Free Seminars
The Boats Afloat Show is pleased to present a selection of free seminars to our show attendees. Our seminar schedule and presenter bios can be found below. A special thank you to our seminar presenters and our seminar sponsor, Michelob Ultra.
Location: All seminars are held aboard the historic Virginia V steamship, moored on the West Dock.
Our seminars are proudly sponsored by Michelob Ultra.
Seminar Schedule
Thursday, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
“Provisioning and Party Planning”
Presented by: Diane Lander
Seminar Description:
Diane Lander from Northwest Yacht Brokers Association, Seattle Yacht Club and Classic Yacht Association will present her seminar on “Provisioning and Party Planning.” Diane brings over three decades of classic yacht ownership experience to this topic including owning and operating, along with a professional crew of 4, the MY Olympus, a 1929 97′ fantail motor yacht. She currently owns the Marian II, a 1928 42′ Lake Union Dreamboat, and no one wants to miss one of her fabulous parties! Don’t miss her provisioning tips either, to be sure you have what you need on board when you leave the dock.
Friday, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
“Go or No Go: How to Understand Weather”
Presented by: Mark Bunzel
Seminar Description:
Mark Bunzel, owner of Fine Edge Publishing and publisher of the Waggoner Guide, will present his informative and marriage saving seminar called “Go or No Go,” which discusses how to decide whether your boat and crew will be safe in the weather depending on your route. Learn how to read the weather and tide apps expertly so you and your family will feel safer on the water.
Mark is an experienced boater having cruised extensively in the Pacific Northwest, the Inside Passage and throughout Alaska on assignment while writing and photographing beautiful locations for magazines and to update the books he edits and publishes. In addition, he has chartered cruised the Chesapeake and the Intracoastal Waterway, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Mexico, the Canal du Midi, Greece, Honduras, and he lead the first American charter crew to sail the coast of Vietnam. He is the principal owner of Fine Edge Nautical Publishing and the co-Author of Cruising the Virgin Islands, the most popular cruising guide for the Virgin Islands. He is now the Editor and Publisher of the Waggoner Cruising Guide and is responsible for the annual research for all of the marinas and anchorages between Olympia and Glacier Bay, Alaska. Mark’s articles and photography have appeared in magazines including PassageMaker, Northwest Yachting, Canadian Yachting, Dockside, Latitudes and Attitudes, Power Cruising, Soundings and Pacific Yachting. Mark holds a U.S. Coast Guard Masters rating in Power and Sail.
Friday, 3:00pm – 3:30pm
“Waving Hello to Swim Season”
Presented by: Drew Swanner
Seminar Description:
Seattle Children’s Community Health and Benefit team will talk about early season water dangers, practices to reduce chance of drowning, and tips for keeping safe on the water all summer long! This quick, 20-minute presentation is designed with both first-time boaters and seasoned mariners in mind. Drew Swanner has been working in childhood injury prevention for 4+ years, and as a sailor himself has a strong passion for keeping kids and families safe on the water.
Saturday, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
“It Will Never Happen To Me”
Presented by: Courtney Wingard
Seminar Description:
Join Courtney Wingard of Novamar Insurance, for her presentation “It Will Never Happen to Me.” Are you covered like you think you are, with your yacht insurance? Learn how to read your insurance coverages, before a claim. Courtney will walk you through the basics and then answer any questions you have about yacht insurance and best practices for coverage.
Courtney Wingard is an Account Executive at the Seattle office of Novamar Insurance. She’s been working in the marine insurance industry since 2017, and has been with Novamar Insurance since 2020.
Sunday, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
“Running Your Boat with Confidence: Relax and Have Fun!”
Presented by: Trevor MacLachlan
Seminar Description:
Join Trevor MacLachlan from Seattle Seafaring for his presentation “Running Your Boat with Confidence: Relax and Have Fun!” This seminar will cover three key segments of feeling comfortable onboard – preparation, roles and responsibilities onboard, and basic know-how. Explore best practices for onboard communication, learn confidence-building basic docking and line skills, and much more.
Trevor MacLachlan founded Seattle Seafaring in 2012. He holds a USCG 100 Ton Master’s license and has over 40 years sailing and power yacht experience in the Pacific Northwest and worldwide. Having literally spent his entire life sailing, Trevor is competent on virtually any sailing or power vessel from tiny sailing dinghies to over 85′ luxury yachts. He has circumnavigated Vancouver Island twice and runs deliveries up and down the coast. A cruising highlight so far has been the two years cruising from Seattle down through the Panama Canal into the Caribbean with his young family aboard the Taswell 43 “Lea Scotia”, the original yacht in his fleet. Trevor provides professional training, consulting and yacht deliveries worldwide on both sail and power, large and small.