All posts by Zeke Quezada

Celebrating Sailors: Summer Sailstice 2020

Event

Summer Sailstice 2020 is set, scheduled and ready to sail on June 20, 2020. Where, how, and in what form is entirely up to you. Summer Sailstice has always been about celebrating sailing and sailors around the world. This moment of unprecedented uncertainty surrounding the worldwide pandemic illustrates the simple notion that we are all in the same boat. We are all in this together. 

This year’s Summer Sailstice events may look different than years past but in essence, they are still the same. Summer Sailstice 2020 will bring sailors together.

EVENT DETAILS:
Who: Sailors and non-sailors worldwide
When: June 20, 2020
Where: Global (wherever there’s wind, water and sails)
How: Register at www.summersailstice.com, add your sailing plans and invite others to join your
event. All registered participants are automatically entered into the draw for prizes.

What is Summer Sailstice?

Summer Sailstice was founded in February 2001 by John Arndt, the publisher of Latitude 38, a West Coast sailing publication. Held on the weekend nearest the summer solstice, this global sailing holiday was created as a way to connect the greater global sailing community.

The annual event is free for all participants and rough estimates place participation at 19,000 boats annually. This is up from 200 at its inception. The global sailing community has embraced the idea of sailing together!

Why Summer Sailstice?
When you participate you become part of a larger community of sailors who are part of a global demonstration of sailing. Special events are organized by clubs and individuals. Organizing an event is easy – just follow the instructions on the Summer Sailstice website.

You could also use the GoSailing App that connects sailors with people who love to be on the water. The GO SAILING app helps you find crew or apply to be crew on other skippers’ trips. There are also sailing related social events, seminars, and sailing lessons on the app.

How Do You Participate in Summer Sailstice?
It is as easy as going sailing but this is an opportunity to meet other sailors nearby or to get involved with sailing clubs and organizations around you. The Summer Sailstice website is the hub that helps organize the entire endeavor. You can create your own or join an event on their website and register to win prizes from the Summer Sailstice sponsors. When you create an event the Summer Sailstice website has all the tools ready for you to easily invite new sailors as well as spread the word about your sailing get-together.

What to do this year? Nobody knows what the circumstances will be like on June 20th but we are looking forward to connecting sailors and sailing friends at the start of summer. The Summer Sailstice event website is filling up with celebrations across the planet and the event wants to see everyone post their sailing intentions. And, as sailors have always done, adjust the sails and plans as the situation evolves.

This means rather than a raft-up, it might be a solo sail, a family sail or a parade of sail. It may mean a regatta without the usual post-race party. Or maybe we’ll all be on the world’s largest sailor Zoom call or watching sailing videos at home. The goal is to be sailing but Summer Sailstice is designed to celebrate however the world allows on June 20, 2020.

Check out the Summer Sailstice website and download the GoSailing App to find an event near you or to create an event.

Let’s go sailing together or social distance together for Summer Sailstice 2020!

“Ultimately our goal is to create an event celebrating all of our unique ways of sailing that brings all sailors ‘together’, supports ocean health and attracts the attention of the non-sailing world. Think American Thanksgiving – a tradition an incredibly diverse nation all celebrates ‘together’. Summer Sailstice is an opportunity for us all to be grateful and generous with sailing.” – Founder John Arndt

Sailing Local With ASA Outstanding Instructors – Texas

Learn To Sail, Schools,

Local Schools With Outstanding Instructors

When the dust settles on the COVID-19 crisis we will be looking to get back outside and back out on the water. That is when you should be seeking out your local sailing school. Explore the idea of sailing with one of ASA’s Outstanding Instructors.

It’s time to #Saillocal with ASA Outstanding Instructors.

Take a look at some of the highest-rated instructors in the ASA family: Texas

Jon Jones
Houston, Texas

Bartholomew Timm
Webster, Texas

Bay Area Sailing School
Our home port at Watergate Yachting Center in Kemah, Texas provides sailing courses certified by the American Sailing Association, from basic keelboat sailing to advanced coastal cruising. Gain the confidence to crew or skipper boats to 30 feet in our Basic Keelboat course (ASA 101), and to 50 feet in our combined three day/two-night liveaboard Basic Coastal Cruising (ASA 103) and Bareboat Chartering (ASA 104) courses.

Bay Area Sailing School – Kemah(281) 334-4179Watergate MarinaPier 3KemahTX77565United States
Courses Offered:
ASA 101, Basic Keelboat Sailing, ASA 103, Basic Coastal Cruising, ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising, ASA 105, Coastal Navigation, ASA 106, Advanced Coastal Cruising, ASA 111, Sailing Review

Chris Lower
Corpus Christi, Texas
Learn to Sail Texas
Learn to Sail Texas prefers that the ASA 101 Basic Keelboat class is taught on a relatively small, (25 foot, but can sleep 5), tiller boat with hank on sails. Learning on smaller vessels make a difference in the learning curve. Our primary training boat for advanced classes is a beautiful 33′ Beneteau. Corpus Bay covers 192 square miles and unlike other bays in Texas, is primarily open water with few spoil areas. When taking a class you will have practical experience with Aids To Navigation, (ATON’s, e.g. Nuns, Cans, Day Beacons). The advanced classes navigate portions of the Intra Coastal Waterway,(ICW), commercial ship channel, and if time allows, we may venture into the Gulf of Mexico.

