Boating experts from around the world educate, inspire and entertain at the 2012 Toronto Boat Show, sharing their experience and expertise on everything from boating basics to spellbinding boating adventures.

Click here for the 2012 Seminar Schedule – located in the Presentation Theatre and Salon 107.

Click here for the Great Canadian Fish Tank Seminar Schedule.

A Sneak Peek at Some of the Experts & Adventures Featured in the 2012 Seminar Series:

Around the World at 16 – Zac Sunderland learned how to sail when he was four years old, and at 16 he embarked on the adventure of a lifetime – setting sail into the Pacific Ocean on a quest to see the world and become the youngest person to circumnavigate it alone. For 13 months he weathered perilous storms, threatening pirates, and the unique loneliness experienced by solo sailors who for weeks at a time have no direct human contact. He embraced new cultures, learned new languages, and made lifelong friends – and in July 2009 Zac realized his dream: He became the youngest solo sailor to circumnavigate the world and the first under 18! Zac is now plotting an expedition through the North West Passage, and is training to scale Mount Everest. Zac presents January 20, 21 and 22.

Unsinkable: A Young Woman's Courageous Battle on the High Seas – Abby Sunderland grew up sailing. After a 3-year family cruise to mainland Mexico, she began to dream about sailing around the world. After watching her older brother, Zac, successfully sail around the world alone in 2009, she realized that with hard work and perseverance, her own dream to solo circumnavigate could be a reality. In March of 2010, at the age of 16, Abby became the youngest person ever to sail solo around Cape Horn, considered by many to be the Mount Everest of sailing. Over half way around the world her boat was hit by a rogue wave. Rolled, dismasted and out of communication, Abby had to be rescued from the middle of the Indian Ocean.

Abby's lessons from the sea have taught her a lifetime of wisdom on having passion and purpose in your life. She has chronicled her trip in the book Unsinkable: A Young Woman's Courageous Battle on the High Seas and a documentary of her trip was made called Wild Eyes: The Abby Sunderland Story. Abby presents January 21 and 22.

NEW – All Day Seminar On Coastal And Offshore Cruising For Both Sail And Power
Liza and Andy Copeland
Saturday, January 21st, 2012

Dreaming of extended cruising in the Great Lakes, or to the East Coast, Caribbean and beyond? Accompanied by hundreds of images this seminar session will provide you with both technical and practical skills for buying the right boat, prioritizing equipment and for all to embrace the adventure of the cruising lifestyle.

Andy, an experienced boatyard and chandlery manager, professional captain and long-time yacht broker, and Liza, an educational psychologist, are both successful racers as well as long-distance cruisers on a wide variety of boats. Of the 160,000 n.miles they have sailed together, 116,000 are on their current 38' Beneteau, Bagheera, which has taken their family 116,000 n.miles and to 114 countries.

A writer for many yachting magazines and speaker at the major boat shows in the Canada, the United States and U.K., as well as for World Cruising Club, (organizers of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, Caribbean 1500 &, Around the World Rally) Liza is also an award-winning best-selling author of three narratives on cruising and a 'how-to' book co-authored with Andy. When not giving seminars at boat shows or for various other organizations, cruising with family and friends or leading rallies worldwide, Liza and Andy enjoy life in Vancouver, BC.

$179.00 per person $299.00 per couple (HST included)
Includes: Lunch
Your choice of one of the Copeland's books on site
Boat Show passes for 2 days

Cancellation Fee $30

Click here to view full agenda.

Click here to register

Hugh & Heather Bacon

"A Circumnavigation Under Sail: Planning, Challenges, Highlights, Dangers" & "Wind is a Four Letter Word: Perspectives on a Circumnavigation from a Skipper's Wife"

