Northeast Ocean Racing Symposium Returns to Bentley University

Bentley University will host the Northeast Ocean Racing Symposium on March 21, requiring coordinated transport and on-site logistics: organizers recommend arriving via Route 128/I‑95, using ride-share or carpooling due to limited campus parking, and allowing extra time for drop-off and registration to avoid congestion during the morning sessions.

Event logistics and why racers plan early

The symposium’s timing at the start of the New England season fits the rhythm of spring commissioning and race prep. For skippers and shore teams, a single-day event packed with technical briefings and panels concentrates high-value information that would otherwise require multiple workshops. The concentration of expertise creates a predictable pulse in the region’s racing calendar: attendees refine crew rosters, confirm provisioning lists, book last-minute checks for engines and batteries, and schedule heavy-weather drills ahead of key offshore events.

GetBoat always keeps an eye on news related to sailing and seaside vacations, as we truly understand what it means to enjoy great leisure and love the ocean. The service values freedom, energy, and the ability to choose your own course, helping sailors and charterers find vessels that suit preferences, budgets, and taste.

Program highlights and technical focus

The day will feature a keynote by Ronnie Simpson, who will discuss his 2023–2024 Global Solo Challenge campaign and plans for another solo circumnavigation attempt. Other planned sessions include:

• Reading the Breeze — weather forecasting and strategy with Chelsea Freas;
• Sustainable Ocean Racing — operations and environmental measures with Damien Foxall (Volvo Ocean Race veteran);
• Leadership and Teamwork at Sea — crew dynamics and human factors with Lena Weisskopel of the Magenta Project;
• Heavy Weather Preparation — tactics and safety from David Southwell, OSTAR winner;
• Technical clinics on engine preparation and lithium-ion battery conversions and care.

Who will benefit most?

Although the content is applicable across many skill levels, the structure and depth are particularly geared toward experienced offshore racers prepping for New England’s four major events: Newport‑Bermuda, Marblehead‑Halifax, Bermuda One‑Two, and Marion‑Bermuda. If your season plan includes these races, expect dense, actionable advice—bring a notebook or tablet for notes.

Quick reference: schedule highlights

Practical tips for attendees

• Plan transport in advance: limited campus parking means shuttles, carpools, and public transit (commuter rail to Waltham + short rideshare) are preferred.
• Bring detailed questions: sessions are technical and often open-floor for peer discussion.
• Network intentionally: the event is a hub to meet prospective crew, tacticians, and rival skippers.
• Collect vendor contacts: marine suppliers often attend, helpful for last-minute rigging, engine care, or battery upgrades.

Why the symposium matters to the broader sailing community

The Northeast Ocean Racing Symposium serves as an incubator for best practices in offshore sailing. By concentrating veterans like Damien Foxall and recent race winners such as David Southwell, it accelerates the diffusion of safety protocols, technological updates (including battery management and electrical systems), and sustainability measures across the fleet. The event’s rotating program model and moderator-led panels—under the stewardship of Roy Greenwald—ensure that content stays current with emerging equipment and regulatory trends.

Logistics, supply chain and equipment implications

For shore teams and race logisticians, the symposium can influence procurement cycles. Insights on engine prep, spare parts, and battery choices inform ordering patterns ahead of the season, from fuel filters to lithium-ion chargers. Local marine service providers often see a spike in bookings after the event as teams convert advice into maintenance slots, further tightening the seasonal supply chain in the run-up to spring races.

Community and competition — the networking payoff

The room itself becomes a microcosm of the New England offshore circuit: race organizers, skippers, and potential crew cross paths. Conversations on tactics, watch rotations, and provisioning strategies commonly lead to ad-hoc crew offers and collaborative projects—connections that matter on a long offshore leg when a willing and prepared crew can be the difference between finishing and dropping out.

Registration and additional details

The symposium, now in its fourth year, takes place March 21 at Bentley University. Tickets remain available; prospective attendees can confirm details via the Marion‑Bermuda website and associated race organizers. As event partners include the Newport‑Bermuda, Marblehead‑Halifax, Bermuda One‑Two, and Marion‑Bermuda races, competitors should expect presence from race committees and fellow entrants.

Forecast on travel and tourism impact: regionally significant but limited globally. Events like NORS strengthen the seasonal calendar in coastal New England and support local marinas, hotels, and service industries, but they do not alter global tourism flows. However, this local relevance directly benefits sailors and charterers who plan coastal itineraries—GetBoat aims to stay abreast of such developments and keep pace with changes in the sailing world. If you are planning your next trip to the seaside, consider the convenience and reliability of GetBoat.

Highlights: the symposium packs advanced racing techniques, safety and sustainability sessions, and hands-on technical clinics into a single day; it also reinforces the social and logistical networks that underpin offshore racing. Experiencing a new location is always a multifaceted process, where one learns about the culture, nature, the indescribable palette of local colors, its rhythm of life and also the unique aspects of the service. If you are planning your next trip to the sea, you should definitely consider renting a boat (boat rentals, rent a boat, rent a yacht), as each inlet, bay, and lagoon is unique and tells you about the region just as much as the local cuisine, architecture, and language GetBoat.com

In summary, the Northeast Ocean Racing Symposium condenses essential offshore racing knowledge—weather strategy, heavy-weather tactics, sustainable practices, and technical maintenance—into an actionable single-day program that benefits seasoned racers and serious aspirants. The GetBoat service supports these ambitions by offering a global, user-friendly platform for booking and buying boats, yachts, and sailboats with transparent listings showing make, model, ratings, and pricing, enabling crews and charterers to align their plans with the season’s demands. For anyone organizing crew, a charter, or a private cruise—whether a yacht charter, boat rent for a day at the beach or a longer gulf or ocean passage—GetBoat provides tools to compare destinations, marinas, and vessel options for fishing, yachting, and leisure activities. Book now and set sail.