Learn to Sail Texas(361) 510-1540 505 S. Water Street, Suite 535Corpus ChristiTX78413United States
Courses Offered:
ASA 101, Basic Keelboat Sailing, ASA 103, Basic Coastal Cruising, ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising, ASA 105, Coastal Navigation, ASA 120, Radar Endorsement

Sailing Croatia With Adriatic Sailing Academy

Destinations, Learn To Sail, Schools

An Update from Croatia
The situation in Croatia is really good, it makes us very happy.
Our borders are open and we are all ready to start our activities. Of course, everything will be different, but we believe and hope for a good future, and the sea and sailing are certainly the best and safest choice.
– From Adriatic Sailing Academy May 19, 2020

Croatia is a sailing destination that is on many bucket lists and rightly so with its miles of coastlines and deep history. This part of the Mediterranean is home to over a thousand islands for exploring and rich from a collision of cultures. Nestled in the North Adriatic Sea, Adriatic Sailing Academy offers Charters and Sailing Instruction.
ASA asked Adriatic SailingAcademy about Croatia, the sailing community and learning to sail in this region of Europe.

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Teen Sailing Summer Program in the British Virgin Islands

Learn To Sail, Schools, ,

Go Sailing With SeaTrek BVI

When the COVID-19 crisis is behind us will your teenagers need an outlet?

Will you?

For young sailors as well as those wanting to learn more about marine science, sailing and SCUBA diving, SeaTrek BVI offers teen summer programs in the Caribbean. ASA school, SeaTrek BVI, offers teen voyages that revolve around hands-on sailing, learning to scuba dive and instruction in marine science.

Each Summer, teenagers take to the ocean and get a taste of the sailing lifestyle aboard 48-foot catamarans. Part of the adventure involves becoming part of a crew engaged in every aspect of operating the vessel. They learn to sail, they cook their meals, they SCUBA dive, and immerse themselves in the world of Marine Biology.

Request a Brochure from SeaTrek BVI

Their Itinerary in the British Virgin Islands includes island favorites in Virgin Gorda, stops at Cooper Island, Guana Island, and Savannah Bay. Their trips start and end in Road Town, Tortola but explore the entirety of the British Virgin Islands. SeaTrek BVI also offers Explorer voyages in the Bahamas and Leeward Islands,

These summer voyages have a component where your teenager can earn their ASA 101 Basic Keelboat certification and ASA 103 Coastal Cruising Certification.

SeaTrek BVI Sailing

Take a look at their voyages and signup for a free brochure that explains the program in-depth at seatrekbvi.com/voyages/bvi-main-program-voyages/

Does your teen need a little inspiration? Take a look at some of the action on a SeaTrek BVI voyage.


Interactive Media Classes (Online Learning)

Elearn, Learn To Sail, Schools,

It’s no secret that the COVID-19 crisis has changed all of our lives forever and the sailing world is no different. From closed marinas to social distancing on sailboats, ASA has begun to re-examine what the new normal will look like once we are all allowed to go back to our daily routines. One thing that ASA did learn is that there is a need for online courses in the form of interactive online instruction. While study at home courses were already being utilized by some sailing schools the need for a bonafide online course alternative has been realized and plenty of schools are currently working on models, pilot programs and modern versions of their current class offerings.

If you are looking for a way to gain ASA certification in a few select areas of study, these ASA schools might have what you desire.

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ASA Certified Sailing School - Black Rock Sailing School, RI

ASA Featured Instructor: Captain Brenton Lockridge, Black Rock Sailing School

Instructors, Schools,

Brenton Lockridge went to sailing camp at age seven. At age sixteen he was teaching sailing in Westport, CT. At 19, he was delivering boats between Cape Cod and Penobscot Bay. In between, he developed and administered sailing curriculum to all underclassmen at the Maine Maritime Academy and he eventually became a certified Skipper in the school’s Cruising program.  In 2008, he founded Black Rock Sailing School and the school has been recognized as an ASA Outstanding School multiple times and Brenton has been named an ASA Outstanding Instructor over 8 times.

Captain Brenton Lockridge is this month’s Featured Instructor.

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Sailing Local With ASA Outstanding Instructors – Florida

Learn To Sail, Schools

When the dust settles on the COVID-19 crisis we will be looking to get back outside and back out on the water. That is when you should be seeking out your local sailing school. Explore the idea of sailing with one of ASA’s Outstanding Instructors.

It’s time to #Saillocal with ASA Outstanding Instructors.