Hugh and Heather left the Caribbean Island of Tortola in 1997 on ARGONAUTA I, a Beneteau 440. Their 44 foot sloop took them through the islands of the Caribbean, Venezuela, Colombia and on to the Panama Canal. They visited the Galapagos, then continued through the Pacific, visiting French Polynesia, the Samoas, Tonga, Fiji and Vanuatu. After reaching Australia they toured extensively before sailing up the Queensland Coast and then across the "Top End" to Darwin. September 2002, they departed Australia. Their subsequent passages took them to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and The Maldives. As the second Gulf War began they sailed up the Red Sea to finally pass through the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean where ARGONAUTA I wintered in Turkey. In 2004 they navigated through the Mediterranean reaching Port Napoleon, France near Marseille. In July 2005 they continued on to Gibraltar, Morocco and the many Atlantic Islands. In January 2006 they departed the Cape Verde Islands and completed their circumnavigation off Grenada later that month. They then secured the boat in Venezuela

Later between 2007 and 2008, they sailed westbound through the Caribbean, once again transited the Panama Canal finally making their way to Sidney, British Columbia where ARGONAUTA I makes Canoe Cove Marina home port. In season, they now explore the Pacific West Coast and islands.

Serge Besner
"Be Weather Prepared for Ontario Lakes"

Serge has the "full spectrum" of experience within the weather service. Serge's career started more than 30 years ago as a user of weather services being a pilot of small aircraft. After joining the weather service, Serge climbed the ranks from weather technician in the high Arctic weather stations to forecaster at the Edmonton forecast office. Serge's forecasting experience includes Marine, Aviation and Public weather forecasting. In 2005 Serge moved to Ontario and began a new phase of his career as a Client Services Representative. Since 2009 Serge has been assigned to Marine Program for which he also has a connection to as a result of his love of fishing and boating.

Accessing the waters on Ontario lakes requires extra knowledge for the safe operation of the craft you are using. Long time inhabitants of particular lakes will know the "local weather effects" and dangers on particular days, but you don't need to be a long time inhabitant to know these effects beforehand. This presentation will touch on this and many other helpful hints and tips to make your outings on the water more weather/water safe.

Deb Cantrell
"Yes You Can! Minimize the Fear Factor & Maximize Your Fun!"

When Deb Cantrell set sail 19 years ago she was afraid of everything: wind, water, waves, and just about everything in and on the water. Find out how she conquered her fears, continues to enjoy the live-aboard lifestyle and why she would not trade it for anything.

From weathering a hurricane in the Caribbean to close encounters with sword fishing boats in the Med, Deb will share highlights from her cruising adventures including practical tips for making life afloat less fearful & much more fun.

Liza Copeland

Liza is a lifelong sailor, both cruiser and racer. She married Andy in the Caribbean aboard the classic yacht Ticonderoga and they have since sailed over 160,000 miles together, including a 6-year circumnavigation with their three children. After another nine years cruising around North and Central America, and in the Mediterranean and Black Sea, West Africa, Brazil, and the Caribbean, their Beneteau Bagheera, which has taken them 116,000 n.miles to 114 countries, is now in the Pacific Northwest.

Liza is the award-winning best-selling author of four cruising books. Just and Still Cruising recount their world travels with Comfortable Cruising describing their voyage around North and Central America. Their popular Cruising for Cowards is an inclusive technical and practical A-Z for cruisers whether coastal voyaging or offshore. Liza writes for a variety of yachting magazines, gives seminars at major boat shows and to a number of clubs and organizations. When not sailing the oceans of the world, leading cruising groups or touring giving talks on boating and travel, she lives in Vancouver, BC.

Bob Eaton
"Boater Impact on Ontario's Lakes and Rivers"

What can I do as a boater to reduce the impact my family and I have on the lakes and rivers we enjoy so much? Come and hear what simple, practical steps we can take to really make a difference.

• Bob Eaton, Director, Environmental Services, Boating Ontario - Manage Clean Marine Eco-Rating Program - 1999 - present
• Chair, Ontario Marine Technician Skills Shortage Committee - 2006 - present
• Inducted into NMMA Canada Boating Hall of Fame - 2008
• Marine Technician Faculty and Program Co-ordinator, Georgian College - 1969 - 1996

Mike Evans & Jayne Finn "Down East Circle: New England, New York & The Hudson River"

In this the final segment of Down East Circle, Mike & Jayne sail their Niagara 35 Phantasia II home from Nova Scotia, crossing the Gulf of Maine to New England, down Long Island Sound to New York City then the Hudson River & Erie Barge Canal back to Lake Ontario.

