Tom, Thank you so much for putting together the excellent insurance seminar w/Al Golden. It was truly outstanding. In my earlier life I was a trial lawyer with an emphasis on insurance litigation. When I lived in Kodiak I also practiced almost exclusively in admiralty. There’s so much I had forgotten, but Al did an outstanding job of bringing it all back to me. I pulled out my current policy, and my older cruising policy, and found some of the exact pitfalls to which Al spoke. VERY helpful. (Not to mention a bit embarrassing to one who used to practice in that area . . . . But, like I said, it was an EARLIER life). Thanks again for running such an excellent program. Best regards, Paul.

Date of Posting: 23 February 2010
Posted By: Paul Cossman
What You Really, Really Need to Know About Yacht Insurance with Al Golden

We just got funding for two of our citizen science programs (30k over three years) and a verbal notice of a 6 month, $75,000 boater education and outreach grant that covers my salary for a boater education project (for which I will have to write lots more). Of note --- each application was given the feedback, "wow, this is really good and sharp. Are you a writer?" --- I have never gotten this feedback before, and have simply been following your practical advice on how to really sharpen my writing. Ruthlessly slashing adverbs and shortening sentences, stomping out the passive voice........... Thanks again, Barb. My hope is to soon be able to turn my writing from work to more projects for my own pleasure and efforts to get published. If the course is offered again, I think I would like to go through it again. This time, I'll do it when I have time to really take advantage of the assignments. Terri Watson

Date of Posting: 18 February 2010
Posted By: Terri Watson
Writing for the Boating Market

Hi Tom, I want to tell you how much I enjoyed the presentation on Sailtrim by Capt. Ed Mapes. The program was very well organized, and the illustrations worked very well to help me visualize what he was explaining. I thought it was very valuable information that will make me a more efficient sailor, and will help me keep my ex-racer wife happy. I'm looking forward to the next class. Thanks, Alan

Date of Posting: 18 February 2010
Posted By: Alan Bradley
Sail Trim with Captain Ed Mapes

Hi Barb! Although I have been somewhat distracted from writing lately - that thing called Life gets in the way - I did receive acceptance also from Lats and Atts for my article "A Crappy Day in Paradise". I didn't thing much of it, as it was just a silly/humorous article about a clogged head incident that is going in the Flotsam and Jetsam section. Anyway, it's a foot in the door, right? Hope all is good with you and thanks again for an excellent course!! Carol Chapman

Date of Posting: 17 February 2010
Posted By: Carol Chapman
Writing for the Boating Market

Hi Barb - Just thought I'd let you know that my Welland article went up in Mad Mariner today! It's presently the top article on the front page of their site. Kewl --- thanks to you!

Date of Posting: 16 February 2010
Posted By: Bill Rhode
Writing for the Boating Market

I'll be in Latts and Atts in the Sea Urchin section with "Six Steps" on changing a diaper in an "upcoming issue". Thanks Barb!!

Date of Posting: 16 February 2010
Posted By: Erika Lelievre
Writing for the Boating Market

Thank you for making the recording available. It is a great help to be able to review the content to jog the memory. This was good information, I picked up a few little tricks along the way.

Date of Posting: 12 February 2010
Posted By: John Martin
Crossing the Gulfstream with Captain Ed Mapes

Tom, both my wife and I enjoyed the webinar and got some really useful information out of it. It was well run and went smoothly. My only suggestion is that the presenters make their slides available in a .pdf file for download to paying attendees after the presentation or even better, before it so one can take notes on the slides. I sit through a lot of PowerPoint presentations and it is always easier to retain the information if you have the slide set ahead of time to make notes on. We will definitely sign up for more of these. Regards, jim

Date of Posting: 10 February 2010
Posted By: Jim Becker
Crossing the Gulfstream with Captain Ed Mapes

Hi Tom: This was my first SevenSeasU webinar and it won't be my last. I have already corresponded with Dr. Dave about his upcoming Island Hopping to the Virgin Islands for novices. Wayne Van Sickle Drifter's Wind

Date of Posting: 10 February 2010
Posted By: Wayne Van Sickle
Crossing the Gulfstream with Captain Ed Mapes

Tom, I thought the presentation was very good.... Captain Mapes was not too technical and I liked that... his comments on weather were very easy to understand and I enjoyed his personal photos. Invite him back again He did have a couple of slides that would have made good handout in particular his safety equipment. I really like the idea that we have the chance to review the presentation a second time. Thanks George Van Drasek

Date of Posting: 10 February 2010
Posted By: George Van Drasek
Crossing the Gulfstream with Captain Ed Mapes

I really enjoyed Julie's introduction to celestial navigation seminar. Obviously, the subject of celestial navigation is beyond the scope of a three hour seminar, but I think this course does a really good job of presenting the elements and a basic "how to" with regard to a noon site. I would be interested in the more advanced course Julie mentioned. George

