Michael and wife Amy are both licensed USCG captains with over 30,000 offshore miles each. They have made two transatlantic crossings, outfitted several boats of their own for offshore cruising and have supervised/ consulted for many others. They currently live aboard a 42’ cutter hailing out of Norfolk, VA.

Mike also happens to be a national recording artist whose songs are born from their cruising experiences. Maybe you've seen them speak/perform at the NY, Chicago or Philly boat shows or seen the articles in Chesapeake Bay Magazine and Cruising World, or maybe you've seen Mike on CMT. Now is your chance to catch their entertaining style in Richmond. Their talk will include:

• Stories from their travels, including storms off the Grand Banks, squalls in the Trades, crew management, what works and what doesn't work on long passages.
• How to select the vessel for your intended voyage, how to outfit and how to go about leaving your land-lubber life.
• What to expect when visiting foreign ports and being away from home for long periods, including leaving your boat in foreign places and foreign customs.
• A sprinkling of a couple of his songs to add to the entertainment.

Plan to arrive at 6:30 pm for a short social - beer/wine and munchies - after which time, the talk will begin and take about 60 minutes with a question and answer session to follow. They like to split the men and women up for the Q&A. She gets anything from how to keep mayonnaise to how best to stow leather shoes to how to provision, to how not to have husbands yell.

Sign up on line at www.fbyc.net or send your payment of $8 per person made payable to Fishing Bay Yacht Club to John Koedel III, 7102 Glen Parkway, Richmond, VA 23229. (804) 338-1158. Space is limited to the first 75 to sign up.

Check out Mike’s website and listen to a song or two at http://www.mikeaikenmusic.com. DIRECTIONS TO 400 WESTHAMPTON STATION:

From South of the Huguenot Bridge: Go over the bridge and take the first right where you will see the Virginia Eye Institute sign. Make an immediate right, pass the first VEI building on the left, and proceed to the second building parking lot. Walk up the stairs or use the ramp to drop off those who are unable to walk up steps. DO NOT park on the ramp.

From North of the bridge: Take the last turn on the left before going over the bridge and then follow the instructions above.

Landmarks include the River Road Shopping Center, which is north of the Virginia Eye Institute.