They will illustrate the route in photography, video and provide commentary as well as invite questions from and discussion with the audience. Details will include entering ports along the way such as Shelburne Nova Scotia, Boston Massachusetts, Newport Rhode Island, New York City and the 79th Street Boat Basin. Also covered is the route up the Hudson River from NYC to Troy New York then transiting the locks of the Erie and Oswego Barge Canal to Lake Ontario.

Sean Fisher
"The Search for the Atocha and Beyond"

Discover the fun, romance and adventure of treasure hunting. Listen to Sean tell about the hunt for the Atocha's treasure and the technology used to locate the wrecks.

The Atocha was a Spanish Galleon that sank in a violent hurricane in 1622 off the coast of Key West, Florida. She was laden with treasure and remained undiscovered until legendary treasure hunter Mel Fisher persevered through a 16 year search to discover nearly half a billion dollars in gold, silver, emeralds and artifacts. Hear stories from the pros about what it's like to find treasure and be the first person to hold an artifact after nearly 400 years. It sends tingles from the top of your head to the tips of your toes, the feeling is indescribable.

Gary Gibson
"Being Safe on the Water: Have your Questions or Concerns Answered" & "The Marine Unit"

Gary Gibson, currently the Community Service Officer for the Marine Unit, has been a member of the Toronto Police Service since September 20, 1976.

Constable Gibson worked in Scarborough for the first 18 years of his career in uniform and specialty squads including Drug Squad, Special Task Force dealing with organized crime, Community Foot Patrol, and Public Safety Unit.

August 1994, Constable Gibson was transferred to the Toronto Police Marine Unit and is now one of the instructors on the training staff of the Marine Unit specializing in Marine Law.

John Gullick
Daily Boating University Seminars

John Gullick is currently a boating safety educator and Manager of Government and Special Programmes, Canadian Power& Sail Squadrons, responsible for government relations and the management of two national programmes mandated by Transport Canada, Office of Boating Safety and Industry Canada and CPS special projects.

• Outreach Co-ordinator, SmartBoater.ca
• Freelance writer
• As a volunteer he is also:
  • Co Chairman, Recreational Boating Advisory Committee to the National Canadian Marine Advisory Council
  • Symposium Co-Chair and a Past Chairman, Canadian Safe Boating Council
  • Race Coordinator and Past Chair of the Peterborough Dragon Boat Festival
  • Past President of the Trent Severn Antique and Classic Boat Association
  • Member of the Trent Severn Water Flow Management Advisory Committee

Ken Harrison
"Introduction to NMEA2000 Electronics Networking"

A consumer primer to describe the marine industry standard for interconnecting electronics on your boat

Derek Hatfield
"Taking on the World, Alone"

Derek Hatfield has represented Canada in three single handed around the world races and has become Canada's most experienced and successful offshore racer. He will be at the Toronto Boat Show to talk about his podium finish and record breaking Velux 5 Oceans Single Handed Round the World Yacht Race and his next steps in a career that has spanned over a decade and 200,000nm single handed racing.

John Hosty
"Buoyage - An Easy Guide"

In these days of GPS, electronic charts, radar and other devices it is easy to forget the simplest tool of all, the international buoyage systems.

This session will test your knowledge of channel markings around the world and offers easy to remember approach.

"Knot Tying - The Ones You Really Need"

While there are many knots that have been developed through the years, there are only five that are really necessary to safely handle your boat and its rig. This hands-on session gives you the opportunity to learn how to tie; stopper knot, reef knot, sheetbend, fender knot, bowline and how to prepare a towing bridle.

"Sailboat Docking"

Sailboats are big, clumsy and very difficult to maneuver under power, but only if you don't use the right techniques. Lead by somebody who has made most of the mistakes, this session will show you how a sailboat moves, techniques for springing off dock, approaching stern first, bow first with the wind on and off the dock all in close proximity to other boats.

