Peter Swanson
Peter Swanson is a career newspaper reporter and editor who drifted into marine journalist about 12 years ago. He has written about Cuba for Yachting, Soundings, PassageMaker and several other magazines. He had developed sources in the Cuban marine sector during three visits to the island, including one by boat before George W. Bush lowered the boom. He is planning his next visit for 2011. Swanson usually lives aboard his Morgan Out Island 41 RIO, which is undergoing a refit at the moment. He also writes about marine electronics, trawlers and the Dominican Republic. He operates a website www.cubacruising.com, which is intended to become a clearinghouse for the latest developments along the Cuban Coast once the U.S. Embargo is lifted.
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Ralph Beyhl, R.N., Wakea
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Ralph will show cruisers how to assemble a complete and thorough medical kit yourself for less money. He'll offer suggestions on how you can be prepared to handle most emergencies and many day-to-day injuries that can occur while cruising. He has been a speaker on medical issues at the SSCA West Coast Rendezvous the last two years.
Ralph started out sailing in his teens racing lasers on the Mississippi River in his hometown of Moline, Illinois. After many years of sailing on other people's boats and chartering, he bought his own boat, Shibumi, a Columbia 36. With a background in Emergency Nursing he took off for points south in 1997. Getting as far as George Town, Bahamas he ran aground on the invisible reef of love. He moved to Boston with his soon-to-be wife and they prepared to travel the Caribbean together the following year. In the spring of 1998 they left Daytona and visited every medical center they could find between Florida and Trinidad, dropping off supplies and equipment that Ralph had gotten donated for this project. Ralph also helped set up a medical response group in Chaguaramas, Trinidad while on the hard there. Returning to George Town in 2000, Ralph and Barbara got married and moved into their home in St. Petersburg, Fl. With a total of 15 years of nursing, mostly in the Emergency Department, Ralph recently has taken a position as a Care Coordinator, providing educational training, telephone triage and case management support for the South Carolina Medicaid program. They have sold Shibumi and are in the process of refitting Wakea, their Gulfstar 44 motorsailer. Ralph has been an SSCA member since 1997.
Robert Williams
Robert Williams
Bob Williams has been involved with the boating industry since 1976. While pursuing studies in Marine Biology in the 70's, Bob was also an offshore sailing/navigation instructor for the Annapolis Sailing School. In the early 80's Bob apprenticed with Charlie Morgan, cold molding and testing prototype hull designs. Bob has continued to work directly with boat builders and owners, providing on site system design and installation training for boat builders in the US, China, Singapore and Europe. Bob holds a 100 ton Masters license and has commissioned and delivered new yachts for customers through out North and South America.
Ronald C. Trossbach
Ronald C. Trossbach
Ronald C. Trossbach. Safety at Sea has been a life long responsibility for Ron Trossbach. From his assignment as Safety Officer at the Forward Replenishment Station of his first destroyer in 1959 to his beloved yacht SUNNESHINE today he has considered safety as the number one item in preparing for and conducting on-the-water events.