in a traditionally male-dominated sport, all while empowering the next generation of female sailors. (B)(I)(A)

Docking on the Water • Amy Cermak

For this fun, fast paced, small group, on-the-water class, bring your deck shoes and gloves and be prepared for May weather. We'll take you and your crew of 3 (max) through docking and undocking a 35’ SailTime keelboat. You'll learn the engine controls, about prop walk, line handling, and how to safely step on & off a bucking boat. Explore how to prepare for docking by evaluating the wind, current, traffic and even dock conditions as the helmsperson. Take your turn in crew positions and learn where and how to set fenders and position dock lines. With your plan and the instructor as your guide, execute the docking and undocking maneuvers (spoiler alert: slow is pro). Students will rotate positions for maximum actual docking experience. (I)(A)

Important notes: This is scheduled as an on-water class. If weather conditions do not allow us to safely maneuver, we will adapt the curriculum. Participants must be able to step off a boat safely, even if you have a slight impairment. All class members must wear deck shoes. Lifejackets will be provided.

The Head: How to Repair and Maintain • Phyllis McDonald

Using a Raritan PHII Marine Toilet as demo, we will disassemble, replace parts and reassemble the unit. Maintenance items like lubrication and winterizing will be included. Along the way we will discuss: identifying the Marine Toilet in your boat, Reading Exploded view Diagrams, additional equipment requirements, and overboard discharge rules and regulations on the Great Lakes. Not the funnest of topics but part of the necessary. (I)(A)

Inflatable Lifejacket Maintenance Workshop • Lili Colby

Want to extend the life of your life jacket? Is yours still good to go or past its prime? Lili Colby will share both daily and annual maintenance tips and best practices for a range of inflatable devices that boaters use - hydrostatic (HIT), water activated automatic, auto/man and manual. Come to this hands-on workshop to learn more about the most essential safety equipment onboard your vessel. (B)(I)(A)

Introduction to Sailing • Terri Schmidt

Whether you are new to sailing or need a refresher on the basics, this class is for you! Topics will include points of sail, tacking and jibing, crew positions, boat parts and equipment, and safety on the water. Learn about the unique experiences of women entering the sailing world and how to find your perfect sailing “fit.” Resources will be offered to help you continue learning after the class is over. Get your questions answered. Consider all the possibilities. Feel prepared for your next great adventure! (B)

Introduction to Sailing with Spinnakers • Kristin Pratt

We will look at  what spinnakers are and when they’re used in sailing. Then, dive into the different types—like symmetrical and asymmetrical spinnakers—and their respective pros and cons. After that, a step-by-step guide to rigging and flying them, plus some tips for handling common challenges like snags and wraps. This class will be held at the dock on a boat-weather permitting. (B)(I)

Provisioning Your Sailboat • Captain Patti Jane Golden

This seminar will focus on the proper and efficient way to approach provisioning any boat, from weekend sailing to overseas crossings.

Captain Patti Jane Golden will discuss how to diagram and lay-out a boat, beginning with the safety items, the replacement parts and tools, the food, and finally the other comfort items. She will discuss the common mistakes most boaters make in provisioning and the importance of knowing where everything is in a split second. Her common sense approach to stowage is meant to stop an emergency from being a chaotic or, even worse, dangerous situation. (B)(I)(A)

Protest Part 1 • Jennifer Dorsch

“You fouled me!” As a Corinthian sport, all participants are expected to take the appropriate penalty when they commit a foul. However, even if you were the one fouled, you have actions you must take to ensure you have an opportunity to have your protest found valid when you get ashore. Come learn the process to increase the probability that any protest you file is found valid, and you get the chance to make your case to the jury. (I)(A)

Protest Part 2 • Jennifer Dorsch

Part 1 covered what to do on the water and before the hearing to increase the likelihood that your protest will be found valid. We will now cover what happens when you “go into the room”. We’ll discuss what to include in your protest form, what to expect, and conduct a mock hearing. (I)(A)

Racing Crew 101: How to Get On (and Stay On) a Racing Boat • Clarissa Wertman, Sara Griffith, and Kristen Chenoweth

Curious about sailboat racing? Join crew members Kristen Chenoweth and Clarissa Wertman and skipper Sara Griffith to learn how to find a racing team that suits you and how to become an invaluable crew member. (B)(I)(A)

Safety at Sea Demonstrations • Anne Keel, Sarah Pederson, Emily Joachim

This is a great hands-on class where participants will learn how to properly use a marine fire extinguisher by putting out a live fire, learn about the basics of nighttime distress signals and ignite a flare, and learn how to properly use a lifesling to bring a person in the water back onto a boat. The class will be broken up into three groups and will rotate between stations to learn these valuable skills. No experience necessary and this is your chance to practice so you will be ready in an emergency! (B)(I)

Sails: Purchase to Destruction and Everything in Between • Mickey Nielsen

We will cover the basics of what you need to know to purchase the proper sail for your needs, general maintenance, what to look for as your sails age, and when you should replace them. (I)(A)

So, You Want to Be a Captain • Captain Patti Jane Golden

This class will focus on all things captain, including a detailed list of the requirements to be a captain, the options for instruction, the actual costs of a captain’s license and insurance (if you chose to have paid chartering jobs), and an overview of the responsibilities of being a captain.

Captain Patti Jane is from an extended family of boat captains and has a had a bird’s eye view of the ups and downs of a captain’s world. She currently operates a successful sailboat chartering company with her husband on the Gulf Coast. (B)(I)(A)

Tales of a Great Lakes Liveaboard • Wendy Bade Gilpin

This course will present the challenges and opportunities for the liveaboard lifestyle on the Great Lakes as well as the important items such as legal and regulatory considerations, amenities and systems in selecting a boat/location to liveaboard, as well as maintenance and costs to help you determine if the live-aboard lifestyle might just be for you.  (B)(I)(A)

Tall Ship Sailing Aboard the Denis Sullivan • Tatiana Dalton

Join Tatiana Dalton, a mate aboard the schooner Denis Sullivan, to learn more about the world of tall ship sailing and life aboard Milwaukee’s flagship. Tall ships like Sullivan help preserve traditional practices like celestial navigation, the use of traditional shipbuilding materials, and the arts of the sailor, and they are also uniquely powerful resources for education and community-building. Tatiana will explore the above while sharing her experiences as a deckhand, mate, and educator aboard Sullivan during the ship’s recent travels from Milwaukee to New England to the Caribbean.  (B)(I)(A)

What You Need to Know About VHF and MMSI • Anne Keel

Ever wondered what all those buttons mean on the VHF radio? What do the different channels mean and what do I use them for? How do I properly talk on it? How far does a VHF radio actually reach? What is an MMSI and why do I need to care about it? This class will answer all these questions and more! Come to a fun and interactive class that will teach you the basics of VHF and insight into MMSI and the importance of them. (B)(I)(A)