Marnie Keith-Murray
"Catching a Ride South with Friends and Strangers"

Escape cold Canadian winters by learning the how-to's of crewing on other people's boats. Open up a new life of cruising the high seas and adventures galore!

Join Marnie Keith-Murray, an experienced single handed sailor and member of RCYC, recently returned from a ten month odyssey to the Bahamas as first mate on a trawler, in a fact filled seminar on finding your skipper or crew for that dream trip south.

1. Listen as she tells of her four winters south to the Bahamas and Caribbean, crewing for friends and strangers, after retiring from a business career.
2. Hear how she connected by old-fashioned ways of networking and club notice boards to new hi-tech internet media that put people with boats together with people who want to crew or vice versa.
3. Pay attention as she gives tips on how to reduce the risks when sailing with strangers.
4. Smile with her as she tells of rules that she followed to select her boats and skippers, such as two heads, two cabins, sharing costs , no gold necklaces or extreme politics!

Relax as you hear of adventures galore mixed with hard facts on how to make your own dreams come true! Get ready to pack your bathing suit and suntan lotion...

Mary MacLeod
"Living His Dreams on Her Terms"

Mary is a fair-weather sailor. Her husband Rob is an experienced boater and cruiser. Rob had a dream - taking their boat south for a year. Mary had reservations, but said 'yes' to a yearlong cruise - but under certain conditions. Listen to Mary's frank discussion of what worked for them and what didn't, how they survived (and thrived) for a year aboard their 36-foot sailboat, beat the cold wet winter and arrived safe and sound back on Lake Ontario.

Rob MacLeod
"Basic Sailboat Handling - An Introduction to Keelboat Sailing"

Rob MacLeod has been teaching boating since 1975 and has developed a number of books and instructional videos over the past 3-1/2 decades, including: Sailing Fundamentals (ASA 1984), Basic Sailing and Cruising Skills (1985), Intermediate Sailing and Cruising Skills (1987) and Coastal Navigation Skills (1989) and 2 television series - "Set Your Sails" and "Learn to Navigate" for TV Ontario and PBS.

Rob's company, InformedBoater.com is releasing an updated version for his 1985 Basic Sailing book - as an electronic publication including all new instructional video. Basic Sailboat Handling: An introduction to Keelboat Sailing will be available for the first time at the Toronto International Boat Show. Hear Rob speak on getting more enjoyment out of sailing by improving your Basic Sailboat Handling.

Robin Martel
"NMEA2000 Integration of SmartPhones"

Since 2002, Robin Martel has been the President of Northport Systems, better known by its trade name Fugawi Software. Prior to joining Northport, Robin co-founded and led the New Zealand-based GPS Control and held managerial positions with Pico Data, Expressway Group and Geo-Systems.

Today Fugawi offers a selection of PC, Mac, iPhone/iPad, Windows Mobile and Nokia Symbian GPS-related software products, as well as an extensive line of digital maps and charts for regions throughout the world that are available for instant download.

The phenomenal growth of internet connected with mobile devices now allows data to be transferred on and off a boat for use with a variety of products. Boaters can take advantage of social networking, connecting with friends, sharing and accessing information, as well as a host of other data. This presentation is an introduction to integrate your SmartPhone/tablet with your electronics, and NMEA2000 gateway devices.

Lori Mason
"Tips Women Need to Know to Feel Comfortable on the Water"

Lori Mason has been boating since she was four on both power and sailboats. She has blue water miles delivering and chartering as well as fresh water racing and cruising. Lori spends a lot of her free time messn' about in boats including her first boat rebuild - an antique and classic Tancook Whaler Schooner that won second place a Wooden Boat Show. She has just finished building a tugboat, Hoot. Lori has been delivering boating safety seminars for over 20 years. For her work, she was the recipient of the Top Individual Dedicated to Safe Boating CASBA Award in 2000. Lori has been involved with The Store Mason's Chandlery, a family operation, in Port Credit since inception in 1978 and full time from 1980.

