I recently read that baseball practice has commenced, at least for the SF Giants in California. So why is this relevant? Because it means summer is on its way and soon we'll be able to go sailing all day, everyday. Get ready now so that when the warmer weather finally gets here there will nothing left to do, but jump on board and hoist your sails!
Here is the link to sign up for Summer Sailstice: http://www.summersailstice.com/
And the link to post your sailing plans: http://www.summersailstice.com/node/add/plan?destination=user/register
Okay, you’ve done that? Great! Now let’s take a look at some of the prizes you’ve become eligible for -
Author and sailor, Sally-Christine Rodgers, is back on board and donating 4 copies of her beautiful book Convergence - A Voyage Through French Polynesia. Complete with captivating photographs, the book details Sally-Christine’s voyage to and around the South Seas with her husband, two friends, and three children aboard her custom designed 65’ cat ketch, ‘Convergence’.
‘I want them [readers] to see the things we saw, smell the scents of paradise and revel in the wonders we encountered.’ - Sally-Christine Rodgers.
This would be a great book to show your friends, the ones who haven’t yet discovered the beauty of sailing. You know the ones, we’ve all got at least one or two of “those friends.”
So make sure you’ve signed up to be in the drawing, and if you don’t want to wait to “see if I win in June,” here is where you can get hold of a copy now.
While we’re on the subject of books, long-time Summer Sailstice supporter, Ultimate Sailing, has donated a copy of Sharon Green's 30 Years of Ultimate Sailing, in addition to their picturesque Ultimate Sailing Calendar. Sharon has been taking sailing photos for over 30 years and for the first time has compiled the best of the best into an adrenaline filled book featuring more than 200 pages of sailing action. Many of the photos have never been published!
‘The challenge is to capture on film electrifying moments that take your breath away. Those moments and opportunities are very few, but when they happen... it is ultimate sailing.’ - Sharon Green
Surely you want to get a hold of this, so click on the link for a closer look: Sharon Green's 30 Years of Ultimate Sailing. Who knows, maybe you can’t wait for June and need to get a copy now!
Now to the mechanics of sailing-
Schaefer Marine is back to celebrate sailing with a donation of 6 x 10" (Standard Grip) Forged Aluminum Winch Handles. I’m sure you could use at least one more winch handle. I think you can never have too many, because if you ever drop one overboard you’ll wish you had another.
Did you know that Schaefer Marine has been providing service and support to the marine industry since 1966?
‘Our entire line of products, from blocks to furlers, are built of the finest materials available and designed with a real-world understanding of the forces at work on a sailing yacht.’
But Schaefer Marine don’t just make winch handles, take a look at their full range.
I guess not everyone enjoys cranking a winch handle, and let’s be honest, sometimes it is awkward and hard work. Sailology has come to the rescue and donated a WinchRite® ABT Cordless Winch Handle for one lucky 2016 Summer Sailstice sailor.
Sailology products are designed by sailors, to make sailing more enjoyable, easier, and safer. The WinchRite® ABT Cordless Winch Handle is a light-weight, safe, cordless electric winch handle designed specifically for use on sailboats. It works on all single and two-speed winches which fit a standard eight-point handle.
'We make sensible products with you, the sailor in mind. You will find the product on our boat and we use it, we test it, and we ensure it meets our standards!’
Designed with safety in mind, the WinchRite® features anti-skid prevention, and a unique drive to prevent failure in both rotation directions. A very useful item, perhaps I can convince the skipper to get one for me!
Last, but certainly not least, in fact this is a very important piece of sailing equipment - charts, though not just any charts. OceanGrafix Charts is back for Summer Sailstice 2016 and has donated 3 x NOAA water-resistant charts (standard). Not everyone wants to view their charts electronically, and OceanGrafix charts are printed on high-quality paper, and feature great detail and color contrasts. OceanGrafix continuously accesses and incorporates NOAA’s latest cartographic changes into every NOAA chart.
OceanGrafix also produce “traditional” charts featuring warmer colors on cream-colored - a look and feel synonymous with the old government produced lithographically printed paper charts.
If you need a chart for sailing, or even one to put on your wall because you like the look, go to OceanGrafix and see the full range. You’ll no doubt find something else you “must have” such as Tide Tables, Bathymetric, Hurricane and Historical specialty charts, and even maritime books and folios. Go on, you know you want to…
Well that’s it for this week, but check in again as we’ve got more coming and it all looks pretty good. In the meantime, remember, Sign-up, post your plans, and enjoy the sailing life!
...Monica :) 
