Royal Bermuda Yacht Club will host a two-day sailing safety at sea seminar early next year for skippers and crew of vessels that venture offshore.

Day one features a US Sailing sanctioned seminar and demonstrations on boat preparation, boat handling, heavy weather sailing, recommended safety equipment and emergencies at sea.

It will particularly focus on preparation for the 2008 Newport Bermuda Race, with numbers limited to around 100 people.

The following day involves hands on training with students donning lifejackets, entering the water and boarding life rafts as part of an advanced day of survival training. This session is limited to 20 students.

International Sailing Federation (ISAF) approved Offshore Personal Survival Course certificates and ISAF approved personal survival course certificates, required for world class racing events, will be issued to those who attend both sessions on February 2 and 3.

Ron Trossbach is the SAS coordinator for the Bermuda seminar and is working with Royal Bermuda Yacht Club's commodore-elect Ralph Richardson to organise the event. Dan O'Connor of Liferaft & Survival Equipment is running the hands-on sessions.

For registration visit www.ussailing.org