Wally Moran
"Heading South from the Great Lakes to Paradise via the Intracoastal Waterway"

Wally spends his winters, after cruising south from Lake Huron, in the Bahamas, Cuba and along the US east coast. When he's not sailing, he writes for SAIL Magazine and Waterway Guide among others, and has produced several videos for The Sailing Channel, including Forbidding, Forbidden Cuba, and Sailing South, the First Timer's Guide to the ICW, which is based on the Toronto Boat Show presentation.

He's traveled the ICW some 17 times, on his own boat or on deliveries, and still enjoys the trip.

"Paws on Board - Boating and Cruising with Your Four Legged Crew"

Nearly three years ago, Wally was 'adopted' on a dock in Cuba by a starving, two month old street puppy. To get her out of the country, he hid her in the v-berth during the check out procedure to prevent her being discovered by Cuban officials. Safely in the US, she proceeded to 'anoint' the boot of a Customs and Immigration officer who boarded Gypsy Wind in the Florida Keys.

Despite this challenging introduction to boating, Aduana is now an old hand with three Gulf Stream crossings under her collar, and thousands of miles under sail from the Great Lakes to Cuba. She will be premiering this year here at the show, helping you to learn how to safely and enjoyably cruise with your four legged pal, whether you cruise your local lakes or the oceans of the world.

John Neal & Amanda Swan Neal

John Neal was born on the banks of Africa's Blue Nile River. At the age of 22 his love of adventure and travel fueled a desire to sail to the South Pacific from Seattle aboard his 27' sloop. Log of Mahina chronicled his voyage and adventures and became a best seller. To answer the question he was frequently asked, "How can I do what you did?" he conducted his first of now 143 Offshore Cruising Seminars in 1976. In 1990, to meet the demand for hands-on offshore instruction, John established Mahina Expeditions with the goal of sharing his knowledge of ocean voyaging in a safe and supportive environment. John has conducted 156 sail-training expeditions aboard his Hallbery-Rassy 42, Mahina Tiare II & his Hallberg-Rassy 46, Mahina Tiare III, sailing over 303,000 miles in the South Pacific, Caribbean, Patagonia, Antarctica, Atlantic, Scandinavia and the Arctic.

Amanda Swan Neal grew up in Auckland, New Zealand and sailed to Vancouver as a teenager aboard a boat she helped her family build. Upon returning to New Zealand, she became a sailmaker for Hoods and transferred professions to rigging with Noake's Rigging in Sydney, Australia then Southern Spars in NZ. In 1990 she completed The Whitbread Around the World Race (now The Volvo Race) as rigger aboard Maiden, the first all-women Whitbread boat. Amanda's 261,000 miles of international sailing include two Sydney-Hobart Races, numerous international regattas and seven Cape Horn roundings intermixed with a ten year involvement in tall ship sail-training. Upon meeting John in 1994 she joined Mahina Tiare for the Cape Horn and Antarctic expeditions. She is author of The Essential Galley Companion and since 2005 has written the monthly Galley Essentials column in 48 North magazine. Amanda enjoys introducing women to the joys of the cruising lifestyle and her personal interests include Celtic step dancing, photography, triathlon training and sewing. She holds a NZ Commercial Launchmaster's license.

Amanda and John spend seven months at sea annually. When not at sea, they enjoy winter kayaking from their home near Victoria. Their website is: www.mahina.com

Click here to view John and Amanda's Exciting Seminar Schedule

Magazines Contributed to: Blue Water Sailing, Australian Yachting, Cruising World, Yachting World (UK),Cruising Helmsman (Australia), 48 North, Latitude 38, SAIL and Practical Sailor.

Books Authored: The Essential Galley Companion (Amanda), Log of the Mahina, Mahina Tiare, Pacific Passages (John), Offshore Cruising Companion, Offshore Expedition Companion, Storm Survival Tactics (John and Amanda)

Books Contributed to: Surviving the Storm by Steve Dashew, World Cruising Survey by Jimmy Cornell, Voyager's Handbook by Beth A. Leonard, Fifty Places to Sail Before You Die by Chris Santella.

