Celebrate Sailing!
Others may call it the summer solstice, but those who live life on the slant will want to call it the Summer Sailstice. Why? Because since 2001 Summer Sailstice has been helping sailors at the grassroots level to organize sailing celebrations worldwide. The goals are to help sailors connect with each other, introduce our sport to the non-sailing world, and encourage care for the waters upon which we sail.
How can you join the fun? It can be as simple as an evening sail on your own boat or as complex as a multi-day cruise with all your sailing friends. The point is to connect with other sailors in a way that’s right for you. And the idea is catching on; the number of participating boats has grown from 200 in 2001 to 5000 boats with nearly 20,000 sailors in 2013.
This year registered participants hail from all across the U.S., including Hawaii and Alaska and internationally, from the United Kingdom, Croatia, Mexico, Israel, and even the Marshall Islands. “It’s been great to watch Summer Sailstice grow, connecting more sailors across the country and around the world in a common celebration. We have sailors who have participated all 14 years and clubs and fleets where it’s become an annual tradition. As hoped, we’re getting closer to a truly global event showcasing all of sailing with all sailors sailing and celebrating ‘together’ everywhere. We’re also gratified to be able to reward participation with the prize list — six or seven Sailstice winners have enjoyed free BVI charters. Plus hundreds of participants have joined to support Sailors for the Sea, which educates boaters about protecting the oceans,” says Sailstice founder John Arndt, associate publisher of the West Coast sailing magazine Latitude 38.
Bay-based groups that have already registered with Summer Sailstice include Hampton Roads’ Fleet 30 gathering at Pirate’s Beach, Chesapeake Bay NonSuch spring rendezvous in Solomons and Getaway Sailing in Baltimore. Register today and show the world that the Chesapeake ranks among the top sailing spots in the world!
This year, June 21, the longest day of the year, falls on a Saturday, and there are plenty of sailing events planned for that weekend, including a demo day at Annapolis Yacht Sales, Stingray Harbour YC’s annual summer cruise, the Jeanneau Sailboat Owner’s combined Chesapeake Rendezvous and Summer Sailstice three-day event, and Annapolis Community Boating’s pirate-themed day at Ellen Moyer Nature Park and Boating Center. Sailors who use the official Sailstice website to organize or join an event, or even to just share their plans, will be entered to win great prizes, such as a windlass, SUP, BoatU.S. membership, radar reflector, sailing knife, and so much more. So let's register in droves and show the world what a wonderful place the Chesapeake is to sail on!