Take a look at some of the highest-rated instructors in the ASA family: (Florida)

Local Schools With Outstanding Instructors

When the dust settles on the COVID-19 crisis we will be looking to get back outside and back out on the water. That is when you should be seeking out your local sailing school. Explore the idea of sailing with one of ASA’s Outstanding Instructors.

It’s time to #Saillocal with ASA Outstanding Instructors.

Take a look at some of the highest-rated instructors in the ASA family:

Florida

Philip Brittain
Punta Gorda, Florida
Charlotte Harbor Sailing
Our school is easily located in Punta Gorda, in a beautiful harbor on the Gulf of Mexico. Sailing classes are taught aboard our Catalina 310, no classrooms! To maximize your time at the helm each class is limited in size to a max of 4 pupils.

Charlotte Harbor Sailing(941) 676-03281780 West Marion AvePunta GordaFL33950United States
Courses Offered:
ASA 101, Basic Keelboat Sailing, ASA 103, Basic Coastal Cruising, ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising, ASA 105, Coastal Navigation, ASA 106, Advanced Coastal Cruising, ASA 111, Sailing Review

James Marvin

Saint Petersburg, Florida

David Price

Longboat Key, Florida

Edd Jennings
Saint Petersburg, Florida

Sailing Florida Charters & Sailing School

Cruising into the sunset or across the bay, Sailing Florida is about experiencing the natural beauty of Florida’s West Coast and the exhilaration of boating. Come join us for a bareboat or crewed charter – day or week-long – so you can finally take that family vacation, sneak away for a romantic weekend, hold a special corporate event or team-building adventure.

Sailing Florida Charters & Sailing School(866) 894-7245501 5th Ave NESt PetersburgFL33701USA
Courses Offered:
ASA 101, Basic Keelboat Sailing, ASA 103, Basic Coastal Cruising, ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising, ASA 105, Coastal Navigation, ASA 106, Advanced Coastal Cruising, ASA 114, Cruising Catamaran

Jose Miranda

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Jennifer Wirth

Miami, Florida

Duane Moran

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Arno Von Waltsleben

Long Beach, Washington

Christopher May

Wellington, Florida

Blue Water Sailing School

Sailing Education is All We Do. We are exclusively a sailing school. One hundred percent of our efforts are devoted to sailing education and training. We choose the area sailed to by the composition of the students and the course level. Our beginning and intermediate courses sail to the Florida Keys, while our advanced courses cross the Gulf Stream to the Bahamian island of Bimini.

Blue Water Sailing School(954) 763-8464924 NE 20th AveFort LauderdaleFL33304United States
Courses Offered:
ASA 101, Basic Keelboat Sailing, ASA 103, Basic Coastal Cruising, ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising, ASA 105, Coastal Navigation, ASA 106, Advanced Coastal Cruising, ASA 107, Celestial Navigation, ASA 108, Offshore Passagemaking, ASA 114, Cruising Catamaran

Randy Mullis

Miami, Florida

Key West Sailing Academy

If you’re seeking an exceptional experience above the average, Key West Sailing Academy is the right choice for you. We offer the discerning client an elegant & exclusive boutique experience immersed in our personalized service, unique style, and outstanding gourmet dining aboard exceptionally comfortable and well-appointed vessels, in one of the most stunning settings in America, Key West.

Key West Sailing Academy(305) 853-68886000 Peninsular AvenueKey WestFL33040United States
Courses Offered:
ASA 101, Basic Keelboat Sailing, ASA 103, Basic Coastal Cruising, ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising, ASA 105, Coastal Navigation, ASA 114, Cruising Catamaran

George Norwood

Riverview, Florida

Flagship Sailing School

Year-round sailing instruction that is personal, enjoyable and affordable. Our classes take place aboard sailboats that are responsive, easy to control and matched to your skill level. At Flagship Sailing, you will learn to sail safely and enjoyably without being intimidated in the process.

Flagship Sailing School(727) 946-6542606 Sea Grape DriveRuskinFL33570USA
Courses Offered:
ASA 101, Basic Keelboat Sailing, ASA 103, Basic Coastal Cruising, ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising, ASA 105, Coastal Navigation, ASA 106, Advanced Coastal Cruising, ASA 107, Celestial Navigation, ASA 111, Sailing Review, ASA 117, Basic Celestial Endorsement, ASA 118, Docking Endorsement

Bareboat Charter: St. Martin Itinerary Tips

Charter, Cruising Tips, Destinations, ,

St. Martin, Anguilla and St. Barth

Sailors have long been known to frequent St. Martin for the endless beaches and combination of French and Dutch culture. Charter boat clients love the options for anchorages around the island. It’s proximity to St. Barth and Anguilla make St. Martin the perfect starting and stopping point for charter boat captains who want a different experience than what can be found in the British Virgin Islands. The Caribbean culture is more subdued and the French influence plays a role in your provisioning.

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