Areas of Experience: Caribbean, Mexico, Atlantic including Azores, Canaries, and Madeira, Patagonia (Chile and Argentina), Cape Horn (six roundings), Antarctica, Brazil, Uruguay, Pacific including Galapagos, Easter, Pitcairn, Fr. Polynesia, Cooks, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Alaska, British Columbia. Europe including the Med, Ireland, England, Scotland, Orkney, Norway, Spitsbergen, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Germany, Spain and Portugal.

Steven Parry
"Explore Croatia, Turkey and the Greek Islands By Yacht"

Steven Parry is Charter director of Montreal based Poseidon Charters. He also works as a skipper and flotilla director in the Adriatic and Aegean Sea May through Oct each year. He is a licensed Royal Yachting Association skipper who has also trained with the Canadian Power Squadron and is certified PADI Divemaster. This will be Steven's 20th season in the Mediterranean and he enjoys sharing his stories, advice and knowledge of sailing and cruising the wine dark seas of Croatia, Greece and Turkey.

Mike Peterson

Mike is currently the CEO and President of Southbridge Capital Inc., a seminar leader and public speaker across Canada and the US. 9 Years ago he took a leave of absence, and as a family they built a 65' boat. Their journey, chronicled in Kim Petersen's book, Charting the Unknown: Family, Fear and One Long Boat Ride, spanned 16 countries, 4 continents and over 25,000 miles. It has also been featured in numerous television shows and other media in both the US and Canada.

Still living on the boat, Mike now actively promotes the benefits of a mid course correction, following a dream and accepting and embracing failure as the path to fulfillment. His seminars, both humorous and engaging, will encourage and inspire you to stop dreaming and start living.

"Living the Dream: Overcoming Fear and Casting Off"

We all have dreams but how can we make them a reality. In this engaging and humorous seminar, Mike Petersen will encourage and inspire you to stop dreaming and start living. Mike's 7 year and still ongoing journey with his wife and two teenagers included building their 65' boat themselves, traveling the Eastern Seaboard, being the first Power Catamaran to transit the Atlantic, 2 years in the Med including the Suez and a brief jaunt into the Red Sea. Mike will share how they overcame their fear, a complete lack of boating experience (except for one week on a Carnival Cruise ship) and the relational issues of boating with teenagers in order to cast off.

"Long Range Passagemaking: Customs, Kids and Cruising"

Mike and Kim Petersen built a 65 foot power catamaran and have lived aboard with their two teenagers for over 7 years. In 2007, they crossed the Atlantic Ocean in their home-made cat and spent two and a half years cruising the Mediterranean including transiting the Suez Canal to spend time in Egypt and Israel. In this class Mike will supply you with resources and tips for conquering water based concerns surrounding weather, pirates, family aboard and at home, pets, medical issues, finances, and the general preparation issues for offshore passagemaking . Whether you live aboard for a weekend or for a year, the rewards of traveling, facing your fears, living a simpler lifestyle, and making lasting memories with those you love will have you shoving off the dock in no time! For more information visit www.kimpetersen.us

"Voyaging Under Power: All the Fun, Half the Hassle"

With little experience except for a week on a Carnival Cruise Ship, Mike and Kim Petersen and their two teenagers, built a 65 foot power catamaran, lived aboard for 8 years and traveled over 25,000 miles including becoming the first to transit the North Atlantic in a power catamaran. In this seminar, Mike will emphasize the benefits of power voyaging versus sail. The benefits of power include safety, speed, flexibility and comfort. In this seminar, Mike will not try to convert the diehards among you but try to give all some reasons to reconsider just what is possible and desirable in a voyaging experience. If the idea of arriving at the anchorage fully rested, comfortable and with coffee in hand sounds appealing, drop by to hear more.

Barb Radu Sprenger
"Sailing Through Life: The Unshakeable Bond Between Human Spirits"

Barb Radu Sprenger and husband Con Sprenger set sail in their 51.5-foot Nauticat sailboat in 2007 - his 40-year dream. When Con met Barb in 2002, he warned her that he planned to sail in his retirement. She fell in love anyway. In the blink of an eye, they tossed off the lines in Finland sailing into wild seas testing her courage. In their five years of living aboard, they've been grounded in an ebbing tide; hit by lightening at sea; slept soundly "on the hook" in hurricane conditions; and were boarded in the night by thieves. They've sailed to 37 countries, along-side dolphins and whales, immerging into remote communities, and visiting sites as old as dust. Barb and Con are experiencing the life many dream of living. They've learned the value of life and death when disease tries to bring them down, but their love of life and living it to the fullest overruled. Listen to their stories and learn how easy it is to close up your land-life and grab hold of your dreams.