Date of Posting: 07 February 2010
Posted By: George Daniel
Celestial Navigation

Barb, I heard from Sue Morgan of Lats and Atts several days ago. She has accepted my article for the Noah's Arc section. Sue identified with Winston since she to has a herding dog. They currently have a backlog but foresees the article being published prior to the end of the year. I'll write you when I have a month of publication. Thanks for all your help. This acceptance has given me confidence to write some more. Terry Boram

Date of Posting: 30 January 2010
Posted By: Terry Boram
Writing for the Boating Market

Hi Barbara, Hope the new year is treating you well. You asked your students to report when we get articles published. "Do You Have The Stuff for Carriacou?" has not yet been published but Sue Morgan informed me that she has it in the line up for publication, TBA. Warm regards, Ellen Ellen Birrell Aboard Boldly Go

Date of Posting: 28 January 2010
Posted By: Ellen Birrell
Writing for the Boating Market

fyi - Looks like a sale, Barb! Assuming all works out I'll let you know when it publishes. Thanks, again, for your advice and guidance ... and for the outstanding class! Bill

Date of Posting: 21 January 2010
Posted By: Bill Rhode
Writing for the Boating Market

Barb, Thought I'd let you know my article was accepted by Lats & Atts. Now I have to get busy and write another. Thanks for the class and the encouragement. Pat

Date of Posting: 08 January 2010
Posted By: Pat Canniff
Writing for the Boating Market

Dear Barb, thank you very much for your constructive comments about the Envoy in the Med article. When I read your editing I saw two main types of issues. Firstly careless errors despite my reading the article several times over. Secondly, some new lessons. These were particularly with regard to the use of paragraphs and the use of "which" v "that". Thank you very much for the course and the review. Have a great New Year and I'll be in touch. Best Regards Laurence Cranfield

Date of Posting: 30 December 2009
Posted By: Laurence Cranfield
Writing for the Boating Market

Thanks for the input, Barb. I've changed the title to, "How Beer saved our lives", and changed it around a slight bit. I took a hard and soft copy to the boat show last weekend and submitted it to Southwinds magazine. The gentleman at the booth seemed to know what to do with it; he took both the hard copy and the soft copy. We'll see what happens... Thanks again for all of your help- you are lucky that you have two talents- writing and teaching. Have a great holiday season, and I hope we meet sometime on the water or elsewhere. Sincerely, Brian

Date of Posting: 12 December 2009
Posted By: Brian Weeks
Writing for the Boating Market

Thanks for everything Barb. The sessions were great and the individual feedback extremely helpful. I look forward to reporting on my progress! The snow is falling here. Time to put fingers to keyboard again. Dave

Date of Posting: 06 December 2009
Posted By: Dave Dawe
Writing for the Boating Market

Hi Barb, Thank you for the comments and kind words about this piece. I want to apologize for being a bit of an absentee student. My fall schedule was a bit full. Although I did not complete every assignment and missed the live class twice, I still found it very beneficial. I found your experience and insight to be extremely valuable as I prepare for my transition into the boating market. Thank you, Steve

Date of Posting: 01 November 2009
Posted By: Steve Stucko
Writing for the Boating Market

Your content was excellent, your follow up and suggestions very helpful. I am very glad I took your Seven Seas U course. Ellen

Date of Posting: 24 October 2009
Posted By: Ellen Birrell
Writing for the Boating Market

Hello Barbara, Thanks so much for your sage advice and speedy reply, I am so excited! I can't thank you enough for your class, Barb, it truly was fantastic and wow, talk about a fast track to getting your foot in the door. I would hate to try and learn all of your techniques via rejection! Thanks again, I'll keep you posted. Carol

Date of Posting: 23 October 2009
Posted By: Carol Chapman
Writing for the Boating Market

Well, it wasn't a magazine article, but I just applied all my writing tips and such to my $50,000 grant proposal for Boater Education Outreach here in the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary with success........ And was told today that we would get it! Thanks for all your coaching in the class -- it was uniquely and concretely useful. Terri

Date of Posting: 22 October 2009
Posted By: Terri Watson
Writing for the Boating Market

AIS with Steven Gloor -
The presentation was well laid out and plenty of time was given for questions. I would recommend this program to other SSCA members.

Date of Posting: 17 October 2009
Posted By: Jay islesboro
s/v Screech

Barb Theisen provided just the right mix of expert advice, useful information, and inspirational examples (including some from her own published writing). Her good humor and gentle guidance cheered us on, while her high standards and her obvious enthusiasm for our work elicited the best from us in the weekly writing assignments.

Date of Posting: 15 October 2009
Posted By: Barbara Burt
Writing for the Boating Market

Hi, Barb, Just wanted to let you know that I took your advice and sent my article, "Five Tactics for Sailing with a Newbie," to Points East, and Nim Marsh has accepted it for 2010. Thanks so much for encouraging me to submit it! Barbara

Date of Posting: 09 October 2009
Posted By: Barbara Burt
Writing for the Boating Market