Junior Safety at Sea Seminar 2026
The Storm Trysail Club’s Junior Safety at Sea seminar on July 17, 2026 delivered educational experiences to prepare young sailors to aptly handle difficult scenarios on the water. Led by Whitney Simon (Executive Director), Heather Schultes (Co-Chair of event), and Susie Bradford (Co-Chair of event), the event combined practical instruction and interactive demonstrations.
Storm Trysail Club reported in their newsletter entitled “Junior Safety at Sea Inspires the Next Generation of Offshore Sailors” that “Participants represented 11 yacht clubs from around Long Island Sound, including 90 sailors in Level 100 and 6 sailors in the advanced Level 200 program.”
Station Rotations
Sailors prepare to extinguish a fire with the guidance of Larchmont Fire Department.
To maximize learning and direct interaction, participants were divided into smaller working groups to rotate through three core safety modules: Man Overboard (MOB) and Radio Communications, Fire Safety demonstrations, and Weather and Sail Selection. In the MOB and Radio Comms lecture, junior sailors were introduced to emergency protocols, learning about effective radio communication as well as crucial actions to take in the event of a man overboard.
Firefighters from the Larchmont Fire Department led active demonstrations in maritime fire prevention and safety, teaching sailors how to safely put out fires on board by giving them hands-on experience operating fire extinguishers.
In the Weather and Sail Selection lecture, sailors learned the fundamentals of weather, focusing on how to respond to sudden changes on the water and make smart decisions regarding sail plan adjustments to stay safe on the water.
Big Boat & On the Water Drills
Building on their morning station work, the sailors transitioned to larger offshore vessels for demonstrations. Guided by mentors and coaches, the sailors learned about winch wrapping, reefing the main, going aloft, and more while on moorings. Then, the sailors participated in MOB exercises on the water.
As the Storm Trysail Club said in “Junior Safety at Sea Inspires the Next Generation of Offshore Sailors,” “For many of these young sailors, Junior Safety at Sea is their first introduction to offshore sailing and the skills needed to become safe, confident,
Sailors head back to the Larchmont Pandemonium after a fire safety demonstration.
and capable crewmembers. By combining practical experience with mentorship from experienced sailors, the program continues to build the next generation of offshore racers and leaders on the water.”
Thanks to the Storm Trysail Club, the Junior Safety at Sea event successfully equipped young big boat sailors with the knowledge, judgment, and confidence for safety on board.