Diane Reid
"One Girl's Ocean Challenge"

Diane Reid's first memory is of a distance race with her family. It was blowing 25 knots, and the leeward rail was buried in the water. What a rush! She's never looked back since. In 2013 Diane will race from France to Brazil in a 21foot mini transat sailboat, single handed. Thirty days and 4300 nautical miles. To qualify for this race she needs to complete 2000 training and qualifying miles. Hear Diane's story of winning the Bermuda Ocean Race and her training run back in squall after squall and tornadic waterspouts through the gulf stream. Find out what it's going to take to win the 2013 Mini Transat race!

Paul & Sheryl Shard
"Sailing to Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea"

Paul and Sheryl Shard, Travel and Escape Channel hosts of the Distant Shores sailing adventure TV series, take you on a voyage from England to the Frisian Islands of Holland and Germany then through the Kiel Canal to the Baltic Sea to explore the fairy tale cruising grounds of Denmark and Sweden. Look forward to beautiful cinematography by these award-winning Canadian filmmakers as well as practical advice on route planning and equipping the boat and crew for cool weather cruising.

Steve Spitzer
"Introduction to NMEA2000 Electronics Networking"

A consumer primer to describe the marine industry standard for interconnecting electronics on your boat

Gail & John Thomassen
"Like Nike says "Just Do It!!"

John and Gail Thomassen of Bobcaygeon, Ontario, have been recreational boaters for over thirty years. For years, while living in Bobcaygeon, they watched as boaters of various Countries and ports travelled through their hometown, before they realized The Great Loop even existed. After researching the trip, John wanted to leave almost immediately but had some difficulty in convincing Gail that this indeed was the adventure of a lifetime and they should be experiencing this wonderful opportunity! Once he completed the first task of getting Gail 'onboard' the rest is a fabulous journey they will share with you during their session, 'Just Do It!' Topics such as recommended preparations, the journey, costs, dangers, joys and experiences will be discussed by these Gold Loopers.

Herb Thoms
"Weather Forecasts: Tips to Maximize Your Weather Knowledge"

Herb Thoms has worked for Environment Canada as a meteorologist for more than thirty years, forecasting for the High Arctic, Atlantic Canada and even (West) Germany briefly whilst seconded to the military. He was a shift supervisor for more than ten years in the Newfoundland Weather Centre which was responsible for public, marine and aviation forecasts for Newfoundland and Labrador until its closure in 2004. Herb then became the Warning Preparedness Meteorologist for Newfoundland and Labrador, a position he currently holds. An avid boater as well, Herb spends many hours in his 18' Cuddy Cabin cruising the islands in Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland.

There are many sources of weather information available to today's sailors. Not all sources of such information are equal, nor is any one source always correct. However, everyone has a favourite, and this presentation will help one better understand and use the weather information source of choice.

John Wilson
"Electric Engine Conversion: A Great Way to Power Your Sailboat"

John Wilson is VP Operations for Bullfrog Power. He is a member of QCYC sailing club on the Toronto Islands. He lives in an award-winning sustainable solar home near Toronto, with his wife Leigh Geraghty and their two teenage children.

Ken Blodgett
"Tips on Cruising the North Channel"

Ken Blodgett is an avid boater & has been in the boating industry for over 35 years starting out at Aloha Yachts back in the 1980's. He grew up in Toronto and lived in Barrie before moving to his home on Manitoulin Island 20 years ago. Since 1992, Ken and his wife Pam have owned & operated Canadian Yacht Charters offering luxury yacht charters in the North Channel of Lake Huron. Ken has attended the Toronto International Boat Show as an exhibitor every year for almost 30 years. He lives in Gore Bay with his wife and twin girls, Annie and Molly. www.cycnorth.com