Saturday, February 15, 2025

The Mariners’ Museum and Park to Host US Sailing-Sanctioned Safety at Sea Training

Fire training is part of the annual course offered at the Mariners Museum and Park in Newport News. (Amanda Shields)

NEWPORT NEWS — The annual Capt. Henry Marx Memorial US Sailing International Safety at Sea Course returns to The Mariners’ Museum and Park on Saturday, March 1.

According to the hosts, participants will have the opportunity to earn the International Offshore Certificate that complies with World Sailing guidelines for Personal Safety from US Sailing. The day-long course, co-sponsored by Landfall Navigation, takes place at The Mariners’ and Brittingham-Midtown Aquatic Center in Newport News.

Early Bird registration for the hands-on training course is $310 for the general public and $305 for Museum Members until Jan. 27, after which all tickets will cost $325. The cost covers lectures, demonstrations, course materials, lunch, a docent tour, transportation to and from the Museum and the Aquatic Center, a copy of “Safety at Sea: A Guide to Safety Under Sail and Personal Survival” and an International Offshore Safety at Sea (ISAF) with Hands-On Training Certificate from US Sailing that is valid for five years.

The hands-on training is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is taught by experienced lifelong sailors and experts in their fields, according to the museum. Topics include lessons learned from recent incidents, fire prevention and firefighting, emergency signaling (flares), and in-the-water training in individual and group cold water survival techniques, personal safety equipment, life raft inflation and proper wearing and rearming personal flotation devices.

The course is designed for crew members of offshore races, long-distance cruisers, commercial mariners and racing sailors who want to improve their sailing skills, according to organizers. The course will focus on survival offshore in demanding situations and emergencies.

The course will be moderated by retired U.S. Navy Capt. Mark Lenci. Lenci has sailed primarily in New England and the Canadian Maritimes and has cruised in various areas around the world, and holds various professional certifications, including a USCG 100T Masters License and the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence. Lenci has presented at multiple Safety at Sea Courses and is considered one of the best at sharing his leadership and seamanship insights, according to the hosts.

The Mariners’ Museum International Safety at Sea Hands-On Training is the second part of earning US Sailing’s International Offshore certificate. Participants must complete an online course before attending the hands-on training. For details, visit MarinersMuseum.org/Safety-at-Sea.

Space is limited to 45 people. Registration closes on Feb. 17. To register, visit MarinersMuseum.org/Safety-at-Sea. For more information, contact MaryAnn Steinmiller at msteinmiller@MarinersMuseum.org.

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