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Almost 400 hundred sailboats in 36 US states, four countries, including the US, New Zealand, the US Virgin Islands, and Canada, and representing 96 yacht clubs and sailing organizations participated in Summer Sailstice 2002. Numbers aside, reports from the field indicate Summer Sailstice provides a great reason to celebrate sailing on June 21, wherever you may be on the water. In 2003, Summer Sailstice falls on Saturday, June 21.
While the majority of Sailstice 2002 registrants sailed in Californian waters, sailors from all over the US took advantage of sailing on the longest day of the year. The smallest boat participating was an El Toro from the San Francisco Yacht Club's junior program.
The largest sailboat participating was Impulse, a Santa Cruz 52 owned by Bonnie Fraik of San Francisco. The farthest location was Bay of Islands, New Zealand where Thomas Waters sailed his schooner, Windborne - celebrating the shortest day of the year in the cool winter climes of the Southern Hemisphere.
The largest rendezvous of boats celebrating Sailstice was a Canadian group joining the Jeanneau Rendezvous at Bedwell Harbour on South Pender Island in the Canadian Gulf Islands, with almost 30 Jeanneau sailboats on the water. Visit www.summersailstice.com to check out where people sailed on Sailstice this year.
Jim Torian (Crusade), sailing on the Baja coast reported, "The 21st saw a beautiful day down the inside Baja coast... flat, hot, sunny but lacked much wind. It was still a really outstanding day as we toasted the noonday sun." Steve Benbow of Morehead City, NC gathered a group of his friends together and windsurf-celebrated Summer Sailstice. Said Steve,"Of course it was about the sailing! and friends! and babies! and good food and hey if we win a prize all the better, yes? Great idea, it was fun and is now a tradition." If you have a Sailstice story or photos to share, email to info@summersailstice.com.
Some celebrants who were back from the 1st annual Sailstice included Chuck Miles from Claremont, OK, sailing his Hobie16, Banana Split. Bill Finkelstein and Mary Mack of Tiburon, CA, sailed on the San Francisco Bay aboard their Valiant 50, Raptor Dance.
Www.summersailstice.com is designed so people can find crew, a boat to crew on, announce their individual participation or offer to host a gathering or raft up, enabling sailors to connect with various Summer Sailstice celebrations in their area. Check out the site to sign up and explore locations near you. Summer Sailstice is a holiday created just for sailors on the longest sailing day of the year - anywhere you sail, anywhere there's water. Sail on your own, with a group, start a Summer Sailstice Regatta - whatever suits your style!
