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It’s just past the spring equinox and we’ve already heard from various sailors around the waterfront who are making plans now for Summer Sailstice 2004. The first person sailing in Europe has signed up to be sailing in Croatia. Also, new prize donor Shockles, Sailing World magazine and Ocean Navigotor Magazine are all offering a prize for each month leading up to Summer Sailstice 2004. Each month we do a drawing for these prizes from our current sign ups. Congratulations to Susan Davidson of the Tartan 37 'Grrrr' in Palmeto, FL winning the Shockle multi-purpose shock absorber, Tim Heller of the C & C 29 'Hobo' in Long Beach, CA for winning the Sailing World calendar and Kathi Reilly in Redmond, WA of the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 34.2 'Ivory Wind' for winning a subscription to Ocean Navigator and ON hat. By signing up early you'll be entered in this monthly drawing plus the grand prize drawing after Summer Sailstice. We also have our first three prize winners with this year’s monthly drawings.
Here’s a list of some of the things happening so far for Summer Sailstice 2004. Bitter End Yacht Club will be hosting their third annual Summer Sailstice party on Sunday, June 20th. This works out a bit more conveniently for anyone starting a BVI charter on Saturday by giving you a chance to get right up to Bitter End by Sunday evening. In addition The Moorings has a Summer Sailstice flotilla happening June 17 – June 24, perfectly timed to take in the longest days of the year and Bitter End’s Summer Sailstice party.
Bob Diamond of Spinnaker Sailing Redwood City reports they will be taking a flotilla cruise through the Leeward Islands with the Moorings. They will be departing from St. Martin and plan to be in St. Barts for Summer Sailstice. ‘One of the main reasons we schedule for the end of June is for students and teachers who now have vacation time’, stated Bob. ‘For 2005 we may schedule a similar trip but to Tahiti which is also idyllic at that time of year’. If you’re looking for a great place to spend Summer Sailstice you could contact Bob for a berth at http://www.spinnakersailing.com/.
Closer to our sailing home on San Francisco Bay, OCSC Sailing will be hosting another 3-400 of their members and guests for a Summer Sailstice celebration at their Berkeley waterfront location. Following last year’s very successful format they will hold barbecue and bonfire ashore while inviting everyone to sail for a small fee aboard the classic wooden scow the ‘Gaslight’ or the modern, party catamaran the ‘Adventure Cat’.
The George Mahr Sea Base on the panhandle in Florida plans to have about 10-15 Hobies out with their mostly teen crowd of Sea Scouts. They report they usually pick up old Hobies that can be fixed up by the kids teaching them boat repair techniques and then, once working, the kids love to thrill of the cats.
New prize donors, David and Phoebe Gale of Parrott Cay, Abaco, Bahamas, who have donated an autographed copy of David’s book ‘Ready About’ signed up to say they’ll be out sailing their 14’ catboat the ‘Jellybean’. Other new prize donors include Landfall Navigation with a $50 gift certificate and Sailor Bags with some of their handy, marine grade duffles.
Marti Mayne and Lincoln Fuller in Yarmouth, Maine will be participating in their fourth Summer Sailstice with their two children aboard their Islander 32 ‘Talisker’. Back across the continent the Northwest Jeanneau Rendezvous will be celebrating their third annual Summer Sailstice in their usual fine style.
Tom Higley, Commodore of the Branched Oak Yacht Club in Nebraska wrote in to say ‘We are up to 81 families now. We have a fun and active group. We look forward to defending our "National Title" in your event next summer.’ And finally the Sorrell family of the H-Boat ‘Colerme’ has it figured out – they’ve signed up the whole family increasing their chances that they’ll all be sailing together with the Moorings for Summer Sailstice 2005.
While it’s still early to know your exact plans for Summer Saistice it’s not too early to know you should be out sailing on the longest day of the year. We have some monthly prizes that will be awarded to anyone signed up between now and the Sailstice so sign up soon and let us and everyone else know what you plan to do for Summer Saisltice 2004.
