| Issue #48, March 9, 2007 |
Women Making Waves
by David Lion Rattiner
Ladies, boating season is right around the corner. Pretty soon you’ll be sunbathing on the deck, chatting away with your friends on the open sea, then tying up a monkey knot and rigging up your boat slip. Did that last part throw you off a little bit? If it did, then you might want to check out the Women Making Waves workshop at Port of Egypt Marine in Southold. Port of Egypt Marine, one of the largest boat dealers in Suffolk, is inviting women who are interested in learning more about boating to join them for a free boating course.
The Women Making Waves workshop will include a full day of learning all the important aspects of boating that everybody who goes out on the water needs to know. After hearing about this course, I thought about throwing on a wig and signing up. This is a completely thorough course that includes lessons on everything from boating basics to overnight cruising.
There will also be a hands-on component of the course, which will be of real value to women who want to feel safer on the water. You’ll be able to learn about navigation, radio use, knots and securing your boat at a slip.
What is equally exciting about the boating workshop is the fact that there is going to be a seafood preparation demonstration, compliments of Port of Egypt Marine, as well as a complimentary lunch. Charlie Manwaring, owner of the Southold Fish Market, will lead the demonstration. Bring your appetite, and don’t fill up on too much free coffee and bagels, which will be available at the registration desk starting at 8:30 a.m.
Marlene Westhus, one of the workshop organizers, is extremely excited about the event. “This is going to be a great opportunity for women to learn about boating from the experts,” she explained.
Boating basics with boat guru Gail Palmentari begins at 9:30 a.m., right after registration. She will show you everything you need to know about your boat, from safety and the properties of your boat, to how to handle guests on your boat, the rules of the sea and which tools you can use to follow those rules.
After you’ve absorbed all of this information, you’ll move onto a session called, “Intro to Overnight Cruising,” presented by expert boaters Donna Lieblein, Marie Hiltunen, Ginny Sommers and Diane Brayer. Each one of these expert seafarers will explain the importance of planning your overnight trips and how to prepare for them, as well as sharing exciting stories from their own adventures on the sea. This part of the course will give you the confidence to take your boating adventures to the next level.
Afterwards, you’ll enjoy some lunch on the house, along with the seafood preparation demonstration.
At 1:30 p.m., you’ll learn all about tying knots and securing a boat properly, as well as basic chart reading for safe cruising. This is especially useful to all of us boaters with running aground stories.
Finally, the last part of the session will be an electronics workshop where you will learn how to use boat radios and radar as well as other important devices that make boating safer and more enjoyable.
If you love boating, heading down to Port of Egypt Marine on March 17 is something that you will definitely want to do. The seminar will get you pumped up about this boating season and you might even make a friend or two. If you want to go, just call 631-765-2445, or e-mail elisar@poemarine.com.
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